Page 128 of Septembers

“I have the skull for it.”

He played with the ends of her luscious copper locks. “You know I think you’d kill any style, and if you really want to go for it, I’ll be the one with the razor. However…” She blinked at him as if she couldn’t possibly fathom what he was getting at. “Maybe we should wait at least a month after the breakup.”

She pssssssh-ed as if to say, Oh, that? “This has nothing to do with Becks.” Theo didn’t know what his face did to make her hit his arm, but she used enough force to make it hurt. “Theo, seriously. I just want a change!”

“Talk with Hannah Gardiner first.”

“Han said my appearance is my own, as long as I don’t get anything offensive tattooed on my face.” Theo pulled her into his chest, rocking side to side as she flicked his arms. “You’re not going to snuggle this idea away.”

“I can try.”

“Okay fine.” She wiggled away. “I’ll wait two more weeks, but if I still want to, you have to be the one to do it.”

“Deal.”

Jordan oversaw his transformation from snuggle-slob to handsome arm candy, giving him vague advice like, make your hair more ‘got into a windstorm on my way to a business meeting’ and ‘stand like a giant is pulling a string on the top of your head.’

She left about ten minutes before Dae arrived, taking all the snacks and leftovers with her, per Theo’s insistence.

He nearly passed out from the sight of his boyfriend in a charcoal suit, no tie, his collar open, practically radiating the words, fuck me, as he rolled his suitcase behind him. Theo had never been so happy to see a suitcase.

“I’m terribly sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, but it’s against the law to be as sexy as you are right now.” Theo did up his top button, covering the hint of collarbone he’d been so graciously displaying.

“You like it?” For once, Dae seemed excited to look wildly attractive. “The stylist on set gave me some pointers.”

“They want you to go to jail?”

“Sexy jail?” He cocked his head. “Is that a thing?”

“If it’s not, it’s about to be.”

Dae undid the button again as he gathered the hand-written cards he’d made for the cast and crew. He’d always been better with words on paper.

Theo’s phone buzzed, and his dad’s face appeared on the screen. His stomach hardened the way it always did, but he still swiped to answer, like he always did. “Hey, Dad.”

“Theo, I’m so happy I caught you.” His voice was breathy and strained, which wasn’t as worrying as it would’ve been if it were his mom or aunt. His dad was always a bit frazzled about something. “We have a meeting with investors, and the marketing department wants things changed last minute. I’m in over my head here; the whole team left for the weekend, and no one’s picking up.”

“Oh, um, I’m on my way out. Dae has a party and⁠—”

“Oh man, I know that definitely sounds more fun than going over documents with your old man, but I’m really drowning over here. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important, Theo.” A high-pitched beeping noise made him swear. “A lot is riding on this one, and I can’t tell Marketing they’re asking for too much.”

Dae was watching him, the crease between his eyebrows getting deeper the longer his dad spoke.

“Can you send it to me? I can review it on the way to the party.”

“No can do. All the files are in Linda’s folder, and of course it’s password protected, so I’ll have to do it all by hand. They want me to courier the changes…” Theo zoned out as he continued, watching quiet panic creep over Dae’s face.

“How long would it take?”

Dae and his dad had opposite reactions to those words. Dae’s shoulders dropped, and he ran his hand through his hair as Theo’s dad rambled on excitedly.

“An hour. Tops. I promise. Thank you, thank you. You’re saving my life. I’ll have you on your way to the party before appetizers are served! I assume there’ll be appetizers.” He laughed hard.

“Okay.” The word wasn’t even a conscious decision; it was more of a habit, an instinct, an automatic response to his dad’s voice: say yes, help him, be better. He hung up, not bothering with the pleasantries of saying goodbye. “One hour.” He tried to keep his tone light. “His office is on the way to the bar, so it won’t take long to get there afterwards. Then I’ll charm the pants off anyone who needs their pants charmed off.”

“Sure.” Flat voice. Tense muscles.

“Will you be okay?”