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Theo didn’t say anything to that. He hooked the phone from its base, keyed in a number, and held the receiver to his ear.
Auggie cocked an eyebrow.
“I don’t want to hear about this later,” Theo said. “So, either you promise, or you leave the room.”
“Oh my God.”
“I’m serious, Auggie. This is never to be mentioned again.”
“Ok, now I’m curious.”
“Promise—”
On the other end of the call, a woman’s voice said, “Registrar.”
“Hey, Denise.” Theo couldn’t help it; his voice slid up a little, warmed, softened. “How’s it going?”
“Oh my God, Theo. The first week, am I right?” She laughed. “We’ve just got to make it to Friday.”
Auggie strolled over to the phone. Theo shook his head, but Auggie gave him wide-eyed innocence and, like a little shit, reached over and punched the button for speakerphone.
“Please tell me you’re coming out with the Mamas,” Denise said—now on speakerphone. “You’ve got to. We’re not taking no for an answer.”
“Denise, one sec,” Theo tried.
“Hey Denise,” Auggie said. “Auggie here—Theo’s partner.”
“Oh my God, Auggie!!!!” Theo could practically see extra exclamation points in the air.
“I’m just going to take this off speakerphone,” Theo said.
But Auggie grabbed his hand before he could reach the button. “You’ve got to tell me who the Mamas are.”
“The Margarita Mommies! We go to Charo’s every Friday—you’ve got to come, Auggie, they’ve got the best margarita! They call it Mommy’s Little Helper, and oh my God, Theo can drink two of them!”
Theo looked into the eyes of the man he loved most in the world and mouthed,No.
Auggie, of course, looked like he was about to die from pent-up laughter. “Oh, yeah, I’d love to come.”
No,Theo mouthed again.
“You couldn’t keep me away.”
Denise was squealing with excitement. Auggie tapped a button to mute their microphone while Denise babbled details about the next meetup of the Margarita Mamas, and then he said, “Is this the mandatory staff meeting you have once a month after school?”
“Auggie!”
“Fine, I’ll ask Denise.”
“No!” Theo took a breath. “It’s not the staff meetings. I wouldn’t lie to you. And I’ve only gone a couple of times because you have to be social in a school or you get a reputation. These people hold grudges!”
Auggie seemed to consider this. Then understanding clicked in his face. “Oh my God.”
“No.”
“Oh my God!”
“It’s not what you think—”
