Page 40 of Last Letters to Ara
I step closer to him. “What a shame. I guess I better tell the rest of my best friends to stop, then.”
Theo smirks. “I was under the impression that I was the only best friend looking at your boobs.”
“That’s one hell of an assumption, isn’t it?” As I take another step closer, I see Theo’s pulse thrumming beneath his jaw line.
“I’ll make you another deal,” he breathes.
I lift one brow in consideration. “What do you propose?”
“Starting now, we’re not platonic for this one night, and at the end of this date, we will go back to being just friends.”
“Not platonic? For one night?” I repeat.
He nods.
“What would that include?” My heart erupts at the possibilities.
“You get to decide, but I’d like to be able to look at you without feeling like I’m crossing a line.” He gives me a little smile, always the gentleman. “I won’t make a single move unless you ask me to.”
I pretend to think it over, much longer than necessary. “It’s a deal.”
“Good, because you threw platonic out the window the moment you put on that dress.” His eyes are dragging over me for what won’t be the last time tonight, and he takes a deep breath. “If we’re going to make it to our reservation, we’d better get going before I do something extraordinarily stupid.”
As much as I would love for him to peel this dress off right this very moment and take advantage of our new dealthoroughly,I know I’m not ready to be that vulnerable again. It would inevitably lead to feelings, and every time I’ve cared about someone, I’ve lost them. Whether it was the fault of my own or a twisted game of fate, the ending has always been the same.
And I’m not ready to lose Theo.
“Lead the way,” I say, gesturing forward.
“And miss out on that outstanding view?” He scoffs. “No way.”
I smile again, taking the lead.
In the past, the guys I’d been with made me feel like they were doing me a favor by settling with what I had to offer. Not Theo. He makes me feel like I’m something to behold, something to treasure.
As I get to the bottom step, welcoming me back to the flat ground outside my apartment building, Theo ducks past me and jogs to his car. He opens the passenger door, bending down to retrieve something which he hides from my view as he walks back to where I wait.
“I got you something.”
I instantly feel bad. “Theo, I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize we were exchanging gifts.”
“Ara, you made me the finest jacket any man has ever worn. That iswaybetter than what I got you.” He smiles and finally reveals the cutest teddy bear I’ve ever seen.
I take the teddy bear, having never felt anything so soft, squeezing it to my chest and relishing in the fact that it smells like him. “It’s perfect.”
“It’s pretty much the only thing I could find that wasn’t expressly for a significant other, and I didn’t want to make it weird.”
As if giving me a rose would have been more weird than dressing in pseudo-lingerie.
I link my arm with his. “Come on, Theo Carter. We have a non-platonic date to attend.”
• • •
Eating at a restaurant this nice is completely out of my comfort zone. The place is beautiful, don’t get me wrong. The architecture alone is a work of art, along with everything and everyone inside. I just have no idea what I’ll do if I sit down and there’s seventeen pieces of silverware.
Heads turn as we are led to our table, eyes widening as they roam over my dress. I’m not overdressed by any means, the other women in floor-length dresses as well, meaning it’s definitely justmydress. A flush creeps up my neck as I start to wish I hadn’t stepped this far outside my comfort zone.
Theo leans in, lips brushing my ear as his hand rests on my lower back. “You are the most exquisite thing I’ve ever seen.”
