Chapter Thirty-Eight

❝His heart does not have a fallback.

It's her or no one else.❞

El's revelation bothered Theo more than he let on.

     Not because of her choice — that was entirely hers to make — but because of how college inevitably meant plans for the long haul. Because of how it introduced problems of his own.

     When he decided to go with Zach out of the blue, it was to figure out where he stood in life. To find out who he really was. To try to forgive himself. Now that most of that was accomplished, what was left to do now? Logically, there was nothing left in this little town that he needed.

     Nothing except for one.

    "Hey," Zach smacked the side of his head, no remorse. "I thought brooding season for Theodore Samuels was over. What's up?"

     He sighed. "What are your plans for the future, Zach?"

     The blond blinked, not expecting this question at all. "Short-term? To win this damn championships," he shrugged. "It's the only thing that gives me so much drive. Long-term? There's endless possibilities. Move back to San Diego. Apply for advanced competitions and see where that leads me. Or maybe I'll get a scholarship. Who knows?"

    "That's all easy for you to say," he muttered, "because there's nothing tying you down, man, not really."

    "Not true." Zach pointed a finger at his face. "Everyone has things tying them down, Theo. Some harder than others. But no one has an easy choice." He slouched back on the couch, staring at the ceiling. 

    "No one ever does."

***

     This was the first time he felt nervous as he visited El's house despite having been there so many times before.

    "So good to see you, Theo, my boy!" El's grandmother pulled him down into a tight hug, and he almost lost his balance. 

    "Grandma!" El let out. "He can't breathe!"

    "Oh." The old woman immediately let him go, and he released the awkward breath that he was holding, rubbing his neck awkwardly. "Sorry, dear."

    "No problem," he croaked.

     Meanwhile, El's grandfather merely gave him a formal shake of the hand, giving him a sheepish look.

     The dinner that ensued later were beyond his expectations. Roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, casseroles and a side dish of asparagus was served all around the table, the delicious scent wafting off of Theo's nose that he considered grabbing one whole plate of them altogether. But one thing he hadn't anticipated was the drink El randomly placed right in front of him.

     Theo stared at the blue drink for a while. "How did you know I liked Blue Lagoon?" It was a mocktail this time, but still.

     El wiggled her eyebrows as she sat down. "You think I didn't see you that time you were hiding below the counter? When you were still avoiding me and Jeff was nice enough to cover for you?"

     His ears turned pink. He did remember that; but that was such a long time ago. He couldn't believe she remembered.

    "If you knew," he said slowly, shaking his head in disbelief, "why didn't you confront me then?" It'd save her days of Theo treating her like shit.

     She only shrugged. "Wanted you to come to me naturally."

     Theo let out a single laugh and rubbed his mouth, almost in awe of her. He pulled El's head close and kissed the side of her temple. 

     During that evening, he was surprised to find out so many intimate things about the McKinney family. How they've been living here for almost fifty years; how El and her parents had never left their little town before. Her grandparents even talked about how they had retired working and spent most of their time going to church, admitting that El herself sometimes tagged along just for the sake of it. 

     Theo couldn't believe that her grandparents were as accepting to their granddaughter's religious — or lack thereof — belief. It was a level of love and support he hadn't been familiar with.

     He could get used to this.

    "Do you have to sit and listen to her ramble about the stars then, too?" he teased at one point, taking a bite of his mashed potatoes.

    "Theo!" El's cheeks reddened.

     Her grandparents were amused. "Everyday," the grandfather replied with a chuckle. "That's why I pretend to fall asleep later on."

     El gasped. "Grandpa!"

     The table shook with warm-hearted laughter, and so did the inside of his chest. "And sometimes I think she treats us like we're customers, too," the grandmother added with a wink. "You can take her out of the shack, but not the shack out of her."

     It was becoming an Embarrass Eleanor fest too soon. Theo's stomach hurt and he had to wipe a real tear from his eye as he looked over to her, face white like she wanted to crawl into a hole. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pecked her cheek.

    "How is Anchor's, by the way?" El's grandfather's eyes brightened. "It feels like it's been here longer than we have!"

    "It's going well," she smiled.

     He stared at her nonchalance for a while before rolling his eyes. "Don't believe a word she says. She's being modest. They're getting better business everyday, and it's all because of her."

     Her grandmother chuckled. "Got that charm from your parents."

     El's laugh was quiet, and she silently reached over the table to her grandmother's hand. The latter squeezed it back.

    "I'll bet this young man here is making sure our Ellie doesn't work too hard?" her grandfather cocked his head, the tone almost questioning. 

     He felt a slight pressure, almost, as he took in his expression. As he remembered the conversation he had with Zach. Theo opened his mouth to respond, but El's grandmother was faster. 

    "I think she's in good hands, Gerald."

     El turned to him, her lips lifting up into a cheeky smile. "She is."

***

     Theo decided to stay in the kitchen to help El's grandmother wash the dishes while El and her grandmother retired to the living room, something about doing crossword puzzles. "No, that's the wrong word, grandpa!" he heard her say.

    "I'm glad she has you," El's grandmother said out of the blue, passing a dirty plate on the dishwasher.

     He shook his head. "You're wrong," he answered quietly. "I'm lucky to have her."

    "You're lucky to have each other." Her grandmother turned to him. "Ellie's always had her head in the clouds. It's nice now that she has someone to pull her back to the ground sometimes. Someone who... takes care of her," she added, "and not just someone she takes care of."

     He didn't even need to ask. That was what El's relationship with Travis had been, and hell, even her own grandmother noticed it. 

    "She's stronger than she looks," his mouth twitched.

    "And so are you." El's grandmother shocked him even more when she kissed him both on the cheeks, smiling at him like he was a proud son. Like she knew what he'd been through to be here right now.

     The underlying pressure built even more on his chest, even though he didn't know what it was.

     Her grandmother joined the rest in the living room, and Theo was following her footsteps when his phone suddenly rang. The name on his screen made him frown.

     It was his parents.

    "Theo!" His mom's voice on the other side sweet and nurturing. "Honey, how are you?"

    "Hey, Mom," he said quite hesitantly, fitting his hand in one of his pockets as he leaned against the doorway. "I'm doing good. And you? Everyone else?"

    "Splendid. Everyone's splendid." Pause. "I have some news for you, honey. Well, your father and I."

     His muscles tensed. What could it be? He was so used to hearing bad news that he didn't even realise his mother's tone was more excited than usual. 

    "We found your old sketchbooks," she started, and his stomach filled with dread, already knowing where this was going. "I know it was meant to be private, but we were cleaning your room and they were just lying there. Your father and I... we sent them to a few art schools," she explained. "A few really good art schools. And guess what, honey?"

    "I got accepted," Theo finished, almost detached.

    "Yes!" She was ecstatic, completely the opposite. "The best part is that there's one right here in San Diego! This is your chance! What do you think, dear? Will you go?"

     He clenched his phone, the tightness in his chest expanding.  "That's a lot to ask for, Mom," he said slowly. 

    "I know, I know," she sighed. A little rustle on the other side, like she was moving some furniture. "Your father and I just want you to make the right decision. That's all. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, Theo. They offer some impressive programs..."

     He didn't say anything else; he literally couldn't. He let his mom ramble about the details while his focus redirected somewhere else.

     His eyes trailed back to the living room through the open door. El's grandfather must've said something funny, because the two women were now laughing hysterically. El had her head thrown back, so much love and light in her eyes.

     She looked like the rest of his life.

     And suddenly the choice in his head was already made long before he spoke the words out loud.

A/N:

Any guesses to what Theo's decision may be?