Page 90 of Peach Tree Family

Before he could find out, Ace ran in and Theo looked at the time. "I have to be going. Ace, make sure Seth doesn't do any work."

"I'll watch him," Ace promised.

When he left, Theo didn't seem too mad, but Seth was still going to find out what Hannah had been up to. When she arrived by herself, Ace was disappointed she didn't bring Shawn with her.

"I'm on my way to work. I can't lug him with me everywhere," Hannah told him.

"OK. I'm gonna let you pet Butter, but next time, bring Shawn," Ace told her.

"He's cute," Hannah said after Ace went off with Butter. "How's your leg?"

"Fine. I want to know why you made Theo think we had a thing going on?" Seth asked her. Since she was on her way to the café, he didn't want to waste any time beating around the bush.

"I just didn't want him taking you for granted," she said, not batting an eye.

"So you lied to him."

"I hinted and implied and let him get the wrong idea. I did not lie," she claimed.

"You're giving me a headache, girl. What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking about you. You hardly say two words and when you do, it's Theo, Theo, Theo, like he's your everything."

"That's not true," Seth said but he had a feeling that maybe it was. "Why should it matter to you anyway?"

"I'm just a good friend like that," Hannah said. "I got to go now. You stay off that leg and make sure Theo treats you right."

Staring after her, Seth couldn't believe how brazen she was. Of course he was too. He knew he was pushing his luck when he asked Theo to stay last night, and it paid off. Seth got to spend the whole night with him. That didn't mean Hannah did right.

She did get a rise out of Theo doing that. Did that mean something? Did Theo feel anything like what Seth felt for him?

***

All day at work, Theo's mind was drifting back to being in bed with Seth, to Seth's hands on him gentle and warm, the way those dark blue eyes were drinking him in. It all felt so good that the voice in his head that told him it was a bad idea was just a weak whisper drowned out by the memory of Seth's low moans.

When it was time for him to go home, Theo got such a happy feeling, it was embarrassing. And finding out Seth wasn't into Hannah felt better than it should too.

At home, Theo decided to go ahead with Seth's plan to edge the driveway with stones, but he had to keep him from helping. By dinnertime, he was tired and ready for some leftovers, but when he got into the kitchen he found that Seth was baking something.

"It's just some roasted vegetables to go with the leftover pasta. You didn't let me help outside so I had to keep myself busy," Seth told him.

Theo shook his head. "It smells good. I'm going to take a shower then we'll eat."

As he went, he heard Ace whining, "Why did you make vegetables, Seth?"

When dinner was over and Ace was in the living room, playing Dad's video game, Seth started talking about going to his room in town.

"You're not going back to that room and climbing stairs," Theo told him, getting mad despite himself. He was doing dishes and Seth was helping despite his sprained ankle.

"I'm not that bad. It just hurts a little," Seth told him.

"You'll be on your feet all the time at work. You can't risk aggravating your ankle unnecessarily. Just stay with us," Theo told him and tried to keep the edge out of his voice.

"No, I..."

Hearing him refuse again, Theo couldn't stay calm. "Are you afraid of what people will think if you stay here?"

The question confused Seth. "People? What? No."

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