“It’s fine,” Theo said, and he glanced at me before looking back at Alex. “What do you do for work?”
Alex blinked and finally took some of what I was grilling onto his plate. “I’m a mechanic and work on older cars. I like it, but it’s not as cool as the coffee shop is.”
“At least you get time off.”
“Theo doesn’t like to sit still,” Alex said with a laugh. “He never did, even when ...” He trailed off, his smile fading.
“She knows,” Theo replied. “It may not be something I’m proud of, but I don’t hide it.”
“You can speak freely,” I said. “It’s okay.”
“Oh, good.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s not a secret I’d want to spill. You got out of it, though. That’s something to be proud of.”
Theo stiffened and shook his head. “It doesn’t change what I did.”
“What you did? Like changing even when all of that was your normal? It’s ... hard to unlearn everything. You did it.”
“That’s how I see it,” I added. “You took the words right out of my mouth.”
Theo looked between the two of us. “I—I don’t even know how to argue.”
“That’s where you don’t.”
He huffed but didn’t say anything.
“You’re good for him,” Alex said. “How did you meet?”
“She came into the coffee shop and changed my life.”
“I wish I’d seen it. I’ve been meaning to come out to The Reserved Bean. I just didn’t know if Theo would be okay with that.”
Theo blinked. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I sometimes feel like you don’t like me very much.”
“Wow.” I looked at Theo. “Imagine that.”
“Fuck.” He sighed. “Yeah, Piper said you might think that. I don’t. I just ... struggle with the past. I feel terrible for my part in it, so I stay distant.”
“You got me out of there, though. Why would I blame you?”
“I was a part of it.”
“That’s not how I think. I’ve been practically stalking you for years, man.”
“He’s just a little slow.” I rubbed his arm. “But I think we can make him realize what’s obvious.”
Alex finally laughed. “You know what? Ithink I agree.”
Theo looked away, but I saw him smile. Alex asked for more food and I made sure everyone’s plates were full. The dinner was far more lively after that.
And I knew I’d done the right thing.
36
THEO
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
