Page 84 of Theoretically Straight

“Love you, too!” she calls after me as I head for the door.

Outside, the morning air is crisp with that early autumn chill that doesn’t show its face till October in Georgia. Sure, it’ll still be eighty degrees by lunchtime, but the mornings are here to remind us all that the heat does eventually come to an end. A breeze kicks up as I hop off the porch, raining leaves down on me as I cross to the driveway where Eileen is idling.

“Good morning!” Theo says as I slide into the passenger seat. Djo plays on the stereo, but he reaches over and turns it down while I buckle myself. He cranes his neck, surveying the area before he leans over for a quick peck on my cheek.

“You’re bright and sunny today,” I say, pulling the lid off my yogurt and stirring the contents.

“Can you blame me?” Theo asks, shifting into reverse and backing out of the driveway. “We’ve got an awesome weekend planned. I actually found time to study for my Geometry test last night, and I may have gotten an email from Hudson Helter this morning.”

I nearly spit yogurt all over Eileen’s dashboard.

“I’m sorry, what?!”

Theo is beaming, his crooked smile taking over. “He’s coming to do an episode at Saint Catherine’s in a few weeks. He asked if I would be interested in a short interview that he’d conduct before going in so we can talk about the video.”

“And you said yes, right?”

“Of course!”

He’s careful to keep his eyes on the road, but when we roll to a stop at a red light, he turns to me, unleashing all his Theo-sunshine-face energy on me, and I just want to wrap my arms around him.

I abandon my yogurt in Eileen’s cup holder, suddenly too excited to eat. “Do you think I could go with you? I mean, I don’t want to be in the interview or anything. I just honestly want to meet Hudson. Or maybe I shouldn’t. You know, with what everyone says about meeting your heroes?”

Theo is laughing now.

“What’s so funny?”

“You are. Do you think I’d go to an interview with Hudson freaking Helter and not bring you along? Of course you’re coming! You’re the first person I thought of when I got the email. Harry was a close second.”

I was the first person he thought of. Why does that make me so happy?

He wraps his hand in mine, giving me one last look before the light turns green, and we speed off to school.

And even though his touch has become familiar at this point, my heart skips a beat. There can only be one explanation:

I think I’m in love.

* * *

“Over here!”

Elise shouts across the crowded dining room of Pizza Palooza. An old man sitting at the next table over shoots her a dirty look, and she responds by sticking out her tongue at him. Harrison whispers something into her ear, and she rolls her eyes.

I reach for Theo’s hand but stop myself, pulling back.

Remember where you are, Caleb. Too many people to be doing all that.

Theo waves at his friends, then turns to me. “Are Freddy and Wren not here yet?”

I check my phone.

“Nope, looks like Freddy had to run home and change after soccer practice. They’ll be a few minutes.”

“Okay, cool. I’m going to go order if you want to go grab a seat. Still good with pepperoni?”

“Yes, please.”

Theo moves like he’s going to hug me but stops and just grabs my shoulder, giving it a quick squeeze.

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