Hero Next Door

Soon, I am flat on my back and Theo is on top, holding me as the remainder of the pleasure seeps from my body, leaving the pair of us collapsed in a heap on the floor, breathless and clinging to each other like we can’t bear to let one another go. I know that’s certainly the truth when it comes to me and I’m starting to feel like it’s that way for him as well, since he couldn’t wait to tell me that he loves me. He couldn’t stop himself.

“I love you.” I feel like I’m the one who needs to say it first this time, just so it doesn’t seem like I’m just saying it as a reaction to his words. I was all nervous when he said it before and I started chatting nervously like a fool. I don’t want him to think that is the only reason I said those three, magical wonderful words. I mean them, I love saying them and if I’m totally honest with myself, I really love hearing them as well. They feel fantastic.

“I love you too.” He pulls me towards him and kisses the top of my head, then the top if my nose as I look up at him which has me giggling girlishly at him. “And I can’t wait to see what our future will hold.”

Never have I been less sure of what lies ahead for me. I have always had some kind of idea before, even if it’s just what will be going on tomorrow. Usually because I always had work and the nightmare with Mr. Jones to contend with. But now, for the first time ever, I have no idea. I don’t know if me and Theo will be able to make it last, even if I’m pretty sure that our love will carry us through. I don’t know if Delia and myself will be able to stay friends without our work place in common, although I do feel like we will. I have no job, so I have no idea where I will be employed again or what my next job will be, what my daily tasks will become. Nor do I know when someone will hire me again, or if I will be able to pay my bills. I should be worried about all of that, but I’m not. Not at all. I’m good.

I always thought that I needed structure to keep me going, but now I’m good without it. I’m happier than I have ever been. Nothing can get to me when I have Theo, my super hero, by my side.

“I don’t know what is next for us,” I admit. “But I’m looking forward to all of it. Whatever comes our way, I can’t wait. I just know that with you it’s going to be perfect. Theo Landon, you are incredible.”

“Oh God, me too.” Again, he’s kissing me, all over and I love it. As his lips graze over my throat I wonder if that might be a spark of desire resurfacing over again. Who would have thought that I wouldn’t be able to get enough of him? “I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen. With you with me, Esme, I just know that it will be amazing.”

I let out a little laugh of happiness knowing that if I’d realized that living free with no structure was going to feel this good then I would have done it a long time ago, saving myself a lot of heart ache. Then again, if the office didn’t ever go up in flames then maybe me and Theo wouldn’t be where we are now… so it’s all worked out.

Chapter 20 – Theo

One Year Later…

“See ya later, Theo!” Joe calls to me as I walk out of the fire station building after yet another long but satisfying shift at work. I do still love my job, and I know that I always will. I’m so grateful now that I didn’t let Jane push me away further. I think that’s something I always would have regretted because I adore the people that I work with… plus, if I didn’t move in to the exact house I’m in, I wouldn’t have met the love of my life. “Have fun tonight.”

There is a weird twinkle in his eye which I can’t place at all, not that I’m going to waste any time trying to do because Joe has been like this ever since he found out that his wife was pregnant. I never knew how much he wanted to be a dad. It has made him even more likeable than he was before which is just insane.

“Yeah, have fun with the misses.” Frankie pats me on the back. “Hey, tell her congratulations by the way. I forgot to say it when she was here the other day, but she has been promoted, am I right?”