“That’s fine,” he said. “You don’t have to do what they say or answer any of their questions. You know that, right?”
“I don’t have any secrets,” she said. “I can be an open book for the most part to your family.”
“I might not want that though,” he said. “They could get more personal than I’d like.”
“Then you can jump in and tell them no,” she said.
She put the slices of bread in the bowl to soak, then got the pan back out that Theo had cleaned and dropped butter in it. Tons of calories with this breakfast, but sometimes it was a nice splurge too.
“I’m not sure how much they will listen,” he said. “But you’re a big girl and have it covered.”
“Thanks for that,” she said.
“Why are you thanking me?”
“Because I know you’ll jump in if you need to, but the fact you know your sisters well enough that they might not cross the line is part of the reason I’m not worried.”
“I don’t want you worried at all,” he said, standing up and moving closer to her from where he was on the couch.
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her on the forehead. “I’m not,” she said. “You know Heather and she’s like my sister. It’s only fair.”
Heather had asked if the four of them could try to get together for dinner one night at their apartment and she thought it was a great idea. Next Friday night was the plan and it’d be the first double date she’d ever had.
In her eyes, Theo and Luke would hit it off. And it’d be the first time Theo would see where she lived.
“Cut that out,” Erica said, returning to the kitchen. “We don’t bite and it will only make me jealous that my serious brother found someone before me.”
“You never used to be as serious as me,” he said.
“I want to be a hermit now,” Erica said. “I should be if half the things Harmony says I do are true.”
Daisy went back to cooking breakfast and let Theo and Erica talk.
“Are you being crabby still?” he asked. “I got an earful last weekend.”
“Mom?” Erica asked. “She can’t say it to me but can to Harmony and you.”
“I’m staying out of it,” he said. “I told her you’re extremely busy with your job and Harmony had every right to snap at her for asking the same stupid career questions again and again.”
“You’re my hero,” Harmony said, running down the stairs. “I love that you stuck up for me.”
“Anytime,” he said. “But it’s the truth. I’d snap if she asked the same things and she knows it.”
“Theo never snaps at anyone,” Erica said, looking at Daisy.
“I do find him pretty mild mannered most times. But we are working on loosening him up so he’s not as serious.”
She watched him blush and the sisters laugh. “Okay,” Harmony said. “Thank you for holding off. Now tell us about yourself and how you met.”
She looked at Theo and he nodded his head. “I’m sure you heard about how he helped rescue a woman from a burning car months ago?”
“Oh, the hero,” Harmony said. “I thought our mother was going to drop of a heart attack when she found out.”
“That woman is my best friend and roommate, Heather. So I first met Theo at the hospital. Then when I brought Heather in for follow-up appointments.”
“If you’re going to tell the story,” he said. “Tell it all. You begged to go so you could get a look at me again.”
She laughed and flipped the bread in the hot pan while the other pieces were soaking. “Your brother is right. He’s serious but in a cute way. I did have to keep getting a look at him, but I figured we’d have nothing in common. Then I ran into him again a little over two months ago when I was picking up pizza and he was getting his dinner. We exchanged numbers and then have been dating ever since. When we can find the time. It’s not easy with his job or mine right now.”