Page 111 of Stop and Seek

Page List

Font Size:

That would’ve been so much simpler than trying to process the conversation.

“I am going to pretend I understood that,” Theo mumbled. He rubbed the back of his neck. “I need a drink, or like, ten. I thought there were supposed to be more people.”

Alyssa knocked her arm into his. “We’re a smidge early. I wanted to spend more time with Max.”

Decker hopped out of the pool, water pouring from his hair and trunks.

“I have lots of alcohol, don’t you worry. We come prepared,” he said, jerking his head to the side. “Let us venture into the unknown, my fellow comrade.”

Alright. To the unknown we go.

One hour—and four drinks later—Theo was beginning to relax. The pill had kicked in nicely, and the sinking, warm feeling inside of his head drowned out whatever anxiety he had left. It all felt a little surreal—like the dim lights were floating towards him, when he knew they were just lanterns hanging on a string. Not the worst experience, but not one he’d knock either.

He’d ended up with Benji and Decker at one of the covered tables closest to the open bar.

Was it where Theowantedto be? Not necessarily.

But Decker was funny, and Benji was flat-outdrunk.

“I wish I could quit work,” Benji mumbled, the side of his head resting on the glass table. “Do you know how much time I could spend with Belle? I have all these ideas for father-daughter dates…”

“How many hours do you work, man?” Theo asked. “Fifty?”

“Probably closer to eighty. I’m in the office from six in the morning to six at night… then I work when she goes to bed… she thinks I like my job more than her. Which I don’t, for the record.”

Decker put down the energy drink. He ran his hand through Benji’s hair—sweet enough that it gave Theo second-hand goosebumps—before he grabbed a handful. Benji yelped.

“Do you know how many times I’ve offered to take Ben-Ben and Belle on vacation?” Decker asked, looking more at Theo than Benji. “I don’t. I’ve lost track. Does he listen? Nope.” He shoved Benji’s head to the side, and Benji punched his leg.

“It’s not as if this was a vacation,” Benji said as he sat up. He picked up the wine glass, drained the last few red drops. “This was an utter nightmare. Impossible on all levels. I’m still livid. And Noah—”

Benji cut the sentence off abruptly. Like someone muted him from the inside out.

“What about Noah?” Theo asked. The fucking butterflies were still there.

Decker glanced from Benji to Theo, back again. His fingers moved up to the braid laying against his shoulder.

“Noah,” he started. “Noah kinda—”

“He guilt tripped us into coming,” Benji interrupted too quickly.

That didn’t sit right with Theo. But this wasn’t his business. He barely knew them. Prying into other people’s lives should’ve came with a fucking jail sentence.

Speaking of—

Where the hell wasNoah?

Theo had seen him once, and notoutside. Up in one of the windows on the top floor, Noah and Max had been arguing. Theo couldn’t hear what was said, but the way Noah had been gesturing at her screamed big problem.

Now they were both MIA.

Belle flew by in a gust of wind and pink tulle, and Benji caught her. Wrestled the puff ball into a hug.

“I gotta go before the thunder demons get me,” Belle whined.

“Thunder..?” Theo asked.

Decker leaned closer and whispered, “Fireflies.”