Page 20

Theo nods, a mix of relief and something else—hope, maybe?—flashing across his features. "I know. I just...I've missed you, Skylark."
The nickname sends a shiver down my spine, and I turn away to hide the effect he still has on me. "Let's just talk," I say, leading him towards the couch. "And maybe you can explain how I've managed to land smack in the middle of what feels like a soap opera plot."
I flop back onto the couch, my body sinking into the cushions as if they could swallow me whole. The wine bottle sits temptingly on the coffee table, and I reach for it, foregoing any pretense of civility. As I take a long swig directly from the bottle, I catch Theo's wince from the corner of my eye.
"That bad, huh?" he asks, his voice a mixture of concern and amusement.
I lower the bottle, letting out a sardonic laugh. "You have no idea."
Theo settles onto the opposite end of the couch, his body angled toward me. The familiar scent of his cologne wafts over, stirring memories I've tried hard to bury. I push them aside, focusing on the present.
"Look, Sky," he begins, running a hand through his tousled brown curls. "I know this situation with the kids complicates things, but...I still want you. Please, don't end this now when I've only just found you again."
His words hang in the air between us, heavy with implication. I take another sip of wine, buying time as I process the emotions swirling inside me. Part of me wants to leap into his arms, toreclaim what we once had. But the walls I've built around my heart stand firm.
"Theo," I say, my voice coming out harsher than intended. "You can't just waltz back into my life and expect everything to be the same. Do you have any idea what I've been through?"
He leans forward, his green eyes intense. "Tell me, Sky. Help me understand."
I sigh, flopping back against the cushions. "First, explain something to me. How the hell did you end up living next door with tweedle-asshole and his brother tweedle-oblivious?"
Theo's lips twitch at my nicknames, a ghost of a smile appearing. "It's...complicated," he begins.
"I've got time," I retort, gesturing with the wine bottle. "And plenty of liquid courage. So spill, Shepherd. How did you end up playing house with the billionaire brothers?"
Theo runs his knuckles along his stubbled jaw, a nervous habit I remember all too well. "It started at boarding school," he begins, his voice soft with reminiscence. "The one my parents shipped me off to after...well, after us."
The memory stings, and I take another swig of wine to dull the pain.
"Austin and Cohen were there too. We weren't close at first, but we found common ground. After graduation, we ended up at the same college, and that's when things really clicked. We became inseparable."
I raise an eyebrow. "Inseparable? That's not the Theo I remember."
He shrugs, a rueful smile playing on his lips. "People change, Sky. We all did. After college, we started a business together. When they decided to live together post-divorce, it just...made sense for me to join them."
I process this information, trying to reconcile the Theo I knew with this new version. "So you're what, the three musketeers now?"
"Something like that," he chuckles, then his expression turns serious. "But Sky, none of that changes how I feel about you. Seeing you again...it's like no time has passed at all."
But time has passed. So much time. Time in which he never once looked for me. The only reason he’s here now is because I almost literally fell into his lap. My heart races, old emotions bubbling to the surface. I want to give in, to lose myself in those green eyes and gentle hands. But the scars run deep.
"Theo, I can't..." I start, my voice barely above a whisper. "I can't go back to what we were. Too much has happened. I'm not that girl anymore."
The hurt in his eyes is palpable, like I'm breaking his heart into a million tiny pieces. I can't bear to see him in pain, so I add, "It can't be more than sex, Theo. That's all I can offer."
His gaze intensifies, a mix of desire and determination. "I'll take whatever you're willing to give, Skylark. As long as it means I get to be with you again."
I swallow hard, wondering if I've just made a terrible mistake or the best decision of my life.
Theo leans in, his breath warm against my cheek. I press my hand against his chest, feeling his heart thundering beneath my palm. "Wait," I say, my voice steadier than I feel. "There are rules."
His eyes search mine, a flicker of hurt still visible beneath the heat. "Rules?"
I nod, steeling myself. "No kissing. No sleeping over. No dates." I take a deep breath, willing my voice not to waver. "Nothing between us during the day. You can come to the carriage house at night or on weekends. That's it."
Theo's jaw clenches, but he doesn't argue. Instead, he says softly, "I'll take whatever you're willing to give me, Skylark."
Every time he says that nickname, it sends a jolt through me, memories of whispered promises and stolen moments flooding back. I push them away, reminding myself why I need these boundaries.