Page 142 of Press Play

Silence descends between us, and I don’t dare move a muscle.

He says the next few words without looking away. “The love, passion, theheat.What I’d give to be loved like that.”

It hits me all at once, and my mouth becomes dry. “Are those... ?”

“Comments on our video?” He starts to scroll again, nodding ever so slightly. “Yes, about five hundred and thirty-eight, to be exact. This one guy won’t stop complimenting your ass. . . I’m banning him.”

“Theo . . .”

He looks at me again with a smirk. “You don’t want me to ban him?”

“Why are you reading the comments?” I ask in barely a whisper.

“I was curious.” He shrugs, dropping the phone.

“About what?”

“If they see what I do.”

He’s said it time and time again, but I don’t stop the words from tumbling from my lips. “And what do you see?”

Theo’s eyes leave mine to scan my features. My breath hitches in my throat when they land on my lips, and my heart drops into my stomach.

He brings his eyes back to mine. “How beautiful you are.”

My expression softens, and I smile softly at the man I’ve loved for years. “You make me feel beautiful,” I whisper.

Which is true. I never thought I was pretty because no one seemed interested in me, but Theo, he was always there. His subtle compliments, tiny glances, they meant something. I never connected the pieces because I was scared.

But not anymore.

It’s time to stop holding onto the past. I’m not the girl I once was, and that’s okay. She’s been strong for far too long; it’s time she rests. I can handle this.

“I know you think you have to redeem yourself,” I start, and Theo seemingly stops breathing. “But you don’t. After all you’ve done—after all we’ve done for each other. . . I think we can agree a mistake is a mistake. And honestly, I don’t think you would have followed through with your original plan.”

He stays quiet, almost as if he’s thinking it over.

“You wouldn’t even have made it to her door.” I reach out to trace his jawline. “You would have found a way to me. . . because that’s what we do.”

“You’re right.” He admits with a small grin. “It’s what we do.”

I lean forward and rest my forehead against his. “I love you.”

“And I love you, mi hermosa.”

As he holds me, I start to drift off. For the first time, I’m not scared of what the future may hold. I have the man I love, and that’s enough.

“Hold on.”

I jolt awake as Theo reaches for something behind him.

“What are you?—”

“I need to ban that guy. I don’t want him looking at your ass again.”

“Theodore.” I cackle as he proceeds to tap at his phone. “What am I going to do with you?”

He shoots me a wide smile and winks. “Love me forever.”

---