After cleaning up the mess of things I used to make dinner, I went and relaxed on the free couch, watching tv. Luca went back to working, and Demitri remained where he was, just petting the dogs. 

After a while, I got up and checked the oven, pulled out the pan with oven mitts and carefully lifted the tin foil. It looked done, but I checked all my vegetables and the chicken before I returned it to the oven for a few more minutes. Just to be sure that it was completely cooked. 

Once I was sure it was done, I pulled it out and set it on the stovetop, being careful not to scratch or break the glass top. 

Peeling off the foil completely, Demitri groaned. 

“That smells fucking amazing, Theo.”

“God, I second that. It smells great.” Luca said, looking towards the kitchen. 

“It does smell pretty good, doesn’t it?” I said, almost preening. 

I had got a few of the boxes sorted and broken down. Enough that I was satisfied for the night with my efforts. 

Pulling down plates and getting forks. I set them on the counter and looked back at the stove again, proud of what I had cooked. For the first time in a long damn time. 

“Please, come get some food.” I said, loud enough for them to hear me. 

They got up and came to get food, the dogs on their asses. 

“Hunt, Hero, Eat your dinner.”

Demitri and Luca helped themselves to the dinner I made, and pride swelled inside of me when they complemented the food. Grabbing food, I ate while I dug through the boxes of clothing. There were a couple of older suits, name branded ones I would never willingly buy now.  

“You should eat and then go back to doing that, if you choose.” Luca said, watching me while he ate, too. 

“Too busy for that. I’m good at multitasking.” I laughed, shoving a chunk of potato into my mouth.

“While I don’t doubt that. You should have work and life balance.”

I actually snorted at his comment. 

“Forgive me. I shouldn’t have laughed. Luca, I’m never off the clock. Work is my life.” 

“You really should try to—-”

“When my father’s debt is handled, then I can relax. Until then, I can’t.”

“Right, understandable.” Luca said.

Demitri stayed right out of the conversation. I wondered if he wanted to avoid it because he was worried he might say something that would upset me, or just because he had already spoken about it. 

Soon enough, my debt would be gone, whether or not my father liked it. I wouldn’t settle until that stupid house was sold, that debt was paid and we could live like normal people. 

We both were suffering because of the debt. I hated being around my father because he just saw me as someone in the position to pay his debt. And I had allowed it because I didn’t want to see him dead. 

After finishing my dinner, I cleaned up the dishes and put away the leftover potatoes, onions, and carrots. Sliding the boxes down to my room, I set them out of the way and returned to the living room. Whatever they had been discussing, they cut it short when I came back. I definitely heard them speaking from the hallway. 

“I have the papers that Maddox wants you guys to assist me with. I can pretty much handle it all myself. He wants you guys to be the link for what they want. Your bosses I mean.” I said when I got back into the room.

“Yes, that is my understanding. Any changes or revisions will go through me and Luca.” Demitri said. 

“Right, that is doable.” I muttered. 

I was ok with Demitri and Luca doing the bare minimum. They had other jobs outside of helping me. This was my regular job, and I was used to it being me alone, and that’s all. 

“Theo, I’ll be heading back to the complex tomorrow after noon, Sasha needs me for his project.”

“Of course, I understand you don’t need to tell me anything else.”

“I could join him if you want your place back faster, Theo.” Luca said, looking at me, expecting an answer.

“It’s up to you, Luca. It might just be easier for you to catch a ride with him.” I said. Keeping the soft smile on my face. 

“I’ll head back with Demitri, then.”

“Alright.” 

I didn’t care for the feeling that was building in my chest. Ignoring it, I went back to cleaning the stuff in the boxes, just in the bedroom now. Clothing still littered around the space as proof it really happened. 

There was plenty of clothing in the box that I hadn’t worn since before I got married to Marco. It had just gotten moved to the summerhouse, probably when I was cleaning or moving stuff there for me to have. 

Peeling off the top I had on, I tried on a few different other cropped tops and sweaters, looking at myself in the mirror. I laughed, trying on a pair of leggings that I was sure I bought when I was twenty-one or two. They were some of the worst feeling materials I had ever had on my skin, but they hugged nicely. 

Tossing aside some of the clothing I would never wear again, I found the sweater Marco bought me for my birthday after we got married. It was still as nice as it had been when he bought it and I had never even worn it because of the price. Trying it on, it still fit and it was nice, but not my style. Tossing it in the pile to get rid of, I hoped someone else would like it better than I had. 

Putting music on my phone, I cleaned up my room; I snagged Demitri’s shirt off the floor and Luca’s sweater and tucked them away. They were close enough to be called victory trophies. I was sure they had more and wouldn’t even notice that I stole them. Smugly, I tossed the rest of the discarded clothing in the wash. 

Yanking off the leggings, it was nice to feel the air on my legs again. They weren’t feeling smothered by those terrible pants. The amount of clothing I had on really wasn’t a lot. Walking to the kitchen, I took the clothing I was going to donate and bagged it up. 

“Theo?”

“Huh? Yeah?”

“Is that even considered a sweater?” Demitri chuckled. 

“Yes, but just barely.” I laughed, heading back down to the bedroom. 

Demitri followed behind me, clearly needing something else. Luca wasn’t that far behind him, either. 

“Oh, you cleaned up the evidence?”

“Yes, a while ago. I put your clothing in the basket and I’ll bring it after I wash it.”

“Alright.”

“Let me just finish up here, and we can watch some movies or something. I have time for that tonight.”

“Cool. I called the first pick for the movie.” Luca said.

“Pick away.” I said, chuckling.

Cleaning up the rest of the room and putting the other clothing in the basket. I got changed, back into the cropped shirt from earlier and some light pajama bottoms. Heading to the couch, I sat on the one that was both dog and man free.

“Oh, you didn’t want to join our community?” Demitri teased. 

“Yeah, there’s a free spot between us and the dogs.” Luca said. 

“Looks a little too cramped for me.” I laughed.

Getting up off the free couch, I told the dogs to go to the other couch, and they almost looked like they might refuse me, but moved. Though they were far from happy about it. 

Sitting between Demitri and Luca, I was picking dog hair off both of their shirts. 

“Go get comfortable clothing for movie time.” I demanded. 

“Got it.” Demitri said. Before marching away, Luka waited a moment, his eyes raking over me, before he headed down the hall. 

I sat on the couch and watched the dogs wait patiently for Luca and Demitri to return. That was honestly a sore spot right now for me. My dogs liked Demitri and Luca better. I figured it had to do with the fact they probably gave off the same aura as Marco, just not as nasty. 

Luca returned first, in a tank top and shorts. I looked him up and down, remembering what he hid underneath his clothing. Demitri returned in just sweat pants and Luca was the first one to look him up and down before he forced himself to look away from the man. I told him to get in comfortable clothing, not come out half undressed, tempting me like water to a man in the desert. 

“I’ll get snacks for the movie.” I muttered, getting up and going to make myself busy to distract from Demitri.

Luca wasn’t even attempting to look at Demitri, rather, he was watching me in the kitchen. Without really thinking about it, I caught Luca looking at me again and lifted my shirt, flashing him my entire chest. Not that there was anything gross or wrong with it, but Luca snorted and Demitri looked over.

“What did I miss?”

“Theo flashed me his nips.” Luca said.

“Oh, I see, so instead of the TV, I should watch Theo. He is giving a free show.” Demitri said. His eyes locked on mine across the room. 

“Nah, I’m not. I’m just making snacks. Luca is confused about what he saw.”

With the snacks in hand, I returned to the couch, ready to watch whatever movie Luca had picked for his movie. I was just praying whatever it was; it was good.