Page 46 of Truth or Spare

“I’m not going anywhere any time soon, if that’s what you’re afraid of,” Theo said to Bryce. “Not unless Brooks decides he’s tired of me and runs me out of Oslo.”

Dewey nodded. “Which could happen, if everyone doesn’t stay the fuck out of my business and leave us alone,” he muttered and Bryce held up his hands, laughing.

“Yes, sir. The last thing I want to do is mess up your game.”

“What game?” Dewey countered with a scowl, making Bryce and Theo laugh. Then, Dewey’s scowl darkened and he muttered a curse. “This is gonna suck ass,” he predicted with a nod at the parking lot.

They turned and Theo groaned as Keith arrived. “Everyone, brace for impact,” he said out of the side of his mouth, receiving an amused snicker from Bryce.

“It won’t be that bad,” he said and winced when Keith pointed at Theo and laughed.

“Well, la-di-dah,Your Highness.” He bent forward and attempted a grand bow and almost toppled forward. “Was gonna wear my good suit for you but it’s at the cleaners.”

“Quatsch! You look dashing as always. I almost wore the very same overalls but I knew they would look better on you,” Theo said, making Dewey pull a face.

“Bet you don’t own a single pair of overalls. Shut up, Keith,” he said and went to get his shoes and start lane 6.

“Don’t know why you’re so cranky, Doobie. You kissed a frog and woke up with a prince.”

“I’ll tell Theo to make another sign if you keep it up,” Dewey told him, then shooed Keith off.

Theo sidled over and gave Dewey his most charming smile, resting an elbow on the counter. “I’m really sorry. On the bright side, I can do this now,” he said and offered his lips as he stretched across the counter.

“Um…” Dewey leaned forward, his face burning red beneath his beard. He brushed his lips against Theo’s, then grumbled about everyone looking before escaping to the office.

“He just needs a little more practice,” Theo said to himself, rather pleased with how well his first morning as a prince in Oslo was going.

The other customers were far more subtle than Keith and gently teased him about fetching rental shoes for commoners and “slumming it” in Oslo. But Cassie made a very big deal about it.

“A prince! You’re an actual castle-owning prince!” she shouted and pointed at Theo after throwing open the bowling alley’s doors.

“Listen, Cassie…” he began, but she laughed as he planted her hands on hips.

“Aprince! Can you believe it?” she said, her voice getting louder and higher. Her eyes watered as she stared at Theo.“A prince!”Cassie giggled and dabbed at her lashes. “I’m just sohappyfor Doobie. So,sohappy!”

“Are you going to be alright?” Theo asked, concerned as she let out another shrill giggle.

“I’m wonderful!” She nodded quickly. “If it was anyone else, I’d murder them, but I am so,sohappy for Doobie.”

“And me?” Theo said hopefully. “Brooks is a lovely man and I think I’m very lucky?—”

“Yeah, yeah… Congratulations. Where’s he at?” she asked as she waved Theo off.

“In his office.”

Theo chuckled as he watched her throw open the door and shout about how happy she was for Dewey before it swung shut behind her. Fifteen minutes later, a downtrodden Dewey trudged out of his office and back to the front desk.

“Ahem… Your Highness…” He scrubbed the back of his neck as he traced the edge of the counter between them.

“You don’t have to call me that. In fact, you shouldn’t,” Theo said quietly, but Dewey mumbled a rushed “Don’t give a fuck, honestly” as he turned red again.

“Cassie is insisting we go on a date tonight.”

“A date?” Theo cheered, snatching the front of Dewey’s flannel and planting a loud kiss on his lips. “I’d love that!”

Dewey gestured for him to calm down. “She said she’d handle things up here while Bryce and Chase ran the workshop and watched the lanes. I couldn’t think of where I’d take you on such short notice but she said she’d take care of that too. She’s making dinner at my place, I guess. It won’t be anything…fancy,” he explained with a particularly harassed grimace. Theo had learned that because of Dewey’s condition, his smiles often pulled downward when he was tired. But that didn’t appear to be the case this time. Dewey seemed legitimately harassed.

“I don’t want fancy!” Theo insisted and grabbed Dewey’s hands, giving them an encouraging squeeze. “Dinner with you,in any place that isn’t here or the Winnie, sounds like a perfect night. And I’m dying to see your place,” he admitted.

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