Page 2 of Aloha, Seattle

Insufferable.

“What if I’m just not wearing it right now?” I argue. “What if it’s being cleaned or resized?”

He grins, flashing a perfect set of pearly white teeth. “Are you single, Cate?”

“Ye-es.” I admit sheepishly, brushing a strand of my curly, chestnut brown hair behind my ear.

“Then why get all worked up about me thinking you’re single?”

“I just don’t like you assuming I’m single upon first glance,” I hiss, buttoning my coat buttons, not ready to face the blistering cold of November winds, but also not really interested in sticking around for the rest of the freak show.

“I’m sorry.”

By the tone of his voice, I can tell he means it, but I am still not sure I want to hear anymore. The bell above the door rings and a man that looks very much like Theo walks inside. His brother most likely. He spots us and waves.

“Will you help me?” Theo asks, hope and panic filling his beautiful green eyes.

I wonder if he knows how pretty he is. What am I thinking? Of course, he does. I’m sure he owns at least a few dozen mirrors to admire his perfection.

“Cate?”

The way he says my name sounds like his last attempt at begging for my help. I don’t know why but I say, “If I do this, you’ll help me in return?”

“Absolutely.”

After a split-second hesitation, his brother nearly upon us, I nod. “Alright.”

Theo smiles, looking like he’s just won the lottery. I hope I don’t regret this.

“There you are!” His brother clamps a hand down on Theo’s shoulder and takes the seat next to him, diagonal from me. “I thought you tried to ditch me out there.”

“Ditch you?” Theo laughs and I can sense he is nervous. “Why would I try to ditch you?”

“To keep me from meeting this mysterious girlfriend of yours.” He smiles and extends his massive hand toward me. “You must be the infamous Cate,” he says as I reluctantly shake his hand and plaster a polite smile on my face. I bob my head in confirmation. “Theo has kept details about you to himself. We were beginning to doubt you even existed.”

“I can assure you, I’m real,” I flash him my friendliest smile, hoping I don’t resemble a frightened animal. “You must be…” My heart beats faster when I realize I don’t actually know Theo’s brother’s name.

“Caleb,” Theo’s voice jerks me back to the present. “You remember me telling you about my brother, honey.”

Thathoneysends an unwelcome warmness through my body. I shoo it away.

“Right,dear.” I eye Theo across the table, hoping he understands how uncomfortable I am with the pet names. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Caleb.”

I return my focus to Caleb, who has eyes as dark as chocolate. That’s one of the only things that distinguishes them. They are of the same build, height, and skin tone. They both have dark hair and perfect smiles, yet Theo seems to be more attractive. Perhaps it’s because of Theo’s green eyes. Maybe it’s the way he carries himself.

I realize I’m staring and by the looks on their faces, I’m frowning. It’s my resting face; my thinking face. They exchange a quick glance before Caleb smiles and cheerfully continues the conversation.

“So, tell me about yourself, Cate.”

“What would you like to know?” I ask, but really, I want to gather my belongings and beeline for the door.

“Caleb,” Theo must sense my deer in headlight vibe. “Don’t interrogate her. Isn’t meeting her in the flesh enough for you? Do you have to scare her, too?”

“Scare her?” Caleb frowns. “I’m not scaring you, am I, Cate?”

Yes!I want to scream but I don’t. I smile and shake my head instead. “Not at all.”

“See!” He fusses at Theo, smacking him against what looks like a well sculpted bicep, even underneath his charcoal gray coat. “So, what do you do for a living, Cate?”

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