Theo didn’t wait for me to ask twice.
We stayed collapsed on the double bed we’d created by pushing the two singles together until dusk, when I whispered to him that we should get going, voice muffled against the skin of his neck.
I jogged down the stairs, Theo following,and out of the doors- Josh winked at me as we went, I whispered a ‘cheers, mate’back- and through the winding cobbled paths of Zeltron, mostly plunged in darkness.
“My brother- the younger one- will be in bed.” I was saying “my older one is probably out.”
“You have- there are three of you? Three boys?”
“Hm. I think they kept trying because they wanted a girl, but.” I shrugged. No such success.
“Didn’t turn out that way.” Theo concluded for me.
My house was nothing grand- at least in my opinion- half-timbered with white plaster walls, dark wooden beams, and a steep red-tiled roof. It was a normal house, if a little on the larger side; Theo didn’t seem to agree, “you never told me you were rich, Matt.” He teased.
I scoffed, knuckles rapping on the wooden door “richis rich.” An overstatement.
My dad swung the door open, whole face brightening at the sight of me. I had to admit, I’d missed him too.
“Matthew.” He greeted warmly, eyes crinkling with the smile the offered us “I was wondering when you were gonna swing by. Do come in.” He stepped aside.
“Had to sneak away, da,” I replied, tugging Theo’s arm “Johnathan’s strict about shit.”
“Why, I suppose he would be.”His gaze raked over Theo, “not our usual visitor.” The man commented eventually, with a smile.
I smiled back, a little forced. Logically, I knew he’d never figure anything out, but there was still that lingering sense of foreboding. “No, da. This is Theo.”
Theo hesitantly extended his hand, relaxing slightly when my dad shook it happily.
“Jack usually comes round.” I explained to him “‘cause he’s a sucker for da’s cooking.”
Theo’s mouth widened into a grin “you cook?”
The man raised an eyebrow.
“Sorry” he hurried to say “I just…my dad doesn’t cook, so…”
“Don’t sweat it, kiddo. Yeah, I cook. Spaghetti okay?”
Theo nodded eagerly. I couldn’t fight the fond smile that spread across my face.
Once we’d sat down at the kitchen table, Theo was quick to tuck in, sprinkling Parmesan on his spaghetti and shovelling a forkful into his mouth, moaning in delight.
I wasn’t sure if he was just hungry or if it was genuinelythat good-I was too used to my own dad’s cooking to know-not that it mattered.
I laughed at him, allowing myself to sneak my hand onto his thigh, my thumb tracing circles there.
He shot me a quick look but ultimately didn’t mention it.
I updated my dad. Told him about the plan to invade Stadal, how we were preparing for it, what the accommodation was like at the palace, what I’d been doing in Draelon.
My brain briefly drifted to our amazing shower sex.
“You been starved, kiddo?” My dad asked Theo, eyes crinkling with the warm smile that he offered.
“No.” Theo’s head jerked up, looking a little caught of guard. “I, uh…haven’t eaten since we left.”
“How come? They don’t give you packed lunch?”
