Bait // Thiam

Chapter 70

Theo moved in a couple nights ago and everything's going fine so far. It's different to last time considering we're now dating and my parents are home a lot more now. They were both fine with him staying, but we just didn't tell them exactly why he was staying. Things are a little more awkward between us as well, because we're now sleeping in the same bed and some nights it gets awkward when my mum or step dad walk in and nearly catch us kissing, because they don't know about me yet. About us.

I still haven't told them and I also haven't told Theo about me not telling them. He thinks I told them when we first started dating, but I never really found the right time or any time at all really. I don't know how to tell him or them. I'm just kind of hoping they'll figure it out themselves.

If not, I'll defiantly tell them soon because they deserve to know. Especially since he's staying here now and I think they need to know, so if they want to set certain rules, they can. But no matter what they say, he's staying in the room with me.

"So Liam," my Mom spoke, passing the peas around the table. "Who's your new friend? I'm pretty sure we have met once."

Tonight's the first night that both my parents are home and this is also the first time they've met Theo. I don't think they met him last time he was staying, but if they did it would of only been for a short period of time. They've definitely heard about him before, as I have spoken about him plenty of times and I've heard them ask questions about him out of the blue. But this is the first time they've officially met him.

"Don't think so." Theo laughed, placing some peas on his plate.

I tired to sit still and hide my nerves, but I couldn't do it. Hearing my mum call him 'friend' made it so much more unsettling. Theo seemed fine and like it didn't bother him, but he may also expect me to say something like, 'no mom not friend, boyfriend'. And that's the complete opposite of what came out.

"Mom, Dad this is my friend Theo. You've probably heard about him and from memory you never got to meet him." I told them, trying to remember if they ever did get to meet him.

"Didn't you crash here a couple months ago for a couple nights? Pretty sure we were working for most of them, but I can remember the spare mattress on Liam's floor." Matt asked us.

"Yeah that was him." I laughed nervously, tapping my foot lightly. "Anyway, so Theo's probably gonna stay here for a little while as he's been kicked out of his house."

"Oh dear that's absolutely horrible!" My mom told him, almost yelling. "Do you mind me asking what happened?"

I chocked on my water, coughing it back up as I looked over at my mom. I furrowed my eyebrows and tilted my head, hoping she would pick up that she had asked a super personal question. I looked back at Theo and closed my eyes, trying my best to calm down my nerves.

"No, I don't mind." I held my breath and waited for it to come out. Waiting for him to tell them that it's because he's dating me. "I've never really gotten along with my dad, but when my mom died... that's when things got really bad. Ever since I was little though, he's always told me one thing. That if I ever turn out to be gay or bi or anything but straight, he's going to kick me out and disown me as a son. As you can probably guess, I turned out to be gay and he obviously doesn't like that."

"Oh darling that is so horrible to hear. I don't get why some people have to be like that," she told him, giving him a sad smile. "Well as long as you're under this roof, we'll all support you. Just like we support Liam on any of his choices."

I looked over at her and smiled, relieved that she said that. I looked into her eyes and I swear she looked at me like she knew what was going on, like I didn't even have to tell her because she already knows.

"I mean, as bad as it sound, I don't really mind. I guess over the years I've kind of gotten use to him being like this towards me." He told her, taking a sip of water.

"Well stay here as long as you need. We've got plenty of room and food for you here." Matt told him, smiling as he nodded his head towards Theo.

I could see how thankful Theo was and how appreciative he was to have people care for him like this. He's never had this, so it's obviously going to be a big difference for him and might even take a couple days to get use to it. My parents aren't working at all for the rest of the week, so that's going to be hard to deal with. School finishes in three days and everyone's going away for Christmas, so that also means my parents are home a lot more.

I honestly love it when they're home, but now Theo's here, I want them to be anywhere but home. Not because I don't love them or miss them, but because I want to spend time with him. Just me and him. Alone in the house without having to worry about my parents walking in on us making out or having them worry about us sleeping in the same bed. Just back to what it was like when he first stayed here.

"How'd you go with settling into school? Was it hard or did you sort of find your place pretty quickly?" My mum asked him, giving him a look almost like he was a broken little boy.

"I mean, my first day a little bit hard. I had lacrosse practice and that didn't go so well, I met Hayden though and she helped me around, she actually introduced me to Liam." He laughed, pointing to me.

"Hayden as in your girlfriend Hayden?" Matt asked me, raising his eyebrows.

"Ex girlfriend. We broke up." I quickly responded, looking down at my food.

I could feel the hole in my stomach open back up again, knowing that something was going to go wrong tonight. I think Theo's figured out that I haven't told them yet, but than again he does only think I told my mom. I looked over at him, watching as he smiled at me. I grabbed his hand under the table, making sure it didn't look to obvious with what I was doing.

"Forgot about that." Matt softly spoke, shaking his head. "So she obviously helped you with settling in then I'm guessing."

"Yeah, she was really good. She introduced me to everyone she knew, some she didn't know, invited me places and to go to parties. Really made me feel like I actually belonged somewhere," he explained to them, gripping my hand tighter.

I could tell he was starting to feel slightly uncomfortable, but he was doing a great job at hiding it. From what I could tell, my parents couldn't pick up on it. Only me and that's because I know him to well. I know that when he's uncomfortable he'll start to push his food away and his eyes will flicker from person to another. I've picked up on that and noticed only in uncomfortable situations he does it.

"Theo, if you don't mind me asking," my mom softly spoke, softening her expression. "Do you currently have a boyfriend?"

As the question left her mouth, I quickly let go of Theo's hand, panic filling up inside me. He looked down at our hands and then up to me, looking back over to my mom with a hurt expression. He bit his bottom lip and slightly shook his head, smiling at her.

"No I don't." He lied to her, clearing his throat as he said it.

I looked over at him and noticed how hurt he was. It's my fault he feels that way.