Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 99949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Since I’d been using Cam’s phone to monitor Theo’s location, the cop had done me a favor and called one of the police officers in Amsterdam. The officer had driven by Double D’s a couple of times during his patrol and had reported back to Cam each time that Theo was still with the car and doing nothing more than sitting on the hood of it.
I’d hoped giving Theo some time to himself would have him heading home but as darkness had started to fall, I’d asked Cam to give me a ride to Double D’s.
I hadn’t been sure what to expect but when I’d realized that the events of the morning hadn’t been the only thing Theo had been thinking about, I’d known it was time for me to make him understand how deep my feelings for him truly ran.
I sighed as I rolled onto my back.
Even though Theo and I hadn’t talked on the way home, I’d intentionally had him turn my phone on so he’d see the number of calls and texts trying to reach him, not only from me but the entire family. He’d glanced at the notifications that had popped up but then he’d simply put the phone back in the cupholder.
Once we’d reached the house, everyone had still been up. Theo clearly hadn’t been expecting the reception he’d gotten because he’d gotten paler and paler with every member of the family who’d hugged him and told him they were glad he was home. He’d been stiff as a board by the time he’d gotten around to Ford, who’d held Theo for a long time as words of gratitude for protecting Riley had poured out of his mouth. Fortunately, Ford had noticed his friend’s tension and had released him and urged him to get some rest. We’d both been sent upstairs with a plate piled high with sandwiches, but I hadn’t been hungry, so I’d given them to Theo. He hadn’t looked interested in them either, but he hadn’t fought me on taking them. I hadn’t been able to completely let him go, so I’d lightly brushed my mouth over his and wished him a good night.
That had been several hours ago, and while I’d gone through the motions of getting ready for bed, I’d known that I wouldn’t sleep a wink.
I’d be too busy listening for Theo’s bedroom door to open as he made another attempt to run.
As I stared at the ceiling, I thought about what to do next, but nothing came to me.
Well, not quite.
Nothing came to me, but someone did.
I heard a soft knock on my bathroom door before it was carefully opened. I immediately sat up at the sight of Theo. I was about to ask him if he was okay when he suddenly stepped into the room and stopped right next to the bed. While I couldn’t see his expression, his body language spoke volumes. He was hunched in on himself and he had a throw blanket drawn around his body. He was still wearing the same clothes he’d had on during the day.
Thankfully, my instincts took over and I quickly pulled the covers back on the empty side of the bed. I moved over enough that I wouldn’t crowd him. He climbed into the bed and turned his back to me. I leaned in to draw the blanket over him but when I went to move back to my side of the bed, Theo held on to my arm. He tugged it until it was wrapped around his midsection. I scooted over enough to line our bodies up but made sure to keep my lower half from touching his.
Neither of us spoke for so long that I was sure Theo had fallen asleep, but when he began running his fingers up and down the arm I had across his body, I knew he wasn’t.
“I told you the place my parents sent me was really bad,” he murmured. “They called it a ranch and from the outside it looked like any other camp. I even saw the brochure once. Kids smiling as they canoed or rode horses. Group pictures that looked like Bible study sessions. A fancy cafeteria with flower centerpieces on each table and loads of fresh fruit in baskets all over the place.” Theo paused a moment before adding, “It was all a lie. No horses, no canoes, no cafeteria. The Bible study stuff was sort of true, I guess. But we always went over the same passages and listened to the same warnings about going to hell if we continued to give in to the devil’s temptations.”
I remained silent as Theo spoke because this wasn’t something I could do for him. Not only was he trusting me with his truths, but he was also testing me.
“Most of the kids gave in after a few months. They’d proudly announce to the rest of us that they’d found God and His light had healed them of their unnatural desires. Being locked in tiny rooms with just a bed and a toilet will do that to you, I guess. We got to eat together in the real cafeteria, which was just a bunch of metal tables and chairs and some slop they called food being dumped on your plate as you walked past the buffet. There was no talking allowed. Not during meals, not during chores like washing dishes and doing laundry. If it was warm enough, we got to have some of the Bible study sessions outside, but there were always lots of orderlies posted for our safety.”