Page 86 of The Fast Lane

I opened my mouth to correct him, but Theo nodded. “Yeah, we are.”

“We are?” I whispered.

With another squeeze of his hand, Theo turned his head just enough that I could see something like panic in his eyes.

“You know, I’ll take that water,” I said.

“Oh, yeah, sure.” Travis left for the kitchen in a hurry like he’d been desperate for any excuse. I didn’t blame him. This was all so…unexpected.

“Are you okay?” I asked, keeping an eye on the doorway Travis had gone through.

Theo stood abruptly. He pulled his hat off and ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t know.”

“He seems like a nice kid.”

“Yeah.” Theo wandered over to a row of photos sitting on a sofa table.

He picked one up and scrutinized it for so long, I got up to see what he was looking at. The photo showed Travis around age ten or eleven, a wide, toothy grin. The woman next to him was tall and dark-haired, an arm wrapped around him, showcasing the same grin. The man had his arm around the woman. With his blond curly hair, wide shoulders, and bluer than blue eyes, his resemblance to Theo was almost spooky.

Theo set the photo down and shoved his hands in his pockets without saying a word.

“We can leave any time you want, you know. Whatever you want to do.”

He opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by Travis. He handed us both a glass of ice water and we wandered back to the couches. Theo sat even closer this time, his thigh brushing mine.

“Do you know how much longer your dad will be?” Theo asked.

Travis twisted his hands. “I, ah, called him and told him about…that you were, you know, here. He said he was on his way. It’s about a thirty-minute drive. My mom had a book club thing tonight. She won’t be back until later.”

In a move that would have made a synchronized swim team jealous, we all picked up our glasses and took a drink at the same time.

Abruptly, Theo stood. “I guess we’ll be going.”

But at that same moment, Travis blurted out, “Do you think…are we brothers?”

Theo sank back to the couch. He rested his elbows on his knees, his hands dangling between his legs. “Yeah, I think so.”

“I didn’t know you existed,” Travis whispered, his face pale.

“That’s funny. I didn’t know you existed either.”

The two stared at each other, this time, with open curiosity.

“When was the last time you saw him?”

“He left before I was two. I don’t have any memories of him.” After a moment, Theo straightened. “Is he a good dad?”

Travis nodded. “He’s the best.”

I bit my tongue. Sure, people can change but how do you forget an entire child? How?

“That’s good.” Theo rubbed his palms on his thighs. “I think I’m going to leave.”

“A-are you sure? He said he was leaving as soon as he got off the phone with me.”

“Yeah, I think I am sure. For now. I’m glad you get to have a dad, Travis. He’s not really my father. He’s just a guy I’m related to.”

After a moment, Travis nodded. He seemed a little disappointed, like he wanted to say something else. “Yeah, okay.”