Impossible. How could I have found him? This had to be some kind of waking dream.

My heart exploded with fireworks and angel song and all the other ridiculous expressions of joy I’d heard people talk about and considered hyperbole.

My hands, those perfectly-manicured hands that had explored every inch of his body, pressed against his chest. A flush crawled across my cheeks and those gorgeous blue eyes dilated as I stared up at him, breathless.

His gaze dropped to my mouth and he realized it was twisted in pain. He clutched my tighter. “You okay?”

″Mm-hmm,″ I responded.

He chuckles.

My god, I miss hearing that.

″Sorry, about that...″

″It’s okay, at least you didn’t fall,″ he replied.

The noise of the family all talking over each other was a roar in my ears. I didn’t register much Theo until I appeared at his shoulder.

“Stephanie, baby, are you okay?” Chrissy, Theo’s mother paced to me.

“I’m fine Mrs.Petrakis.‴

″Honey, how many times do I have to tell you it’s Chrissy, come here sugar gives me a hug, my goodness you’ve gotten so big.″

We both giggled together as Theo went inside of the house. I escorted Chrissy inside the house when my mom came and gave Chrissy a big hug.

″We have so much to catch up on! And I some ideas about your wedding dresses, and venues!″ Chrissy and my mom squealed at the same time. ″Andrea, I’m so glad to be here again.″

″Me too.″ My mom turns to me ″Steph, honey, why don’t you show Theo around and catch up.″

I opened my mouth and begin to stammer. ″M-Me?″

″Yes, you silly,″ she laughs then taps me on the back as she meets up with Chrissy and left the area.

“So, it’s you and me now huh?″ Theo said.

″Yes, I guess it is. But first, I need some coffee I’m craving for it.″

Theo blew a laugh.

Theo came in with a tray of coffee stuff. “Better late than never. How do you take it?”

“Cream, no sugar.”

″Coming right up madam.″

″Thank you,″ I said as he hands me a cup of coffee. I took a quick sip and compressed my lips after tasting the vanilla frappe.″My god, this delicious.″

″Years of practice.″

I laughed. ″Come on, let me show you around.″

A hundred questions clogged my throat, creating a logjam in the suddenly awkward silence between us. We walked behind the house by the boardwalk beside the lake.

The lake mirrored the sky above, both of them blue and shimmering. A beautiful view for a Saturday afternoon.

“So you still live here?” I laced my hands together in my lap, tight enough the knuckles went white.

“Yep. Born and raised. I came back after grad school. I’m an architect.”

My eyes brightened with interest and I shifted toward him, those tight-knit hands loosening. “Commercial or residential?”

“Some of both.”

He quaffed his drink and smeared off the extra juice on his lips. ″So is this your first time since you’ve moved?“′

“It is. I never had reason to come here before.”

Tap tap. Tap tap. “I guess with your future new dad moving here, you’ll be here again in the future?”

“I guess we’ll have to see.″

″You know things haven’t changed around you since you guys moved away.″

″Really?″

″Yes. I can prove it to you if you don’t believe me.″

″Prove to me in what way?″

″Are you free on Sunday night?″

″Uh, no, I’m not.″

″If it’s okay if we hang out? Show you what’s been happening here?″

I blushed.

Theo snorted a laugh and a dimple winked in his cheek, making her my flip. God, I’d missed that dimple.

″So... yes? No? Maybe, so?″ He questions me while I blew out a breath.

″Yes, I’d love to hang out with you, catch up things that I’ve been missing out.″

“I’m so fucking happy to see you.”

“I’m happy to see you, too.”