Page 26 of Peach Tree Family

"Yeah," Ace said and he settled in as the sounds of some music from back in the 90's filled the room.

Theo zipped up Ace in his sleeping bag, made sure he was warm enough, and then left him to quiet down and fall asleep.

"How was your first day at the inn?" Seth asked keeping his voice low as Theo sat near enough to hear him easily.

"Half day really. It went fine."

From his short answer, Seth thought that maybe he didn't want to talk. Theo didn't go off to play on his laptop or any of the other things he plugged in, and he didn't have his phone out. Like Seth, he was sitting on the floor, leaning against the big backpack. Seth had his duffel bag behind him, and he wondered if he should go and take it to that bedroom and try and go to sleep.

He thought he should but he didn't do it. Having Theo close by didn't seem so bad even if they were just sitting in silence while music played.

Thinking about what else they might talk about besides how work was going, Seth wondered, "What will you do about picking up Ace when you work a full day?"

"I talked to Wyatt and he said he could get Ace along with his boys. He picks up the other kids sometimes and the other parents do the same thing."

"So they take turns?"

"Kind of. It doesn't sound very organized," Theo said like he wanted to see a chart and a sign up sheet. "But Wyatt said the other kids already recruited Ace and he was one of them now. He made it sound like Ace was now part of some cult."

Seth laughed. "Sounds like a good deal."

"I don't know what I'll be doing to repay them." Theo frowned.

"You'll figure it out."

"I don't like taking advantage or owing," Theo said and Seth remembered how Ace worried about taking charity.

"You won't owe. You'll do your part."

"How do you know?"

"That's just the kind of guy you are. Even Ace doesn't like to take charity."

Theo made a face. "I might have gone overboard with that."

"You said that was because of some girl." Seth frowned picturing her all over Theo and not liking it though he wouldn't have liked it either.

"Yeah, I'm not into girls. I might have mentioned that." Theo's eyes were sharp, drilling into him.

Was he trying to remind him of how quickly Seth was all over him as soon as he found out he was into guys? He was as shameless as that girl who had been after Theo.

Not feeling so shameless now, Seth looked down. "I am real sorry for getting so carried away when you told me. It was just a surprise. I wasn't up to anything."

Theo made a noise like he didn't quite believe him.

Looking over at him, Seth pointed out, "You must believe me at least a little or you would have kicked me out."

Now Theo sighed. "Maybe I do a little."

"And you'll be sleeping over by my door, guarding me?" Seth asked and he couldn't help smiling. In return Theo gave him one of his small, cautious smiles.

Seth couldn't believe how happy and relieved he was to know that Theo didn't hate him. Just that small sign that things might be all right between them made Seth's heart feel like it might be too big for his chest.

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