Page 98 of The Fates We Tame

This was the other thing I thought of as I huddled with Briar in the medical room. I have a man. A very attractive and attentive one who reassures me I’m beautiful most days in both his words and actions. It’s time I believed it. Not just that Theo is a good man in saying them, but that deep down, at the most visceral level, I believe I’m beautiful as I am.

Even if my definition of beautiful didn’t come anywhere close to the traditional standards.

I could own what I had.

When we get downstairs, Rae and King are already in the kitchen. “We made coffee. Hope you don’t mind,” Rae says.

“Fine with us,” Theo says as if it’s always been the two of us.

King glances up from his phone. “You headed to the clubhouse? The builders are arriving to patch up the front wall.”

“I’ve got a few errands. Need to take Sophia to meet the lawyer and to pick up a few things she needs, seeing we split the center so quickly.”

Clutch walks bleary-eyed into the kitchen. He’s shirtless, and I can see why Gwen might be the way she is with a man like thatat home. But there’s something about Theo’s leaner, fitter frame that makes me blush.

“Morning,” he says, his tone a rolling grumble, before pouring himself a cup of coffee.

It’s amazing how at ease these people are in Theo’s home.

“Take two escorts with you,” King says. “Clutch, you free to take Switch and Sophia to the lawyers?”

“Yeah, Gwen’s just getting ready for work. If we can go past the hotel on the way so I can drop her off, that would work,” Clutch says. “I’ll go tell her to get moving and get Vex to come with.”

We finish up and travel to the lawyer’s office in Theo’s truck. There’s a biting cold wind, the kind that churns up the sea into a dirty, sandy, foamy wash. Theo loaned me a thick leather jacket with a fleecy warm lining. It’s way too big, but it’s comforting.

Unlike the look on Theo’s face when my lawyer says he needs a moment with me alone before Theo can join us.

“Sophia. So good to meet you,” Al Huston says as he shakes my hand. Then he leads me to a sofa opposite two taller chairs. Despite being guided to the sofa, I take the chair. It’ll be easier to get out of when this meeting is done.

Al sits opposite me, opening the button on his jacket as he sits before rearranging the glasses on his nose.

“You too. Thank you so much for fitting me in.”

“I needed to have a word with you first for my own peace of mind.” He runs a hand through his white-as-snow hair. He glances in the direction of the closed door. “You are absolutely here under your own volition?”

“Volition?”

“Your own choice.”

I nod. “Oh. Yes. One hundred percent.”

“Good. Good. I would have found you a discrete way out of the building if not. But I am glad you are here by your ownmaking. And one last question before we let Switch join us. Are you married by your own choice too?”

I glance down at the ring that sits on my finger. “Absolutely. I’m happy to be married to Theo. And you should be grateful that I know how to keep the peace,Al, because I won’t mention you doubting his character to Switch.”

I use his road name deliberately and deliver the lines with a smile.

“Of course. Of course. We can invite Theo to join us.” He hurries to the door and opens it wide for Theo to come in.

There are frown lines on his brow when he enters. “You okay, Sparrow?”

I smile. “Al was legally obligated to ensure I was here of my own accord and not under duress, but I explained we’re very happy together.”

Theo’s shoulders drop, and he smiles before taking my hand and kissing over my ring. “Understatement of the fucking year, Sparrow. So, what’s the deal?”

It takes about an hour for us to pull together a full plan with Huston’s guidance. We make calls, get witness statements. Dr. Polunin is as good as her word and has already begun the process of getting statements from the relevant members of staff at the center. And we submit a legal request for return of access to all my financial accounts.

When we leave, everyone relaxes. “You don’t like lawyers?” I ask.