to cook.
A frown lines his forehead as he apologetically looks over his shoulder at me. “I’m not sure I’ll be back in time. Depending on how long it takes to paint the nursery and assemble all the furniture, I might be back late. Or if we don’t get done today, I might stay over with Jared and Amy, so we can finish tomorrow.” He tugs on a Drop Dead Fred T-shirt.
I pout, hating that idea. “You might not come home?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know, Luce. I don’t want to stay there, but we’ll have to see how it goes today. I’ll call you in the afternoon and let you know how we’re getting on. But I likely won’t be back in time for dinner, so don’t wait for me before you eat.”
I pout because he’s going to be gone so long. But I can’t really be annoyed. When Theo moved to London to be with me two months ago and we rented this flat, Jared spent several days here, helping us decorate and move furniture. So, the least Theo can do is go there and help them decorate their nursery, readying for the new baby Stone who will make its appearance in just over three months’ time. Everybody is excited about meeting him or her—none more so than Theo. As a “professional uncle,” as Amy describes him, kids definitely call to Theo’s inner child. I try not to let myself get too broody, thinking about it.
“Don’t let Amy do any of the hard work today,” I warn.
He shakes his head. “She won’t; don’t worry.”
Amy and I get on great. She’s like the sister I never had. In fact, I get on brilliantly with all his family. Even though Theo moved here to London for me, we still go to Cambridge a couple of times a month to visit with all his friends and family for day trips or nights out and sometimes for weekend-long visits. Plus, they come here too. It made sense for Theo to move instead of me. He can do his illustrations from home (mostly from the bed, I’ve since found out), so this is the only way we could make it work without me commuting. Though, I must admit, if he had been dead set against the idea, I would have moved to Cambridge to be with him. What’s a short train ride when you get to come home to the love of your life every night? It would have been worth every second. But thankfully, he was totally open to the idea of moving. Add another line to the Reasons Why Theo Is the Best Boyfriend in the World list!
After pulling on a hoodie (it’s damn cold in February), he heads to the bathroom, brushing his teeth and fixing his sex hair, and then disappears into the kitchen.
I settle back into the bed and reach for my Kindle; I have another half an hour before I need to get up and get ready for work. I can hear the kettle boiling and Theo making a huge amount of ruckus in the kitchen. Minutes later, he comes back to the bedroom and sets a cup of tea down on my bedside cabinet.
Cue a mental swoon.
Theo climbs on the bed, planking over me. It’s so hot that I immediately want him again. I can never get enough of his body. I’d feel sorry for him if he didn’t love it so much.
“I love you. I’ll see you later,” he says, leaning down and placing a soft kiss on my lips.
My insides dance with happiness. Every time he says those three little words, it’s like they have a direct line to my heart. They still thrill me every single time.
“I love you too.” And I do, more than anything.
“Have a good day. Oh, by the way, I just made you lunch. It’s in the fridge.”
My heart stutters at his thoughtfulness. “You did? What did you make?”
“Coronation chicken sandwich. That’s the last of it from yesterday.” He winks at me and plants a tender kiss on the corner of my mouth.
Oh my God. My mind is instantly consumed by thoughts of the sandwich. I might even eat the thing for breakfast.
Theo is an amazing cook. His mum taught him a lot when he lived at home, and his coronation chicken is to die for. He makes it from scratch at least once a week because he knows I love it. Right now, I don’t even care that our kitchen