“Damn straight.” Then, after a deep breath, “How is she?”
“Good,” he answered simply.
“That’s it?”
“Do you want a full medical and psychological report?” he asked, words dripping with sarcasm.
“Don’t be a dick.”
Theo chuckled. “Man, you’ve got it bad.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Bullshit.”
“You know what? Forget I asked.”
“Vivian’s good,” Theo said quickly. “She was feeling a bit ill this morning, but—”
“Ill? What’s wrong? Do we need to send the on-call doctor?”
“No, nothing like that. Dinner just didn’t sit well with her, that’s all. I love my wife very much, but sometimes her cooking can be a bit…” Theo made a sound, indicating his uncertainty. “Ava gave her a Tums. She’s much better.”
“Good, good.”
“What’s going on between you two?”
I stiffened. “Nothing.”
“How long have we known each other?”
“Too fucking long.”
“So you should know by now that I know when you’re lying.”
I smacked my lips, relenting. He was right. Theo was one of the few people in the whole world who could read me.
“I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing, Theo.”
“That’s a first.”
“It just… It happened so fast. I didn’t mean for it to, but…”
“Have you told her how you feel?”
“What’s the point? We can’t be together.”
“Why the fuck not?”
“Well, for one, she’s young. Really young. I don’t think she wants to settle down with someone my age.”
Theo outright laughed. “You’re so stupid.”
“Shut the fuck up. I’m being serious, man. She deserves to be with someone who isn’t going to weigh her down.”
“Jesse, I think I’m uniquely qualified to tell you not to worry about it. Trust me. The sooner you tell her how you feel, the better.”
“Believe me, I would if things weren’t so complicated.”