Page 56 of Truth or Spare

“Oh, you are going toloveWalter!”

The call ended shortly after that and Theo was enjoying his day off, reclining with the paper and a cup of Cassie’s coffee. They had informed Bryce of their plan to add a kitchen to the alley, but it was agreed to hold off on telling Cassie until after work so they could all celebrate properly. Theo smiled over the top of the paper, then at Walter when they heard laughter from the workshop.

“I haven’t given up on Chase staying and am hoping he’ll be too attached to leave by the end of the week,” he confided, but the dog huffed wearily and closed his eyes. “You’ll see.”

If Theo had his way, he’d hiretwoemployees like Chase. He wasn’t sure how long it had been since Dewey could forget about the alley for an evening, but the effect was truly remarkable. Dewey was relaxed and playful all Sunday and he was whistling as he made his Monday morning rounds.

Theo had run out to the Winnie with Walter to change their clothes while Dewey and the boys opened the alley. They had stopped by for an overnight bag for Theo and Walter after their Sunday drive, but Theo had opted to leave his clothes. He reasoned that it was easier living out of one Winnie-sized suitcase instead of two and would just change there until they were ready to move it all to Dewey’s.

They hadn’t officially discussed the matter yet. So much had changed in just a few days and Dewey was still adjusting to the fact that Theo was a wealthy royal and they still hadn’t come up with a long-term solution for the bowling alley. That was Theo’s priority because he wanted Dewey to always be as relaxed and happy as he was when they arrived earlier that morning.

Dewey was shaking his head and chuckling as he came around lane 1 from the workshop, wiping his hands on a rag. “They might have been split at birth,” he said, then frowned at Theo. “You can’t sit there.”

“Here?” Theo straightened and looked around, confused. “Why not? It’s my day off and we’re not expecting anyone for a few more hours.”

“Yeah, but I had to make a new rule,” Dewey said as he lowered and braced his hands on his knees so he could kiss Theo’s cheek.

Theo leaned in to meet him. “A new rule? Why?”

“From now on, you’re only allowed to sit on my face,” Dewey whispered and swiped his lips against Theo’s before heading for the front desk.

“This rule, I like!” Theo popped to his feet and went after him.

“It was Keith’s idea.”

Dewey opened the register to get a piece of gum and Theo noticed his hand trembled and worried that he was already getting tired.

“We should take off early,” Theo suggested, resting his forearms on the counter so he could flirt with Dewey. He could do that now because he wasn’t on the clock and he was sleeping with the bowling alley’s owner. “It’ll be slow all day and Bryce and Chase won’t need us. I’ll cook you dinner and after, I’ll draw us a bubble bath. You can watch me drink a bottle of wine and act like a Wichser.”

“What’s a Wichser?” Dewey asked.

A wide grin spread across Theo’s face. “It is how we say a ‘wanker’ or a ‘jerk-off.’ I could drink wine while we soak and you can watch me be a Wichser.”

“I’m in.” Dewey nodded quickly. “I’d like to do that today.”

“Klasse!” Theo pumped his fists and turned as Bryce and Chase came from the workshop, high-fiving each other. “They’ve certainly hit it off,” Theo noted.

Dewey hummed in agreement, nodding as he watched them. “Chase is a good kid. I think they’ll keep in touch.”

“Did you know that Chase is from Watertown and he was already considering moving back? His fiancé has an aunt there as well that she’s very fond of.”

“Is that so?” Dewey replied, his tone dry. He chewed and narrowed his eyes at Theo. “We’ll see…”

“Yes…we will,” Theo agreed, not sure why they were being so ominous as Bryce and Chase joined them at the front desk. But they all quieted and craned their necks as a large man in a military field coat pushed through the alley’s front door.

A faded Hartford Wolf Pack ball cap covered his eyes and a salt-and-pepper beard hugged his jaw. He smiled at them and waved the “help wanted” sign, only to receive a disgusted swear from Dewey in response.

“Heard you were hiring,” the other man said, sliding a green duffel bag off of his shoulder and onto the floor.

“I didn’t—” Theo shook his head, alarmed and confused. “Mr. Callahan is the only person I made an arrangement with. So far,” he added quietly.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Bryce yelled and Dewey grabbed him around the middle when he lunged at the bearded stranger. Bryce swore and swung wildly. “Let me go!” he ordered, but Dewey shook his head and held on as tight as he could.

“What’s going on?” Chase asked, eyeing the man in the cap warily.

Theo didn’t sense any hostility from their visitor but jogged over and intercepted him, blocking his access to Bryce and Dewey. “Perhaps you should come back later,” he suggested pointedly.

“I want him out of here!” Bryce spat and pointed, fighting to get free.

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