Page 35 of Cakes for the Grump
Theo and I look at each other with pleasant surprise, two strangers syncing over shared social justice values.
“Are you both done?” asks Luke.
“Maybe,” I say.
“Probably not,” Theo corrects. “Now, once again, who is this wonderful woman sharing tea with you, Luke Abbot? I’ve never seen you start a day without decimating the confidence of a group of minions in a boardroom.”
Luke sighs as if answering is unavoidable. “She’s my meal-prep chef whom I am also… friendly with.”
“Like coworkers?”
Luke levels him a frosty look. “You know I’m in charge.”
“Yes, Daddy,” Theo teases, while I confirm, “He does like to be on top.”
“I like you,” Theo declares.
Luke moves his eyes between us like he doesn’t know what is happening, but is deciding it isn’t to his advantage in any way.
“I’m Theodore Walker,” says Theo, officially introducing himself to me. “I’m visiting for a very mini-vacation.”
Not that Luke and I have dug deep into our personal lives, but he’s never mentioned that a person like Theo was going to be visiting. And they are so vastly different from each other, I can’t make sense of it. “How do you know this energy succubus—er, I mean,my boss?”
He grins. “College. We’re old roommates.”
I lean forward. “Does that make you arealfriend of his?”
“Shocking, isn’t it? I bet you didn’t think such a fabled creature existed.”
“Neither of you are funny,” Luke informs us.
“Ignore him,” says Theo, shrugging.
“I do.” I smile.
“Now, what’s your story?” he asks me. “Are you from Barcelona?”
“No, I’m new here.”
“Such a beautiful city, isn’t it?”
“Actually, I haven’t seen much of it,” I admit to him. Sure, I’ve gone on walks, but most days are dominated by work, and the evenings are dominated by chores. Any free time, I try to recover my energy by resting because it is the cheapest (free-est) pastime available. An especially depressing reality when the sun is shining outside your window beckoning you out.
“Me neither.” Theo reaches over and abducts Luke’s tea. As soon as he takes a swig, he looks disgusted, and then he gets up to locate and brings back at least three packets of sugar. It’s a substitute sweetener, but apparently better than nothing. All packets are dumped in.
My opinion of Theo skyrockets immeasurably.
“I have an idea,” he declares, after finishing off the cup. “We should all go out tonight.”
“No,” Luke immediately kiboshes. “I have no time.”
Theo reaches over and grips the edge of his sleeve. “But we are your friends!”
“You are a plague.”
“Who is sad.”
“Don’t care.”
