Page 38 of Aperture

“Motherfucker!” Theo yells.

I am doubled over with laughter at this point.

“You have to use some finesse,” I tell him.

Stepping in front of him, I line up the ball, wiggle my hips, and then hit it with just enough force to make it into the basket. We both watch it shoot out of the bunny’s butt and stop about six inches from the hole. I smile smugly as Theo drops his head in defeat. I saunter over to him and wrap my arms around his waist.

“You can suck at mini golf. I still like you,” I say as I look up at his mouth.

“Prove it,” he says as he tosses his club over his shoulder. I reach up and kiss his lips softly before pulling back. He smiles as he looks down at me. “Well, that’s better. Come on, let’s get this nightmare over with. You are buying me ice cream afterward.”

We play a few more holes, including a volcano that spits Theo’s ball right back out at him twice. He reacted by verbally assaulting the volcano and threatening to sue management. I was laughing so hard that I couldn’t even hit my ball. We were having so much fun that we finished playing the last few holes without keeping score.

“I didn’t realize I was dating a ringer,” Theo says just as I take a lick of my fudge explosion ice cream. I freeze and it slides down my throat without me initiating a swallow, and the result is me coughing, red-faced, and gasping for air. Theo gently hits my back.

“Millie, are you OK?” He looks so sweet and concerned.

“I am,” I say as I clear my throat. “You said we are dating.”

His cheeks redden with embarrassment. “I’m sorry. I am moving too fast. I didn’t mean to rush you.”

“No, you’re not,” I tell him, attempting to set his mind at ease. “We are spending time together so it’s natural that we would talk about it. I’m just not used to a man initiating that conversation.”

“Look, I haven’t dated in a really long time,” he admits. “It’s difficult for me, because of my work,” he adds quickly. “But I think you’re amazing, and if you can stand that I am gone sometimes, I would really like to see where this goes. I would like to officially date.”

“I’d like that, Theo.”

“But there’s something we need to get clear,” Theo has forgotten about his ice cream.

“What?”

“Wyatt,” he says with disgust.

“What about him?” I didn’t mention Wyatt was the person I had been spending time with. I don’t know if he’s aware of it or if he just mentioned Wyatt specifically because they have a history.

“I won’t share you with him. I won’t share you with anyone.” His words give me pause for a moment. I am not planning on seeing Wyatt, and I understand his concern, given their past. But at the same time, there is a little voice in my head telling me that he sounds a little controlling. I quickly push it down, because this is Theo, and he’s not that kind of man. I think this is just a sore subject for him.

“I understand,” I tell him and grab his hand. He gives me a beautiful wide smile.

“Well, it’s settled then,” he says, as he leans over and gives me a very cold kiss that tastes like Theo and strawberries. I lick my lips to savor it as he gets up to throw our trash away.

Suddenly, I get the same familiar feeling that I’m being watched. I stop and look around, even turning around 360 degrees, but all I see are a few people sitting outside of the ice cream parlor, like us, and a few parked cars. One of the bigger trucks on the street pulls out and that’s when I see a black Mustang. I can make Wyatt out in the front seat, staring at me with murderous intensity. How dare he follow me around. The unmitigated gall of this man!

I look over my shoulder to make sure Theo isn’t looking, jump up and flip him the double bird. That’s how mad I am. Regardless of his past with Theo, this is none of his business. I will not let him ruin this new relationship for me.

Chapter 24

I’m still pissed off at Wyatt when I wake up the next morning. After I spotted him acting like a deranged stalker yesterday it was difficult not to let my mood sour. I managed to keep it hidden from Theo throughout the drive home and the small make-out session against my front door. But Milo got an earful when I got inside.

“I mean, seriously? Who acts like that? I offered myself to him. He took a taste and then said, ‘Thanks, but no thanks.’ So where does he get off following me around and acting like he can dictate who I spend time with?” Despite Milo’s affection for Wyatt, I could tell by his tail wags that Milo whole-heartedly agreed with me.

I’m tempted to go down to that police station and give him a piece of my mind, but there’s two reasons why I decide not to. Number one: I don’t want to encourage him. Maybe if I ignore him he will stop this nonsense. Number two: I told Theo I’d stay away, and I plan on keeping my word. Too frustrated to focus on much besides rage cleaning, I grab my running shoes.

“Come on, Milo, we’re getting out of here for a while.” He happily trots over to me and I put his collar on.

This is not going to be fun. I run like a wounded moose. It’s not an activity I participate in often. I’m not built for it, with thick thighs and big boobs, my strides are shallow and nothing short of comical. But Milo and I are doing this. It's either we run to the coffee shop, or I drive to the police station and punch Wyatt in the face. I’m not looking for a felony today, so we’re going with the wounded moose.

We make it to the coffee shop about thirty minutes later. I don’t think you could classify what we did as “running,” since we averaged a fifteen-minute mile. But we got here, and I’m much calmer than I was, the adrenaline and anger that had been coursing through my body now mostly spent trying to move my ass through the streets.