Page 10 of Truth or Spare

“Is there a Mrs. Hessen?” she repeated, batting her lashes up at Theo.

“Nee, but I am optimistic that my Mrs.or Mr.or Mx.Hessen is out there, just waiting for me to find them,” he said with a shrug, making her gasp.

“Are you now?” she asked, her eyes wide and sparkling as she swung around and gasped at Dewey. “Did you hear that, Doobie? This is your chance!”

“Knock it off, Cassie,” he grumbled at the motor he had been repairing before he left for the bank, blushing and irritated as he tuned them out.

But Theo was too intrigued to let it go. “I had no idea. I assumed Brooks was straight,” he admitted, cringing at Cassie and hoping she’d elaborate.

“We all did but he came out as bi a few years ago. The high school kids wanted to have a Pride party here and Doobie let them cover this place in rainbows. One of the parents got drunk and loud in the parking lot about it and Doobie told him he didn’t have to come back if he had a problem patronizing a queer-owned business.”

“Wirklich?” Theo gasped, swinging back to Dewey, but he waved it off and hunkered over the motor.

“It wasn’t a big deal. I already told Dad before he passed,” he said in a low mumble.

Cassie snorted. “It was a pretty big deal to a few of the older folks and the kids thought he was a hero. Most of the old folks still don’t get it and a lot of people don’t believe it because Doobie’s only ever dated Shannon Parks and Nancy Radley,” she said and Dewey threw up a hand.

“You ever talk about your own business, or is it just mine all the damn time?”

She made a dismissive sound and rolled her eyes. “Only thing that’s ever happened to me was Bryce and you were the hero that time too. You know, he really was our hero,” she said, resting a hand on Theo’s arm. “Doobie drove me to all my appointments and held my hand while I was in labor, through all the screaming and crying. He stepped right up after Bryce was born, too, and he’sneverlet us down.”

“Roddy’s loss,” Dewey muttered. “Just because I’ve never…dateda man doesn’t mean I’m not bi,” he added with a beleaguered sigh.

Theo sensed that Dewey was tired of explaining that to his friends and neighbors. “He’s absolutely correct. Brooks doesn’t have to provide references or display his bisexuality for anyone,” Theo stated with a firm nod. “Many people never get to explore their sexuality because of where they live or what they do for a living or other factors beyond their control. That’s a lonely way to live and I think Brooks is brave for coming out when it would have been far easier to let people assume he was straight.”

Cassie nodded and smiled at Dewey. “I thought so too and always wished he wasn’t the only bi or gay man in Oslo. Most of the folks around here think Doobie’s pullin’ their leg or saying it for shits and giggles.”

“They can kiss my big, hairy ass,” Dewey said to the motor on the counter, shrugging as he twisted the screwdriver.

“Now there are two,” Theo stated proudly, grinning at Cassie. He wiggled his brows at her and pretended to check Dewey out.

But Theo didn’t need to look, he’d already gotten an eyeful during his tour of the bowling alley and the workshop. Dewey bent, squatted, twisted, and stretched as he explained how various machines and tools worked but Theo hadn’t learned as much as he would have liked. He was far too distracted by the occasional glimpse of Dewey’s hair-dusted torso and his thick arms, ass, and thighs.

There was a hard snort from Dewey. “We could be the last two on the planet and it still wouldn’t happen.”

“Why not?” Cassie protested.

“How do you know?” Theo said, unsure if he should be offended.

“Because I have to pass by all those mirrors every time I head back to the workshop,” Dewey said in an irritated grumble and pointed the screwdriver at the mirrored wall on the other side of lane 1. “Speaking of, I’m heading back to refill the lane machine.We need to do the lanes again later, before the league players turn up for practice.”

“Can I try? I’m excited to see how it works,” Theo said, but Dewey shook his head, gesturing for him to stay by the counter.

“Just…observe for a while,” he said and Cassie made a skeptical sound as they watched him go.

“Like I said: we’ll see how much help you are, pretty boy, and how much Doobie will actually let you do,” she said as she shook her head. “It’s all fun and games until Doobie breaks his neck, or worse. Don’t waste Doobie’s time, if this is just a joke or a stunt for you,” she added and gave Theo a threatening glare. She clearly wasn’t good at bullying and it was a matter of seconds before her lips curved and she gave him a playful swat on the arm. “Don’t be a creep, okay? Doobie doesn’t deserve to be someone’s publicity stunt or prank.”

But Cassie had only made herself and Dewey more endearing and increased Theo’s desire to help their family and their business. “I promise, this isn’t a joke or a stunt, and I’m not here to waste Brooks’s time. Iwillleave this place and Brooks better than I found them,” he vowed with a sincere bow of his head.

She laughed and took his arm again. “I’m a sucker for tall, handsome, mysterious men.”

“So am I,” Theo said, making her laugh.

“You’re out of luck, then. There really aren’t any other single men in Oslo, unless you’re looking for much older,recentlysingle men. Doobie’s had all the women biting their knuckles and wishing he was half as rowdy as Roddy. But he says he’s too busy and keeps to himself when he’s not here.”

“That’s a shame,” Theo murmured but allowed her to ramble as he considered Cassie’s numerous revelations.

Theo wasn’t at all surprised that Dewey Brooks was the town hero. Stoic and surly, he seemed like just the sort of man who never wanted to be noticed but was wired to always do the rightthing. That noble code was probably why Dewey had hired a bumbling foreigner with no work experience.

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