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Chapter 187
Chapter 187
Chapter 187
Chapter 38 Ayla
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Chapter 38: Ayla
I slowly opened my eyes. The room was dim, but I could tell it was still daylight outside. However, that was the extent of my knowledge of the time or day. I reached for my phone on the bedside table, but it was dead. I smiled. There wasn’t much of a reason to charge it.
I stretched my limbs, rolling over to see Theo sprawled out next to me. I scooted over, draping my arm across his waist and resting my head on his chest. After a moment, his arms came around me, holding me to
him.
“How are you feeling?” he asked without opening his eyes.
“Pretty damn good,” I replied. “You?”
“Same,” he chuckled. “How long have we slept?”
“I have no idea.”
Theo fumbled for his phone and checked the time.
“Well, I think it’s safe to say your heat has passed,” he commented. “We’ve been out about fourteen hours. It’s Sunday afternoon.”
I groaned. “We’re going to have so much to do this week.”
Theo chuckled. “We’ll manage. We’ve got a good team.”
The last few days had been such a blur.
Well, not really a blur. I remembered every second of it. And holy
crap.
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But we definitely had a one–track mind the whole weekend. Theo was right when he told me the waves would become more consistent. It seemed like the last two days we had gone at it non–stop. I couldn’t even begin to describe how incredible it had been. But it was also exhausting. So it was no surprise we had slept as long as we did.
“Is it always like that?” I asked.
“How should I know.” he teased. “But no, I don’t think it’s like that for everybody. I think it was better for us because I love you so much.”
I giggled. “Yeah, I suppose so.”
He kissed me sweetly.
“I’m going to take a quick shower, then get us something to eat,” Theo informed me, brushing my hair from my face. “I’m sure we’re both dehydrated, and I know I’m starving.”
“I’m not going to lie. I could eat an entire cow right about now,” I replied. “So, you clean up first. I’ll go get started with the food.”
“Deal,” he said, kissing my nose before dragging himself out of bed.
He tossed me a robe from the hook in the bathroom, and I heard the shower turn on soon after. My legs were a bit wobbly as I stood up. I laughed, knowing there were a number of reasons why. But lack of food was definitely one of them. So I eagerly went to the kitchen and looked through the fridge. Immediately, I found two large steaks on the top shelf and took them out. I washed my hands, prepped some veggies, and threw a couple of potatoes in the oven to bake. I was munching on some fresh green beans when Theo entered the kitchen.
“My turn,” I announced. “I left the steaks for you to cook. I hope you saved me some hot water.”
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“There should be plenty,” he said, snagging me by the waist as I walked by. He kissed my neck before letting me go.
I took a quick shower. I was tempted to linger under the hot water for a while, but my stomach wasn’t having it. When I stepped out of the steamy bathroom, my mouth instantly started watering. The house was filled with the delicious aroma of dinner. I rushed back to the kitchen but froze when I saw Theo on his phone. His shoulders were tense, his knuckles white as he gripped the counter.
“I said Tuesday, Kingston.”
Shit. He was talking to Kingston. Was he here? I completely forgot he was supposed to arrive on Friday to help us deal with the rogue situation. Did he know what was going on with Theo and me? Goddess, I f***ing hope not. Theo looked up at me, his eyes full of aggravation and concern.
“If you show up tomorrow, you’ll be wasting your time,” Theo said mildly, but I could see he was working to control his temper. “We won‘ t be there. You can come on Tuesday.”
He paused as Kingston replied to him. I couldn’t quite make out what he was saying at first, just that his tone was angry. Then I heard my
name.
“Fine,” Theo conceded. “She’s right here.” Theo covered the phone receiver. “Are you okay talking to him? You absolutely don’t f***ing have to.”
I sighed and took the phone.
“Kingston, it’s me.”
“Ayla,” he said, sounding relieved. “Are you okay? Why haven’t you been answering me?”
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“I’m fine, Kingston,” I assured him. “I… I haven’t been home in a few days and my phone is dead.”
It wasn’t a lie. He paused for a while on the line. I could tell he was trying to decide whether he was going to accept that answer and leave it at that. I really needed him to.
“Theo is saying I need to come on Tuesday,” he said shortly. “But if you want, I’ll be there tomorrow.”
“No,” I said. “We won’t be available tomorrow. Tuesday will work great.”
Another pause.
“Fine,” he replied. “I’ll see you then. Oh, and Ayla…”
“Yeah?”
“I’ve missed you,” he said gently.
–
My heart broke a little. At that moment, talking to him – yeah, I missed my friend. But I had a hard time believing he was that person anymore. And even if I could, there was no way I could say it back, not without feeling like I was sending mixed signals.
“I have to go, Kingston,” I said sadly,
“I’ll see you on Tuesday.”
I hung up the phone and handed it back to Theo. He sighed as he pulled me to him, wrapping me in his arms as he kissed my head.
“You okay?” he murmured against my wet hair.
I nodded. “I don’t want to keep hurting him. Theo,” I said quietly. “I
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had hoped he was moving on, but the way he sounded just now…‘
”
Theo’s hold tightened. “I know, baby,” he replied. With a deep breath, Theo led me to the kitchen table. He sat down and pulled me between his legs. “It was his choice to come here. Whether or not I’m happy about it, we kind of need him for the moment. So, maybe we can get more than just some information from this visit. Maybe we can help him find some closure, as well.”
“I don’t know how to do that,” I said.
“That’s why I said ‘we,‘ babe,” he teased, brushing his nose against
mine.
“I don’t think that you threatening to rip him limb from limb is going to help with the situation,” I said firmly.
Theo chuckled. “As fun as that sounds, that’s not what I meant, sweetheart,” he said. “I’m not sure how to do it, either, but I’m willing to try. And not just for your sake.”
“Really?” I asked skeptically.
“Hell, yeah,” he replied. “It would keep both me and Kieran from going insane from thinking about him pining away after our mate.”
“Ha ha,” I replied.
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