Page 42 of Truth or Spare

“Nee.”

“You taste even better,” Dewey said and sat up, yawning and stretching. He let out a weary groan as he took Theo’s hand andraised it to his lips and kissed his knuckles. “I’d drown in you if I could. But I need to run back to my place and take my meds. I missed them last night and it’ll get ugly if I fall behind.”

“What?” Theo flipped over and lunged from the bed. “You have to go!” he shouted, snatching socks and boxers off the floor. “That’s yours,” he said as he tossed Dewey’s shirt at him.

He caught it, laughing softly. “Slow down. I’ll be fine, I just can’t dawdle.”

They dressed and shared one last, lingering kiss before Theo pushed Dewey out of the Winnie. “Mist!” Theo complained when he remembered what he had meant to say before Dewey’s rimming lesson. “Iwilltell Brooks this morning,” he vowed with a firm nod, then grimaced down at his robe. “After I take another shower. That got sticky and sweaty.”

Chapter Nineteen

Dewey didn’t think his morning could get any better but Bryce was waiting with coffee and warm cinnamon muffins.

“Mom just made these!” Bryce said as he backed through the bowling alley’s door with a Thermos and a Saran-Wrapped plate. “You have no idea how much I miss this when I have to go to English in the morning,” he told Dewey.

“I always miss you but you can suck it up for a semester or two. You’re gonna be rich and famous one day and you’ll be able to do whatever you want in the morning.”

“I don’t know, Doob…” Bryce said. “Most engineers aren’t famous.”

Dewey shrugged. “You will be. You’re already famous around here.”

“Maybe… I’d settle for clean energy and safe drinking water, though,” Bryce replied and nodded at lane 1 as Theo let Walter in through the side door. “I see he’s still here. How did your talk go last night? I was going to come out and check on you, but was afraid it might get awkward.”

“Our talk?” Dewey echoed, but none of the visions filling his head involved talking.

“You can’t keep him!” Bryce whispered, sounding exasperated. “He’s a nice enough guy and I might steal Walter, but Theo’s all wrong for this place.”

Dewey’s gut could have told Bryce that, but it was a little too late. “You let me worry about Theo,” he said with a stern look, ending the conversation as Theo joined them.

“Moagn!” Theo said cheerfully but Bryce pulled a face and pushed the plate at him.

“Mom made muffins. Help yourself.”

Theo slid Dewey a sympathetic wince as he took one. “Could we have a word, when you have a moment?”

“I’ll let Bryce oil the lanes,” Dewey said, recalling that Theo had wanted to talk about something earlier in the Winnie.

“On it,” Bryce muttered, but they all paused and leaned over the counter when they heard a car door slam in the parking lot and a young man pushed open the front door. He offered them a grin and tugged on the bill of his baseball cap.

Dewey recognized the cap’s logo from a large bowling franchise and wondered what had brought their guest to his humble alley. He offered the young man a nod. “You’re a little early but we should have everything up and running shortly.”

The younger man shook his head, chuckling as he held out a hand. “I’m not here for a game. I’m Chase Callahan. I was told to ask for Theo,” he said, scanning the alley around them.

“Yes!” Theo said as he hurried around the counter. “Thanks for getting here so quickly.” He put an arm around Chase, grinning at Dewey and Bryce. “Help has arrived!”

Dewey already had a bad feeling. “What did you do, Theo?” he asked while shaking Chase’s hand.

Chase grinned and his brows rose hopefully. “Found your new employee of the month? I’ve been managing an AMF alley over in Syracuse for the last four years.”

“Oh, wow!” Bryce leaned over the counter and snatched Chase’s hand, pumping it excitedly. “You’re hired!”

“Hold on!” Dewey elbowed him out of the way, shaking his head at Bryce and then at Theo. He narrowed his eyes at Chase, trying to guess what his salary was in Syracuse. “It’s $20 an hour and that’s a big commute,” he said and Chase’s face fell.

“Just a misunderstanding!” Theo declared, waving dismissively. “Iwill match whatever AMF is paying Chase and he’s being compensated for relocating,” he explained and Chase nodded.

“Generously compensated,” he said with a snort. “$50,000 to relocate and manage a location a quarter of the size I’ve been running. I was sure it was a scam, but I just got engaged and we found out that Sam’s expecting so I had to take a chance.”

“Oh, it’s definitely a scam!” Dewey stared incredulously at Theo. “Are you out of your mind?Youmake $20 an hour and live in the alley behind the alley.” He clapped a hand onto his forehead to see if he was getting a fever. He was sweating and dizzy as he turned back to Chase. “I am so sorry. Theo’s heart is in the right place but he can’t pay you?—”

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