Page 118 of Theoretically Straight

“Just till tonight,” Theo reminds me with a grin. “Hey, don’t look so sad.”

I dig a finger into either side of my mouth, lifting my frown. “Is that better?”

Theo cringes. “Horrifying, actually. Hold on, I should take a picture for Wren so they can recreate the terror.”

I roll my eyes, an actual smile taking over. “Very funny.”

Theo laughs, stowing his phone back in his pocket before falling silent. He stares through me, eyes unfocused.

“Everything okay?” I ask, straightening my leg to tap him with my shoe.

“Hm?” Theo blinks, coming back down from outer space. “Yeah, sorry. I was just thinking about the interview tomorrow. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.”

“You’re going to be great,” I assure him. “Hudson is going to love you so much. He’ll invite you to co-host with him.”

Theo snorts a laugh. “Yeah, totally. It’ll be the Triple H and Theo show. It just rolls off the tongue.”

“The whole crew is going to be there to cheer you on,” I keep going, making it my mission to keep him from psyching himself out. “And if the worst should happen, at least we’ll have a great video of you fainting to post on your TikTok.”

“Oh, great. I wasn’t even thinking about passing out. That’s totally going to happen. I’m going to hyperventilate and fall out right in front of Hudson.”

“Hey.” I catch his hand, holding it in mine. “If that happens–which it absolutely willnot–I’ll be right there to catch you.”

He gives me a small nod, taking a deep breath.

“But let’s be honest,” I continue, “I’m going to pass the fuck out right beside you, so Harrison will have to catch the both of us.”

He laughs, which seems to dissolve the tension from his shoulders.

Damn, I don’t know if I’ll ever get tired of looking at him. Sitting across from me, the curls of his hair illuminated by the later afternoon sun as it streams through the window, I can’t help but stare. He’s beautiful in so many ways I’m not. Strong in so many ways I’m not. How could I do anything but love him?

A sharp knock raps against the window, and I spot Nathaniel’s hoodie lurking behind Theo’s head. He reaches behind to open the door, sliding out.

“Hey, Caleb,” Nathaniel says, lowering his head to greet me.

“Hey, Nate.”

“Are you coming around for Thanksgiving?” he asks, slinging his backpack onto the empty bench beside me.

The driver’s door opens, and Theo hops in just in time for me to shoot him a look.

“Um, we haven’t really talked about it.”

“Talked about what?” Theo interjects.

“Thanksgiving,” Nathaniel repeats. “He should come over for dinner. Hannah and Jessie would probably like him.”

I pop open the door, stepping out of the suddenly warm car. “I don’t think your parents–”

“It’s not gonna happen, bro,” Theo cuts me off with a little more finality than I care for.

Nathaniel steps around to his brother’s window. “Why not? Mom and Dad know the two of you are dating. Why would they say no?”

I hold my tongue, letting Theo answer.

“Because the whole family doesn’t know. And yeah, Hannah and Jessie would probably be chill, but that doesn’t mean Uncle Tim will. Or Granny. Caleb doesn’t want to be around people like that.”

“Don’t you think you should ask him first?” Nathaniel looks up at me over Eileen’s roof. “I hate it when people speak for me. Would you like to come over for Thanksgiving dinner? Mom always says the more the merrier.”

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