“I do trust you. You hold my life in the palm of your hand. You’re the only person who knows and the only person who matters.”
He wraps his arms around me, pulling me to his chest, and kisses the top of my head. “I’m your family now.Me, my brothers, and my parents.”
THIRTY-THREE
Theo
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU FIND OUT the woman you love killed her husband?
Run?
Stay?
Call the cops?
Each can be the right choice, depending on the situation. Only one fitsmysituation.
Thalia and I spent the rest of the day on the couch, talking and watching “Ozark”. Well, she was watching while I replayed what she told me earlier, waiting for fear or doubt to creep in. Waiting for the sane response to arrive. After all, I’m holding a woman whokilled. I’m holding a woman who slit a man’s wrists. A woman who successfully blackmailed the former president of Greece into getting out of jail time and succeeded.
And at the same time, I’m holding a woman who helped a friend when she was too drunk to see reason. A woman who saved a stranger from being raped by confronting Asher. A woman who made sure my dog was safe and secure before she faced Kai. A woman who brought out the best in me and jolted me into feeling alive and happier than I’ve ever been.
Fear and doubt fail to arrive. I’m peaceful of all things, proud and grateful that she stumbled into my life.
Thalia nodded off a while ago, but the show keeps playing as a background to my internal monologue. She’s so beautiful, cuddling into me as if I’m all she needs. As if I’m all she has.
Jesus fucking Christ.
Iamall she has.
There are friends and my family, but I might just be the only person who loves her, and that thought constricts my throat. I pull a blanket higher, tucking her in, careful not to hurt her shoulder. My fingers sweep up and down her arm in a monotonous, steady rhythm.
I drift back to when I thought she was pregnant, recalling the inordinate sense of warmth and excitement running through me at that moment. Deep down, I always knew settling down would be a breeze once the right woman came along. It might not be the best moment for this decision, but I’m sure I’ll never come to regret it.
Me: Boys, I’ll need that ring.
Shawn: No. Fucking. Way! You really gonna propose?!
Logan: I see you two worked shit out. Good. You waste no time, huh?
Me: Yeah, unless... is there some timeline for this I’m unaware of? A sign from up above I’m supposed to wait for.
Nico: {gif}
I watch a gif of a guy walking down the street, holding a piece of cardboard far above his head that reads, “This is a sign.” I swallow my laughter. A huge weight lifts off my shoulders and dissipates like smoke in the evening air.
My brothers and I have always been careless. I guess I missed the moment we matured and grew up because their approval and encouragement comes as a surprise and means the world. Relief fills me like hot air fills an air balloon, and I gently kiss the crown of Thalia’s head, careful not to wake her.
Shawn: Jack says he knows a jeweler who’ll make whatever the fuck you want.
Nico: Should I free some cash? Did she explain the murder mystery?
Me: Jeweler sounds good. No cash, Nico. And yeah, she explained. It’s all good. We’ll talk tomorrow. Got my girl asleep here. She’ll make me pay if I wake her up.
Logan: Shit. I need to get me some of that domestication. Sounds fun. Anyone got a girl I could marry?
Nico: Depends on how desperate you are.
I dim the screen and set the phone aside. It vibrates a few times, hinting that their discussion is still going, but I’m not interested. I press my lips to the crown of Thalia’s head, ready for whatever is to come.