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“I’ll make sure he doesn’t do anything permanent, unless it’s to that hideous carpet in the bedroom,” Rowan said, following him.
“Promise me one of you will stay with Theo,” I said to Aiden and Cal.
Aiden surprised me by pulling me into a hug. He kept his thick arms around me until his warmth had me full-out sobbing. The big lump had a soft side and for some reason he’d decided to share it with me. I got a good burst of tears out before he started laughing.
“What’s wrong with you?” Lauren snapped.
Aiden pointed at Cal, who looked like he wanted to murder someone, and Lauren started cackling right along with Aiden.
“Hell Cat will claw her way out of this,” Aiden said, stepping out of the hug, but pulling me to his side. “But if you can’t contain your brotherly rage, Cal, you should stay here.”
My future brother-in-law did look as pissed as Chris, which meant I wasn’t just some package deal that came with Rowan. He actually liked me. I rushed Cal, burrowing my face in his scrubs. He patted my back awkwardly and cleared his throat.
“Go,” I said, stepping back. “Theo needs you. I’ll let Rowan and Chris in so they don’t break a window.”
Cal nodded, still looking miffed, and headed for his SUV. Aiden followed him, still chuckling.
“I know you’re heartbroken and all, but I’m really excited to see the Squad in action,” Cammie said, looping her arm in mine as we cut across Twill’s yard. I caught a glimpse of him holding back a curtain in one of the upstairs windows, which was cracked despite the cold. Great. Now everyone in class would know Theo and I had imploded.
“So, Theo told you he loves you and you have a key to his place?” Lauren asked.
“That sounds serious,” Cammie said, squeezing my arm.
“Don’t read too much into it. I only have a key because he lets me use his studio,” I said as we crossed into Theo’s yard where Chris was digging a brick out of the walkway that wrapped around the house. “I have a key,” I shouted and ran, dragging Cammie with me since she refused to let go of my arm.
Chris dropped the brick.
I glared at Rowan, who stood by the new sliding glass door, apparently waiting for Chris to smash it. “You were supposed to keep him from doing something permanent.”
She shrugged. “I’m pissed at Aiden for holding you back at Everly’s office. He needs to stop handling you like a rag doll whenever he wants.”
“He’s the worst,” Lauren said.
I rolled my eyes as I dug through my jacket pocket for Theo’s key. “I don’t agree with this,” I said as I unlocked the sliding door. “Don’t touch anything in the studio. It’s mostly mine.” I’d go through the house after they got the bloodlust out of their systems and undo whatever they did. Our retribution pranks were usually temporary in nature, though the fact Chris had gone for a brick had me a little worried.
“Do you think we have time to drive to the store for deer pee spray?” Chris asked as he walked toward the kitchen.
Perhaps I’d underestimated their wrath.
“Wow, they don’t play do they?” Cammie said.
I couldn’t answer her. I’d left the canvas Theo and I painted on the floor to dry after I coated it with sealant. When I saw it right after, I thought it showed the passion between us. Now, it just looked chaotic, the image fractured and without a center.
“Interesting,” Lauren said, joining Cammie and me. “Is that his or yours?”
“Ours,” I said, the word burning my throat.
Cammie and Lauren both tilted their heads and looked at the canvas.
Lauren laughed. “You little freak.”
“I don’t get it,” Cammie said.
“You want to build a bonfire in the backyard and light it up?” Lauren asked.
“No.” I pulled a drop cloth from the cabinets and tossed it over the canvas. I didn’t need Rowan or Chris figuring it out as fast as Lauren had.
“Does Theo even live here?” Chris asked, stepping back into the studio. “The cabinets are practically empty. I’ll have to go home for plastic wrap.”