Page 75 of Peach Tree Family

Danny now looked up at Theo, waiting.

"He's cute," Theo said and got a nod of approval.

The drive to the house was kind of slow with all the furniture they were hauling, but they got there and started unloading. They were arranging furniture right up until Ace's bedtime. Putting the beds together took the most time. Then later on, Seth helped Theo put away the last of the stuff that went in the kitchen.

"You should take the toaster oven," Theo said.

"You need it more. There's a microwave in the room and a coffeemaker. So I'm all set. And this toaster oven is just the right size to bake up some food for you and Ace."

At that Theo grumbled and looked unhappy, but Seth wasn't sure why. When Theo went to the living room, Seth gave him a little time. Seth was lingering, not wanting to leave yet but he knew he could put it off much longer.

Going to the living room, Seth looked around the furnished space. Theo was sitting on the sofa. It was a small one, just a two-seater, and Seth wouldn't have dared sit on it next to him. He had proved more than once how much trouble he had not kissing Theo when they were all alone and sitting close.

To cut off that train of thought, Seth took in the rest of the new, old things. Theo now had a small desk, just big enough for his laptop and that other one that belonged to his dad plus they had some extra chairs too. That meant those folding chairs could go out on the porch.

"Take a seat. Doesn't look like you'll be moving tonight," Theo said just as Seth was thinking that he should get going.

"I can still..."

"You exhausted yourself lugging furniture, and you have work tomorrow. It's easier if you leave from here," Theo said in that take-charge way of his.

Seth didn't mind it and he liked the idea of staying one more night, but when he didn't say anything, Theo took his silence the wrong way.

"Are you that eager to get out of here?"

"No. But, you know, it's good for you and Ace to each have your own room."

"So you're doing us a favor?"

"No." Seth was just trying to look on the bright side. "I never had a place of my own before, and I won't be that far."

Theo wasn't seeing the bright side though. He was glaring, and Seth had to wonder if Theo might be wishing he had put more miles between them.

Theo sighed and then asked him, "Do you plan to keep standing there all night?"

"No. I should be studying the tearoom menu," Seth said and that gave him an excuse to sit at the table. He got a stack of papers with short and long descriptions and all sorts of extra information if the guests should ask. "Frisee Lyonnaise," Seth pronounced carefully. "They sure have a lot of salads on the menu."

"What did you expect? Steak?" Theo asked.

"No, I was expecting tea. There's all these little sandwiches too with things in them I never heard of."

"You already did this at the café. You learned their menu, didn't you?" Theo pointed out.

"There weren't as many fancy things with fancy names."

"You'll get the hang of it. If you mess up, just give the customer your best, professional smile," Theo advised him.

"Like what you do?" Seth said remembering the smile he had seen him use at work.

"That's my professional smile. You should have one too. Practice it," Theo told him then came to sit across from him at the table.

"A professional smile." Seth tried it, but he knew it came off as weak, nothing like a real smile.

"Think of something nice, something that might make you smile for real."

The first thing that popped into his head was that Theo had pretty eyes. He was looking at them right now so he didn't find it hard to smile.

But Theo didn't like it. "No. The customers will think you're high."

---