Page 35 of With Us

Pushing the past back where it belonged, I peeked into an open doorway, doing a double take. Twelve padded leather seats made up three tiered rows that were facing the white movie screen taking up an entire wall.

When Theo mentioned an entertainment room, I was thinking an old pool table and maybe some board games. Not an actual movie theater.

Hearing a door open, I turned as Theo stepped out of the bathroom, still toweling off his suddenly unruly hair.

“In the mood for a movie?” he asked.

I shook my head as I walked toward him. Even though the idea was very appealing, after a day spent in the sun, I was likely to fall asleep. “But it’s really cool.”

“Mom loves movies, but Dad hates sitting in the theater. He surprised her a few years ago for their anniversary. Gave her the base plans and a list of options and told her to go to town.”

“That’s so sweet.”

“Yeah.” His smile grew as he put his arm around my shoulder. “But she still drags him to the theater sometimes.”

My laughter was met with high-pitched giggles as the girls threw the office door open and cut in front of us, sprinting down the stairs.

“I have a similar setup at my place if you ever want to watch something.” Grabbing my hand, he jerked his head toward the stairs. “Let’s go say goodbye.”

Like the initial introductions, the goodbyes were loud and chaotic, but I wasn’t quite as overwhelmed.

“Uncle Theo!” Mar and Kat yelled out as he opened the front door. Dodging the obstacles, they both reached him, launching themselves into his arms. Based on the way he’d let go of my hand and braced, I was guessing it was an expected occurrence.

“Can we come swimming soon?” Mar asked, stepping away and bouncing on her toes.

“Yes,” Theo said.

“Like, soon? Orsoon, soon?”

“How about Friday afternoon?” Mar’s face lit up until Theo continued. “Ifyou can make it the whole week without getting in trouble at school.”

The joy left her expression as it crumpled to doubtful disappointment. She tilted her head to the side before nodding solemnly. “Okay, I can do that.” With one last grin, she was on the move again.

Stepping out into the humid, damp night, we were almost to the car before a thought hit me. “I thought Luc was going to be here.”

“He had to handle some stuff for work.” He rubbed his chin, momentarily distracting me. “Why?”

“I’d assumed he’d be driving you. How’d you get here if I had your SUV?”

Theo tilted his head toward a sleek car parked in the driveway. “I have more than one.”

Biting my cheek to keep from asking how many more, I looked over at the Range Rover and then back at the car.

“Dahlia,” he said, his firm voice grabbing my attention, “don’t.”

Pushing away the thoughts that niggled at me, I forced a smile and a teasing tone. “Can I drive the car? I promise to only go like a hundred. Maybe one-twenty.”

“Can you drive a stick?”

Probably looking a lot like Mar, my face fell. “No.”

“I’ll teach you, and then you can drive it.” After walking me the rest of the way to the SUV, he put his hands into his pockets. His brows lowered as he pulled out the keys and a folded piece of paper. Opening the SUV door so the light turned on, he looked at the paper for a moment before bursting out laughing.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Well, either you spell your name much different than I’d have guessed,” he said, “or I just uncovered Mar and Kat’s scheme.”

“Uh oh. How’d they get it into your pocket?”

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