Page 92 of Peach Tree Family

Theo had also gotten a chocolate flavored protein bar for Ace.

Ace read the label. "Muscle Power Bar. Is this gonna give me big muscles?"

"They'll be huge," Theo told him.

As Ace ran off to eat it, Theo noticed that Seth was just standing there staring at the key chain with its metal cutout of a peach.

"Thanks for this," Seth said.

"It's not a big deal," Theo told him but he could see that Seth was touched. "I got you guys ice cream sandwiches too, and a roast chicken for dinner."

As they were setting the table, Ace was flexing in front of the mirror they got from the thrift store.

"Should I act like I don't see that?" Seth asked Theo. Before he could answer, Ace ran over and flexed for them.

"Theo, Seth, look at my muscles."

"I'm impressed," Seth said. "You're looking ripped."

Now Ace wanted to high five, and he really swung for it.

"Oof," Seth said as Ace slapped his hand extra hard. "That packed a wallop."

"I'm too strong now," Ace said.

"You strong enough to get this cat off my chair?" Theo asked him.

"She's just keeping it warm for you," Seth said. He was smiling at Theo, but then he quickly turned away.

Theo couldn't help remembering how Seth said he only thought of him. He didn't know what that meant, how deep it went. And if he was honest, he was kind of afraid to find out.

That night, Theo noticed that the iPod with Dad's music was still charging on the desk. Ace had gone to sleep without it. Theo turned it on.

From the sofa, Seth asked him, "Is that your dad's music?"

"Yeah. It goes from Grandmaster Flash to Lupe Fiasco." He then picked a song. "This one was one of Dad's favorites. "Now That We Found Love" by Heavy D. & The Boyz. Me and Mom and Dad used to dance to it."

"You guys had fun, huh."

"Yeah. I'm always wishing that Ace could remember Dad. How his voice would just wrap around you, soothing and warm. It's not the same to hear it in videos. It's not like when I would hear his voice in my ear, sitting on Dad's lap while he was doing something on the computer." Theo smiled thinking of it. "The way he would let me climb in his lap like I could never be bothering him, not even when I got squirmy and bugged him with questions."

"I bet he liked teaching you stuff," Seth said.

"He did. Then I would get like Ace, and go bragging to Mom about how smart I was."

"It's hard to believe you were like Ace," Seth said.

Theo grumbled. "Because I'm a grouchy grouch? Even Butter thinks I'm a grouch," he said pointing at her on Seth's lap.

"She doesn't mind you," Seth said and he combed his fingers through her fur.

"And what about you?" Theo couldn't help asking.

"I don't mind you," Seth said but he kept his eyes on the cat. "But for a smart guy you sure misunderstand me a lot. That's my doing 'cause I don't know how to say things the right way."

"No, it isn't you," Theo said and he sat down next to him. "I didn't used to be like this, but dealing with my aunt, I learned to expect the worst from people."

"Sorry," Seth said and touched his knuckles to Theo's.

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