“Do you think she’s trying to dig all the way to the Indian Ocean? She doesn’t seem like a quitter and she’s got that energy about her.” His eyes flick back to mine, lingering a second longer than necessary. “So… Do you come here often?”

I could answer simply, but where’s the fun in that?

“Are you asking if I’m a creature of habit?” I tilt my head. “Or just looking for an excuse to run into me again?”

His lips twitch.

Caught.

“Maybe a little of both,” he admits. No hesitation. No shame.

“First time, actually,” I admit. “Valkyrie needed to burn off some energy, and I needed a break from staring at my computer screen. Figured it’d be good for the both of us.”

Theo nods, then tilts his head slightly, a smile playing on his lips. “Wait—does this mean you actually take time off?”

I scoff. “I take breaks.”

“Uh-huh,” he drawls, clearly unconvinced. “And when was your last one?”

I open my mouth—then close it. Damn him.

Theo grins. “Exactly what I thought.”

I huff, nudging him lightly with my elbow. “You’re obnoxious, you know that?”

“So I’ve been told.” He shifts, just slightly closer. Not enough to be obvious, but it’s enough that I notice. That I feel it. His voice drops just enough to make my pulse jump. “Mind if I join you for a bit? It’s been a while since I’ve had company out here.”

I hesitate for just a moment, more for show than anything else. “Sure. It’s a big lake. Plenty of space for both of us.”

Our shoulders brushed lightly as he falls into step beside me, sending a pleasant tingle up my arm.

Theo catches the way I shiver just slightly at the contact, and judging by the smirk that tugs at his lips, he’s fully aware of the effect he’s having on me.

Annoying.

And unfair.

We walk along the water’s edge, the breeze carrying the fresh scent of pine and damp earth. Valkyrie stays just ahead of us, darting in and out of the shallows, pausing only to pounce at her reflection. No complicated emotions to navigate, no lingering glances to ignore. Just pure, unfiltered joy.

“So,” Theo says after a beat, hands tucked into his pockets. “What exactly pulled you away from your computer screen today? Just Valkyrie’s boundless energy, or did you finally remember fresh air exists?”

I shoot him a sideways look. “You act like I never leave the house.”

“Do you?” He raises a brow, eyes glinting with amusement.

I scoff. “Yes, I do. In fact—” I reach into my bag and pull out a pristine, leather-bound sketchbook, flipping through its perfectly untouched pages. “This is what I’m planning on doing while Valkyrie frolics.” The weight of it feels different in my hands, more personal than a tablet. More vulnerable.