“Definitely.”
Standing awkwardly at the bottom of the stairs, I stare at him.
“We should go up,” Theo mumbles. “You’ve driven a ridiculous amount in the last two days.”
I gesture for him to go ahead, then I follow him.
Mom’s likely already in bed. When I told her I was bringing Theo back to stay with us, she responded exactly like I knew she would: by telling me that it was good and that he needed some TLC. Her love knows no bounds.
When we get into my bedroom, I unbutton my jeans. “I think I’m going to shower and get into something more comfortable.”
“I’m gonna try to do the same after you.”
I turn to him with a smile. “Sounds good.”
Grabbing a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, I step into the bathroom. I’m quick in the shower. If Theo wants to shower, I don’t want to take too long and risk him missing out if his energy levels dip.
When I’ve washed away the car ride, and I’m dressed in comfy clothes, I step out of the steamed-up bathroom to find Theo sitting on my bed with his phone in his hand.
“Shower’s ready for you.”
He nods. “Thank you. Should I text Luca and let him know? That I’m here and stuff. Like… that I’m living here, I guess.”
“If you want to.”
I’d never make him, and if he needs more time, that’s fine too. There’s no rush. At any rate, Luca will likely eventually find out unless Theo just never goes into town.
“I do. It’s just…” With a sigh, he sets his phone down. “He’s got it together in a way I don’t. Not exactly excited to tell him about… all this.”
Sitting down on the edge of the bed, I hold a hand out to him. He takes it, then adjusts my arm until it’s resting on his knee. I smile when he starts his little finger motions again.
“Luca is different than you,” I say carefully.
“Better, you mean,” Theo mumbles, not looking up from my hand.
He’s running the tip of his pointer finger up and down the underside of mine. It’s light and almost tickles a bit.
“No. Not better. Not worse, either. Just different. Can I ask you something?”
He nods.
“Are you still hurt over Damien?”
His head shoots up. “What do you mean?”
I sigh, trying to figure out the best way to put it. “Luca’s very immediate trauma is Damien.”
Theo nods. “Right.”
“Are you still plagued by those things?”
He starts to nod, then stops. “In some ways, I think I look at myself through his eyes, but…” His face scrunches. “No. Not really. Therapy helped with that a lot.”
“Give me some examples.”
He cocks his head, his brow furrowing. “Well, six years ago, I wouldn’t have pushed a near stranger into a stack of hay and kissed him. The thought wouldn’t have even crossed my mind.”
That makes me smile, and to my surprise, Theo smiles back. “Right.”
