“Pain in the arse. Theo needs all the luck he can get, being tied to you.”
“Love you too, Dad,” I say with a smile, backing out of the room.
“Do you want dinner?” Piper asks before I disappear.
“If it’s okay with you.”
“Always, Emmie. You know that.”
“Thank you,” I say, holding her eyes, hoping like hell she knows just how much I mean that.
“You’re more than welcome, sweetheart.”
“I’m going to be staying at Theo’s at the weekends. Get out of your hair.” They both nod in agreement. “But most school nights, I’ll be home.”
“Just let us know if anything changes.”
Feeling a little of the emotional meltdown that hit me this morning beginning to resurface, I continue to back up until I’m able to run up the stairs and lock myself in my room.
It feels weird, being alone in here again. There’s a part of me that wonders if it was all a really fucked-up dream. But then I look down at my ring and recall just a few of the memories, the bad and the good from the past few weeks, and I’m reminded that all of it was very real. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
* * *
Ilie in bed later that night, waiting for Theo to message me back.
The tracker that he synced to my phone shows me that he left his parents’ place not so long ago and that he’s heading home.
I feel weird, stalking him after all the grief I’ve given him about him following me. But it’s weirdly comforting, seeing his little dot moving, knowing that he’s safe, knowing where he’s heading. Although, I must admit that I’m a little disappointed he’s not heading this way to check the situation with my window—which, of course, is open.
I blow out a breath, my exhaustion starting to get the better of me, but I refuse to give in until I know he’s home and I’ve spoken to him.
Those intentions are great and all, but when my phone finally vibrates in my hand, it scares the shit out of me and makes my eyelids fly open.
His Lordship: Do you have that tablet Seb gave you to hand?
I blink at the screen as my vision clears.
“Shit,” I breathe, realising that I’ve actually been asleep a while.
Emmie: Yeah, hang on.
Throwing the covers off, I pad across the room, shivering as I go with the coldness from the open window, and pull it from my bag.
I’ve already got a message waiting for me when I get back.
His Lordship: You dressed for me. Do you have any idea how hard that makes me?
My stomach flips at his words, and my heart begins to race, knowing that he’s watching me.
Emmie: I thought you’d like it, boss.
His Lordship: I’d prefer to see it on the floor.
Turning to where I now know one of the cameras is, I bite down on my bottom lip and lift the hem of my cami, exposing my belly to him.
He starts typing immediately.
His Lordship: You’re a tease, Mrs. Cirillo.