Page 24 of Septembers

She didn’t hesitate. “He has kind eyes.”

Excellent reason.

Someone else grabbed her attention, and Theo took out his phone to find texts from Jordan.

#1 Client Extraordinaire

Don’t be mad.

Becks came over.

Jordan

I know!

If you know why do u keep doing it

Bc I’m weak And she’s wearing the purple dress

You know the one

Are u mad?

no

Are you going to say something like don’t come crying to me when she gets back with her manipulative ex boyfriend?

Always come crying to me babe

Maybe I won’t have to

maybe

He tried not to be annoyed, but annoyance generally didn’t stand for being ignored. He’d been so happy for Jordan when she finally confessed to Becks last year, but it was followed by a string of on-and-off-again drama, and he hated seeing her go through that. He took another shot, this time without the Jello, and wandered around the sweaty house, chatting with drunk strangers.

When he found his boys again, they were huddled around an open window attempting to harness the faint evening breeze.

Dae shook his head. “There’s just nothing to tell.”

It was the loudest Theo had ever heard him speak, yet it was still a strain to catch the words over the music.

Theo nuzzled his way in and put his arm around Dae, giving their friends all the details they wanted (perhaps with some hyperbole regarding his role in the matter) and they all agreed to make it the best group thing in the history of group things.

Dae leaned in, his voice low and his mouth close to Theo’s ear. “Thanks for that, by the way. A group thing is a good idea.”

“I know! It was mine!”

He inched closer, his breath tickling Theo’s skin, causing a full-body shiver. “You promised you wouldn’t babysit me.”

“Maybe you’re babysitting me.”

Turning to face him was a terrible idea, but now that he had, Theo couldn’t look away. This close, he could see Dae’s pupils taking over his irises. Could see the exact shape of the freckle beneath his eye. Could see the single bead of sweat slowly trailing down his temple.

Dae smelled like beer, hair products, and that particular Dae-ness. Theo wanted to figure it out, wanted to lean into his neck and suck in his scent to catalogue it in his soul, so he could find him anywhere, anytime, even in the dark.

Dae’s eyes were still on him, dipping lower⁠—

“Theo, isn’t that Torrid Love Affair?”