Page 29 of Truth or Spare

“He’s great,” Dewey agreed, then went to get a better look when he saw a caravan of semis and construction vehicles drive past the parking lot. “What’s all of that for?” he wondered out loud.

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Theo said with a dismissive swat.

“Didn’t you hear?” Keith called, causing Theo to wince. “They’re rebuilding the shelter. It’s getting a bunch of upgrades.”

“Upgrades? Where did they get the money for all of that?” Dewey asked but Keith’s next turn was up and he had lost interest.

Theo shook his head. “I wouldn’t know.” He shrugged and swung back to the vacuum.

“Why do I find that hard to believe?” Dewey said but was drowned out by the vacuum’s motor as Theo wandered away from him. Walter was watching from the steps, content and looking as ifhehad claimed the bowling alley and Theo. “And why do I feel like I’ve been demoted?” Dewey asked Walter as he climbed the steps and headed back to the snack stand.

Like I’d care.

So far, Dewey hadn’t found a way to say no to Theo. Not because Theo was bossy or manipulative, but because Deweywas helpless whenever he stared into those bright, brown eyes or when Theo smiled. Those smiles went right to Dewey’s knees and they weren’t that strong to begin with. He’d probably hand over the keys to the bowling alley if Theo smiled just right at him.

Oddly enough, Dewey couldalmostbe happy, pretending everything was fine while Theo spoiled Walter and cosplayed as an American. Dewey’s health just kept getting in the way and it was getting harder to hide that he was sick. Eventually, Dewey was going to have to make some drastic decisions, or he’d lose the bowling alley. Theo had become one of those drastic decisions as well, but Dewey wasn’t capable of doing the sensible thing when it came to him.

For one, Theo was incredibly hot. And he was really good company. Instead of being shallow and entitled as Dewey had expected, Theo was charming and entertaining. And he was kind toeveryone. Theo might break more things than he fixed, but his heart was in the right place and he did his best to learn from his mistakes.

That was worth a lot in Dewey’s book and it was more than he could say about his brother or the kids he’d hired before Theo. It also helped that Theolikedto spend his time at Brooks Bowling. Dewey had to put his foot down to get Theo to take a day off because he took pride in doing his job—even if he wasn’t great at it—and he legitimately cared about the place.

But it really, really didn’t hurt that Theo was hot. And he smelled like heaven, even when he managed to work up a sweat. Dewey had experienced several crushes over the years. Some had seemed mutual and few had resulted in a handful of dates and sleepovers. But those crushes and almosts had quickly faded due to neglect. Usually because Dewey spent most of his waking hours at the bowling alley and he was too set in his ways.

That had been his reasoning in the past. But now, Dewey was acting like a fool in front of the entire town and probably killing himself in the process, just to keep Theo happy. And it was all fun and games, but what about later, after Theo and Walter had moved on?

All the jokes about proposals and weddings would fade and be replaced by the sting of shame and disappointment. Theo would be one more reason for people to pity “poor old Doobie” and they’d shake their heads behind his back, wondering what the hell he’d been thinking. Even though Dewey was thirty-six and almost two years younger than Theo.

They’d feel even sorrier for him about everything when it was too late to hide his illness. His parents, Roddy, the bowling alley, Theo… There were so many things that Dewey hadn’t been able to hold onto. A lot of it wasn’t Dewey’s fault and he’d done his best to be as strong as he could for everyone.

He just wasn’t asstrongas everyone believed he was and Dewey dreaded the day when they found out the truth. They would understand, but they’d pity him even more and he’d look even more ridiculous for mooning over Theo like a teenager. He’d go from being someone people depended on and trusted to someone they felt sorry for and worried about, like Keith.

Dewey wasn’t worried about hanging onto Brooks Family Bowling in the financial sense. The property had been paid off long before Dewey was born. The alley made just enough to cover the cost of repairs and upgrades as long as Dewey was extremely frugal and only splurged when he couldn’t fix or make something himself. Eventually, Bryce would take over and he’d keep it up and running.

It was failing to hang on as caretaker past forty that would really hurt. Dewey’s grandparents had worked at Brooks until they were in their seventies and Gerry had worked until he had a stroke at fifty-eight. Dewey was only nineteen at the time, buthe’d always imagined he’d grow old working at Brooks. Instead, he’d grow oldinBrooks, watching from one of the tables as whoever Bryce hired ran it.

There were worse fates and Dewey did his best to be grateful for all that he could still do. But Theo would haunt him, a distant reminder of something he could never have and a person Dewey could never be. People would look back and shake their heads sadly at “poor old Doobie” for thinking he had a chance with someone like Theo and they’d say it was too bad he’d missed his opportunity to “see” if he was really bi.

Not that Dewey had ever needed—or wanted—proof. He knew what went on inside his head when he was jerking off and he owned a vibrator. He’d driven to an adult video store two hours away and had lied about buying it for his girlfriend, but he didn’t always think about women when he was using it.

Unfortunately, his attraction to Theo had been more than a confirmation for Dewey. It was more like opening a sexual can of worms that Dewey would have preferred to leave alone. But Cassie had pried it open with that stupid kiss and he couldn’t stop thinking about Theo and craving more. All those worms had been stirred up by proposals and discussions about sitting on beards and the taste of ass.

“Why me?” Dewey wondered once again, shaken out of his reverie when there was a loud growl from the vacuum before they heard acrack!and it stopped running.

“Mist!” Theo stared down at it, then cringed back at Dewey. “I have found the missing shoelace but I think I owe you a new vacuum.”

Dewey rubbed his temple as his head began to ache and grew heavier. “Just take it back to the workshop and put it on the bench. I’ll see if I can fix it.”

Chapter Thirteen

What were they, now that they had kissed and Theo had Walter?

Theo noted the various ways he was slowly tying himself to Oslo. Instead of being wary about his obligations to his brothers, for once, Theo was thrilled at how well he was fitting in and the friends he was making.

All on his own! Without his brother’s title or the family name.

Theo was becoming invested in other people’s lives—who weren’t von Hessens—and he wanted to be around to see them succeed and find happiness. He didn’t want to go before the shelter was finished or the league’s season ended and the trophies were handed out. He wanted to be there in case Keith actually said something nice to someone and Theo didn’t like the idea of Dewey being alone at the alley for hours at a time.

It was a particularly slow and quiet morning and Theo was thoroughly content as he reclined on lane 3, enjoying a cup of tea and a majestic view with Walter. Cassie had dropped off coffee, tea, and warm muffins and the view was of Dewey’s backside as he tightened the bolts on lane 4’s bench. Theo particularly appreciated howwellDewey filled out his Levi’s and how competent he looked as he worked.

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