Page 7 of Truth or Spare

Dewey let the door close after Theo, grimacing as he returned to the front desk. A soft buzzing sound had him searching around until he spotted Theo’s phone next to the register. The caller ID said “Matteo vH” and Dewey’s brows jumped as a breathtakingly beautiful young man whohad to berelated to Theo and another beautiful, yet menacing punk clone stuck their tongues out at him from the screen.

The call ended and a message flashed, warning that three calls had been missed before the phone started vibrating again. Dewey hissed at the picture of Theo’s brothers, deciding to answer it. He had no right touching Theo’s phone, but there might be an emergency and Dewey didn’t want them to worry.

“This is Theo’s phone,” Dewey said, squeezing an eye shut. “He’s not here at the moment, but he’ll be back shortly.”

“What do you mean, he’s not there at the moment?” a voice and an accent very much like Theo’s demanded. “Where is he and who are you?”

“He’s in the restroom and I’m his…boss,” Dewey said with a baffled shrug.

“His what?”

Dewey could understand the confusion. “His boss.”

“His boss? Theo doesn’t have a boss.He’sthe boss. And he doesn’t work. Who are you?”

“My name’s Dewey and I’m pretty sure it’s still my place…”

There was a hard snort from Matteo. “And what is it that my brother does there?” he challenged, making Dewey push out another hard sigh.

“You know, we haven’t quite figured that part out yet. But he’s only been in Oslo?—”

“Oslo?” Matteo echoed loudly.

“Not the—” Dewey started and planned to clarify but Theo raced from the restroom and snatched the phone from him. “Sorry. It kept ringing and I didn’t want them to worry…” Dewey said but Theo gestured dismissively and whispered an apology over his shoulder.

“Won’t be more than a moment,” Theo said and quickly paced away. “Was geht, Teo? I told you, everything’s fine… That gentleman?” he asked, stealing a glance back at Dewey and laughing. “Boss, friend, guide… He’s been a marvelous help since I arrived,” he continued. “Stop worrying.”

Theo took the conversation to the other side of the alley but Dewey was reassured by the few tidbits he had gleaned. It had been a very brief exchange, but Matteo had at least confirmed that Theo had been telling the truth about his brothers. They existed and they were concerned about him.

That was a hell of a lot more than Dewey could say about his own brother and decided it was a mark in Theo’s favor that he was missed. Theo didn’t seem to find it as flattering, muttering apologies and rolling his eyes when he returned.

“Everything alright?” Dewey asked.

“Everything’s fine. Except that Teo isn’t happy, now that he got what he asked for,” Theo said and Dewey made a knowing sound.

“I could write an essay about brothers who got what they deserved. What did Matteo want?”

“For me to spread my wings and do something for myself,” he said with a wild wave around him.

“Ah. So you’re here on a dare?” That made a little more sense to Dewey but Theo shook his head.

“Nee, nothing like that. He merely pointed out that he didn’t need me there in Manhattan, playing mother hen anymore. Neither does Eli. That was sort of the…impetus,” Theo said with a nod and brightened, but he had lost Dewey. He wasn’t interested in a long-winded philosophical explanation.

“The impetus? Is there a faster way to the end of this story?”

“Ha!” Theo gave Dewey’s chest a playful swat. “You’re very funny, Brooks. It got me thinking, though: what else is there for me, beyond being Leo’s, Matteo’s, and Elio’s brother?That’swhy I’m here. But Matteo thinks he’s hurt my feelings and that I’ve left out of spite.”

“Spite makes sense, too.” Dewey’s head tipped from side to side as he considered. “I could see someone staying in Oslo to prove a point. It’s like the world’s most boring endurance challenge.”

“It’s not that bad,” Theo argued. “You must like it here or you wouldn’t stay.”

Dewey shrugged. “It’s all I know and I’m one of the reasons this place is so boring. I’m…the boss of boring,” he said with a gotcha look, making Theo wince.

“I would still be answering his questions if I tried to explain this.”

He had a point because Dewey had dozens. “Do you owe him money? Is that why you’re hiding from him?” he asked and Theo let out an indignant splutter.

“I may be guilty of raiding his bathroom before I left,” he said as he rolled a hand vaguely. “But I would never take anything of actual value from my brothers.”

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