“Am I your last resort, Alba Medea?” Don’t curse him out about the name thing. He’s your only hope.

“No,” I lied.

“You’re so full of shit. You probably called everyone you know in Texas.” He laughed but it was not at all the sexy rumble I’d heard so many times since he’d come to Texas. I missed sexy and dirty Theo, but it was my own fault he was no longer there. He stayed quiet for another long stretch. When he finally spoke, he sounded like he was already moving. “Where are you?”

“Around Midlothian?”

“Okay,” he said in that self-assured, alert way of his. It felt like my crisis was on its way to being resolved already. “Send me a pin of where you are.” I put him on speaker and did it. “Got it. I’ll leave now. I was at a meeting.”

“You had a meeting? Are you making progress with the veteran housing thing?” It was out of my mouth before I could stop myself, and I did not miss the scoff that followed my nosy-ass question.

“Yes. I will be there in twenty minutes.” Okay, so he wasn’t in a sharing mood. Not that I’d asked him how it was going before, since I’d been avoiding him.

“Listen, if you’re busy with that I’m sure I can—”

“There’s a huge storm coming in like an hour, Alba. I don’t trust that toaster with wheels you drive around in even when it’s dry. I’m not letting you get back in that thing while it’s hailing.”

“Hey! This car is fine,” I groused, but there was way too much relief coursing through my body for it to have much heat.

“It’s a fucking death trap is what it is,” he said, ignoring my protest. He sounded put off and cranky and it was making my stomach hurt.

“Look, Theo, if you’re pissed at me, you don’t have to come,” I said, as I pulled the car door open and got back in.

“Alba, I can be pissed at you and still want to help you. I’m not a child. Just because shit between us is weird right now doesn’t mean I’m okay with leaving you stranded during a hailstorm.” I swallowed down the swell of guilt and gratitude crawling up my throat and let out a long breath.

“Okay, thank you.” My voice was so small I could barely hear myself.

“I’ll be there in twenty. Stay in the car and lock the doors.”