Page 26 of Alpha Theo

It’s just the two of us on the front stoop and the tension is so thick that you could cut it with a knife.

I feel like I need to say something, anything to clear it.

“Where’s your motorcycle?” I ask cautiously, looking around.

I don’t see it in the driveway. Wasn’t that his excuse for being late?

To my surprise, he actually responds, addressing me for the first time all evening. “Stalled out. I had to walk over.”

“Oh.” I bite my lip, glancing up at him. “Wanna walk back together, then?”

He shrugs. “Guess so.”

We both start down the walkway, side by side. Even though I’m tall, his strides are so long that I have to take two steps to every one of his.

“You haven’t been up to the IT unit.”

Theo blows out a breath. “I’ve been busy.”

We hit the end of the driveway, turning to head down the street. The streetlights illuminate the pavement in a soft glow as we walk silently, heading for the edge of town to pick up the trail to the complex.

It isn’t like Theo to be this quiet. He’s usually the one chattering in my ear, but tonight he’s reserved, broody.

Guess I’ve gotta take the lead. I’m cautious with my conversation, unsure of what to say given how things left off between us, how fragile he seemed in the hallway of the Summervale packhouse when we last spoke.

“Listen, about the other night…”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Theo snaps. He stops walking, turning to face me. I stop, too, looking up at those intense hazel eyes as he sighs, raking a hand through his hair.

“Can we just agree to never talk about it again, go back to normal?” he asks, voice gravelly.

It’s a total cop-out, but who am I to tell him to confront his feelings or stand up and take accountability for his actions? At this point, I just want this awkwardness between us to go away.

I bite my lip, nodding. “Yeah. Okay.”

We start walking again.

“You did leave me there, though,” I say quietly. That’s one thing I can’t let go.

He darts me a glance. “I know. Sorry about that. I just…” he sighs, scrubbing a hand over his face. “Being back there makes me crazy.”

He’s obviously still hurting, so I’ll let it slide for now.

We approach the bar on the edge of the territory, the faint hum of the music inside audible from where we are on the street.

“Wanna head in for one?” Theo asks, flicking his head in the direction of the bar.

I shake my head. “Early morning. I’m heading to Denver, remember?”

He nods, glancing wistfully at the bar. “Right. Well I think I’m gonna…” he tosses a thumb over his shoulder.

“Oh, yeah,” I chirp. “You go ahead.”

Theo offers me a wry smile, taking a couple of steps backwards.

“Can you make it the rest of the way on your own, kid?”

I chuckle, rolling my eyes. “Yeah, I think I can manage.” I give an awkward little wave. “See ya.”

---