An Extra Pump of Sugar

Chapter 17

I got off work early for a Saturday night.

Baker and I had rolled 600 sets of silverware in record time, desperate to escape our day shifts and the onset of the three-day weekend. With the extra time on my hands, I thought I'd drop in on Theo and surprise him with my new set of lingerie.

It was the first time I'd purchased anything like that for us, and I felt a little brazen for wearing the item under my clothes, but if he got excited over a cheap bra and cotton thong, I couldn't wait to see how he reacted to a lacey one-piece.

Would he start salivating the moment I unbuttoned my shirt? Would his eyes go blank with lust? Would we even make it to the bed, or would we end up wreaking havoc in the kitchen like last time?

Excitement brewed in my gut as I made my way up his apartment stairs. But when I knocked on his door, it wasn't Theo who greeted me at the threshold.

Instead, a dark-haired man in his fifties smiled down at me, seemingly delighted by my arrival. He was attractive for someone twice my age—the kind of man who'd earn double-takes from college students and elderly women alike. He had the build of a cyclist and a lean, shaven face, and there was no doubt in my mind he was Theo's direct relative.

"Oh," I said stupidly, retreating a few steps. "Hi."

"You must be here for Theo's birthday party," he said.

I grinned to hide my surprise. Birthday?

"Yeah, I was just stopping by to...wish him well," I lied.

"Well, by all means."

He stepped aside to let me in, and I tentatively peeked my head into the warm, well-lit studio.

Theo sat in the living room with a blond guy who who either surfed, skiied, or brewed beer for a living; a handsome black man in thick glasses; and a young woman covered in tattoos. Collapsible camping chairs joined the dining set around the coffee table, and I buried a snicker. Clearly, it was a well-known fact that Theo didn't have enough furniture to host a party.

As the group burst into laughter over an inside joke, Theo finally caught sight of me in the doorway. His eyes widened, and he straightened in his seat.

"Moe," he got out. "Hey."

His older twin swept me inside and closed the door behind us, probably sensing my instinct to scurry off.

"I just wanted to say hi. And happy birthday." Apparently, my eyes said.

Theo stood from his chair and crossed the room to meet me in the kitchen. He wore a simple crewneck tonight, his sleeves rolled up at his elbows to expose the ink notes on his arms and the pretty veins spiraling down his wrists. "Thanks. I don't really like to celebrate, but these guys are adamant about getting together every year, so..." He glanced at his friends, then back at me. "I thought you'd be working tonight." I wasn't expecting you to drop in like this, he meant.

I waved away his concerns. "No worries. You guys should get back to it. I have a lot of homework, so—"

"You could stay," he offered, and he looked a little surprised by his own request. "If you want."

I squinted at him, unsure if he was putting on a cordial front before company, or if he genuinely wanted me to be here. "I..."

"Oh my gosh!" Charlotte cried, stumbling out of the bathroom in a sweater dress and velvet booties. "Is that Ramona?"

I gave her an awkward wave, and she scurried over to us in tiny, wobbly footsteps, yanking me into a fierce hug like we'd known each other for decades.