Page 22 of Truth or Spare

“Oooh! I’m not brave enough for a laser treatment, but I would be interested to know what kind of cleanser and serums you’re using. Bet they’re pricey,” she said and Theo hissed sheepishly.

“I think they might be,” he said while taking out his phone. “But I’ll be low soon so I’ll order more for both of us and you can tell me how you like them.”

She groaned at Theo, shaking her head. “You don’t have to—” she started but stopped when he shushed her loudly.

“Das weiß ich! Just like I know you do not have to feed me nearly every day. It’s nice to have a way to return your kindness. Not that you need it, your pores and your complexion are flawless,” Theo told her, making Cassie roll her eyes.

“Stop!” she giggled, then gasped excitedly. “Why don’t you move him to the house, Doobie?” she asked and swung back to Theo. “I hate the thought of you in that Winnie. It’s so cramped and if you really want to return my kindness… Move in and give Doobie a hand at the house and you’ll never go hungry again.”

“A hand with what?” Theo asked her, glancing at Dewey.

“I don’t need help,” Dewey answered briskly, shaking his head at Cassie. “And I like my pores just the way they are, so don’t try to put any fancy serums on me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Theo replied. “As Cass said, they’re very expensive, and a bar of soap and bacon grease seem to be working for you.”

“Bacon grease?” Dewey rubbed his temple as his brain throbbed harder.

“I don’t know…” Theo shrugged. “American men find a way to put bacon in just about everything. I saw bacon toothpaste at an airport recently.”

Cassie’s face twisted and she gagged. “Ew!”

“Ekelhaft,” Theo agreed, nodding. “Brooks’s pores are fine and half of his complexion is hidden by a beard. I’m a pampered idiot and tend to havemoreissues if I don’t shave. Beard grows too thick and curly, thanks to my mother’s genes,” he said, then canted toward Cassie. “I’ve never lived with anyone other than my brothers and I’m enjoying the freedom and privacy. I’m not sure if I’m ready to give that up just yet,” he said apologetically.

“I suppose that’s fair,” she conceded. “Plus, you’re probably more traditional, being Austrian and Catholic. You should get married before you move in together.”

“True,” Theo said with a solemn hum. “I almost begged him to marry me the first morning, so I could use his shower, but I’m getting the hang of it.”

“I’d never be able to survive a night in the Winnie,” she stated and shook her head. “Nope. I’m not outdoorsy or a hippie. I need lots of hot water and toilet paper and I don’t do bugs.”

Theo chuckled. “I didn’t do bugs either. It’s more like living inside a suitcase, my clothes take up so much of the space. But it’s been fun and I’m learning a lot about myself and what I can accomplish when I don’t want to freeze myassoff.”

They laughed at that until Cassie held out her hand, wiggling her brows at Dewey. He knew what was coming and shook his head but her gaze locked on Theo. “I should take off before it starts snowing. But before I go, winner gets a wish!” she said.

“Don’t—” Dewey ordered but she snatched Theo’s hand.

“A wish?” Theo asked with great interest, earning a weary groan from Dewey.

“You’re gonna have to thumb wrestle her.”

“Ach so! I can do this. We call it Fingerhakeln in Austria and it is a traditional competitive sport for us,” Theo said, making Cassie and Dewey giggle and snort.

“No one’severbeaten her,” Dewey warned, worrying about what Cassie had up her sleeve. A thumb war was her favorite way of planting a bomb right before she vacated the premises. “She has freakishly fast thumbs and a gorilla grip. You’re screwed.” He stopped letting her trap him long before he started having problems with his hands but Cassie could still catch an unsuspecting victim now and then and turn them into an accomplice.

“Don’t listen to him!” she insisted as she eyed Theo with feral glee.

“You needn’t worry. I am the family Fingerhakeln champion,” Theo boasted, rotating his thumb defiantly at her.

Cassie gasped, her maniacal grin stretching even wider. “Are ya, now?”

“This is going to be ugly,” Dewey predicted and crossed his arms, bracing himself.

“One, two, three, four… I declare a thumb war!” she sang.

“Ow! Mist!”Theo cried half a second later when his thumb was instantly clobbered and smooshed. “How did you…?”

She flung his worthless hand back at him, looking supremely pleased. “Ha!”

Dewey shook his head at Theo. “Told you.”

---