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Chapter Thirty-Six

THEODORE

A urora goes quiet after that, her hand grasping mine. I’ll be damned if I let her go until she’s ready. I don’t know if she actually believes me or not, but I know that I’ll do anything in my power to make things better for her. That’s all I’ve been doing, even if she doesn’t see it that way.

Eventually, I hear her breathing turn softer. When I glance over at her, I realize that she’s fallen asleep and Rumour is asleep in her hair. She needs to eat something and get out of bed at some point today. We’ll work on that when she wakes up.

I lean down and brush my lips over her temple. She stirs, pressing her face into my lips before she goes back to a still sleep. A smile spreads over my lips. My baby doll is the sweetest creature.

Careful not to wake her, I shift out of bed. Rumour lifts her head, looks at me, and then goes back to sleep. I think the cat already likes Aurora more than she likes me.

Staying quiet, I leave the bedroom, only to find the TV on in the living room. Kai is on the couch, looking up at me when I step out. “Is she okay?”

“Why are you still here? ”

He awkwardly rubs the back of his neck. “Because I didn’t know what else to do. Jules asked me to come over and I just…I was worried about Aurora. She told me to leave but I didn’t want to leave her alone and—”

Jesus fuck. With the way he’s stressed out, you’d think that it was his private photos that got leaked. “Amazing how many men turn into puppies when Juliette Stanton is involved,” I muse out loud, and Kai blushes. Darkly .

Curious.

I plop down on the couch next to him, throwing my arms over the back of it, making myself comfortable as if I own the place. “She went to sleep,” I add. “I think I got her to stop spiraling.”

Kai nods, looking down at his hands. “She’s worked so hard. I just don’t want her to lose anything.”

“She won’t. I won’t let that happen.”

He goes quiet before he asks, “Do you love Rory?”

No one’s asked me that before. Love is…complicated. I don’t know if I’ve ever experienced love before. Maybe my parents love me in their own way.

Veronica was a possession. It was mutually beneficial. She was a gorgeous woman to have on my arm. I could finance a lifestyle that made her happy. But it wasn’t love. I never loved her.

Staring ahead at the TV, I pop my lips and nod slowly. “I think I do.”

“She deserves to be loved.”

“Do you…?”

“I love Aurora as a friend,” he reiterates. “I love her as a person. She’s amazing and talented, but I’m not in love with her,” Kai says, and I have no reason to, but I believe him. Quietly he adds, “I don’t think I’ve ever been in love.”

This would be a perfect bonding moment for me to say that I haven’t either, but that’s not me. We’re not about to get deep in our feelings on Aurora’s couch while she sleeps. I got the information I needed. He doesn’t want my girl, which means he’s fine to keep around. He’s not a threat.

“We’re done here,” I say, smacking my hands against my thigh as I stand up. “I’ll have Roo text you when she’s feeling better. But I got her, alright? You can tell Juliette that I relieved you of your duties, puppy.”

That blush is back over his cheeks as he stands, shuffling away from the couch. “Right, okay. Thanks and…be good to Aurora, please?”

“I will as soon as she lets me.” I wave as he slips out the front door.