Chapter Fifty-Six

Danica

I could swear I was floating, flying on the wind, but that can’t be possible because now I am lying on clouds, so soft and fluffy, that I can’t help but snuggle further into their comforting embrace. As my mind slips back into the oblivion of a peaceful sleep, I almost thought I caught a whiff once more of that spicy aroma and felt something soft brush my hair. But it is probably all just a part of these sweet dreams. And then I feel something grab me.

“Eeeekkkkkk!” An ear-splitting shriek pierces the room as instinct takes over. I may not be fully awake, but it takes me less than a minute to have my attacker off me and crashing to the floor.

“Jesus, woman! Che cazzo! It’s just me!”

Wild eyes frantically search the room, taking in the space around me. Wild curls flying every which way, I quickly throw aside the blanket which has become tangled around my waist as I fight to catch my breath.

“Theo?”His name is breathless on my lips as I take in the sight before me.

Theo is sprawled out on the floor, just off the edge of the bed, legs splayed out. Buck-ass naked, dick half-hard and pulsing, his chiseled abs are heaving almost as hard as mine as he fights to catch his own breath. Hair mussed, and eyes wild, as if he is looking for an intruder himself. The sight is so ridiculous that I can’t help the burst of laughter that escapes me.

“What the fuck was that for?” He glares indignantly at me and I can’t help the shit-eating grin on my face as I shrug, aiming for some semblance of nonchalance.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Woman!” The grin falls from my face as he comes to his feet, hands on his waist as he towers over me, and my jaw drops. Holy hell, he is beautiful. Really, there is no other way to describe him. The years have definitely been kind to Theo in the looks department. Chiseled abs, highlighted by the intricate weave of tattoos that have expanded since I last saw them,give way to a tapered waist, highlighting his ‘V,’ and the little happy trail that used to make me. . . well. . . happy. Thick, muscular thighs, and from this angle, I can just make out an ass I would kill to take a bite out of. Then, there is the matter of the large, hard dick now pulsing against his stomach.

“Eyes up here, la mia diavoletta.” I swallow thickly as I force my gaze upward, past Theo’s well-defined tattooed chest and arms, away from the piercing gleaming in the early morning sunlight, until I meet his gaze. I flush, my cheeks burning under his amused smirk. He caught me looking and he damn-well liked it. But then, I hate to admit it, so did I.

“Want to try again, and tell me what you just did there?” He crosses those strong arms that once held me so tight, and it takes great effort not to let my gaze linger there.

Forcing a calm I do not feel as I try to ignore my flaming cheeks, I give it my all as I try to glare at him. “Want to tell me what you were doing in the bed, grabbing me? Completely naked , I might add.”

Giving me his classic “Hoodie Guy” scowl that I used to know and love, he drawls, “You mean, why was I sleeping in my bed? After we had the hottest fucking sex of my life, twice?”

Oh shit. I didn’t think . . . I mean, clearly, I didn’t have a chance to think. I was sleeping so well, and then I just felt someone grabbing me. My body reacted on instinct before I even had a chance to process what was happening around me, too used to years of sleeping alone.

He continues, “I can’t help it if, during my sleep, you rolled into me and snuggled up like you were the little spoon, scooting your fine ass against my dick.” Raising an eyebrow at me, he grins and I want to smack the smug look right off his damn face. “You could catch a fly with your trap open like that, la mia diavoletta. ”

Abruptly, my jaw snaps shut. I hadn’t even realized that I was gaping. “You!” I splutter, words failing me, and he winks, bending down and placing a quick kiss on my lips, effectively shutting me up. Before I can form the words to protest, he turns on his heel strutting into the bathroom, his chiseled ass a mouth-watering sight as my gaze trails after him. Blinking, I raise shaky fingers to my mouth. What the fuck just happened?

Theo is waiting for me in the kitchen when I finally drag my shell-shocked ass out of the shower forty minutes later. I pull up short when I see Muscles and Dimples sitting at the counter across from him, drinking coffee.

“Oh, um. Sorry, did I interrupt something?”

Looking up at me from across the room, Theo brightens, smiling widely at me. “There’s my girl. You’re not interrupting, il mio passerotto. Got your coffee right here.” He gestures for the seat next to him, and sure enough, I see a tumbler waiting for me. I look between the three men, hesitating for only a brief moment before deciding, fuck it, coffee waits for no man, and make my way over to my seat.

As I move to take a sip, Theo sets a plate of steaming hot food in front of me, before continuing, “So, what are your plans for the day?”

My brows furrow, unsure if he is speaking to me or the men sitting across from me.

“Danica?”

“Oh! Well,” I raise my wrist to glance at my watch before looking over to Theo. “Well, generally, I would be making my way to the office by now, but I’m not sure what the plans are with Jonathan. There’s a chance that he will be discharged today, and I promised I would bring him home and get him settled if the doctors felt he was well enough to be discharged.”

I chew on my lower lip, considering everything that needs to be done. “If I am getting him today, then I at least need to get back home to grab my work laptop so I can work remotely. There is a bunch of admin stuff that I can catch up on, and we have enough staff today that I don’t technically need to be on site.”

Theo frowns at me, before flicking his gaze over to his men across the way. Man, I really need to try and remember their names. “That’s not a problem. Darrion can run over to your place and grab anything that you need while Jayce takes you to the hospital. I already spoke with Finn this morning, and it does sound like your friend should be discharged by early afternoon. But ,” he stresses, “we are both in agreement that you shouldn’t be going anywhere by yourself right now, alright? If you need to leave for any reason, if you need to go anywhere other than my place or the hospital, Jayce will take you where you need to go. Promise me, Danica.”

Frowning at his words, I can’t help the slightly petulant tone as I respond, “What about you?”

He grins back at me, his arrogant response reminding me so much of when we first met all those years ago. “Miss me already, la mia diavoletta?”

I huff, stabbing my eggs with more force before bringing the fork to my mouth as I mutter. “Not likely.” Rolling my eyes, I continue, “I meant, what are you going to be doing while Muscles and Dimples here play babysitter again all day?”

With that, I shove the piping hot eggs in my mouth and have to force down a groan as my eyes roll back in my head. God, I forgot just how good his cooking is. And apparently, I worked up quite the appetite after last night.

Noting the pleasure that I can’t hide, Theo just laughs, shaking his head. “I have some unfinished business with Tony that I need to clear up this morning, and then I have to head to the stadium to prep for our game tonight. I would really like you to come though, if you’re up for it?”

His words are hesitant, and I can see the uncertainty in his eyes at his request. I hadn’t willingly gone to one of his games since he broke up with me. The last one that I attended for Bash didn’t count. I swallow nervously. If I do this, it's all but sealing the deal on this. . . whatever this is. Confirming that we are getting back together. Can I do it? There is still so much left unsaid, so much that we didn’t get to discuss last night. I’m not so sure.

Muscles and Dimples, or rather, Darrion and Jayce, wisely choose to remain silent as they continue drinking their coffee, acting as if they don’t hear a word we are saying. I’m not sure what exactly is happening here between us, but clearly, we still have a lot of feelings for one another. I owe it to myself to at least try and see where this thing can go. Knowing it would be pointless to argue with him, to deny him this request after everything that happened last night I nod in agreement, before continuing to eat my food in silence.

“Alright, as promised. Peppermint Bark for you, and Udderly Chocolate for me.” I plop down next to Jonathan on the couch, careful not to bump his arm that is resting in a sling as I place the bowl of ice cream in front of him.

With slow, deliberate movements, he balances the bowl on his lap and uses his good hand to bring a large spoonful to his mouth. Moaning around a mouthful, he mutters “Udderly Chocolate? You heathen! God, this peppermint is heaven in a bowl. What is wrong with you?”

I laugh, rolling my eyes as I take a bite of my own ice cream, swallowing the cool treat before I respond. “I stand by what I said. Peppermint is only good for hot cocoa and candy canes. In anything else, it just tastes like toothpaste.”

He takes an exaggerated bite, pretending to chomp down on the spoon. “Mmm, best damn toothpaste I ever did have.”

Leaning into his side, I nudge him playfully with my shoulder. “There is so much wrong with you, I hope you know that.”

He grins widely, teeth gleaming in his dimmed apartment lights. “Yeah, but you love me anyway.”

I roll my eyes. “Obviously, I would have to after the obnoxious way you treated that poor nurse of yours.”

“Hey now!” He protests, indignantly. “I was not that bad. Can you blame me for wanting to be out of there so we can finally figure out this damn thing with your stalker situation?”

The grin falls from my face. Right. That. I shift uncomfortably, before turning to face the man who has been so much more than just a friend over these last several years. Taking a deep breath, I go to speak, but the look on his face stops me before I can even get a word out.

“You’re back together with him, aren’t you?” His face is dark, words bitter as he glowers down at his half-eaten bowl of ice cream.

“Jay-” I pause, unsure of what to say. “It’s complicated. I don’t. . .” I shake my head, confused by the turmoil of emotions rushing through me.

“Was any of it real? Between us, I mean?”

There is hurt in his eyes as he looks up at me, and I feel a piece of my heart splinter. Oh, Jay. A tear slips down my cheek, and I brush at it angrily. Dammit. I hate crying.

“Of course it was real.” I reach out to grab his hand, the bowl of ice cream now forgotten in his lap. “I care for you, so much. And I know that you care for me too. But this thing between us? You and I both know it was never going to be anything more than this.”

He laughs, but there is no humor in his voice as he responds. “Right. Because of him.”

“Because of me, Jonathan. And because of you. What we are to one another? What you needed from me? And what I needed from you?” I frown, trying to think of the right words to say. “We needed each other to move on from our pasts, to have a safe space to heal. And you are. You have been my safe space, and I will always love you for that. This thing with Theo? Well, I don’t know what we are to each other anymore, I don’t know if we will be able to move past old hurts but I think I owe it to myself to find out. And you deserve to be with someone who can be the partner that you need, who can really love you with everything they have. And regardless of what happens moving forward, you and I both know that I could never be that person for you.”

We both sit there in silence, the remainder of our ice cream melting; neglected like the pieces of our relationship that never quite fit together, because he was always going to be the Peppermint Bark to my Udderly Chocolate.

“Danica?”

“Hmm?”

He reaches out to take my hand.

“If he hurts you again, I’ll kill him.”

I squeeze his hand lightly.

“I know.”