The Asshole Gentlemen

*Evylynn's POV*

It was cold in the guest bedroom when I woke. I saw Theo by the open window, smoking. He was fully dressed again and I could see a pale light outside the bedroom window. It was still early. I slid from under the covers, wrapping the sheet around me. He looked back when the floor creaked and watched me come near.

“You ever gonna stop smoking?” I asked to tease.

“That’s a lost cause sweetheart.” He said inhaling deeply. I snatched the cigarette from his fingers, watching his eyebrows raise slightly. I stuck it in between my lips and inhaled. It burnt down my lungs, but I didn’t cough. It tasted good, familiar. It tasted like him. The smoke slipped back out my lips towards the window. His eyebrow’s raised even more. He settled into the window frame. I walked to him, slowly, taking another drag off his smoke. I dropped the cigarette in the tray and dropped the sheet slowly from my sides. His small smirk grew, as I exhaled, giving him a shotgun kiss as his fingers teased my hips.

“I’d love to spend the day here with you, but Gus says I have to work. Margie's picking up the kids for Henry today, so you’ll have the day to yourself and the next few off as well. We’re going to Gus’s for a few days while he’s gone to London.”

“When do you have to be in town?”

“I have to leave in a few minutes.”

“That’s a shame.”

“I’ll make up for it tonight.”

Margie arrived an hour after Theo left to pick up the kids.

“Ev? She hollered into the house when she walked in.

“Coming! Come on kids, Aunt Margies here!” The kids ran towards the front of the house screaming and laughing. Marge, surrounded by kids was the first thing I saw when I walked into the kitchen.

“Alway’s happy to see you,” I said as I leaned into the doorway.

“Of course they are.”

“Mind if I have a ride into town?”

“What for?”

“We’re staying at Gus’s house and I don’t want Theo to have to drive out here just to drive into town and then out to Gus's.”

“I s’pose.”

“Thank you,” She didn’t respond just bolstered the kids out the door. I sat in the front seat of the car with her, but there was seldom conversation.

“Where are you going in town?”

“I wanted to go to the hospital and visit everyone…”

“Better ask Theo.”

“And why’s that?” I could feel my irritation growing as I glared out the side window.

“He doesn’t want ya goin' anywhere by yourself. He care’s bout you’s all.”

“I’m not asking anyone permission to go anywhere,” I said turning to look at her, she didn’t look back. Her pursed lips were all I saw.

“Tell Theo I said I love him and to call me tonight to check in when you’ve made it to Gus's house.” She called out the window when she dropped me off in front of the old house.

“Yes ma’am.” She stared at me sternly for a moment before pulling away. I stood there until she turned the corner and made my way towards the hospital. I was a grown woman, I didn’t and wouldn’t ask for anyone's permission to go anywhere. I’d be at the office before lunch even with making a detour to the hospital for a moment. He couldn’t hover all the time. I would be safe during the day. Wouldn’t I? I hesitated on the sidewalk for a moment, turning back towards the betting shop. I walked in and called the office. The phone rang and rang. They must be busy, I’d call from the hospital. It was only a few blocks.

When I’d reached the hospital I was massively overwhelmed by my welcome. So much so that I forgot to call Michael and I’d lost track of time until Lunch.

“I have to make a call before we go anywhere,” I told Margaret. The phone rang and rang. I looked down at it in frustration before slamming it down on the hook.

“No answer?”

“No, he must be busy.” We were busy chatting away when we walked out the door, I didn’t see Theo standing at the curb with his back pressed to his car until Mary said something pulling everyone to a stop. I looked up and saw Theo’s emotionless face looking back at me, “Get in the car. We need to talk.”

“Do we need to do this right now?”

“Ev, just go with him. We’ll plan something and catch you another time ok?” Mary called out as she and Margret turned down the street smiling and waving. I scowled at them for a moment before turning to look up at him. He was lighting another cigarette, the end flaring a brilliant red. My eye’s flicked back and forth between his eyes. Before I got in and slammed the door.

“Was that necessary?” He asked through the window. His back was still to me.

“Get in the car, Theodore you've ruined my mood.”

“Do we need to do this right now?” He said impersonating my snarky response from just moments ago. I glared at the back of his head until he dropped the butt onto the ground. He climbed into the driver's side and sat there for a moment, before turning to me.

“I tried calling Henry’s house. You didn’t answer. So I called Mum’s house, and you know what she told me? That she dropped you at the betting shop. Imagine my surprise when I called there and they said you’d left. I called Mum again and she said to look for you here.”

“I tried calling,” I said responded quietly.

“I’ve been sitting out here for an hour.” He growled at me. “Do you have any idea how worried I was?”

“I didn’t mean to worry you.”

“Then do as your told.” He spits back. “Mother told you to wait or to check in.” I could feel the anger build up inside me.

“I’m not a child.”

“You may as well be!” He yelled, my jaw dropped in shock, how dare he talk to me like that? I turned away with a huff and opened the door. Just to have Theodore reach across and pull the door closed before I could get out.

“Listen to me.”

“No, not when you’re going to be irrational.”

“Evylynn, it’s not safe. Even during the day. I’ll drive you to where your friends are going and sit outside if you want it that badly. But you need to be protected at all times.” He sounded so frustrated and hurt.

“I did try to call, I did.”

“We’re past that.” He said clutching the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were white. “I worry about you.”

“I know you do but you—“

“Don’t interrupt me.” He said causing my eyebrows to shoot up.

“You stop interrupting me. I know you worry, but you can’t smother me to keep me safe.”

“We’ve got a lot of enemies Ev. I know you know that, we’ll always have a lot of enemies. So, I need you to be smart. ok? I need you to not be so difficult. I’m not trying to smother you. I’m trying to protect you and keep you safe.”

“I tried to call,“ but the look in his eyes silenced me. He was being overbearing and bossy, too much like Gus for my liking. We glared at each other for a moment before he continued. His hands tightly gripped the steering wheel.

“What if someone got you again? Do you have any idea what that would do to me? It’d tear me apart all over again. I’m not willing to lose you again.”

“I’ll be more careful ok? I’m sorry I was—”

“I love you damnit.” He said smashing his hand into the steering wheel. Refusing to look at me.

“What did you just say?”

“You heard me.” He snapped as he pulled away from the hospital.

His jaw was clenched tightly as he drove down the street. I was trying to process the entire thing, and hadn’t been able to speak when we arrived at the office. He told me he loved me, and he isn’t the type to not be truthful about his feelings. I loved him too. I did, but I didn’t know how to tell him when he looked like this. He got out of the car and walked around to my side, opening the door to let me out before walking away before I could touch him. The asshole gentlemen. He strode through the front doors and didn't wait for me. Leaving me several feet behind him as he walked to his office. I’d visited him at the betting shop but never at the office. There were beautiful women everywhere, and angry-looking men. He stopped at a door with his name on a gold plate on the front and unlocked it.

“I see you found her.” I heard a voice behind me, belonging to Andrew “Hey gorgeous,” he said patting the top of my head before wandering away. I followed Theo into his office and was shocked by what I saw. There were large bay windows overlooking the inside of the factory along the entire back wall and books lined the walls.

“Sit down.” He said grumpily as he sat down on his padded throne behind his desk. He scribbled some notes without looking up at me. I made my way to the window behind him and looked out.

“Do you ever listen?” He mumbled quietly while continuing to work. I pondered the question for a moment before walking back towards him, my hands gripping his shoulders. He was tense as I slid my arms down across his chest and hugged him. He leaned his head over so it was resting against mine and sighed, relaxing fractionally every few seconds.

“I love you too, you know?” I whispered in his ear.

“Do you?” He whispered in response.

“I do. Very much.” He sighed and lifted his hand to clutch my arm, his eyes stared down at his papers.

“I love you, too.”