Run to Ground(39)

“I’ll stay if you promise I’ll never have to go in there again.” Jules jerked her thumb toward the cooler.

“Deal. Sorry about Vicki,” Megan said. “I should’ve warned you that she has a messed up sense of humor.”

Hugh nodded. “We all carry scars from Vicki’s jokes.”

There was a snort from the direction of the grill. “You’re not scarred, dumbass. How did giving you swirlies in fifth grade scar you?”

He placed a hand on his chest. “My heart, Vicki. You scarred my heart.” Letting his hand drop to his side, Hugh tilted his head. “And my pride. My pride definitely took a beating. I was so grateful that sixth-grade growth spurt finally made me taller than you.”

“I could still take you,” Vicki grumbled.

“You sure you’re okay?” Megan asked Jules.

“I’m fine.”

“Good, because there are hungry people waiting for us.” Pointing at Hugh and Theo, Megan jerked her head toward the door. “You two, out.”

Jules wanted to get back to work. All she’d do if they kept standing around was mentally relive her humiliating experience over and over. As Theo gave her one last, penetrating look and stepped toward the door, she caught his hand. “Thanks.”

His gaze ran down her body, as if checking to see if she was intact, and then he gave her one of those short nods she loved so much. He squeezed her hand before releasing it as he moved away. She watched him, remembering the feel of his shirt against her cheek. The terror of being trapped in the dark walk-in cooler had been almost worth being held against his chest.

Shaking her head, she forced herself to look away from his retreating form. Why did he have to be so…heroic? Her crush on Theo had just grown a thousand times bigger.

* * *

At the heavy knock, all conversation around the dinner table ceased. Everyone went still, not even chewing. Since her freak-out in the walk-in cooler that morning, Jules had been jumpy, and an unexpected visitor didn’t help matters. Their new life in Monroe was so fragile. The unknown person at the door could be the one who would destroy it. Jules exchanged a look with Sam, and then he ushered the other three kids out the back door toward the barn. Taking a shaky breath, she walked toward the front door.

I won’t let them get the kids, she told herself as she approached the entryway. I just need to buy them time to get away. Her hand shook as she flattened it against the door, rising on her tiptoes to look through the peephole. Her lungs and heart stilled for a second, only to rush into motion again when she recognized the person on her porch.

Light-headed with relief and a giddiness she felt only around Theo, she yanked open the door. “Hi.”

“Hey.”

“What are you doing here?”

For some reason, his scowl deepened. “This porch is a death trap.”

Confused, Jules looked down at the boards under his feet and then back up to his face. “Okay. Should you be standing on it then?”

His snort could’ve been a laugh if he hadn’t looked so cranky. “Probably not. I…uh…” He shifted, looking away, and Jules could’ve sworn he seemed uncomfortable. But he was Theo, and from what she’d seen, Theo wasn’t ever uncomfortable. Angry? Yes. Hostile? Sure. But uncomfortable? This was a first. “I brought some boards and my tools.” When she just stared, even more confused, he gestured toward the porch floor. “To fix it.”

“You’re going to fix our porch.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I told you. It’s a death trap.” He shifted impatiently, and the wood squeaked under his boots. “You could fall through. Or one of the kids could get hurt.”

As she looked at him, a wave of strong emotion washed over her. He was there to help, to do something she couldn’t to protect the kids, to protect her. She felt like she’d been treading water since she’d met with Mr. Espina, trying desperately to keep them all from drowning, and now Theo was there, offering her a hand. It was just a porch, but it was help, and it made her feel so much less alone.

Stepping forward, she wrapped her arms around his chest and hugged him hard. He stiffened, letting out a surprised grunt, but she held on, pressing her forehead against his worn T-shirt. Tears of gratitude rushed to her eyes, and she blinked hard, trying to keep them contained. Releasing him, she stepped back, giving him a shaky smile.

“Are you crying?”

“No.”

“It’s just a porch.”

“I know.” Her smile stretched bigger even as her eyes filled again. “Thank you.”

“I’m not fixing it if you cry,” he threatened, making her laugh.