28. Theo
28
THEO
I was surprised the party hadn’t been busted by the cops yet.
I got as close to the modest bungalow as I could considering the street was lined with cars. There were kids hanging out in the front yard and loud music coming from inside. The wave of nostalgia caught me off guard considering what I was there to do. I remembered my own house party days, when our parents were away and we all got up to no good.
Things were different for me, though. I didn’t start partying until I was in high school. Rafe was way too young to be drinking. My only comfort was that he seemed to realize that himself—eventually. It was why he had called me, why I was here.
I pulled out my phone to text him that I was waiting a block down the street. After five minutes with no response I dialed him.
“Hello?” Rafe’s voice slurred.
“Rafe, did you get my text? I’m outside waiting. Do I need to come in there and get you?”
I cringed. Total dad vibes, which was not my intention.
“No, do not come in! I’ll be right out.”
I hung up and watched the antics in the front yard. Red Solo cups and kids clumsily flirting with each other. It was a rite of passage but again, Rafe was too young to be taking part in it.
A few minutes later he finally came out with his skateboard clutched to his chest like it was a security blanket. I tooted my horn once and chuckled at the way all the kids froze and looked around in a panic.
Rafe looked wobbly as he walked toward my car, and I worried he was about to get sick.
“Hey,” I said as he opened the door and peered in at me.
“Theo, my man!” He grinned stupidly as he dropped down into the seat. “Wassup? You good?”
“Let’s not worry about me,” I said as I pulled onto the street. “Seatbelt.”
“Yessir,” he laughed.
“What have you been drinking? Because you smell like a bachelorette party.”
“ Nooo ,” Rafe slurred. “Nothing like that, bro. Just like, one or two little drinks. Little tiny things, like for a baby.”
“Shots. You mean you were doing shots.”
He made a finger gun at me and winked. “If you say so!”
“Rafe,” I sighed. “That’s dangerous. What did you drink, and how many?”
“So like, one came from a white bottle and it tasted like gasoline and coconuts.”
“Malibu, got it. Anything else?”
“Yeah, uh, another was gold-slobber or something. Gold-blobber? That one was like gasoline and cinnamon.”
“ Goldschlager . Fantastic. Anything else? I hope for your sake the answer is no.”
“Umm … lemme think.” He started humming the Jeopardy theme song and cracked himself up.
“Rafe, focus,” I ordered through clenched teeth.
“I am, I am! Why do you think I was singing that? Anyway, I think I had like one or two beers. And that’s it. Then I called you.”
“I wish you’d called me before the first shot, so I could talk you out of it.”
“Nah, it was fun.” He paused. “But also kinda scary. And my stomach feels weird.”
His head lolled every time I took a corner.
“Good,” I muttered. “Maybe that’ll teach you a lesson.”
He sat up in a panic and looked out the window. “Wait! Are you driving me home? Theo, no, you can’t make me go there now.”
I frowned at him. “Do you really think I’d drop you off on your doorstep when you’re wasted? No, we’re going to my place. You can sleep it off there.”
“Okay, thanks.” Rafe had his eyes closed and was panting like he’d just finished a run. “My parents think I’m at Colton’s house for the night.”
We drove in silence, and I glanced at Rafe thinking he might have drifted off, but his eyes were open and staring out at the road ahead of us.
“Why didn’t you call your sister?”
He barked out a laugh. “Max? Are you kidding me? She’s worse than my mom. She woulda kicked my ass.”
“Maybe that’s what you need.”
He scowled at me. “What do you mean by that?”
I debated keeping my mouth shut. At the end of the day, was it really any of my business? I’d only known Rafe for a few weeks—what right did I have to lecture him? But on the other hand, I felt like I couldn’t miss the chance to school him. God knew he didn’t have a father who’d give him good advice. It might not be my role, but someone had to step up. And if I was the closest thing to a responsible male adult in his life, so be it. “Rafe, I’m sorry but you’re too young to be going to parties and drinking. It’s not safe.”
He let out a sharp exhale and threw his head back. “Whatever.”
“I’m serious. You don’t know your limits. Kids your age take risks. Things get out of hand, and that’s dangerous.”
He shrugged.
We were back to the Rafe I originally met. Silent and grumpy. He didn’t like what I had to say, so he was shutting me out. There was more I wanted to tell him, a longer lecture, but I knew he wasn’t in the right headspace to receive it. Maybe I’d do it over breakfast, when his head was pounding and he was fully aware of how bad binge drinking could be.
We pulled into the underground parking garage, and Rafe rolled his head to look at me before we got out of the car.
“You’re not going to tell Max, are you?”
“Don’t know yet,” I replied.
“Theo,” he pleaded. “C’mon.”
“Okay, I won’t tell her if you promise me not to do this again. At least hold off until high school.”
He didn’t respond.
“Your choice,” I said as I got out.
“Fine, okay, you win,” he said, tripping over his own feet as he followed behind me. “I won’t.”
“You won’t what?”
“Drink until I’m older. But can I still go to parties?”
I frowned at him. “If you think you can resist the peer pressure. But Rafe, you’ve got to remember …” I broke off.
“What?”
It wasn’t my place, but he needed to hear it. “Your father drinks, and from what I’ve heard, he drinks a lot. Because of that you might have a, uh, genetic pull to drink more than the average person.”
“Okay.” Rafe’s bottom lip jutted out. “Whatever.”
“Let’s go,” I said, starting for the elevator.
Rafe dragged his feet, glancing around at the luxury cars in the packed parking garage.
He pointed at an orange car tucked in a corner. “That’s a Lotus !”
“Yeah, it’s mine.”
The sports car was barely street legal, which was why I rarely drove it, except when I could rent a racetrack.
“ Wow ,” he breathed as he walked closer to admire it.
“Glad you like it. You want to know how I got it?”
Rafe looked up at me and nodded his head.
“Not drinking when I was thirteen. C’mon, let’s go upstairs.”
Rafe bent over at the waist and moaned a little during the elevator ride to my condo. I knew exactly what was coming.
I led him down the hall quickly, to the guest room with the most accessible bathroom. “You’re going to be in this room. Let me get you something to wear.”
By the time I got back to the room, Rafe was dozing, sprawled out on the bed, still dressed.
“Bro, wake up,” I said as I grabbed his shoulder.
He sat up in shock and looked around. “Wha? Where am I?”
“My place. Go rinse your mouth out and change.”
“Oh,” Rafe wobbled in place for a minute. “Hold on a sec. I don’t feel so good.”
“Bathroom is right there,” I said, grasping his shoulder again and turning him so he could see the door. “Go.”
He didn’t move for a few seconds longer then took off, slamming the door behind him. I heard retching noises.
“Good,” I said to myself. “That’ll teach him a lesson.”
I waited to make sure he was okay. When he finally came out, he’d changed into the t-shirt and shorts I’d given him. He looked a little less green.
“Feel better?” I asked him.
“Yeah.”
He sounded sheepish and looked every bit of his thirteen years. He was still just a boy.
“Sorry you had to pick me up, Theo.”
“It’s not a problem. I want you to be safe. I’m glad you reached out to me.”
I bit my tongue to keep from lecturing him even though I really wanted to.
“That was not fun,” Rafe said, pointing over his shoulder toward the bathroom.
“Yeah, but the good news is now, especially if you drink some water, you’ll be less hung over tomorrow. No one will know what you got up to tonight.”
“Seriously?” his eyes were wide. “You’re not going to say anything?”
I sighed. I’d thought long and hard about that question, but this was the answer I’d settled on. “Listen, I’m not going to lie for you, but if no one asks I won’t say a word. Assuming you’re not going to do it again. Right?”
“Right,” he yawned.
“Get to sleep. I’ll be up for a little while longer, right down the hall. Let me know if you need anything.”
He was already eyeing the bed. “Okay.”
“What time should I get you up tomorrow? Remember, we need to act like you’re coming home from your friend’s house.”
“Like, nine maybe?”
“Works for me,” I nodded. “I’ll have breakfast delivered. Now sleep it off. Wake up tomorrow with a new attitude.”
Rafe had climbed into the bed looking like he was already dozing. I flipped off the light and was halfway out the door when he called to me.
“Hey Theo?”
I paused and glanced back at him.
“Thank you. A lot. You didn’t have to come get me, but you did. So, thanks.”
After his tough guy act it was such an unexpected, heartfelt thank you. It didn’t matter how things were going to end between me and Max, I wanted this kid to know that I would always be in his corner.
“It was no problem. I’m here for you. If you ever feel like you have no one else to turn to, I want you to remember that I’ve got you.”
He smiled at me as his eyes drooped then finally closed.
I hoped he’d remember it in the morning.