But then, my elbow bumped the metal spatula.
It clattered to the tile floor, the sound echoing way louder than it should have in the quiet kitchen.
And just like that, the conversation in the living room halted.
Crap!
I froze before slowly bending down to grab the spatula, like maybe if I moved carefully enough, I could undo the very obvious announcement that yes, someone was in the kitchen.
Had Theo told the guys I was living here?
Or had he been hoping to keep that quiet… like he had with his in-laws?
Because if he wanted our new living arrangement kept quiet, that noise would definitely give us away if someone walked in and found me hiding in the kitchen when Lucy and Charlotte were supposed to be the only ones upstairs.
My phone buzzed a second later, making me jump.
I glanced down at the screen, my heart vaulting straight into my throat.
Theo: Everything okay in there?
Me: Everything’s fine! Just being a little klutz in here.
I was definitely not trying to sneak a peek at you.
I sighed and typed out another message.
Me: The cookies are ready whenever you want them.
I wasn’t totally sure how they usually did things—if they snacked while they talked or waited until the end.
Theo: Perfect. Thanks!
Then another message came through.
Theo: Feel free to take some cookies upstairs for you girls to enjoy.
Yeah… I should probably get back upstairs now that the cookies were done. Lucy and Charlotte were probably already dressed up in the dress-up clothes they’d picked out for our tea party in Charlotte’s playroom.
But—
I picked up my phone again.
Me: I’m happy to bring a plate in for you guys if you want.
Apparently, I was looking for any excuse to step into that living room and see him.
But after getting a small plate of cookies ready to take upstairs, there was nothing. No text.
Okay, time to stop just standing around here. I let out a small breath and grabbed the plate, turning toward the stairs?—
Right as Theo stepped into the kitchen.
“These look so good,” he said, the sound of laughter drifting in from the living room behind him as he smiled. “Thanks again for baking them.”
“You’re welcome.”
He reached into the cabinet for a larger plate and set it on the counter before starting to transfer the cookies over.