“And while he doesn’t want either of us getting hurt,” I added, “hereallydoesn’t want her getting her hopes up, only to have them shattered.”
I explained how Ky got a lot of those hesitations from being born to a woman who had children before she was ready.
“It messed him up in ways I don’t think I’ll ever fully understand,” I said. “He was old enough to remember her. To rely on her. So when he sees me getting close to someone with a kid when I’m only twenty-two, he gets nervous about me understanding the responsibilities that come along with it.”
Theo walked silently beside me, seeming deep in thought for a moment.
“Ky’s definitely bringing up important things,” he said finally, voice low. “I’m a package deal. And you shouldn’t have to skip ahead further in life just because of me. Being an instant parent isn’t easy.”
I swallowed. “I know.”
The sand shifted under my feet as I slowed, then stopped. My throat tightened, and suddenly, it felt important that Theo understood what I’d said to Ky. What I’d tried to promise, even while my own feelings were spinning.
“Which is why I told him I’m not trying to get anyone’s hopes up,” I said. “And that I’m going to do my best not to be careless with anyone’s heart.”
Theo’s thumb brushed over my knuckles, slowly, like he was thinking through every part of it.
“That’s…” He paused, like he was choosing his words with care. “That’s one of the things I like about you.”
I looked up at him fast. “You like that I’m terrified of hurting people?”
“No.” Theo’s mouth tipped into a small smile. “I like that you think about more than yourself.”
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.
Then, because my brain liked to torture me, I asked, “So, um… what do you think about all that?”
Because I knew we were just barely starting whatever this thing was, and I really didn’t want to jump a thousand steps ahead before he was ready.
“I think it sounds okay,” he said, his grip tightening slightly. And then he added, in a quieter voice, “More than okay.”
My pulse kicked.
I searched his face, trying to read what he wasn’t saying.
He looked back at me, eyes steady in the setting sunlight.
“I’m not gonna try to promise you forever tonight,” he said, voice calm but honest. “Because I don’t make promises I’m not sure I can keep. But,” he continued, “I’m also not treating this like a game.”
“Okay.” I nodded once, not trusting my voice to say more.
Theo took both my hands in his, the waves rushing up behind us before retreating. “I don’t want to rush you. And I don’t want you to think you need to rush ahead, either—just because your brother brought up some scary questions.”
“I don’t want that, either,” I whispered.
Like he’d said to me after our first kiss, I liked the idea of taking our time. Of just enjoying each moment and seeing where it led.
Theo’s eyes softened as he squeezed my hands. “Good.”
He lifted our joined hands and pressed a kiss to my knuckles, like he was sealing the promise into place.
Then, with that seemingly settled, we kept walking, our bare feet sinking into the cool sand while the tide hissed at the shoreline.
We’d gone maybe another minute before Theo spoke again.
“Can I ask you something else?” he said, gaze fixed on the water. “You mentioned before that Becca hasn’t been in your life since before you went to high school, right?”
“Yes,” I said, wondering what he might be getting at. “I haven’t seen her since I was thirteen.”