Page 32 of Truth or Spare

“Very good news!” Theo said, then cleared his throat. “And good news for us because Randy says that we were moments away from something catastrophic happening, and we wouldn’t have known that if I hadn’t flusheda fewpaper towels.”

“Is all of this going to cost a mint?” Dewey asked, gesturing at the parking lot.

“Depends really,” Theo said with a dismissive swat. “I thought it sounded like a bargain and Randy says he can finally get a new van. Apparently, it’s been touch and go for him lately when he gets a call. He said he almost couldn’t get to us today.”

“Didn’t realize Randy was having a tough time,” Dewey said and pushed out a hard sigh. “What’s the damage gonna be on my end?”

“The damage?” Theo asked, shaking his head cluelessly.

“How much is this going to cost me?”

“Not a thing! Consider it a gift,” Theo said and headed for the front desk but Dewey danced back and blocked him.

“A gift? For what? And plumbing isn’t something you give as a gift.” Even though Dewey's heart did skip a beat and he had felt a touch giddy at the thought.

“A gift can be whatever you wish it to be and whatever brings the recipient joy. New plumbing will bring you—and Randy—a great deal of joy,” Theo argued. “You’ve been very kind and you gave me a job when I know you didn’t want to.”

“You’re giving me plumbing to thank me for letting you work here?” Dewey verified flatly.

“Genau!”

There was a loud hoot from lane 6. “Sounds romantic to me, Doobie. Don’t know why you’re lookin’ a gift horse in the mouth when you should be kissing it.”

Theo’s face pinched. “Not sure if I like being called a horse, but he’s right: don’t overthink this. Ialmostcaused a minor problem that saved us from a very big problem.”

“But…how are you paying for—?” Dewey started, only to receive another dismissive splutter from Theo.

“Why are you still hung up on that? Let’s focus on the crisis we’ve averted and Randy’s joy. He’s getting a new truck and we’re getting new plumbing! We’re all winning today.”

“Winning?” Dewey snorted, tossing a hand at Theo as he headed around the counter and back to a broken sensor. “I don’t know what the hell is going on around here, but I doubt I’m winning.”

If anything, Theo was setting Dewey up to be the Loser of The Year, when he left Oslo. All that would be left would be the reminders of how Dewey had fooled himself into thinking he had a chance with Theo. You couldn’t give away plumbing or a parking lot or hide them until everyone moved on and forgot. Theo’s gift would be the first thing that greeted people, when they pulled into Brooks Family Bowling and saw the darker patch of asphalt in the middle of the parking lot. It would be a monument to Dewey’s stupidity and everyone would laugh about it whenever him being single or “supposedly” queer came up.

“Congratulations, Doobie! Couldn’t be happier for you and Theo,” Keith said when he was done playing and left his shoes on the counter. His dry, wheezing laugh followed him out and Dewey glared at Keith’s back when he paused in the parking lot to light a cigarette.

“I hopeyou’rehappy,” Dewey grumbled and shook his head at Theo. He was currently reclining against the jukebox, giggling at the newspaper.

“You can’t deny it, Brooks, we’d make astrikingpair,” he said with a wiggle of his brows.

“Shut up.” Dewey glared at Theo on his way to the workshop. “Watch the front,” he added as he shoved his hands into his pockets and sulked past lane 1.

He knew that Cassie and Theo meant well, but the entire town was laughing at Dewey. And it didn’t help that Theo was playing along and encouraging them. He kept getting down on one knee whenever someone mentioned one of them proposing. Dewey must have told him to knock it off a dozen times.

“Why? I’m having fun and it’s flattering. You’re a catch, Brooks, and I could do a lot worse.”

That had to be a joke too. What would a man like Theo possibly see in Dewey? Although, Dewey had caught Theo staring several times. And he was almost certain Theo had enjoyed their kiss as much as Dewey had and was about to kiss him in the workshop, the week before.

Dewey had been dreaming about Theo then, too. He stopped to rest for a moment after inspecting all the pins and filling the oil in the lane machine so it was ready for later. He nodded off and dreamed that Theo had joined him in the workshop and they were dancing again.

“Sing to me, Brooks,” he said as he pushed Dewey against the bench. Theo grabbed hold of Dewey’s beard and kissed him until they were both dizzy and breathless.

“I can’t. I’m too nervous now,” Dewey admitted, then blushed and pretended to protest as Theo attacked his belt buckle and the fly of his jeans.

“Oh, you’re about to sing,” Theo purred as he lowered to his knees.

Dewey woke up just as Theo’s tongue stretched past his lips. It had nearly touched the tip of Dewey’s cock and he would have cried if he hadn’t found himself face-to-face with the real Theo. His lips had grazed Dewey’s right before he panicked and shouted that he was awake. Theo had laughed it off and claimed he was there about the jukebox remote, but Dewey would bet his better arm that they had nearly kissed.

Dewey spent the next week kicking himself over it. Why couldn’t he have remained unconscious for just a few seconds longer? What would have happened next, if Dewey had woken up to an actual kiss from Theo? Why hadn’t Dewey done more after their actual kiss? Would Theo have come to his senses or would he have kept going, like he had in the dream?

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