Page 50 of Cruel King
Theo taps the top of my hand as it rests on the table, bringing me out of my thoughts. “Hey. Where did you go there for a minute?”
I shake my head and force a smile as the last tendril of memory from those snowy days recedes into the back of my mind. “Sorry. I was thinking about another time here with my parents,” I lie.
He nods solemnly like he always has when any mention of my mother comes up. The two of us have both lost our mothers, so we have that in common on top of everything else we share.
“For a second there, I thought it was because I said something about sex.”
Again, my cheeks heat up with a blush I’m sure is making him think I’m embarrassed. I’m not, so I don’t understand why this keeps happening. This is Theo King, the person I’ve been friends with for so long I can’t remember a time when he wasn’t in my life. Even gone for the past five years traveling around the world racing cars, he and I have kept in touch through texts and calls, so it’s not like he’s never said anything about sex before. I mean, he’s told me about many of the women he’s dated all the way back to when we were teenagers.
I wave away his concern and take a drink of water. Maybe that will stop my face from getting red over and over again during this meal.
“We’ve known each other forever, Theo. You can say anything you want to me. It’s all fair game between us, right? We’ve never held anything back when it comes to anything.”
He nods and a slow smile lights up his face. “Good. That’s the way I was hoping things would continue to be. I mean, I know we’ve only texted for the most part, except for a few calls here and there in the past few years, but you’re still my Ava and I’m still the same Theo for you, right?”
“Always.”
I can’t help but notice that when he smiles he reminds me so much of how his brother looked those days we spent together. I liked seeing Matthias that happy. He’s never been as carefree as Theo, but seeing him truly enjoy himself made me realize how beautiful he was.
A waiter stops at the table and hands us the menu in enormous black leather books. When he walks away, I stand mine up in front of me and peer over the top at Theo.
“I’ve always thought it’s strange that the print is so little in these menus since they’re pretty much made for giants,” I say, giggling.
He stands his up in front of him and smiles over the top of it. “I know. God help anyone who doesn’t have perfect vision. Between the dim lights and the tiny print in the menu, you’d think you’re ordering a steak and you’d get clams in red sauce instead.”
I cringe at the thought of that mistake. “That would definitely ruin my meal.”
The two of us fall into silence as the room fills up around us with other diners and we look over the menu. I know I want to get the filet since it’s been my favorite since I was fifteen. Something about the way they season it makes it the best steak I’ve ever tasted.
Since I don’t have to decide on what I plan to order, my mind drifts back to the house. It’s like old times with everyone back at home, and I guess that the way Matthias acted toward me is also just like it used to be. I need to stop thinking he changed for a long time and the way he behaved today was some aberration.
The truth is those two sweet days that December were the aberration. Not even an entire week. Just a few hours, if I’m being honest.
Once the waiter takes our order, Theo and I talk about how we and Marius used to play every day, rain or shine, snow or searing heat, and before long the two of us are laughing about old times. I can always rely on Theo to make me laugh. No matter how bad my day ever was, all it took was a few minutes with him to make me happy.
“Tell me about racing,” I say as the waiter brings me my glass of red wine and him his glass of scotch neat. “I want to hear all about it.”
He sighs and shakes his head. “I don’t want to think about that now. Tonight, I’m with my favorite person in the entire world back home where nothing else matters.”
I study his expression for a moment and find something dimmed in him. Could it be he’s not happy racing cars all around the world? He always sounds like he’s having the time of his life whenever he texts me to say hi and ask how things are back here. I thought he’d love telling me all about his exciting times.
“Okay.”
Once more, we settle into silence, but this time there are no menus to hide my discomfort. The elephant in the room is we wouldn’t be even on the same continent if it wasn’t for his father dying. I’ve spent the last few months taking care of him, so I’m happy to tell Theo anything he wants to know, but all day he hasn’t asked a single question about it.
Finally, I say, “I’m sorry about your father, Theo. I want you to know I’ve been doing all I can to make his final days as comfortable as possible. I’m not a full-fledged nurse yet, but I’ve done what I could, even if it was just sitting with him and listening to stories he’s told me.”
Theo nods, but I see no real sadness or remorse in his face. “Thank you. I’m glad he’s had someone so kind with him these past months. I’m sure I speak for all my brothers when I say it’s greatly appreciated.”
I shrug as I say, “I’m just happy I could be there for him. He’s always been very kind to me and my family.”
“He always did think the world of you. He considers you the daughter he never had.”
“That’s what my father always says. Your father has always been so thoughtful too. The diamond tennis bracelet he gave me when I graduated is something I’ll cherish forever, and every year for my birthday and Christmas, he always makes sure to give me something wonderful. That’s why when he got sick, I figured it was the least I could do after all the things he’s done to show me how much he thinks of me.”
Theo sighs again and leans back against the leather chair. “You had two great father figures then. That’s pretty good. I can tell you your father has done an incredible job running the estate. The place would have fallen apart if it wasn’t for him.”
As much as I’m sure my father has been helpful, I know Theo is being too kind now. “That’s sweet of you to say, but I’m sure your father managed most things. He was always a very hands-on kind of businessman.”