The very second Theo had unlocked the door, he realized that something smelled completely damn weird inside the house. It was a little strange thinking that, after heâd only lived with Liam and his parents for a couple of weeks in total, but his brain still told him that something was off, that something didnât quite fit into what âhomeâ had become for him. The key he carried still felt he wasnât supposed to have it, and as always, heâd still rung the bell before using it, hoping that Liam would be kind enough to open the door so that he wouldnât have to feel like an intruder again, but Liam saw things differently. If Liam was even the remotest bit uncomfortable with Theo living with him, he was hiding it pretty damn well, and considering how hard the red streak along his spine made it to hide his emotions, that was a highly unlikely explanation.Â
âLiam?â Theo called as he stepped inside the hallway cautiously, listening to silence for a minute before kicking off his shoes. As always, he put them away neatly, same as his jacket and his school bag. As always, he was wearing a pair of Liamâs socks, since Jenna had thrown all of his away. Well, all those that had had holes in them. So basically, all of them.Â
âHey there,â Liam smiled as he appeared at the top of the staircase, seeming a little out of breath. The red was broad and bright in his neck, a few yellow stars dancing on his cheeks, something blue was peeking out from his sleeve. âYouâre home early.âÂ
"It smells weird in here,â Theo said, scrunching up his nose.Â
âNo it doesnât,â Liam answered instantly, âthatâs just your imagination.â He came down a few stairs and Theo met him in the middle for a kiss. Just when Liam wanted to pull away, he wrapped his arms around him and pulled him back against him.Â
âWait,â Theo mumbled into his shoulder, âIâm not done with you yet, Captain. Iâve missed you. Lacrosse practice without you is kind of sad."Â
Liam laughed. "Donât worry, Sunshine,â he said, âIâll be back soon enough. Itâs about time we kick some ass together again, donât you think."Â
"Absolutely,â Theo agreed. âBut donât think this is distracting me from this strange smell in here. I think itâs even stronger upstairsâŚ"Â
Liam squealed when Theo picked him up and practicalley threw him over his shoulder to carry him up the top half of the staircase.Â
"No, Theo, no!â Liam protested weakly, smacking his ass in a way that did absolutely not make him want to stop it.Â
âI wasnât done preparing!â Liam argued, but Theo didnât let him back down until they were standing in Liamâs bedroom, the huge bed right in the middle of it instead of at the wall, the floor covered in bits of old newspapers.Â
Theo knew where the smell was coming from when his gaze dropped to the cans of paint standing on the floor. The only thing that didnât really fit into the picture was the overhead projector.Â
âIt isnât what it looks like!â Liam pointed out.Â
âReally?â Theo asked, switching on the projector, watching as a black and white version of a picture of the two of them appeared at the cleared, white wall above the bed. âBecause it looks like you were planning to get this picture of us painted to the wall above the bed we share, you cheesy little dork."Â
Liam looked at him for a moment and then shrugged. "Well, in that case, itâs actually exactly what it looks like.â
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