Page 95 of Last Letters to Ara
He smiles mischievously. “But I’m perfect for a musician. I stand by what I said.”
“Thank you for your input, but it isn’t necessary.”
“I think it is necessary. I’m just trying to do my part as Theo’s wingman.”
“Wingmen are for picking up chicks at a bar, not convincing his friends to hook up with him.”
“Friend. Singular. You’re the only one I’m trying to convince to sleep with him, and like I said earlier, I don’t think you require much convincing,” he says with a wink.
The doors finally open and release me from this godforsaken elevator ride right into their penthouse. I forgot that their place is so fancy that they don’t even have a front door. My plan seems so stupid now. The grand gesture will be me showing up outside his bedroom like a creep. Jumping out of their highest window starts looking like a better option.
”His room is the last door on your left.”
“Yeah, I remember.” Apparently, the location of Theo’s bedroom is the only thing I haven’t forgotten.
Connor shoots me a smug look as he walks past “I hope you shaved.”
I decide that I didn’t hear his parting comment, because if I did hear it, I would die on the spot. Part of me is uncomfortable with Connor’s forwardness, but deep down I know he’s right. Plus, that forwardness is what saved Theo’s life. So I can never be mad about it.
I have no choice now but to show my face. Connor knows I was here and is surely going to mention it. The only thing weirder than showing up at Theo’s penthouse unannounced is doing it and then leaving without saying anything.
It’s time to remember what that letter from my dad said and buck up.
I make my way down the hallway with walls that are lined with pictures of Theo and Connor. My heart throbs at the effort these two young men went through to make themselves each other’s family. Even down to the black-and-white portraits, they are brothers in every way that counts.
I finally approach the last door on the left and knock softly.
“Why are you even knocking? Come in!” Theo calls from the other side of the door.
I guess Connor sent him a text to warn him of my arrival.
Opening the door with as much courage as I can muster, my body stops dead. Theo has moved all of his furniture which took up half the room the last time I was here. He’s pushed it all against a far wall, next to a desk with an iMac that I hadn’t noticed before, leaving a big open space between his bed and TV.
I’m pretty sure that’s a Wii remote in his hand as he lines up to bowl. There are just enough of my brain cells in operation to register that the last Wiis on Earth seemed to have disappeared ten years ago, but here he is, playing Wii.
Theo is all focus as he hurls the virtual ball down the lane. It must be a good throw because Theo raises his fist in the air, not even acknowledging my presence. Yet, none of this is what has caused my brain to officially detach from the rest of my body.
Thatis because Theo is standing in nothing but his underwear.
Of course, I’m not lucky enough for it to be a pair of ugly plaid boxers, no. If it were ugly plaid boxers, my brain may still be intact.
Theo is in none other than light gray Calvin Kleins, fitted to his every curve. I now realized that despite his clothes being wonderfully tailored, they have done his lower body no justice at all.
These briefs, though? Wow. The waistband is low enough that I get an eyeful of happy trail leading right down to...oh.Somewhere in the distance of my mind, I’m yelling at myself to look away because I’m being a completely indecent friend.
One thing is certain, if there is a God, Theo is definitely his favorite.
“Bro, why are you just standing...” Theo cuts off. “Oh. Ara.”
Theo has now spotted me, while I have my eyes currently zeroed in on his bottom half. He definitely thought it was Connor knocking on his door, not me, and I’m capable of nothing except standing here like a fish out of water, open and closing its mouth.
This is awesome. I absolutely love going out of my comfort zone, Mom and Dad!
I hope they’re witnessing this fucking trainwreck they’re responsible for, which might be even worse than puking on his bed. The thought is jarring enough that I somehow manage to shut my eyes.
“Ara? Are you okay? What are you doing here?” I feel Theo’s hands gently grip my shoulders.
Oh boy.
