Savannah shook her head, her loose hair sprawling every which way. “He died a few years ago. It’s just me now. Well, me and Brynn. But she’s in Korea until Christmas break.”

“Brynn? Korea?”

“Brynn is my best friend. She’s teaching in Korea, otherwise she’d be here guns a-blazing.”

I was distracted by her response as soon as I stepped into Theo’s room, immediately wanting to retch at the smell. I plugged my nose. “How the hell have you been sleeping in here?”

“I stopped noticing the smell after the second day,” she shrugged, pulling at the sheets.

“Absolutely not.” I snatched her hands away from the bed. “You go to bed and get some rest. You’ve done your part. I’ll get this room cleaned up.” My proclamation of love could wait until she got some sleep. I wanted her to be in the best mindset possible when I finally confessed my feelings.

Savannah froze, looking uncertain. “But Theo…”

“Will be fine.” I spun her around, pushing her towards the door. “I’ll get him out of the tub when I’m done up here. But you’re no good to any of us if you’re dead on your feet. Go. Sleep.”

She opened her mouth to protest. I shook my head and pointed down the hallway. “Sleep. I’m not hearing another word.”

Savannah frowned, but didn’t fight me on it. I was certain she would be asleep before her head hit the pillow. I waited until I saw her door close before I turned back to Theo’s room. It was an absolute disaster. The bedding was everywhere, covered in stains I didn’t want to think about. Towels and clothes lay heaped in the corners, and teacups rested on every surface possible.

It smelled worse than it looked. But this wasn’t Savannah’s mess to clean up, and Theo was in no shape to do so. Heaven only knew where Felix was hiding, so I would have to take one for the team. Time flew by as I imagined what I would say to Savannah, how I would tell her my true feelings. Dreaming of how she’d respond kept me focused on anything other than the room.

Three hours later, the room was spotless, and a clean Theo lay in bed, dressed in a clean pair of pajama bottoms I had snatched from Felix’s room. In typical Theo fashion, he had refused the shirt.

“Thanks, Luther,” he murmured, rolling onto his side. He looked shattered, ready to pass out any minute. “I don’t know how to repay you.”