Chapter Fifty-One

Danica

I lean back into Theo’s embrace, breathing heavily from the exertion of that (as Sierra would lovingly call it) fuck-fest. Wow. After several minutes, my racing heart finally slows to a more natural rhythm and as I move to stand, Theo grabs me by the waist, helping lift me out of his lap and setting me gently on my feet. I glance around me to find my shorts and underwear, and turn to find Theo standing behind me, holding them in his outstretched hand.

“Theo, I-”

He shakes his head, cutting me off before I can get out another word. “Don’t. I know what you are going to say. Don’t apologize, don’t say it was a mistake. Don’t diminish this moment, okay?”

I search his eyes, desperately seeking answers that I know aren’t there. He’s wrong though, I wasn’t going to apologize or say it was a mistake. Clearly, we needed this. We never really had closure. And the chemistry is obviously still there between us. Maybe this was good thing. We could have one last moment together, get it out of our system, so we can both move forward with our lives. “Okay.” I grab my clothes out of his hold and quickly don them, “Thanks.”

Theo nods once before turning to walk across the room. I watch as he grabs a rag and the disinfectant spray before he comes back, and cleans off our mess from the beam and the mats. As he bends over, I see white handprints marring his back and neck, and streaked through his hair. I can’t help but burst out in laughter. He straightens, quirking a brow at my sudden amusement. “What? ”

I shake my head, peals of laughter making it difficult to get the words out. “I’m sorry- it’s just- you-” I hold my once-chalked hands up in explanation. Seeing what remains of the chalk on my hands, he maneuvers from side to side, turning his head to look over his shoulder, noting the chalk handprints that are smeared along his back, then running a hand through his hair and coming away with a light coating of white dust.

A smirk pulls at the corner of his lips as he rolls his eyes, bending down to pick up his shirt. “Guess I really am your ghost now.” My heart tugs at his comment, if he only knew the truth behind those words. With a mental shake, I try to focus on anything else, not wanting to think about the fact that he has been my hooded ghost, haunting me both in my waking hours and my dreams over the years. Theo makes quick work of pulling his shirt over his head, distracting me from my thoughts, and my mouth waters at the sight of his shifting muscles as he pulls it down further, covering the piercing that had been such an unexpected treat. “Come on, la mia diavoletta.” He holds out his hand to me, “Let’s go home.”

I reach out hesitantly, but he wastes no time grabbing my hand and threading our fingers together. He pulls me off to the side, pausing just long enough to grab his hoodie and pull it over my head, it’s too long hem covering my shorts, the sleeves dangling over my hands. Theo pushes the sleeves up my arms, then slips on his leather jacket, casually draping an arm over my shoulder as he leads me out of the room. This is the most direct contact we have deliberately had in years, tingles of awareness ripple through me, and I can’t help but note how very couple-y this feels. I move to pull away, but he squeezes my shoulder gently, chiding me softly with a look, for trying to leave him.

“Do you need anything from your office?”

I bite my lip as I think. “Um, just my bag.”

“Jayce already grabbed it, let’s lock up and head out.”

The trip back to Theo’s place is filled with silence, each of us too lost in our own thoughts to make any real attempt at meaningful conversation .

He parks his monstrosity of a truck in the fancy underground garage and I reach for the handle to open my door, but he quickly leans across me and swats it away. “Stay!”

As he reaches for his own handle as he shoots me a glare, then quickly rounds to my side. The door swings open, and I roll my eyes at him, crossing my arms over my chest as I shoot him a dry look. “Really? Was that absolutely necessary?”

Theo simply smiles, blue eyes twinkling with amusement as he grabs me by the waist and places me gently on the ground. “You know Ma raised me better than to let my lady open her own door. I would get a smack upside the head for even thinking about it.” Grabbing my arm, he wraps it around his waist before draping his own over my shoulder once more, and guiding me to the elevator. My heart sinks as his words register, his lady. Oh man. We really do need to talk.

He scans his hand on the electronic lock, placing a soft kiss on the top of my head as we quickly make our way to his private floor. The doors glide open quietly, and he guides me inside. Dimples and Muscles are waiting in the entryway, and they both nod in silence at Theo, taking our place on the elevator, as we step into his apartment. Without a word, I watch as the glass doors close and they descend out of view, back to their vehicles waiting below.

I hate to admit it, but it was really nice having their company with me today. Their presence was solid and quiet, and in their own unique way, they reminded me of Theo. Neither had much to say, as they chauffeured me to the coffee shop where I met up with QT and Wolfie for a quick visit before heading off to the hospital. Nor did they say much when we arrived to check on Jonathan, choosing instead, to wait in the hall while I checked on my grumpy friend.

Twelve Hours Earlier

I happened to barge in on him as he was grousing about, giving his very pretty nurse a difficult time. Needless to say, he does not make for a very pleasant patient when he is bedridden. But he’s sitting upright when I walk in, the nurse having just helped him readjust his pillows after administering another round of pain meds .

The poor woman just shoots me a soft smile, murmuring how she’s used to it, as she walks past me and quickly made a beeline for the door.

“I’m pretty sure you just scared away your nurse. Nice going, Quinteros.”

He just glares in response, only softening when I walk up to place a soft kiss on his cheek.

“How’s my favorite convalescent today?”

Trying to cross his arms, he winces in pain before placing them at his side once more.

“Watch it! If you’re not careful, you’re going to rip open your stitches, and then that poor woman is going to have to come right back in here to deal with your grumpy ass again. And lord knows, that wouldn’t be fair to her!” My words of admonishment are softened by the smile on my face. “Seriously, though. How are you feeling?”

Jonathan’s face is weary, though I can tell he is trying to hide it from me. “I’m fine. I would be better if they would just let me go home.” He shoots another glare at the door, presumably directed at the poor woman who just escaped his grumpy ass.

“You need to be nice. That nurse was just trying to do her job, and you are making things harder by being obstinate. I know you don’t like being in here, but according to the doctor I just spoke with out in the hall, if you can manage to behave, you should be out of here in another day or two. Now, I have to go in to work, but I wanted to swing by to see how you are doing first. Is there anything I can get you? Anything you need?” I tug gently at the corner of his sheets, straightening them out, before moving his bedside tray with his water closer to him.

“Not unless you can break me out of this hell hole.” Jonathan’s voice is low as he grumbles belligerently, and I smile once more.

“Sorry bud. That’s your job, not mine, remember? I don’t do the whole rescuing of damsels in distress. If you recall, I have only ever played the role of damsel.”

He rolls his eyes at that, knowing just as well as I that I am fully capable of kicking anyone’s ass, when needed, thanks largely to his years of one-on-one training with me. “Yeah, yeah. So I’ve heard.”

And he has. I know for a fact that he has a full file that breaks down my history in painstaking detail thanks to Finn and my little stalker friend that I have been dealing with.

“Alright then. Suck it up buttercup.” I shoot him a saucy wink before placing another quick kiss to his cheek. “Be good. And you’ll be breaking out of this gin joint in no time. I promise to even buy you ice cream when I take you home. ”

He perks up a little at that. My friend has always been a sucker for ice cream.

“Do I get sex with the ice cream?”

I stick my tongue out at him. “Not unless you can throw me over your shoulder to whisk me away and fulfill all of my wildest fantasies.”

Shooting a pointed direction at his injury, I continue “And tough shit though you may be, I don’t think the doctor would recommend any woman-slinging for a good while yet. So, simmer down there, lover-boy, and take the ice cream that is offered to you.”

His sigh is exaggerated as he responds. “I suppose ice cream will have to do. . . for now.”

At that, I grin, before bending down to place one last quick kiss to his cheek. “Good boy. Now get some rest, and play nice with your nurse. I’ll call you later.”