Theo pulls a quick U-turn back to the office, then sprints back inside and grabs it from my office before climbing back in the car to finish our conversation.
“So, back to what I said.”
“Theo, I appreciate you caring for me and giving me a ride home, but until this guy does something, he’s innocent.”
He rolls his eyes as the car slows in front of my building. “You do realize that burying your head in the sand and ignoring this situation is just ignorant right? Like I said earlier, I thought you were smarter than that.”
I bristle at his comment, “Gee, you really know how to relate to humans.”
“I—I’m sorry Wren, I just worry about you is all.”
I reach for the handle and turn to thank him when I suddenly get the urge to invite him inside. “Want to come up? Keep me company for a little bit? I still haven’t really gotten used to living alone.”
“Of course,” he says, killing the engine as we both climb out.
Once again there’s a deafening silence on the short elevator ride.
“Oh!” I say, remembering about a tidbit of gossip I know Theo will want to hear. “That guy in 4B moved out.”
“Good. Now that guy was a creep.”
“You’re telling me. The way he constantly leered and tried to prey on any woman that walked into the building was downright predatory. And don’t get me started on the fact that he literally offered me money to ‘hang out.’ He’s lucky I didn’t press charges.”
He snorts a little. “Once again, you should have. Who knows how many girls he’s preying on now that he’s free. That’s why I feel like this new fucker on the train shouldn’t just get away with this predatory behavior. If it’s not you, it could be the next person.”
I press my lips together in a tight line and nod my agreement, feeling a tad guilty now that he put it that way. I probably should have pursued legal action against 4B. “Let’s be real Theo, the courts would slap his hand which would just piss him off and probably make matters worse for me.”
“Not when you’ve got my lawyers.”
“Exactly, they’re your lawyers. I don’t need you as my attack dog that throws money at my problems and bullies people into behaving.” I know I run the risk of him biting my head off when I stand my ground but sometimes with Theo Carmichael, that’s what you have to do to get your point across.
“You’re safe from him. That’s all that matters. You sure attract the weirdos, don’t you?” He playfully nudges an elbow against me as I push the elevator button causing the doors to open and we walk inside. Why is he being so playfully touchy lately? Or am I just reading into things since I haven’t had a man’s touch in over seven months? Time for my bedtime battery operated boyfriend to get a workout tonight.
I just laugh. “I really do. I don’t know why I can’t attract a normal man. All I get are man-children with emotional baggage and commitment issues.”
I want to tell him that maybe I should try dating an older man, one that has his shit together and isn’t intimidated by my confidence and independence, but I keep my mouth shut. Would he even pick up on it if I said it? Most likely not. Something I’ve learned about Theo, he either has no idea when I flirt with him, or worse, he does know and always chooses to completely ignore it and shut it down.
The doors open and we step out into the hallway. I lead the way to my door. Theo stands closely behind me as I nervously fiddle with the keys, his warmth and scent permeating my brain. I step inside and place my keys on the table next to the door.
Theo’s dropped me off home from work maybe twice before in the three years I’ve worked for him but only once at my new place and he’s never come inside. I’m suddenly very aware of his presence. I need a glass of water pronto; my mouth feels like I swallowed a ball of cotton and my hands are sweaty.
“Make yourself at home,” I say, kicking off my shoes. “I’m going to go change into something a little more comfortable,” I say, pointing down a short hallway to my bedroom. His eyes follow the direction of my hand and now I’m even more nervous that he knows where my bedroom is and is looking directly at it.
I’ve got to get it together.
“I’ll be here,” he says with a small smile as I walk toward my room.
I don’t go directly inside though. I watch as he steps into the main living area and glances around my apartment. He removes his jacket and unbuttons his sleeves, rolling them up his arms before sitting on the couch and looking around the room.
My place is in a great neighborhood. I make enough I could afford something bigger, but this place is perfect for a single person. It’s a loft-style apartment with exposed brick and ductwork and radiators under the large industrial windows. The kitchen has a butcher block island and a few open shelves to give it a modern touch.
He turns his attention to the TV and the framed photos around it. I’m suddenly grateful that I finally removed all the pictures of Penn and me. I’m embarrassed by my own thoughts, like he can hear them, and I softly close the door to my room to change before emerging again just a few moments later.
“Would you like something to drink?” I ask, walking out of my room, past Theo to the kitchen. I can’t help but notice his eyes as they follow me. What I can’t tell is if it’s just a normal thing to do when someone changes, especially someone you’re used to seeing in work clothes every day and now I’m suddenly in tight black leggings and an off-the-shoulder t-shirt.
“Sure, anything you have will be fine.”
I look over my shoulder at him as I lift my brow. “I don’t know about you, but a glass of wine sounds amazing right now… or a bottle.”
He laughs, a deep and throaty chuckle that has little sparks of excitement rushing to parts of my body they have no business going.
“Agreed, pour me one too.”
It’s just the loneliness and lack of intimacy for the last seven months, I tell myself.
I pour us both a glass of white wine, bringing the glasses over and handing one to him before taking a seat next to him on the couch. I tuck my feet beneath me and half face him before bringing the glass to my lips and taking a sip. It’s so crisp and refreshing. I let out a small moan as I lick a stray droplet off my lower lip.
I turn my gaze back to Theo whose eyes are dark and hooded. He runs a hand gruffly over his scruffy jawline before practically chugging the wine.
“You like the new place?” he asks, gesturing with his wineglass as he glances around the room.
“Yeah. A lot actually. Much different than the expensive high-rise condo in the Gold Coast with the doorman and all that, but the trade off? Totally worth it.” My life with Penn was much different in regard to where I lived. His family bought him a two-million-dollar high-rise in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Chicago. Don’t get me wrong, living in luxury has its perks, but it never felt like it was my home, and he did a pretty good job of making sure I never forgot that.
“So, how are things going with you? We haven’t gotten to catch up like this in a while.”
It’s true. While we work closely together every day, we haven’t gotten to just sit and talk like friends, something we often do when we’re traveling together. Or something I try to do with him. Trying to draw information out of Theo that isn’t work related is like getting blood from a turnip.