High School Theo would hit back. Make her feel like shit for suggesting I’m a fuckup that no one cares enough about to worry over my basic well-being.
But hungry Theo who’s been hung up on this woman for longer than I can remember, even when I didn’t want to be? Hungry Theo, whodoesn’teat enough because I know what I have going now won’t last forever, so I need to look my best for as long as I can?
Especially since the entire package of me—my dick, my abs, my knitting, my stories—have me getting more validation in the comments of my videos than I’ve gotten in my own real life in ages.
Possibly ever.
Yeah, that Theo, the one gettingvalidationfromcomments on theinternethas a few issues.
And Emma hasn’t noticed my diet. My dad hasn’t noticed my diet. My buddies on the construction crew haven’t noticed my diet.
But Laney has.
I swallow hard. “Okay.”
She studies me too closely.
Waytoo closely.
Like she knows I’m terrified I’ll lose my six-pack. That strangers won’t tell me I inspired them or comforted them or lifted them up so much the day my body isn’t hard and tight.
The GrippaPeen thing was an accident, but it’s the best accident of my life.
And the worst at the same time.
Laney doesn’t say anything else while we make our way to the front of the line.
My stomach growls harder while the scent of tacos gets stronger.
We’re almost to the front of the line when Chandler’s voice makes my face twitch.
“What the hell?” he says.
Emma makes a noise. “Chandler. I told you. No peeking.”
“It’s a fuckinghuman hamster ball,” he hisses.
“It isnot.”
“Itis. Look.” He rips the fancy wrapping paper off the box at the head table, and Emma’s face goes through about forty-six different emotions while she studies the box.
Laney angles closer to me. “Is it really a human hamster ball?”
“Two,” I murmur back. “Blow-up style. For working out their frustrations after an argument.”
She stifles a noise, then double-stifles it with a hand thrown over her mouth.
“Are you laughing or crying?” I ask.
Her eyes answer for her.
She’s laughing.
Jackpot.
And she’s not the only one.
Giggles and chuckles cascade over the lanai.
