Stranger

Chapter 19

When Nevaeh shows up at their apartment door, eyes red rimmed and wet, Theo doesn't ask any questions, just squints at her for a split second, eyebrows knitted with confusion, before pulling her in. Nevaeh inhales deeply, Theo's signature scent being an automatic comfort.

"Hey, hey," he says, his hands on her cheeks, pushing her hair out of her face as she sniffles. Theo stares out at the impala that has now swerved off, speeding down the road. He looks back at the dejected girl in front of him. "Hey, what's the matter? Someone hurt you?"

One look at Theo's commiserative face, and Nevaeh feels as if she should spill her guts out to him, but her thoughts are too jumbled. She doesn't where to start, what she should say, if she should even say anything and risk him learning anything he shouldn't. So she shakes her head. "Not right now, Theo. Please."

Theo nods, understanding. "That's okay, you don't have to tell me anything right now. Come on inside, it's freezing."

When Nevaeh steps inside the door frame, the familiar scent of home hits her nose, the polar opposite of the moldy motel rooms that she'd grown accustomed to.

Nevaeh looks around. Empty pizza boxes and mugs on the side table, shoes thrown around the living room, and dishes piled in the sink. Nevaeh side-eyes Theo, whose lips are pursed, fighting against a laugh. "The guys, uh," he goes to pick up the mugs, "came over last night. I would've cleaned but didn't have time, so," he shrugs.

Nevaeh rolls her eyes, a ghost of a smile on her face. "I bet," she says, and flops down on the sofa. Theo asks her if she wants hot cocoa, and she nods, and within 5 minutes, Theo is back and sitting next to her, with two mugs filled with hot cocoa, marshmallows, and whipped cream in his hands. He hands her a mug, and sits his on the table. Then he pulls her legs onto his, pulling her shoes off and rubbing her ankles.

He watches her expectantly, not wanting to pressure her, but also eager to know what, or who, had her crying on their doorstep. Nevaeh feels his gaze without having to look at him, and takes a deep breath. As much as she wants to tell Theo the truth, she also wants to protect him, without lying to him. So, she decides to tell him the truth, with a bit of missing information.

"So, remember those PIs I had told you about?" She says and Theo nods. "Well, apparently, they could possibly know where my brother and father is, and has been keeping it secret. I also have reason to believe that they've been keeping contact with my brother, and didn't tell me." She pauses. "I think my brother's into something really deep, something the PIs know about, but refuses to tell me."

Theo watches her as she talks, forehead creased. "But why would your brother feed strangers over you information? And have said strangers working with you to find him if he's communicating? Couldn't he just, tell them, where he is if he's missing?"

Nevaeh raises an eyebrow. Shrugs. "My exact thoughts. The only conclusion I could come up with is that my brother is trying to keep an eye on me, because he doesn't trust me, for some reason."

Nevaeh watches Theo as he bites his lips, looking down at his mug, deep in thought. The fact that Theo doesn't even have all of the puzzle pieces, and yet is still trying to put the puzzle together for her is enough for her to want to put all of this behind her, and start something new, just her and Theo. He's the only person making her feel trusted, wanted, safe. She wants a life, a new life, and Theo, she feels, is the person to give it to her.

"Sounds like those PIs definitely aren't to be trusted. You ever thought about getting new ones?"

Nevaeh shakes her head and mumbles, "can't." Before Theo can ask her why, she sighs. "Can we stop talking about it, though? I've had a long day."