Samantha
That little interaction served to dispel any remaining awkwardness between the two of us. We managed to keep it mild until we reached my house, where a large box on the porch reminded me of the favor I needed to ask him.
" Can you help me with something? " I asked before getting out of the car.
He followed me curiously to the porch, I unlocked the door and pointed to the unopened box that was still there. I had received this package in the morning, but had not dared to move it when I realized how heavy it was.
" Can you take this upstairs for me? " I asked.
He didn't think twice before stooping down, picking up the box and carrying it into the house, and then climbing the stairs. I followed him, showing him where he could put it, and sat down on the floor to open it.
" This is heavy, what did you buy? " Theon asked, standing beside me.
" A toolbox," I explained.
That took him by surprise. He stooped down beside me, looking at everything in the box.
" Sam, why do you need a toolbox?”
" How do you expect me to disassemble this furniture to set up the baby's room? " I shrugged my shoulders before pointing to everything around me.
" When you say "disassemble the furniture" do you mean that you will do it yourself? " he raised an eyebrow.
Putting it this way sounded ridiculous, but what could I do? I didn't have someone to do it for me.
" Yes.”
" You're kidding. Sam! " he stood up alarmed.
" What's wrong? " I frowned, also getting up.
" You don't bring a box up because it's heavy, but you plan to disassemble furniture yourself?”
" I have to start getting the room ready for our son, Theon," I rolled my eyes, "I already bought the paint cans and I can't paint with the furniture here.”
" You're crazy " he hid a small smile " Do you even know how to use any of these tools?
" I'm smart, I learn fast " I challenged him.
" I have no doubt you will," he laughed, "Come on, you can change your clothes, and I'll help you disassemble everything you need.”
I was excited by this possibility, but then guilt set in. He has a girlfriend! I shouldn't feel this way about someone like this! But, well, we wouldn't do anything. We would just work on our son's room together, that's all!
" I'm going to change," I warned, walking away.
" I'll ask them to deliver something to eat," he said, reaching for his cell phone, "you must be hungry.”
" Thanks," I smiled.
I took a few minutes to get ready, fixing my hair before returning to the room, where Theon had gotten rid of the coat he was wearing and separated the tools he would need.
" Have you thought about where you are going to put all this? " he pointed to the dresser and two single beds that occupied the room.
" Well, I have a basement," I shrugged.
" Tell me you weren't planning on going down there alone," he smiled.
I merely smiled before going over to the separate tools, picking up a screwdriver.
" I'll tell you what, whenever you need help with this kind of thing, you should call me, okay? " he stepped closer, taking the tool from my hand.
" Deal, Mr. Adamos," I winked at him.
He smiled before getting to work. We spent the first few minutes in silence, but I couldn't bear to continue like this.
" So, have you thought of a name, Theon?”
" A name?”
" Yes, for the baby," I explained, "I bet we'll have to choose one. Or do you intend to call it the Hurst-Adamos baby?”
" I don't know, I confess I haven't thought of any specific name," he commented thoughtfully, "have you thought of any? You knew from the beginning that it would be a boy.”
" I did, but that's the problem " I sighed.
" What did you think of?”
" Many, I've had time to think of many, and I don't know which one to choose.”
" We can choose together," he suggested.
" Tell me one you like, Apollo.
" Dorian.”
I analyzed that name for a moment. Dorian Hurst-Adamos.
" I don't like it. I like Lucas.”
" No," he grimaced, "how about Damian?”
" Theon, what's your problem with names ending in "ian"? " I rolled my eyes.
He gave me an amused look before turning his attention back to his task.
" Dylan," I suggested.
" Dylan doesn't go with Hurst-Adamos. Demetrius.”
" Sorry, I didn't know our baby would be born at ninety," I retorted.
" Maybe we should decide this later," he suggested with a half smile.”
" Sure, sure.”
I sat back down on the floor, leaning against the wall and watching him closely. Theon was concentrating on unscrewing the bed, his muscles showing even through the sweater he was wearing, his thick dark hair often falling in front of his green eyes and he had to pull them out while flexing his jaw, demonstrating all his concentration on his task.
I sighed audibly and looked away.
Sam, what did I tell you about this kind of thinking with committed men?
" Is that a problem?”
" None," I assured him, "Do you miss Greece, Apollo?”
" How?”
" Greece, the Country, do you miss it?”
That question made him think for a moment. He frowned as he considered the best answer.
" I came here when I was a child, although I traveled a few times to visit relatives, we adapted well here. I don't think I miss it. But I do enjoy visiting the country," he shrugged.
" I think I know what you mean," I commented, "I have always visited my grandparents in Mexico a lot, but I never considered it my home. “
" Yes, I think that's exactly right," he agreed, "but I didn't know you were from Mexico.”
" I'm not, my maternal grandmother is. She lived in Texas for a long time, but after my mother married, she moved back to Mexico.”
" I would never have guessed.”
" I am not very attached to Mexican culture. The closest I have to the country is my middle name.”
" Samantha M Hurst " he frowned.
" Samantha Margarita Hurst.
" Margarita, like the cocktail? " he frowned.
" Like the flower!”
" Are you sure? I think the cocktail suits you better," he sneered, "or maybe another cocktail suits you better?”
I widened my eyes, staring at him in false surprise.
" You shouldn't use my middle name against me, I trusted you, Apollo. “
" This is how we're going to play it, Margarita," he winked, my heart racing.
" I can handle a little nickname, Apollo," I returned.
" We'll see about that.”
I couldn't help but laugh at his comment; our relationship had been improving over the last few days. I got to know him more every day, and I was more and more sure that we would make it work.
We both worked in silence for a few minutes, until he spoke again.
" You once told me that you grew up in boarding school, right? “
" Yes. St. Monica's Academy has taken care of every aspect of my education since I was six," I assured him.
For a moment I thought how difficult it must have been for my parents to make that decision.
I never doubted their love for me, but now that I'm on the other side of the coin, I don't know if I could walk so far away from my son like that.
" And what was that like?”
" I spent the whole school term with my friends. When there were holidays or vacations they would take me home," I related, "and on my birthday they would always visit me and do something special to celebrate. I can't complain. I had a good childhood.”
" They seem like good parents.”
" I know they're the best they can be," I assured them, "they've never missed a performance of mine, even though I live in another state.”
" And yet you still haven't told them you're pregnant? " he questioned.
" Can we change the subject? " I looked away, feeling embarrassed.
Before he could answer, the doorbell rang, interrupting our moment. I stood up and ran down the stairs, with pancake jumping excitedly at the door, barking at whoever was outside.
I opened the door, surprised to find Harper standing there, a smile plastered on her face. She was carrying a paper bag and looked very happy.
" Harper, hi.”
" I brought you some food," she hummed, lifting the bag, "Theon told me you hadn't eaten and I decided to help.”
I still didn't know how to act in her presence. She always treated me well and was nice, but I didn't feel comfortable, probably because of the thoughts I had with her boyfriend.
" Come in, let's go," I tried to offer her my best smile, "Theon is upstairs.”
She walked me upstairs to meet him. Harper is going to be a part of my life, whether I like it or not, I need to start getting used to her!