40

"Brenda!" Theo yells, jetting across the room and wrapping the older woman in a giant hug. "I'm going to miss you so much."

"I can't believe you're moving away from me." She gives me a tender smile over her shoulder. "You take care of him, do you hear?"

Before I can even open my mouth, Theo releases her and jets around with a sudden rush of energy, bouncing between the walls like a pinball. "Take care of me? Did you see the video of me fighting that crotch sniffer?"

He chops his arm in a move that I'm assuming is supposed to be some messed up version of karate. Honestly, it's hard to tell. "I take care of myself, bitches," he announces, still tomahawking around the room.

It kind of looks like he's having a seizure, but we'll let him have nice things today.

"Yes, dear," she says with a grandmotherly pat to his shoulder. "You showed me the last time you came in to visit."

"But did I show you the remix… in slow mo? " Brenda is the face of patience as he pulls out his phone. Someone turned the clip of his fight with Jesse into a ridiculous music video, and for the millionth time, I listen to the auto-tune singing Theo's words.

Stop now and walk the fuck away… walk the fuck away… walk the fuck away while you still can.

The last word is stretched out, its pitch fluctuating up and down erratically, creating a goofy, distorted effect in the metallic timbre of the voice. A chuckle sneaks out of me that I don't have the chance to hide as Theo looks up at me with wide, delighted eyes. I try to cover it up with a cough, but he's caught me.

Damn it, I'm going to have to hear it another million times because I laughed.

He spends a few more minutes recounting the fight with her, complete with live reenactments. All I can do is shake my head and watch as he theatrically throws himself onto the lobby floor, flailing wildly and mimicking Jesse's cries after he punched him. They have been exaggerated into a series of high-pitched, anguished wails, begging for forgiveness and pleading for his life.

We must be remembering everything differently.

But, like I said. Nice things. We're letting him have nice things.

Three weeks have passed since Jesse's arrest, and because Theo had the video confirming the other evidence we provided, the bail was set at an outrageous amount Jesse couldn't possibly manage. Until a hearing date is determined, he'll be behind bars.

Both Theo and I will be called to testify, along with Tai, who saw the immediate aftermath of the incident at the party. It's nerve-wracking, but necessary to make sure he gets what he deserves.

Who knows how much publicity the trial will bring to the band, with the media frenzy, speculation, and constant attention. Just when things have finally calmed down, another whirlwind is about to hit us. It's premature to worry, though, so I don't.

This is me—turning a new leaf and learning to let go.

When Theo tells Brenda goodbye and walks over to me, he's filthy. I sigh and swat at the dust on his jeans from rolling around on the ground. "How did you ever manage on your own?" I mutter.

"If you wanted to cop a feel, you only had to ask," he says, no shame as he sticks his ass out and wiggles it at me. With a roll of my eyes, I give him a light smack, which I regret in an instant, because he shouts in a very sexual way, "Oh, yeah, right there!"

Curious eyes turn our direction as my cheeks flame. I scrape my palms down my face as I shake my head. "When will I learn? Seriously, I'm asking. Why do I do it? I'm a smart man, and yet, over and over again, I end up in these positions with you."

He laughs and throws his arms around my neck. "What kind of position do you find yourself in with me? Are we talking… sexy positions? Sweet positions?" He leans in close, his voice becoming a forceful whisper that's even louder than if he just spoke normally. " Straaaange positions?"

"No," I say, putting my palm against his face and pushing him away, turning to take off in the opposite direction.

"Dante!" The faster he chases me, the faster I move.

"Brenda!" I shout. "I changed my mind. You can keep him!"

"My love! My soulmate! Come back to me!" he cries as we power walk in circles around this lobby.

Brenda's face is full of unfiltered amusement as she watches us, while I maintain a serious expression. "He needs to be fed at least five times a day, which I understand may sound excessive for a skinny thing like him, but trust me on that. I'll keep you stocked with food. If he gets grumpy, just throw a coffee at him. Oh, and he's house trained… hasn't even peed on the carpet in three weeks."

He absolutely shouts as he responds, "It was only once, and you asked for it! Don't blame me because you love golden showe—" His words come to a stop as I plaster my hand over his mouth.

"I know better," I mutter to myself. "I really, really know better." When I release him, I'm wary, but he flashes me that charming smile that instantly wipes away the fact that he was being an ass. "You're rotten."

"Yep." He pushes onto his toes and plants a sweet kiss on my lips. "But you love me."

"Eh," I say, with a one-armed shrug, and his eyes get round like a kid on the verge of a tantrum. "Bye, Brenda!" I shout as I throw him over my shoulder, running outside as his head bounces against my back. I don't stop until we're at the U-Haul, and I shove him in and close the door before he has a chance to cause anymore ruckus.