Page 116 of Peach Tree Family

"In Peach Tree and with you and Ace. Here I don't have everybody looking down on me and judging me, expecting the worst from me."

At that, Theo grumbled. "I don't know. I've been pretty hard on you." Theo didn't feel proud of how he acted, but Seth was ready to let him off the hook.

"Nah, that's just your natural standoffishness. You haven't been so bad." That wasn't exactly high praise.

"Might want to ease off on the flattery," Theo told him.

Seth laughed. "You're great. You know I think the world of you."

Hearing that only made Theo feel more guilty. "I haven't been fair to you." That was because he wanted too much, and now he knew it. He wanted Seth to be his undeniably, completely, not to have him wake up one day and realize he didn't like men after all. Theo just couldn't figure him out, and then he almost drove him away.

Seeing him looking remorseful, Seth nudged him. "You couldn't have been that bad. I'm still here," he said with a smile.

"And you won't get it into your head to leave again?" Theo stared at him hard.

"I was just trying to do right by you and Ace," Seth said to defend himself.

"Then stick around."

"I came back because of that Jerry. You sure you want me back for real?"

Actually Theo thought he was already back for real, and he didn't like hearing that Seth had any doubt about that. "Yes, I want you back," Theo said, but he didn't say the rest, that he never wanted him to leave again.

"We didn't dance," Seth reminded him.

"Did you want to?" Theo asked since it seemed to him he hesitated before.

"In front of everyone we know. Just sort of feels like..."

"Wrong?" Theo said.

"No, good. Too good. If I'm holding you like that, I'll get carried away," Seth said and Theo laughed, relieved and flattered.

"I promise to keep things under control," Theo said and they went to where the others were dancing.

Seth looked shy as they started to slow dance together. "I forgot to tell you I didn't know how to do this kind of dancing either."

"Too late now. We're already doing it," Theo told him.

"And I'm doing it right?" Seth asked.

"You're taking my breath away." Theo made it sound like he was kidding, but it was true. The way Seth held him, the way he looked into his eyes, he made Theo lose himself in him.

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