Page 11 of The Hookup Mix-up

“Eager for me, huh?” I tease when I get out of the car.

“Yeah, I’m fuckin’ starving.” It’s not the response I hoped for, but the guy probably hasn’t eaten in quite a while, so it makes sense.

“Then we better hurry and get something in you.” I’d hoped it would be me in him, but I can be patient. “You driving, or am I?”

“I’m good either way, but I’m warning you, my car is a piece of shit. Like, I’m surprised it passed the last smog check.”

“Hey, what a surprise, mine too!”

“High five!” Theo holds up his hand, giving me a goofy smile, and my first thought is how he seems like a big, sweet golden retriever. That’s never really done it for me, but on him, it totally does.

I high-five him, and then we decide to take my POS since he’s putting out the money on lunch—his call, not mine. I don’t usually let a hookup buy me food. It’s too datey, but I go with the flow when it comes to Theo. It’s hard not to because I fear he’ll turn those big, wide puppy-dog eyes on me, and who doesn’t want to make a puppy happy? I kinda feel like reaching out and giving him some scritches, but figure that might be taking it a step too far.

We jump into my vehicle.

“Are you good with burgers?” Theo asks.

“That would be a yes.”

He chuckles. “I’m sure you like Luco Burger, then.”

“I haven’t eaten there.”

Theo’s eyes nearly fall out of his head. “How do you live in San Luco and not eat at Luco Burger?”

“Um…because I’m broke?”

“Same. Not an excuse.”

“Because I’ve only lived here a few months?” I search the name of the restaurant on my phone and have the navigation start to give me directions.

“Where did you move from?” Theo asks as I drive.

“Massachusetts.”

“For school? I can’t remember if you told me that last night. I might ask you questions I’m supposed to know the answers to.”

Now it’s my turn to chuckle. It’s not that what he said is funny, but he’s endearing. “Nope. No college for me. At least not yet. I moved here to get to know my brother. His mom was the wife, mine was the mistress. Ty was raised by our dad. I wasn’t. I also have a younger sister. She’s a toddler, and I’ve never met her.”

“Holy shit,” Theo sputters.

Maybe I shouldn’t have just put it out there like that, but I like the feeling of disconnect it gives me. Holding something in gives it power, shows that it’s more important than you want it to be, and I don’t want to care about my past.

“I’m sorry,” he adds. “That’s… I can’t believe you just told me that.”

“Why?”

He shrugs. “Because it’s deep and personal and we don’t know each other?”

“But I’m your knight in shining armor, remember?” I wink at him, then look toward the road again. “Plus, you told me your feelings about school—how it’s difficult for you and that you don’t want to let your parents down.”

He groans, then rubs a hand over his face. “I was trying to forget I said those things. I don’t know what it is about you.”

“Probably how charming I am,” I tease.

“Well, you definitely don’t lack confidence.”

No, no I don’t.

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