When I catch up with the rest of the group in the kitchen, the conversation is a welcome break from my thoughts. The burger competition is tonight, and I find myself more excited than I expected. Although I credit that excitement to the prospect of tasting Leo’s supposed “life-changing” burgers. Also, maybe because Theo and Iare on the same team, we have a plan to give Leo a run for his money.
Beth opted out of this one but said she would help Theo and me pick out ingredients. Hence why all of us, except Roman, are currently in the kitchen deciding whose car we will take to the grocery store.
“Six people and we all drive Mustangs. Not something we really thought through here,” Alex says to the group.
“So let’s just take two cars then,” Leo says as though the solution is obvious. Which, to be fair, it is, but then it poses another question.
“Who rides with who, then?” Theo asks from beside me, his hand wrapping around my waist again. I’ve learned it's his favorite spot to rest his arm.
“Well, you two should ride together, obviously.” Alex motions toward Theo and me.
“Beth can ride with us, then,” I add.
“And leave me with Mr. Grumpy? No thanks,” Alex responds.
Leo rolls his eyes. “He’s not that bad.”
“Maybe not to you. But the drive to the grocery store is too long to be stuck in a two-door car with him. Theo, you take him, and we’ll take Beth.” Alex nods in Theo’s direction.
“Not a chance if we’re driving your car,” she says to Alex with a scoff.
Roman finally joins us in the kitchen, having come from upstairs. He looks at all of us gathered around the kitchen island, his brows furrowed together.
“You ready?” he says to the group.
“Yeah, just trying to figure out the car situation,” Leo says to Roman.
“It’s a ‘situation’?” He looks at his brother confused, and Leo grimaces as he shrugs. Roman pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs.
“Okay,” Roman begins. “Theo, Sienna, you’re with me.” He points at Alex, Beth, and Leo. “The three of you can ride together.”
Roman’s confident tone leaves no room for debate. As we head toward the door, Beth stops me with a look. Staring at me with wide eyes, she mouths the words “kill me” before reluctantly taking off after Alex and Leo. I look after her with the best “I’m sorry” face I can muster, but I don’t think it does much to set her at ease.
As everyone files out of the front door, I can’t help but notice something peculiar that all the men do as they exit. I must have the question written all over my face because Theo leans down and speaks softly, just loud enough for only us to hear.
“You think it’s weird, don’t you?”
Looking up at him, I’m even more confused now. “Weird? No. Not at all. Just curious is all. She’s a gorgeous woman, but I’m not sure…?” I’m not even sure how to finish the sentence. As each of the men exits the front door, they kiss the tips of their fingers and touch the picture frame. The photo is of a beautiful woman with wavy brown hair that falls to her shoulders and a smile that reminds me of Theo’s. Taking a second look at the photo, I don’t need Theo’s explanation to know exactly who the woman is.
“That’s my mom. We never fail to say goodbye to herevery time we leave the house. It started when we were younger, and the habit just grew with us as we got older. I can’t imagine leaving now without doing it. Strange, I know.” He shrugs one shoulder as though he’s embarrassed by the habit.
Shaking my head, I turn to Theo in hopes of reassuring him. “Of course. I should have known. I’m so sorry. I don’t think it’s weird or strange at all. I think it’s very sweet. My dumb summer brain just didn’t put two and two together.” That earns me a smile as he stands next to the photo of his mom. It’s nice to see where he got his smile from.
“She was a beautiful woman,” I say, looking back at the photo.
“Yeah, she was.” I catch Theo smiling somberly at the photo of his mother before he kisses his fingertips, touches the frame, then exits through the front door.
I follow him, but not before lifting a timid hand, gesturing a small wave toward the photo. My own little “goodbye,” mimicking theirs.
Theo and I laugh at Beth as she sits in the passenger seat of Alex’s car. Alex and Leo made a show of getting her in the passenger seat as she was all but kicking and screaming. Not really; she’s just occasionally dramatic, and they seem to get a kick out of messing with her. Knowing Beth, she hates that she loves every second of it.
As the Mustang takes off, she bangs her fists against the window, releasing a fake sob as the car whines uponacceleration. She may say she isn’t having fun, but I know Beth, and she only gets this dramatic when she feels comfortable. So at the very least, she feels comfortable around these men, which says a lot more than you’d think, given her past.
It brings me some semblance of comfort knowing she’s at least found a friend in Leo, and they’ve been able to get along during our time here. Especially while Theo and I…do whatever it is we’re doing. Beth says we’re “having fun,” so I’m just going with that terminology for now. Although sometimes it feels like more than just “fun” between us.
Roman’s Mustang is the newest of all the cars. Theo says it’s a GT500, whatever that means. It’s all blacked out, and I’m just thankful his car has working air-conditioning. There’s an uncomfortable silence after we file into the sports car. Especially considering Theo insisted I sit in the front.
“What kind of gentleman would I be if I didn’t take the back seat?” he asked.
