Page 36 of Talk to Me

At the sound of my voice and Arthur’s name, Theo’s head snapped around to take in the man waiting in the chair. Their eyes met, and I could immediately tell they were suspicious of each other.

“I’m well,” Arthur said formally. “How are you, Josh?”

Laughing, I walked over and held out the Twix to him.

“Switching it up a bit,” I said about the candy bar. “So you don’t get bored.”

Arthur eyed Theo a moment longer, then looked down at the candy bar in his hands, his face brightening.

“My second favorite,” he said. “Thank you.”

Nodding, I walked over to his bed and sat down gently. Theo stood in his spot a few yards away from Arthur in the middle of the room, not knowing what to do. Arthur stared back for a moment before turning his head to me.

“You brought the Peepers celebrity with you?” he asked.

Chuckling, I nodded. “Yeah. Theo was being nosy about my life, so I figured he could come along. I hope you don’t mind?”

Arthur glanced over at Theo, who was looking somewhat uncomfortable and awkward.

“I suppose not,” Arthur said finally, laying the candy bar in his lap before placing his hands on the arms of his chair to relax. “But tell him to sit down. He’s making me nervous.”

I laughed.

“Hey,” I motioned at Theo, “come sit down.”

Theo, smiling and rosy-cheeked, shuffled over and sat down gingerly on the bed next to me.

“You better have good hygiene, young man,” Arthur said, eyeing Theo warily, his nose slightly high. “Outside clothes don’t belong on the bed.”

“Oh, good lord, Arthur.” I groaned and stood from the bed.

Theo stood quickly as well, unsure of what to do. As Arthur stared Theo down and Theo stood rigidly at the bed, shuffling his feet as he stared down at them, I went into Arthur’s ensuite bathroom. I found a large towel in the linen closet and stomped back into the main room. Unfolding the towel and flapping it like a flag, I ceremoniously laid it across the bed, then nudged Theo to sit down. He obeyed and I plopped down beside him.

“Don’t be an ass, Arthur,” I said.

“I’m not being an ass,” Arthur replied. “I just don’t like strange ass on my bed.”

“Since they stopped refilling your Viagra?” I quipped.

Arthur’s head fell back and he cackled as I grinned at him. Theo was suddenly attending a tennis match, his gaze drifting back and forth between Arthur and me. I waited for Arthur to settle down, but gave Theo a reassuring look.

“Now, if you don’t stop being mean, I’m going to take your candy back,” I said.

Arthur clutched the Twix to his chest.

“You wouldn’t!” he squealed.

“I wouldst!” I declared.

“You shant!”

“I shall!”

Arthur ripped the package open and immediately popped one of the bars up like a cigarette in a pack and bit a piece off.

“I’ve already had my mouth on it,” he said. “It’s mine.”

“By that logic, half the men in the tristate area belong to you,” I said, rolling my eyes.