Page 26 of Last Letters to Ara
The cheesy play-on-words makes me cringe almost as much as the pink flamingo shirt Theo presumably holds for himself.
I snort.
“It’s the best they’ve got as far as disguises go.”
“Disguises?”
“The last thing I need is my father catching me and my conspirator in his neighborhood dressed in all black. At least this way, he will be more focused on not throwing up at the sight of my shirt.”
A laugh explodes out of me because, well, Theo is funny and also right. His shirt is horrible, and I need to permanently document it. Obviously.
Reaching into my pocket, I try to be sneaky as I grab my phone and move to open the camera.
Theo, not missing a thing, grabs my phone out of my hand. “The only way you’re getting photo evidence of this is if you’re in it with me.”
“Over my dead body.”
“I’m a criminal now, Ara,” he says with a wink. “This life of illegal activity has hardened me. You don’t know my limits.”
Looking like a kid eating cotton candy for the first time, I smile up at Theo, having never felt this buoyant. Dad had always made me laugh, but with Theo it feels different. There is a pang in my gut at the thought, knowing there will never be a day where I don’t think about my dad, but I know he would be happy to see me smiling now.
“Fine,” I say.
Theo lifts his brows in surprise and I’m right there with him. I hate photos, even more than running, but here I am doing both tonight.
Theo flips the camera around so that it’s facing us and lifts it up for a selfie. I look over to see what kind of expression he is making so I can match the vibe, and find him with a goofy face that brings another smile to my face.
*snap*
“I wasn’t ready!!” I complain.
“Okay, let’s do another one.”
Hopefully, the absolute mess which is my camera isn’t good enough to capture the embarrassing glee pouring from my expression.
“Wait, one more.” I grab the phone from him and prop it up on one of the shelves. I set the five-second timer and dash back to his side. “Pose like a tourist!”
I grab my phone, dying to see the results, but Theo covers it with his hand. “Save it for later. I’ll get us an Uber back to the airport and I can take you home from there.”
“What about my car?”
“I’ll drop it off at your place before you need to head to work tomorrow.”
This is the part where I usually find a reason to put up a polite fight and insist we go our separate ways. His father would have no idea who I was if he passed me by on the walk to my car. Especially with my “disguise.” I know I can figure out the car thing on my own. The thing is, I don’t want to say goodbye yet.
So, for once in my life, I agree.
Theo covers the midnight snacks and disguises while I step outside to make sure the coast is clear. Doing my best to take a good, inconspicuous look around, once I’m certain there is not a soul in sight, I give the all clear to Theo and he joins me outside.
“What a night,” he says with a bright grin.
“I know, right?”
“Can I ask you something?” His voice is a bit quieter now.
“You just did.” I nudge him with my shoulder.
He nudges me back. “What made you get this idea of TPing my father’s house?”
