Page 78 of Peach Tree Family

Seth gaped at him and blushed. "I was thinking something we could all play."

They played for Lucky Charms then Ace wanted to build a house of cards. Except he called it a castle of cards.

"That is a better name," Seth agreed and it turned out he had a very steady hand. He and Ace built the castle of cards while Theo stayed at his laptop, but mostly he watched them, amazed at Seth's patience.

At Ace's bedtime, Seth was still there. "You don't have to go, right, Seth?" Ace asked him.

"It's getting late," was all Seth told him.

When Theo got back from seeing Ace off to bed, he had to find Butter. Ace was ready to get out of bed and search for her. Theo knew that Ace slept better if she was with him.

He found her right away and watched Seth pick her up so she wouldn't scratch at a chair leg. "No. We don't scratch up things in here. We want to keep things nice for Ace and Theo." Seth then rubbed his face over the cats back a little and hummed. "You're a sweet one. Ace did good getting you. He sure did."

His voice was deep, his hands slow and gentle as he stroked the cat's fur. Theo almost groaned. He wanted to take the cat's place have Seth murmuring to him, stroking his hand down his back, rubbing his face over Theo's skin and humming his appreciation.

"Ace was missing her," Theo said and took her from him. As he did, his hands brushed over Seth's forearms and he repressed a shudder.

When he got back, he was disappointed to see that Seth was in a rush to leave. Maybe Theo didn't hide his attraction to him well enough.

"I better be going. Thanks for letting me come over," Seth told him at the door, but Theo noticed the truck keys were still on the hook by the door.

"The keys," Theo said holding them out to him, but Seth didn't take them.

"I'll walk it."

"You want to walk back to town in the dark? That doesn't make any sense. Either take the truck or stay the night." Theo hoped staying the night didn't sound like a threat to him.

For a moment Seth was undecided. Did he think Theo was offering him something other than to sleep over? "I'm not up to anything. I won't be jumping you in the night," Theo told him.

"I didn't think that," Seth said and he took the keys from him. Their hands touched and Seth drew back gripping the car keys in a tight grip. "I'll be by in the morning to pick you up."

Watching him leave, Theo felt his heart sink. He pretty much chased him away, didn't he? But it was damn confusing the way Seth acted and the reason he moved out. Theo just couldn't figure him out.

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