Page 49

Chapter Forty-Nine

THEODORE

Six Weeks Later

“ A re you sure about this?” Not one to usually doubt myself, but in this situation, doubting myself seems natural. My arm is looped around Aurora’s waist, keeping her tucked into my side as we walk the green and white tiled hallways together.

She leans her head against my shoulder. “Wouldn’t be doing this if I wasn’t sure,” is her response. She does not allow me to continue with that thought process, but she speaks again. “I like this place a lot better, by the way. There’s more color. It feels like it’s meant for the living.”

“I’m taking that as a thank you.”

Aurora huffs in response as she stops at Room 57. Her knuckles tap against the cracked door before she pushes it open. A smile etches over her lips. “Dad?”

Tobias Bennet is a tall man, even sitting down. His blond hair is freshly washed and combed out of his clean-shaven face. He’s wearing a blue t-shirt with a white stripe across the chest. When he sees Aurora walk through the door, there’s a light in those familiar green eyes and a smile tugging at the edges of his lips. A small hint of one.

Aurora’s hand slips into mine, pulling me into the room with her. “Hi, Dad. This is Theodore. He’s the one who paid for you to get transferred here. He’s also…” She hesitates over the word for a moment, teeth worrying her bottom lip.

I want to jump in and fill that gap for her, but this is something she has to do on her own.

“My boyfriend,” she finishes.

Stepping forward, I offer a smile that I hope screams ‘charming’ and not ‘deceptive psychopath who you don’t want anywhere near your daughter’. Tobias tries to lift his hand and after a glance at Aurora, double checking that it’s okay, I reach out and take his hand in mine.

I don’t shake it; I give it a gentle squeeze instead. “It’s really nice to meet you, Mr. Bennet.”

From the way he looks at me, I’m ninety-nine percent certain that his man hates me. Not a surprise. Most people do. I get it.

Aurora has her arms crossed over her chest as she stands beside me, a little smirk on her face. “He doesn’t like to be called Mr. Bennet. Makes him feel old. He prefers to be called Tobias.”

Ah. Okay. No sudden hatred? That’s better. Although she definitely could have told me that in the car.

“Got it. Sorry, Tobias.” Dropping his hand, I shove mine in the front pockets of my slacks.

Walking over, I plop down into one of the tan leather chairs in the corner of Tobias’s room, watching as Aurora comes to life talking to her father. She’s a little ray of sunshine, catching him up on every detail of her life.

In the middle of her rambling, she walks over to the minifridge by his TV. She opens it and frowns. “You’re out of Root Beer, Dad. I’m going to go see if I can get some more from the kitchens.” Then she scampers off, leaving me alone with Tobias.

Being left alone with your girlfriend’s father who doesn’t speak is one hell of an awkward position. Do I talk to him even if he can’t respond? What do I even say? Something to make him like me? I don’t know how to make people like me. It’s not something I generally care about.

But this is for Roo.

I look over at Tobias. “She’s something special, huh? You’ve been watching her on Tuesday nights, right? Your nurse says you have. I think after her blow-off match with Juliette she’s going to get pushed into the title scene. She should. She’s amazing.” I’m rambling. I’m sure I sound like a pathetic puppy trying to make a good impression.

He’s looking at me, and I’m not convinced he doesn’t hate me, no matter what Aurora says. “She’s different,” I add. “For me. I fell in love with Roo before I even knew what love was, I think. My life would suck without her. I’m definitely not the best guy for her. Roo could do so much better, but she chose me so that has to mean something, right?”

I shrug. “Or maybe your daughter has shitty taste in men.”

That’s not the best thing to say to your girlfriend’s dad, but it’s true. Tobias should know the truth. Before I can make myself look even worse, Aurora’s back with a few cans of Root Beer tucked in her arms. As she puts them away in the fridge, she recounts how nice the nurse was about the situation and how she’ll make sure he’s kept stocked up on his Root Beer.

As she finishes her story, Tobias opens his mouth. She stops and tilts her head, worry filling the eyes that I know so well. “Dad? Is everything okay? Do you need something?”

His hand moves forward, resting on her forearm. His mouth opens and closes a few more times as if he’s trying to remember how to form words. “Roo,” he finally says. His voice is rough, shaky from not being used for God knows how long. “Proud.”

Tears fill Aurora’s eyes, threatening to spill down her cheeks. Every part of me wants to comfort my girl, but that’s not my job right now. This is a moment for the two of them that I’m honored to bear witness to.

She puts a hand over her mouth, holding back a choked sob. “Dad?” Her arms wrap around his shoulder, hugging him tightly.

After that, it’s not like Tobias becomes a chatterbox. It was progress though. We stay with him for a few more hours, watching the Fleetwood Mac concert and helping him with dinner. Aurora is the dutiful daughter, feeding him bites of mashed potatoes as she tells him all about Rumour, New York, and me .

She’s blessed by a few shaky, real smiles throughout her stories. Like when she tells him about how Rumour was adopted by me, but the kitten loves her more.

As we’re leaving, she hugs him again and kisses his forehead. I give his hand another squeeze. “I’m taking care of her. Don’t worry,” I tell him. “Focus on yourself, because she needs you, all right?”

Walking out of the facility, my arm wraps around Aurora’s shoulders, and I pull her against me. Leaning over, I press a soft kiss to the side of her head. “I told you Roo was a good nickname. So much better than Rory .” I say the name with mock disgust.

“You still can’t just rename people whenever you want, Theo.”

“I think we can let it slide this time, baby doll.”