Heartbreak You - T.L. Smith Page 0,72

screen, and she drops her head to the side. “And you tell me the same thing every chance you get. So, who is sappier in this situation, you or me?”

“Move in with me,” I try again.

“Nope. Now stop asking.”

I do.

Instead, I walk behind Theadora and slide my hands across her shoulders, giving them a rub, and she stops typing. “What if I asked you to marry me instead?”

I feel her body freeze beneath my fingers, so I apply pressure to try and get her to relax under my fingertips. “Okay, too soon. How about you move in?” I try again.

Theadora relaxes and switches off her computer to give me her full attention. “What’s brought all this on?” she asks.

I lift her blonde hair and wrap it around my fist, pulling her head back so she has to look up at me. “You… I just want you.”

“You have me.” Her eyebrows scrunch together.

“But I want every piece of you, even your last name.”

Theadora’s cell rings, and she looks down at it. My hand leaves her hair when I see Lucy’s name flash up on the screen. Theadora reaches for it and pauses. We don’t speak about Lucy, because Theadora doesn’t speak about her, so I don’t bring her up.

“Answer, it’s fine, Theadora.”

Her sky-blue eyes look at me then she presses answer.

“Thea, how are you?”

“Good. I’m good.”

“Thank you for the photos you sent. He seems like a happy baby.”

“He is,” she replies.

I move away from behind and stand next to her. Pulling her up to stand, she moves so she’s between my legs and lays her head on my shoulder while she speaks to her sister.

“How are things? You and Atlas?”

She freezes against me. “We are… good,” she replies.

“Good. So, the doctors say I’m doing better, and soon I may be let out. I want to thank you for coming to the sessions with me.”

“You’re welcome,” Theadora says.

Theadora’s too good. I don’t bring her into my world anymore, not that I don’t think she can handle it, but because I don’t want it to taint her. If she comes to any of my work parties, she does so by choice and by my side, and I never allow her more than a few steps away from me. I rub her back as Lucy starts talking again.

“I think I’m going to move away. I’m not sure I’m strong enough to be around you all yet, and I don’t want to hurt what you have going.”

“Okay,” Theadora says.

“But can I call? And maybe, can you visit from time to time?”

“We can see, Lucy.”

“I hope Atlas makes you happy, Thea, I really do.”

Lucy hangs up before Theadora says anything else. Her head remains on my chest as I hold her to me.

“This can work. It’s going to work,” she says with so much conviction I can’t help but believe every word she is saying.

“We are already working. I couldn’t imagine you not in my life. You are my sunshine.” I press a button on my cell, and Fleetwood Mac fills the room.

She looks up at me, surprise in her eyes. “How did you know…” she asks, referring to the song.

Lucy told me that Theadora loves this song. It reminds her of happier childhood memories. Well, the few she had anyway.

I grab her hand and twirl her in a circle. She smiles up at me, and my heart beats hard in my chest. I love this woman with everything I am.

I twirl her again.

She lets me, and this time when she looks at me, a stray tear leaves her eyes, which I wipe away carefully with my thumb.

“You will be my wife one day.” She raises her eyes to mine. “You will have my babies because I love you, and you are fucking perfect, Theadora Fitzgerald. Even though it took us two lifetimes to get to where we are. We’ve finally gotten to this place, and I wouldn’t change one single thing.”

“Not even one of the kidnappings?” she asks.

“Not even one,” I reply, leaning down to kiss her passionately.

We may not be perfect, but she is perfect for me.

THE END!

About the Author

USA Today Best Selling Author T.L. Smith loves to write her characters with flaws so beautiful and dark you can't turn away. Her books have been translated into several languages. If you don't catch up with her in her home state of Queensland, Australia you can usually find her travelling the world, either sitting on a beach in Bali or exploring Alcatraz in San Francisco or walking the streets of New York.

Also by T.L Smith

Black (Black #1) FREE

Red (Black #2)

White (Black #3)

Green (Black #4)

Kandiland

Pure Punishment (Standalone)

Antagonize Me (Standalone)

Degrade (Flawed #1)

Twisted (Flawed #2)

Distrust (Smirnov Bratva #1) FREE

Disbelief (Smirnov Bratva #2)

Defiance (Smirnov Bratva #3)

Dismissed (Smirnov Bratva #4)

Lovesick (Standalone)

Lotus (Standalone)

Savage Collision (A Savage Love Duet book 1)

Savage Reckoning (A Savage Love Duet book 2)

Buried in Lies

Distorted Love (Dark Intentions Duet 1)

Sinister Love (Dark Intentions Duet 2)

Cavalier (Crimson Elite #1)

Anguished (Crimson Elite #2)

Conceited (Crimson Elite #3)

Insolent (Crimson Elite #4)

Playette

Love Drunk

Hate Sober

Connect with T.L Smith by tlsmithauthor.com