Chapter 7
Theo was feeling bad, and he had no idea why he was feeling bad.
No, I fucking do. Peter’s too fucking nice, and him being nice all the fucking time obviously makes me feel bad for asking him for that stupid cock-lock clause in that stupid, ridiculous contract.
Why the fuck did I ever agree to sign a contract in the first place?
Theo was reheating a stir-fry and some rice in the microwave, watching the little plate go round and round in circles. It was taking too long.
“Do you know what you want to watch tonight?” Peter asked, looking up from the really bad book that was just bad enough to be sort of good, like junk food or too much sugar.
“You know I hate that question.” Theo tried to say that sweetly. He meant it sweetly. Yet, in his own ears his voice rang with annoyance, and only the slow microwave deserved that. “Do you always have to ask?”
“Oh, I absolutely do. What if I miss you hankering for a specific movie, and I make you watch a silent film instead?”
Peter, in his strange basement archive, had a lot of them, some so old Theo guessed they were the only copies left, neatly digitized and labeled at that.
They’d watched a French one once, and Peter had translated the intertitles on the fly, whispering them in Theo’s ear.
It had been entertaining, delightful, and hot all at the same time.
Theo focused on the seconds the food had left to heat through. “Well, can we do horror again?”
“Of course. Do you want me to pick, or should we let the computer do it?”
That was another Peter thing. The way he’d explained it to Theo, he’d curated a large database of movies and sorted them by genre, release year, and run time, and then he’d written a program that could pick one at random.
Theo had mentioned that there were websites that could do that, and Peter had explained that there were none that only included good movies in their data set and had the rare ones he had in his collection.
“Besides, I made this for us,” Peter had added, and Theo shivered just remembering those words.
“Yup. Yeah, let’s do that. Nothing too old though. I want something newer.”
Peter turned a page and hummed. “That’s doable.”
“Cool.”
Peter put the book away and stood, then put out a tray for the food. He’d timed it perfectly so the tray was there when Theo was ready to get his food out of the microwave.
“Theodore, let me. It’s hot.”
Theo frowned. “I burned myself a little that one time. I learned my lesson.” He pointed. “You have oven mitts.”
Peter was already moving in though. “I do, but you have such beautiful hands. I’d much rather do this than risk you hurting yourself.”
“Fine.”
Theo got the leftover salad out of the fridge too and poured the dressing over it. Corvin had recommended some Green Goddess concoction and given out Mike’s recipe. While Theo had been skeptical at first, he had to admit that it was as amazing as advertised.
Peter, of course, added the salad to the tray and grabbed a water bottle before heading to the stairs. Theo walked behind him. I like his shoulders. Like his entire back; so nice to lean on.
Peter transferred the tray to one hand and got the basement door open, then turned on the light down there. He moved smoothly, looking comfortable in his skin and his surroundings, unbothered that he was carrying food that held no appeal at all for him.
Out of some guilt-driven impulse, Theo hugged Peter around his middle from behind while they were still in the middle of the staircase.
Peter stopped. “Theodore?”
“Sorry. I just…I like you. I’m sorry for asking about the stupid contract thing.”
“You don’t have to be sorry about that. My heart is yours, and so is my body. I don’t mind putting it in writing.”
Theo tightened his hold. “Ugh, so cheesy.”
Peter chuckled. “Theodore, instead of carrying this tray downstairs, I’d much rather carry you upstairs, but you’ll not skip dinner. We can always cuddle on the couch during the movie.”
“That’s a good idea. Okay, I’m letting go now. Don’t be weird.”
Peter clicked his tongue. “Weird. Pah.”
As soon as Theo let him go, he did a model strut, somehow managing to swing his hips wildly even on the stairs. It was ridiculous. Theo’s face was red with laughter by the time they got to Peter’s downstairs lair.
“Weirdo vampire,” Theo said fondly as Peter unfolded the blanket he kept down here these days, no matter that the newly installed heating worked just fine.
Theo had just finished his food when his phone vibrated in his pocket.
Peter frowned. “Should I stop the movie?”
“No. Might just be Celeste.” He cleared his throat. “About work, you know.”
“Certainly.”
Peter sounded reserved, if not disapproving. He has to learn to deal with it. With me working.
It was indeed Celeste who had texted Theo, except it had nothing to do with work.
FYI: Sage asked for your number to give to Will, his apprentice. He says Will was concerned about not having thanked you. Can I tell them?
Sure.
Done. When can you start?
Theo bit his lip.
Is Wednesday okay?
Of course. Be here when you can.
Before Theo could turn off his phone, another text came in.
Hey, I wanted to say thank you again for the food! The churros were really yummy.
This is Will by the way.
I asked Sage to ask Celeste to give me your number.
Also, Sage liked the notebook I got him at the bookstore.
“How about I make you some popcorn?” Peter said, pressing a kiss to Theo’s temple.
“Uh, sorry. I don’t mean to stare at my phone. Sorry.”
Peter hugged him close before getting up off the couch. “Don’t be. I’m surprised you’re not in higher demand for group projects and the like. Have the other students yet to figure out how smart you are?”
Theo chuckled. “Funny.”
“I wasn’t trying to be, Theodore. Salt or sugar?”
“Hm, can you do that salted caramel thing? Please?”
Peter smiled, the light from the screen making his platinum hair shimmer. “Of course.”
Peter walked back upstairs on silent feet, and Theo turned his attention to his phone once more. Will had texted more.
Are you really going to work for Celeste?
I always come along when we have a job there. Maybe we’ll run into each other again, or if Peter needs more windows repaired.
Or if you need magic done, I guess Sage would let me tag along too.
Glad you liked the food, and you’re welcome. Yeah, I’ll tend bar at the Boudoir. I don’t need any magic done, but if you want to hang out again some other time, just let me know.
Theo sent the text. That was unlike him.
He hadn’t sought out other people to hang out with in so long.
Even getting to know Corvin had felt like an accident that was unavoidable with him being the soon-to-be spouse of one of Peter’s colleagues.
Corvin had wedged himself into Theo’s life though, and it looked like Will was doing the same thing.
Theo’s phone buzzed with yet another text.
Hi. Carl here. I was informed you’d be starting work for us this coming Wednesday. I will be driving you to and from our establishment as needed, so if you need a pickup ahead of your shift, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Thank you.
Theo snorted.
Hi Carl. Peter isn’t reading my texts.
Of course not. Mr. Collins is well known for keeping private matters private.
Dude, you don’t have to talk like he’s reading my texts is all I’m saying. He’s not reading my texts.
Okay.
Whatever. I don’t need you to pick me up.
Please let me know if that changes.
Theo decided to leave it at that, but since Will had also texted, he went back to that conversation.
YES! I’d love to hang out with you again. Are the others coming? Can I bring Sage?
Sage really wasn’t trying to be mean to you, but Peter used to babysit him and scare him when he was a kid, so I guess he feels protective now.
Peter scared Sage when Sage was a child?
Yes. He scared me when I first met him too. Weren’t you scared?
Sorry. Of course you weren’t.
Sorry I asked. Forget it.
Can I bring Sage, please?
Theo was smiling at the screen. Will was like a kid—oddly eager, as if he didn’t have anyone…and maybe he didn’t. This is new, having someone younger who wants to spend time with me. He probably thinks I’m a grown-up and responsible adult who has life advice to share? Hopefully not…
Sure.
Oh, Sage says you can also come here for board games. Or D&D he says. He says he can explain how that works if we don’t know.
(I don’t know.)
Sounds good. Just text me when and I can ask Corvin. And Carl I guess.
Oh, Carl.
Carl can come too.
Do you have Corvin’s number?
I want to say thanks for the book.
I’m reading it now.
Still smiling, Theo texted Will the number. He smelled the warm sugary scent of the caramel popcorn and turned to see Peter, the big popcorn bowl in his hands.
“You looked positively adorable just now.”
Theo put his phone away. “I looked adorable while texting?”
“The expression on your face. That’s what made it adorable. You were smiling, Theodore.”
Theo felt his cheeks heat. “Whatever. Gimme the popcorn. Come on, they just got to the haunted B&B, let’s see who gets killed first.”
Peter slid in close to Theo, handed him the bowl, and draped an arm around his shoulders.
“Do you care to bet?”