Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
“Don’t forget a knife to cut the cake,” Molly called out from the dining room. Her voice broke up the intense energy between Theo and me, which was probably for the best. I didn’t need to screw my friend’s grandson in her pantry that evening.
Though… I did consider it.
The next few weeks were filled with sex, laughter, and more sex. I should’ve left Westin Lake after the anniversary party and gone on to my next adventure, but for some reason, for the first time in my life, I wanted to keep my feet on solid ground. I didn’t feel like running off to my next stop.
I liked where I’d been a little too much.
Theo and I giggled in the bed after another round of kissing. My favorite part after our hookups was how he held me in his arms. I never felt used after our interactions with one another. If anything, I felt…cherished based on how we talked after sex. Sure, I liked sleeping together. Heck, I loved it. But something was so comforting about the after-sex conversations where we were slightly vulnerable lying there in bed, wrapped around the sheets and each other, talking about any and everything.
“Do you want kids someday?” I randomly asked him.
He pulled me closer to his side and kissed my shoulder. It was so gentle and intimate that I almost forgot we weren’t more than friends.
“I wouldn’t hate the idea,” he said. “What about you?”
“I go back and forth. I didn’t have a mom growing up, so I wonder what it would be like to be one.”
“My mom walked out on me when I was around twelve,” he confessed.
“Wow. I’m sorry. That had to be hard.”
“It was until it wasn’t. Sometimes the best thing a toxic person could do for you was leave you alone.”
“Do you still miss her sometimes?”
“No,” he said shortly, “I just miss the idea of her.”
“I miss the same thing—the idea of my mom. I sometimes wonder…” I started, staring up at the ceiling fan spinning round. “What kind of mother my mom would’ve been to me if she ever had the chance to raise me.”
“Like you,” he said with another kiss on my shoulder. “She would’ve been just like you.”
I lifted my head. “What do you mean by that?”
“She would’ve loved loudly, soothed softly, and been so perfect that even the bad seeds would start to believe in good apples.”
“Theo—”
“Great.” He cut in. “She would’ve been great to you, Willow. And you would be great to a child of your own, too.”
“Careful,” I whispered. “Or else you might start making my heart beat in a way it shouldn’t for you.” A small smile stayed on his face. I bit my bottom lip. “Theo?”
“Yes, Willow?”
“Are we playing with fire?”
Before he could reply, Theo’s phone rang, interrupting us. He glanced over at it, and when he saw the name on the screen, he sat up. He moved to the edge of the bed and answered the call.
“Hey. It’s late. Everything okay?” he asked the person on the other line. The serious stare on his face made me sit up in bed, too. I placed a hand on his shoulder. His body was stiff as a rock. “Okay. Yeah. I hear you. It’s okay. Breathe. Everything’s all right. I’m on my way.”
He hung up the phone, and I felt his entire body sigh against my touch.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Um.” He sighed again and went quiet. He sniffled and spoke once more. “PaPa had a seizure. Grandma a-a-and him are at the hospital. I have to text people to let them know. I need t-t-to dr-dr-drive to the hospital,” he said, standing from the side of the bed. He began pacing as if looking for things, but his mind was swirling too fast for him to settle. I stood and grabbed clothes for him. Followed by socks and his sneakers.
“Here,” I said, placing them in his hands.
“Th-thanks,” he murmured, changing into the clothes. I changed into an outfit, too. He then darted around the house, looking for his keys. I found them on the kitchen island.
“Here,” I said, giving him the keys.
“Th-thanks,” he murmured again, striking his hand through his messy hair.
I put my shoes on as he put his shoes on.
He looked disoriented.
“Here,” I said, holding my hand out toward him. “I’ll take the keys. I’ll drive.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m fine. I can—”
“Theo,” I said, this time a bit firmer. “Don’t worry. I got you. I’ll drive.”
He took in a deep inhalation and released it before he placed the keys into my hand. “Thank you, Willow.”
“Always. Let’s go.”
CHAPTER 25
Molly
Isat in the lobby alone. Waiting for someone to tell me something, anything. Praying for answers but fearing the worst.
The moment Theo and Willow walked into the waiting room, I stood slowly to my feet. Theo’s eyes, which matched his grandfather’s, locked with mine, and I burst into tears. He hugged me instantly and didn’t let go.