He manages a half-smile. “I’m happy to have a co-pilot, especially for the drive back on Sunday, because I’m going to be exhausted. In fact, I’m going to talk to the scheduling managertonight about cutting back some of my hours before it starts affecting my grades.”
“Good, you should,” I reply. “Are you seeing Caleb at all, or will you even have time?”
Theo’s smile fades. “I hope so. Depending on how I’m feeling tomorrow night, I’m supposed to spend the night at his place.”
“Hell yeah! Getting laid should help with the stress, right?”
Theo barks a nervous laugh, then risks making brief eye contact with me before turning his attention back to the road. His cheeks darken, and he grins. “I mean, it definitely doesn’t hurt.”
“Good! Please send Caleb my love. Not during the sex part, preferably. I mean, unless that does it for y’all.”
“Jesus, Oliver,” Theo chides, his face bright red now. “You know, for someone who doesn’t have sex, you joke about sex more than anyone I know.”
I open my mouth to make another joke, but I come up empty. The two of us stay quiet, leaving only Theo’s soft indie music to fill the silence.
I let my head fall back against the headrest. I can’t believe I still haven’t told Theo I’m ace. There’s literally no point in keeping it secret. In fact, I think it’ll help keep serious conversations to a minimum once he knows I’m not interested in romantic or sexual pursuits. It’s a win-win for both of us.
“I’m sorry,” Theo blurts abruptly. “That’s really none of my business.”
“Actually, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something,” I say with a sigh. “And honestly, while you’re driving is probably the best time because you can’t stare at me while I try to put my thoughts together.”
Theo straightens in his seat, keeping his eyes straight ahead. “Okay, what’s up?”
“So, you remember that first EQA meeting we went to during the first week of school?”
Theo nods.
“Well, I met this girl named Quinn that night, we exchanged numbers and started talking. It turns out we had a lot more in common than I ever could have imagined.”
“Huh,” Theo says. “I’m not sure if I remember her.”
“Are you familiar with ‘asexuality’?”
Theo’s brow furrows. “Like, the lack of sexuality? Or like, asexual reproduction?”
I snort. “I mean, like the orientation. Like, there’s gay, straight, bisexual or pansexual, and then there’s asexual.”
“Okay.”
“Well, I’m that last one. Kind of the opposite of bisexual, I guess. I’m not really attracted to any gender. At least, not in the way most people are.”
Theo’s expression twists with confusion. “Wait, so you didn’t hook up with Quinn?”
I scrunch my nose. “No, dude. I haven’t hooked up with anyone. And I don’t particularly want to, because I’m asexual.”
“Oh,” he says pensively. “Huh.”
I watch him curiously, waiting for more of a reaction, but he remains deep in thought. “So, yeah, I just wanted you to know.”
After a few moments, Theo’s brows knit together again, and he inhales sharply. “So, wait, what’s the deal with you and Jude, then?”
Now it’s my turn to be confused. “What do you mean?”
Theo scoffs. “There’s definitely something going on between you two,” he insists. “Y’all flirt like crazy, and you’re constantly texting or hanging out.”
I shake my head. “We’re not flirting. We’re just really good friends! Like, I think they’re my Harrison.”
Just when I think Theo’s face can’t show any more confusion, it somehow twists even further into bewilderment. “Huh?”
