Page 24 of Theodore

But now, watching the Incredible Hulk smash a city up while he caressed my neck, I realized his mother was grinning at me.

She knew.

“Hey, baby!” Laura cooed as Theo’s dad, Alonzo, walked in.

His emerald green eyes flickered over to me as he playfully smacked Theo on the back of his head.

“What’s this beautiful girl doing with you?” Alonzo asked as he leaned down, kissing his wife.

Their passion was evident as she blushed deeply, her silvery blonde hair falling onto her tanned shoulders when he gazed at her. “Come to think of it, how isthisbeautiful lady still here, married tome?”

“Trust me, Pap. This girl is making me work for it.” Theo laughed.

His parents shared a look of surprise when he smirked at them.

“Yeah, we’ve—”

“Don’t finish that sentence.Seriously.” I interrupted as his dad laughed loudly.

“She got you whipped, boy? Maybe sheiswife material. It took you both long enough,” Alonzo said as I blushed.

Laura sent me a sympathetic look as Theo laughed.

“No,maybepapa. I’mgonnamarry this girl.”

There it is again—marriage talk.

“Can we date first?” I asked wide-eyed.

Theo smacked his head in disbelief.

“That’s right!” he exclaimed as his eyes glinted mischievously, his arm snaking around my waist. His parents left the room, making their way to the kitchen.

“We need to go on a date. I’m sorry, I seem to have skipped that stage entirely,” Theo said, his lips meeting mine.

I responded eagerly, not able to get enough of his touch, his taste. “De Luca,” I teased, pulling away. “A date isseriousstuff. It means you’re interested in getting to know me as aperson.”

He frowned, moving further away from me.

“You think I don’t know you as aperson?” Theo asked in disbelief as I shifted on the sofa, tucking my leg beneath me for comfort.

“Do you?”

“Your favorite food in the world is cake––Carrot cake. You have a crush on Tom Hardy, purely because of his lips. You love the rain," he continued as my breath quickened. “Because you fall asleep listening to it hammering against your window. Your favorite color is grey, and youalwayspick off the pineapple on a Hawaiian pizza because you only like the juice on it, not the actual fruit. You’ve liked me as long as I’ve liked you and never dared to do something about it because we were best friends.”

Theo dropped his gaze as he held my hand in his, and any resolve I had about us disappeared.

Wow. Okay.

“So, where are we going on our date?” I asked as he smiled.

“I’m your best friend. I knowexactlywhat you want.”

He stood, pulling me to my feet as I frowned at him.

“Don’t I need to get ready?”

“Phillips,” Theo said, pulling me closer to him as he nuzzled his head against my neck. I groaned with delight. “You’reperfect, just like that. No effort required.”