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She couldn’t help her laugh.

“Theo?” He was still so far away, still on the other side of the bed.

“Yeah?”

“Why aren’t you touching me?”

“Because the next time I touch you, Fee,” he said, his eyes going dark, the pupils swallowing up the green. “It will be to claim you and I don’t think you’re ready for that yet.”

Her breath rushed out of her in a single syllable. “Oh.”

He did grin then, his pointed teeth flashing in the moonlight. “Yeah.”

It wasn’t entirely true, though. Theo did touch her. Gently and sweetly as he helped her to the bathroom. He left her alone just long enough for a little privacy and then insisted on helping her with her toothbrush.

“I can brush my own teeth,” she said as he squeezed the toothpaste on the brush.

“For three days I spoon-fed you water,” he said with a scowl. “Now let me help you.”

Fee bit back a smile. She brushed her teeth and had to admit the whole thing did leave her more weak and tired than she ever would have imagined. Theo wrapped a strong arm around her and helped her back to bed.

It was getting dark and the house was quiet.

“Where’s everyone else?” she asked as Theo settled beside her.

“They go home at night. But they’ve been here every day, Fee. They all wanted to make sure you were okay.”

She smiled. “I know.”

Theo nodded, serious again. He couldn’t seem to stop staring at her.

“The ceiling is beautiful,” she said. “When did you start painting like that?”

His cheeks flushed pink. “Uh … just now, I guess.”

“Theo! That’s incredible.”

“It all just kinda flowed out,” he said. “I was thinking about that day at the waterfall, about a lot of our days together actually and I just … I just wanted more of them. With you.”

Emotion swelled in her chest. She put a hand on his cheek, savoring the feel of his rough stubble beneath her palm. He leaned forward and rested his forehead against hers.

“I really thought I’d lost you,” he whispered.

“I know. I thought I’d lost myself.”

“I love you so goddamn much, Fee. I should have told you sooner. I should have told you every day since the day I met you.”

She ran her thumb over the ridge of his cheekbone and his eyes fluttered closed.

“It was my fault, too. I should have told you, too,” she said. “I love you, Theo.”

He blew out a sigh like it was a relief, like she could have possibly not loved him somehow. That was her fault, that doubt in his eyes. But she’d fix it.

“Theo?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m starving.”