Page 121 of Theoretically Straight

Only him.

Only Theo.

Saturday, November 18

Grace

Theo, I’m so devastated that I have to work and can’t be there tonight, but you’re gonna kill it, bud!!

I can’t wait to hear all about it as soon as I get home tonight!

Theo

thanks Grace <3 don’t worry, I’ll tell you everything

Grace

You better!!

When Caleb and I reluctantly leave the peaceful quiet of the cathedral, we’re immediately confronted with a chilly gust of evening autumn air. I only let go of Caleb’s hand to quickly zip up my jacket before quickly grabbing it again. The cold feels amazing, especially after such a long, hot summer. I love it.

“Shit,” Caleb curses. “How is it even colder?”

Before I can respond, a guy in all black with a headset and an iPad appears behind me, seemingly out of nowhere, startling us both. His eyes are wide—almost manic. “You’re Theo Briggs, right? The TikTok kid?”

I nod nervously. “That’s me.”

“You need to come with me. We’re set to start in about seven minutes.”

“Oh, okay,” I reply. Squeezing Caleb’s hand, I go to follow iPad Guy, tugging Caleb along with me. I’m not ready to be apart from him yet.

Caleb tries to slip out of my grasp, but I tighten my grip. “Theo, I’m not supposed–”

“Just stay with me for a few more minutes,” I beg softly, flashing what I can only imagine are desperate puppy eyes in his direction. “Please?”

Caleb’s resolve crumbles in an instant. “Okay, I’ll stay as long as they’ll let me.”

My heart is hammering violently in my chest as we approach the area where the lights and cameras are set up. I still can’t believe this is actually happening—I keep expecting to wake up in my bedroom from this dream. But sure enough, there’s a bus parked a few hundred feet away with the familiarHudson’s Haunted Habitatslogo plastered across the sides. And just a few more yards from the bus sits my beloved Eileen—my shiny red sanctuary, ready to whisk me away as soon as all of this is over.

As my eyes scan the scene, they eventually land on familiar faces—Harrison, Elise, Oliver, Wren, and Freddy are all standing a few feet back from the film equipment. Elise spots me first and waves excitedly with a gloved hand. Harrison smiles and nods at me. Freddy also waves, and then Oliver and Wren shoot me a thumbs up.

They all came. Not for Hudson, but for me.

I mean—okay, probably for Hudson, too, but I’m still counting it.

A moment later, I see where we’re probably headed—two director’s chairs are set up in front of the cameras, perfectly positioned to frame Saint Catherine’s behind them. The chair on the left has Hudson’s name on it, and the other is blank.

Oh, God, this is happening.

“Hey, kid,” a different guy with a different iPad calls out, gesturing to Caleb. “Only purple lanyards past this point.”

Caleb and I stop in our tracks, and my stomach churns with anxiety. Even though I knew this was coming, I had hoped I would be ready. But I’m not. I’m not ready. Fuck, I’m really not ready.

Caleb takes both of my hands in his and smiles at me. “Guess this is it, then,” he says, giving my hands an excited squeeze. “You’ve got this, okay? I’ll just be right over there with the others. It’ll be over before you even know it.”

He’s right, of course, but it doesn’t make me feel any better. “Yeah. Okay.”

“I love you,” he adds—not quietly, but not loudly, either. As if we were alone and no one else was around. For some reason, though, I don’t panic about people hearing him. Maybe it’s because I’m already panicked about everything else. Or maybe it’s because I’m not afraid of people hearing anymore.

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