Page 32 of My Wildest Obsession

“I don’t like thinking about it. It wasn’t exactly a Disney childhood,” he says sarcastically. and I frown.

“Tell me about it now,” I say, and his hands clench into fists.

“My mom was a drug addict and alcoholic. I never knew who my dad was. I don’t think that she did either. She had a never ending stream of men that came through the house and none of them lasted long.”

“I’m sorry, Theo,” I say softly and he nods, his jaw tight.

“I promised myself from a young age that I would never rely on anyone for anything. I was going to be successful; I was going to be the best. All by myself. I was happy with work, with my friends. Then I met you and I started to want… more.”

“Your Aunt Cheryl?” I ask, and he fidgets.

“My mom was estranged from her family. They didn’t even know about me until just after I turned eighteen. My mom had overdosed and they were contacted about her son. To be fair, they stepped up once they learned about me. Cheryl paid for college and my grandparents invited me around. They passed a few years later though and we never really had much of a relationship.”

“So, it’s just you and Cheryl?” I ask, and he nods.

“And her family. I’m not close to them either though.”

“Yeah, because you keep everyone at arms length!” I point out.

“I know,” he admits. “It’s hard for me to open up to people.”

“Yeah, I know. I’ve worked for you for eighteen months and it feels like I barely know you.”

“You know me, Clara. Better than anyone,” he says, staring at me intently.

I know that he’s right. There’s something about him that clicks for me. It’s like we’re matching halves and when we’re together, we just fit. I understand him, because he’s so much like me.

We’re both driven, both want to be successful and make something of ourselves away from our families. We’re both workaholics who love to argue and win.

“What’s with you and tacos?” I blurt out, and he blinks.

“It was all that I ate when I was a kid. They were cheap, a dollar from Taco Bell. We lived a block away from there and I used to scrounge up change and go buy myself a taco whenever I could. There wasn’t a lot of food in the house,” he says.

I can tell that talking about all of this is making him uncomfortable, but he’s doing it.

For me.

“I’ll tell you whatever you want to know, Clara. I’ll do anything that you want. Just please, come back to Los Angeles with me. Come back to work. Come back home. We can work it out. Please, I need you. I love you. Please,” he begs, and I swallow hard.

“You love me?” I ask, and he nods.

“More than anything.”

“What if I say no or that I need more time?” I ask him, and he looks panicked.

“Then I’ll stay here. I’ll find somewhere to stay nearby and we can talk every day.”

My heart soars when he says that. He’s willing to put work to the side… for me. He’s choosing me.

“I love you,” I whisper, and he blinks.

He looks like he’s afraid to believe me so I smile and say it again.

“I love you, Theo. I have since the beginning too.”

“Thank fuck,” he breathes, reaching for me.

His lips find mine and I smile as he kisses me.

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