"You only just realised that?" Theo chuckles.
I groan, dropping my head into my hands. "I ate a cold, sad apple and three biscuits while shivering in my misery when I could have made tea."
Theo shakes his head. "Yep. I definitely won’t let you forget this."
I groan again and let my head fall back against the wall with a thud.
After a moment, I turn my head toward him. "Anyway," I say, voice still muffled with regret. "What are you doing here?"
Theo leans back against the shed wall, stretching his legs out in front of him like he’s getting comfortable. “Well,” he says casually, “the queen was very worried about you. And so was I.”
I snort, caught off guard. “The queen?”
He smirks. “Yes. Queen Lucy.”
“Queen… she doesn’t rule over me,” I grin.
“Tell her that.” Theo shrugs. “She runs a tight kingdom. And right now, her royal decree is that you come to the cottage, because—” he gestures toward me, my damp jumper-blanket, and the general misery of my current situation, “—let’s be honest, this is bleak.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “You’re not wrong, but I don’t appreciate how fast you came to that conclusion.”
“We have a spare room. And beef stew waiting. And tea that doesn’t require a gas cooker.”
I let out an exaggerated sigh. “Ah, I see. You think, as a knight, it is your duty to rescue a damsel in distress.”
Theo scoffs. “You? A damsel?” He shakes his head. “I don’t think so.” His tone softens. “Look, I know things didn’t go to plan, but you put the tent up. You figured out how to move to safety. You’ve got a plan to dry everything out. You don’t need to put yourself down.”
I glance at him, a little taken aback by the sincerity in his voice.
He shrugs. “You’re capable. You don’t need rescuing.” He gives me a small smile. “But as a friend, I’d like to offer you a warm place to stay. If you want it.”
I stare at him for a second, hesitating—not because I don’t want to go, but because, despite everything, some stubborn part of me still feels like I should stick this out. Like I need to prove something to myself.
Then Theo adds, “Oh. And the queen saved you a strawberry cream cake.”
I’m already standing before I realise I’ve moved.
Theo smirks. “That was fast.”
I grab my backpack. “Listen. I have my limits.”
Theo and I gather my things under the shelter, taking a final moment to brace ourselves before making a break for it. The rain is still coming down in thick sheets, but at this point, I’m beyond caring. Dry clothes and hot food are waiting, and that’s all the motivation I need.
“Ready?” Theo asks, gripping the straps of my backpack.
“As I’ll ever be,” I mutter.
“On three. One… two… go!”
We sprint into the downpour, splashing through puddles as we race to the car. Theo yanks open the boot, andwe shove my damp belongings inside as fast as humanly possible. I roll my tent in on top of my backpack and slam the boot shut just as another gust of wind sends rain pelting sideways.
“Go, go, go!” Theo shouts, and we both make a run for the doors.
I wrench mine open and slide inside, finally out of the rain.
“Ivy!”
Before I can even get my seatbelt on, Lucy launches herself forward from the backseat, wrapping her arms around my neck in a fierce hug. “You’re here! You’re not in the storm anymore! I saved you a cake!”
