Because Theo had just kissed me.
It had been quick. Just a forehead kiss.
Barely anything, really.
And yet… it suddenly felt likeeverything.
A quiet, slightly awkward pause settled between us, like neither of us was quite sure what to do next.
Then, as if deciding to just move past it, Theo turned toward the fridge. “Jessie said she left the cookie dough in here,” he said, sliding open the drawer. He searched for a second before pulling out a container and lifting the lid. “Ah, here it is.”
Inside, the dough was already rolled into perfect little balls, and there was a sticky note on top with baking instructions.
“Wow,” I said, leaning closer to look, my face hot as every nerve ending in my body became hyperaware of every centimeter of space between us. “It really is all ready to go.”
“And you’re really okay doing this?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said, taking the container from him. “And you should probably go change. I’ll get these in the oven and put together a plate for you.”
“What would I do without you?” he said, and the way he looked at me made warmth bloom in my chest.
“You’d be serving raw cookie dough to your guests,” I said with a small shrug.
That got a laugh out of him.
He hesitated for a second, like there was something else he might say, but then he nodded. “Okay. I’ll be right back.”
And with that, he headed upstairs.
I stood there for a moment, holding the container of cookie dough, my forehead still tingling from where his lips had been a moment ago.
Then I shook my head slightly and turned toward the oven.
Because I had cookies to bake.
I could daydream later about the fact that Theo had just kissed my head like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“That’s kind of the whole point,” Evan said, his voice drifting down the hall from the living room where Theo’s book club had taken over for the evening. “You strip everything down to what actually matters and let the rest go.”
“Exactly,” Bash added. “It’s about being intentional. Not just busy.”
I paused, spatula in hand, the smell of warm chocolate chip cookies filling the kitchen as their conversation drifted in.
I wasn’t totally sure which book they were discussing, but from the sound of it, it had something to do with cutting out the extra distractions in life so you can focus on what actually matters.
Which, honestly… felt like a really good idea in a world where everything was constantly fighting for your attention.
And I didn’t know what I’d expected from a group of guysgetting together for a “men’s book club,” but hearing a bunch of successful, very attractive men casually talking about bettering their lives was really refreshing.
“I think the hardest part is actually deciding what matters most,” Theo said. His voice was calm, thoughtful in a way that made it sound like he meant every word. “And once you do that, everything else becomes a choice.”
I stilled, a warm flutter settling low in my stomach.
Becausewow. Just his voice was hypnotizing.
I shifted slightly, leaning back to try and catch a glimpse of him through the doorway.
Just a little more…