Page 132 of Fake Out Hearts

Eric offered to try to set up a few magazine interviews for me to tell my side of the story, but I turned him down. I’m ready to just move on and focus on what’s next. Shawn has already ruined his own career and reputation, so he doesn’t need any help from me. And the fallout from his behavior has already cleared my name anyway.

I reach for my purse tucked under the seat in front of me for my phone, then flip it off airplane mode as we taxi toward the gate to send a text to Theo.

BECCA: Just landed, heading toward the gate. Have to get my bag so no rush.

The bubbles indicating he’s typing appear immediately.

THEO: Okay, already on my way there. Meet you at the door.

I smile and check the other notifications on my phone while I wait for the plane to get to the gate. There’s an email from Eric, forwarded from a reporter at Sports Illustrated, but I archive it without reading it. Shawn and all his bullshit have already taken up enough room in my life and mind, I’m not giving them more.

The plane comes to a stop at the gate a few seconds later, so I unhook my seatbelt, grab my purse, and stand to stretch. I flew first class at Theo’s insistence, and there wasn’t anyone sitting in the aisle seat next to mine, so I breeze off the plane and past security heading for baggage claim. Amazingly, it only takes afew minutes for my bag to show up, so I grab it off the belt and head outside.

True to his word, Theo’s car is already parked right in front of the door. He climbs out when he spots me and hurries to the curb to take my bag for me and plant a kiss on my lips.

“Welcome home, princess. I missed you,” he says with a warm smile.

“I missed you too,” I murmur.

And it’s true, even though it was only a few hours we spent apart. After everything we’ve been through with Shawn, and what we shared together last night, I feel closer to Theo than I ever have.

He loads my bag in the trunk, then closes it and fixed me with a big smirk and a glint in his eye.

“What’s with the look?” I ask, raising an eyebrow at him.

“Are you up for a little ride? I want to show you something.”

Curiosity gets the better of me, so I nod, and he beams as he opens the passenger side door for me. He leans in to kiss me again as I buckle my seatbelt.

“Good. You’re gonna love it.”

He hurries into the driver’s seat, and we leave the hustle and bustle of the airport, cruising through the beautiful, mountainous eastern outskirts of Denver. The airport is quite a ways away from the city, but about thirty minutes later we arrive. With his hand on my thigh, Theo drives us the usual path like we’re going back to the condo, and we actually pass by it.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“It’s a surprise. We’re almost there,” he says, so I decide to just enjoy the ride. We end up in a more residential area that’s littered with houses, most of which are huge. They’re more mini mansions than homes. I’m still unsure what we’re doing until Theo parks on the curb in front of one of the houses, which is easily the biggest on the street.

There’s still a for-sale post in the massive front yard so I’m a little confused until Theo gets out of the car and walks around to the passenger door to open it for me. He offers me a hand to help me out, so I take it and he beams as he waves at the house behind him.

“What do you think?” he asks.

“I… what do you mean?”

He laughs and squeezes my hand. “I want to buy this house. For you. Forus. I want it to be our home.”

His words hit me so hard that all the breath rushes out of my lungs. Maybe I should’ve put two and two together faster. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this.

“But… we already have the condo,” I stammer.

Theo laughs again and leads me up the driveway of the massive home to stop at the front door. “I know, but I think we need something we can grow with and grow into.”

My heart swells, but I choke on the words that won’t seem to come at the same time—because I know what he’s implying. What he wants. And that I can’t give it to him, no matter how badly I might want to.

The realization crushes me, and I feel like I’m shrinking right in front of him. I want to say yes so badly, to throw myself into his arms. I want to have that future with him, to be married to him for real and know there’s no expiration date. But I can’t, and it’s never been clearer than it is right now. I shake my head slowly, and it breaks my heart as I do. He shoots me a confused look.

“What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?”

“It’s not that. I love it. It’s perfect, it’s just…” I trail off, my voice trembling and raspy. I can’t bring myself to say the rest of it.

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