my looks to his mother. I mean, I know we’re just friends. And he didn’t think of me like that. But still. Men always mention my looks first. My face. It’s what I’ve always led with.
Until now.
We enter the house, Theo’s hand still firmly locked with mine, and I come to a stop in the entry, taking it all in. The floor is terra cotta tile, a plush multicolored rug covering the majority of it. Multiple family photos line the wall directly in front of us, all of them featuring happy faces smiling wide for the camera. I move closer so I can examine the photos, my gaze locked on a very young, very adorable Theo standing next to an older version of himself—I assume it’s his father—both of them grinning.
“My dad,” Theo explains when I turn to him. “I was fourteen in that pic. Right around eighth grade graduation, I think.”
He’s tall and painfully thin, but I can see the warm, familiar sparkle in Theo’s eyes. I glance at the photo, then at the live Theo in front of me, smiling. “You were cute.”
“I was shy and a complete introvert,” he says, shaking his head with a chuckle. “Too scared to talk to girls.”
The summer before high school I was reckless. Desperately wishing I was older. Wearing too much makeup. I’m sure I would’ve terrified Theo if we’d known each other, if we were closer in age. “You were adorable.”
“If you’re into nerds.” He brings our linked hands closer to his mouth and drops a kiss on my knuckles, his gaze never leaving mine. I’m oddly touched. Strangely breathless.
But then I glance to my left to find his mother watching us with adoring eyes, and I know he did it for her.
My heart sinks.
He leads me through the sprawling house, his mother trailing after us and making the occasional comment. The tour is quick, the house beautiful yet well lived in, and eventually we make our way through the large kitchen and out the back door to the yard, where the rest of the family is congregating.
His father is at the giant barbecue with his back to us, one of Theo’s brothers standing beside him as they both stare at the sizzling meat on the grill. Another guy is sitting at a picnic table across from a woman who appears to be in her early twenties, and I can only assume they’re Theo’s brother and sister. The man clutches a sweating beer bottle as he argues with the woman, who has an indignant expression on her pretty face.
Just another family Saturday, I suppose.
“Hey, you made it.” Theo’s father shuts the lid on the barbecue and makes his way toward us, a warm smile on his face, his gaze on me. “You must be Kelsey.”
I let go of Theo’s hand and step forward. “Nice to meet you.”
His dad pulls me into a quick hug, not nearly as long or as bone crushing as Patti’s. “Sorry, we’re huggers,” he says once he releases me. “Theo’s told us a lot about you.”
“Dad.” Theo sounds vaguely accusatory.
“Oh Jim, don’t embarrass him,” Patti says as she plants herself firmly by her husband’s side. “It’s just been…rough these last few months. For Theo. We’re just so happy he brought you here to meet us,” she tells me, her voice lowering, like we’re keeping a big secret. Right in front of him.
“Right,” I say with a nod. She’s referring to the breakup with Jessica.
“And then there’s the wedding.” Patti shakes her head, oblivious to the death stares both her husband and oldest son are currently sending her. “Can you believe Craig asked him to be a groomsman? The nerve of that boy. He was always such a bold one. Even when he was young.”
“Mom,” Theo says sharply. “We don’t need to talk about that right now.”
“No, I suppose we don’t,” Patti says, still oblivious. She turns her attention to me. “I’m just grateful he’s met you, Kelsey. You’ve helped him get out of his slump.”
I glance over at Theo, who looks like he wants to die. “We’ve been there for each other,” I say truthfully.
“Theo mentioned you two started out as friends first,” Patti says. “Isn’t that the best way to fall in love? With your friend?”
Fall in love? Yeah. I don’t think so. But I paste on a bright smile and nod, making my way over to Theo so I can stand beside him once more. “It’s the best.”
Theo slings his arm around my shoulders,