Theo:It was a mouse, you stepped on his tail, that’s all that happened.
Rupert:Says the guy who threw up twice.
Theo:I think the almond croissant was bad. At least I didn’t faint.
Rupert:You weren’t the one who was traumatized by a rodent.
Theo:I’m not getting into this with you again. I gave you a piggyback ride all the way to our house. I set you up in thelawn chair with food and snacks. You’re basking in the sun, attempting to bring energy back to your body, so what more do you want?
Rupert:I want my innocence back, Theodore. I want my innocence back!
Rolling my eyes, I set my phone down and finish picking up the rest of the boxes that I broke down for recycling.
The storage room was full of old sweets. Now, I know I didn’t have the right to throw it all out, but given the expiration dates and the former resident of this closet, I assumed Renley would want it all chucked into the dumpster. Which I did…after going to the hardware store and grabbing a full hazmat suit, rubber gloves, and heavy-duty cleaning supplies.
I spent half an hour researching online how to clean out a mouse closet, which was apparently too specific, so I had to broaden my search. Also, first time using cleaning supplies—scary, I know, but it’s the truth. I scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed some more.
And now that the closet is cleaned out, I can proudly say that I did it, and I did it all on my own.
The back door to the shop opens and Renley steps in, stopping abruptly when she sees me, a scared gasp falling past her lips before she recognizes that it’s me.
“Oh my God, Theo. What are you doing here?”
“Thought I’d get a head start on things.”
She shuts the door and glances toward the storage closet and then back to me where I’m standing next to a stack of boxes. “Did you clean the closet out?”
“I did, and before you get upset, I want you to know that I wanted to help because I saw that you were stressed and wanted to do something nice for you. However, when I opened the closet this morning, a mouse scared the shit out of Rupert, who is in recovery in our front yard right now. I was able to get the mouseout, but not before Rupert stepped on his tail—but that’s neither here nor there, other than the fact that Rupert is still shivering from what happened. There were holes in the boxes of expired products and I thought that you wouldn’t want mouse-nibbled candy in the store, so I got rid of it all. I was wearing a hazmat suit, of course, because I might be brave but I’m still Mr. Soft Hands. Then I cleaned the fuck out of the closet, making sure to scrub every surface. And I’m sorry I did this without asking, but I just wanted to help.”
Her eyes flit to the closet and then back to me. Nerves are etching up my spine, because I might have overstepped here, but my intentions were good.
“If this is not what you wanted, I can go grab the mouse candy and bring it back to show you?—”
She closes the distance between us, smooths her hand up my chest, and then grips my cheek before pulling me down to gently kiss me on the lips.
It’s a fleeting kiss, nothing like last night, but it warms me all the same.
“Thank you,” she says. “This was so sweet of you.”
She smiles softly and I nearly fall over with excitement.I brought that smile to her face.
“I don’t know why you’re apologizing, as it seems ridiculous to apologize for doing something nice. And I hope that I don’t give the impression that I’d be mad about something like this. Because I’m grateful for you, Theo, and everything you’ve done for me since you’ve been here.”
“I just don’t want to overstep.”
“You’re not. Thank you for this. It’s…it’s so helpful.”
“Of course.” Pride surges through me. Is this what it feels like to have purpose? To actually do something for someone else that’s helpful? Not that I’ve been an arsehole my entire life, but in my mind, I haven’t really done anything that has madean impact. Taking a picture with someone because of my blood lineage, that doesn’t scream valuable, but slipping on rubber gloves and cleaning out a mouse closet to help a small-business owner get her business off the ground, now that feels like something.
And I fucking like it.
I like the surge of energy it gives me.
I like the relief in Renley’s body.
And I like the fact that I’m contributing.
Something of significance.
