Page 21 of Between the Lines

To distract himself from his burgeoning crush, Theo studied the myriad photos on the walls instead. Plenty of surfers posing with their boards, but more of musicians playing live—including one of Finn Callaghan standing at the bar’s piano with his hand on the shoulder of the dark-haired man playing. Theo recognized him as Finn’s husband-to-be, Joshua Newton. Callaghan was an attractive man, no doubt, and he looked happy in the picture. Theo supposed he would be, with the man he loved nearby, the man who’d agreed to share his life. The thought drew an airless pressure into his chest, a hollow familiar longing.

“Cute couple, huh?” Luca returned with a couple of beers, sliding one across the table to Theo with a smile. “You eating?”

“Yeah,” Theo said as he reached for the beer, embarrassed to feel himself blush. “I ordered a burger.”

“Me, too.” Luca knocked his bottle against Theo’s. “Good choice.”

He took a careful sip and set the bottle down, his eyes drifting back to the photo and away from Luca’s handsome face. “Do you know Joshua Newton? He grew up here, I think.”

“Yeah, kinda. Josh moved away for a while and I was gone when he came back, but we’ve hung out...” Luca sat back in his seat. “He’s a good looking guy. Soulful eyes.”

“I don’t notice people’s eyes,” Theo said, although he had noticed Luca’s—that clear gray standing out so sharply against his bronzed skin.

Luca didn’t respond, watching him for a long minute as if expecting something more. What, Theo didn’t know, and when he didn’t speak, Luca looked away, fingers tapping on the table. Irritated? Theo had the distinct impression he’d missed something. He bit his lip, reached for his beer and knocked the bottle over, distraction making him clumsy.

But Luca caught it before it spilled, hand shooting out to steady it. “Whoops,” he said, setting it upright like it was nothing. Itwasnothing. Nothing but irritating. Theo curled his fingers together on the table, making fists, and tried to sit still.

“I’ve, ah, been invited to the wedding, actually,” Luca said then, giving Theo a complicated smile. “Half the town has. Not sure I’ll go, though. Not a big fan of weddings.”

“Really? I love weddings. They’re so hopeful.”

Luca grunted. “Tell it to the divorce attorneys.”

Unwilling to argue, Theo said nothing. Luca might think him naïve, but he longed for the soul-to-soul connection marriage symbolized. Longed for it even though he knew it was out of reach. Not that he’d ever confess as much, not to a man like Luca Moretti.

He took another swallow of beer, so did Luca, and the silence between them lengthened, deepened. Theo’s skin began to crawl with the fear he’d made a mistake, had intruded despite Luca’s assurance otherwise. People always did that, said things they didn’t mean just to be polite. It was so bloody frustrating. He dug his nail through the label of his beer, scratching around for something to say to break the awkward silence.

In the end, they were rescued by the arrival of a young woman carrying two plates piled high with fries and burgers. Thank God, too, because Theo was starving.

“Here you are, gorgeous,” she said, giving Luca a wink.

“Thanks, Kylie.” He flashed her a smile back. “You got anyone playing tonight?”

“Who do you think?” She jerked her head at the crowds. “Finn said he might pop in later.”

Luca groaned. “Thanks for the heads-up.”

“Hey!” The girl swatted him on the arm. “Don’t you listen to him,” she told Theo, setting his plate down in front of him. “Finn Callaghan has an awesome voice.”

“So I’ve heard,” Theo said. “And, thank you, this looks delicious.”

The girl—Kylie—grinned. “You’re welcome, sweetie. Enjoy your meal!”

Luca shook his head as she walked away, picking up his burger and taking an enormous bite. “Finn can sing,” he said around a mouthful of food, “but can you imagine the screaming?”

Theo shuddered. “All too well,” he said, opening up his burger and starting to remove all the slimy stuff: lettuce, pickle, tomato.

After a while, he realized Luca was watching him. “You don’t like it?” he said, when Theo looked up. “The tomatoes and stuff—you don’t like it?”

“I don’t like them warm.” He didn’t bother explaining further. “It’s a thing.”

Luca shrugged and took another bite. “Mmmm s’good.”

And itwasgood, once Theo got it how he liked it—the bun wasn’t even soggy. He concentrated on enjoying the flavor and keeping his mouth shut while he was chewing.

Under the table, Luca’s foot nudged against his ankle and Theo drew back, afraid he’d started sprawling. He sat up straighter and Luca shifted, too, frowning down at his fries. The silence between them lengthened again and Theo couldn’t shake the feeling it was...wrong. Off in some way he couldn’t identify. It made his skin feel too tight for his bones, his stomach anxious. He hated the uncertainty, not knowing what was going on. If he’d done something wrong he wished Luca would—

“So, listen, I have to ask,” Luca said, “you got a girlfriend back in New York?”

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