Heartsville 02 - Unscripted (Nico Jaye) (6 page)

“Oh! Excuse me—Carter?” At the sight of ocean blue eyes and thick dark hair, Teddy’s eyebrows inched up until they felt like they were disappearing off his forehead.

Strong hands on his arms steadied him, and a flash of awareness in Carter’s eyes was the only hint Carter was surprised to see him.

“Carter?” Eli’s voice was completely unsubtle in its curiosity. “Didn’t you mention at dinner…?”

Carter’s gaze swung to Eli and narrowed. Visibly straightening, Carter dropped his hands. “And you are?”

Teddy cleared his throat and glanced between them. “Um, this is my friend Eli Matthews. Eli, this is Carter Monroe. And yes, I did mention co-owning the Oasis with Carter.”

One of Carter’s brows quirked, and for once, Teddy could read the unspoken comment in Carter’s typically stoic expression:
there’s a lot more to mention than just that, Teodoro
. Teddy stifled a shiver he couldn’t identify as apprehension or… anticipation.

Eli offered his hand with a smile. “Carter, nice to meet you. Teddy told me he’s been showing you around the place.”

With an appraising look, Carter shook Eli’s hand. “Teddy has shown me many things,” he said in a soft purr.

Eli’s brows popped up, and Teddy’s cheeks flared with heat.

Teddy coughed into his fist. “I—It’s getting late, and—”

A woman with a smart silver bob and a navy dress leaned in and, with a quick glance at Teddy and Eli, murmured discreetly into Carter’s ear. Carter nodded and looked over at a group of well-dressed Asian men in business suits.

Carter turned back to Teddy. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to see to my clients. Until Thursday,” he said with a hint of a smile. His smile fading, Carter glanced at Eli and nodded before allowing the woman to escort him toward the group waiting for him.

Teddy couldn’t hear what Carter said to them, but he must’ve made a joke because the men smiled back and were nodding their heads.

“That’s your new partner?” Eli’s voice broke into Teddy’s thoughts.

“Hmm?” Teddy looked at Eli, who regarded Teddy with raised brows. “Oh. Uh, yeah.”

“Business partner,” Eli stated, even though it rather sounded like a question.

“Yes,” Teddy said slowly. “Business partner.”

“You sure he doesn’t want to be something more?”

Teddy refrained from smacking his forehead, because of course Eli’s rare case of perceptiveness would make an appearance now. They’d only just caught up with each other, and Teddy’s occasional sex life was not something he discussed with an every-couple-of-months college friend. There was no way he’d tell Eli that Carter had been “something more” already.

Clearing his throat, Teddy dodged the question. “Trust me, if he does, I’m sure I’ll be the first to know.”

Chapter Five

The next couple of days were business as usual, and Teddy was pleased to see Wednesday’s dress rehearsal for
Twelfth Night
went smoothly. It was an ambitious production that set the Shakespearean comedy of love and mistaken identity in a cute little Brooklyn neighborhood, complete with roommate romance, a bad-egg brother, and shenanigans in between. Teddy thought it was just the lighthearted, fun, but thoughtful production people were used to seeing from the Oasis.

He also had high hopes for Paul Aston’s visit Thursday afternoon. Before the meeting, Teddy ran through some of the Oasis’s facts and figures and tried not to be nervous about Carter’s presence.

When Carter appeared in the office five minutes before noon, Teddy offered a hesitant smile. “Carter, hi, I was reviewing some of my files for the meeting. In case Paul asked for anything detailed, I wanted to have it handy.”

Nodding, Carter approached Teddy’s desk and stood beside it. Teddy couldn’t help watching as Carter rested his hand on the surface, his thick fingers elegant and tanned against the dark wood. “Are you almost ready?” Carter asked.

Teddy organized the papers in front of him into neat stacks and stood. “Yes. Yes, let’s go downstairs and wait there,” Teddy said with a nervous gesture.

As they walked through the hallway and down the stairs, Carter cleared his throat. “I did a little research, and the Chicago Metropolitan Theater has a solid history of sponsorship for community businesses.”

Teddy looked up in surprise and waited for Carter to continue.

Or was that it?

No disparaging remarks about needing charity for the Oasis to survive as a theater? No comments on how this place didn’t make enough money on its own?

“They’ve recently begun outreach efforts beyond the Chicago area, sponsoring a small theater in Bloomfield,” Carter said, naming a suburb about an hour outside of Chicago. “Many large theater companies recognize the value of community theaters as the place where audiences are first exposed to live entertainment.”

How had Carter…?

“That’s… that’s right,” Teddy said slowly, surprised by Carter’s insights. “How did you…?”

At the base of the stairs, Carter tilted his head for Teddy to precede him into the lobby. With an enigmatic smile, Carter said, “I told you I was here to take a hands-on approach.”

Teddy’s gaze automatically landed on Carter’s hands.

He swallowed hard.

No, you need to focus, Teddy thought as a blond man in a navy suit jacket and open-collared shirt approached the glass doors of the theater.

With a quick look at Carter that implored him to be on his best behavior, Teddy shifted into manager mode and hoped the rest of the afternoon would be smooth sailing.

***

Teddy needn’t have worried because Carter was a complete asset in charming Paul. With both his knowledgeable head for business and his clear confidence, it was easy to see Carter’s success as a businessman wasn’t a fluke. Combined with Teddy’s specific knowledge about the Oasis, from the intricacies of running it to their regular audience, their united front was impressive and had Paul nodding thoughtfully and commenting on the theater’s bright future.

Nearly three hours—and a lunch at the local brasserie on Carter’s tab—later, Paul’s visit finally came to a close. With promises to be in touch and handshakes all around, Teddy felt himself breathing easier.

“That was—thank you. You helped a lot,” Teddy said to Carter as they stood in the lobby afterward.

Carter nodded, a small smirk curling his lips. “Don’t sound so surprised.”

Teddy’s eyes went wide. “No, it’s not that, it’s just… you didn’t have to.”

There was a pause before Carter spoke again. “It’s important to you, and I have an interest in the Oasis’s success. While I’m around, I want it to succeed.”

Teddy bit his lip nervously. He had to ask. “And… do you know? How long that’ll be?”

Carter sent him a measured look before finally saying, “I don’t.”

Gathering his courage, Teddy decided to throw it out there. “Well, for what it’s worth, I think you’d be great for us.” Teddy paused, offering a shy smile. “And we’d be great for you.”

Carter approached him slowly and brushed Teddy’s hair back from his brow. There was a soft look in his eyes that had Teddy licking his lips nervously. Carter’s gaze darted down before meeting Teddy’s. “I’ll let you know soon,” Carter said quietly with a small nod. “See you tomorrow.”

A slice of the afternoon sun came and went when Carter pushed open the lobby door upon his exit. Teddy watched him for a moment before turning back toward the office, lost in thought.

When Teddy had said Carter would be great for them and they’d be great for Carter, he’d meant the Oasis… right?

Or had his subconscious been trying to offer Carter more?

***

The next day, Teddy chose to focus on showing Carter what occurred the day of a performance. Opening night for
Twelfth Night
would be at eight that evening, and there was a lot that went on last minute no matter how well rehearsed the production. After showing Carter the light check system, they did a walk-through of the storage area behind the dressing rooms. It was a dark room with stacks of plastic storage totes in various colors.

“We have a lot of random stuff that’s accumulated over the years,” Teddy admitted with a short laugh. “But it’s hard to get rid of anything when it might be useful later on.”

Carter laughed softly. “And do these hoarder tendencies extend to your everyday life, Teodoro?” An amused smile curled his lips.

Teddy’s heart skipped a beat at the sound of his full name. Carter had only ever called him that when…. Teddy blushed fiercely, and Carter’s expression lit with recognition, his smile turning into a roguish grin.

“Not really, unless you count my Netflix queue and the unhealthy obsession I have with J.J. Abrams shows, but, uh….” Teddy trailed off when his gaze caught on something in one of the clear bins to the right. He smiled to himself, his thoughts turning to his goal of reconnecting Carter with his roots. “Actually,” Teddy said, moving to unlatch the box, “I thought you might find this familiar.”

Teddy turned around, catching a warm look in Carter’s eyes that took him by surprise. Carter cleared his throat and smoothed his expression, but his eyes went wide when he caught sight of what Teddy had in his hands. A small smile—genuine and surprised—spread across his face.

Carter reached for the fluffy orange wig and took it from Teddy. “I haven’t seen this in ages.”

With a laugh, Teddy said ruefully, “It might’ve been there that long. Sorry, it smells pretty musty.”

“It’s not that bad,” Carter murmured, turning the wig over in his hands. “I used to have a lot of fun here.” There was a wistful note in his voice, and Teddy was dying to hear his story.

When Carter didn’t expand on that thought, though, Teddy reached for the wig. “I don’t think it’ll fit you anymore, but….” Teddy lifted his hands and moved to place it on Carter’s head.

Carter dodged the movement with a rusty laugh, his eyes sparkling. “Maybe not me, but a munchkin like you,” he said with a grin and grabbed it out of Teddy’s hands.

“Hey!” Smacking Carter’s chest in mock affront, Teddy ducked out of the way, only to find himself in the circle of Carter’s arms. Teddy bit his lip when Carter stilled, looking down at him.

Carter stepped closer, a lingering smile on his face, and lifted his hand, gently tilting Teddy’s chin upward. Teddy’s breath caught in his throat as his eyelids fluttered shut.

“Ahem.”

Teddy sprang away from Carter and shot a look toward the doorway, where Gia stood in her box office uniform. She grinned before sweeping into the room.

“Hey, big bro.
Hard
at work?”

Teddy felt his cheeks burn. “Um….” Teddy couldn’t stop himself from looking at Carter, who raised a brow at him.

Meanwhile, Gia crossed the room and stood in front of Carter.

“Hi, I’m Gia, Teddy’s sister.” She extended her hand and looked at him expectantly.

His lips twitching on a smile, Carter glanced at Teddy before reaching for Gia’s outstretched palm and shaking it. “Carter Monroe, Gia-Teddy’s-sister.”

“So, you and Teddy…?” Gia’s speculative look had Teddy springing into action.

“Gia,” Teddy said quickly, finally finding his voice. “Carter’s my new partner. In business,” Teddy hastily added. “He’s my new business partner. For the Oasis.”

Teddy briefly wondered if he was going to speak in staccatos for the rest of his life.

“Ooooh, okay,” Gia said. “So, you guys…?”

“No!” Teddy nearly shouted. “Um, I mean, we’re just partners and—”

“We’re working things out,” Carter offered.

Teddy shot Carter a look because what the fuck did that mean?

“Okaaay,” Gia said slowly with a curious look of her own. Moving into the room, she eyed a stack of storage totes before pulling the lid off the top one labeled “Accessories.” Gia dug her hands into the contents and started lifting things out. “Anyway, I was ending my shift when one of the Vizion guys asked if we had any extra eyeglass frames. Someone apparently stepped on Viola-slash-Cesario’s glasses. And the backup pair too,” she said, her dark wavy hair covering her face as she bent over the box to rifle through it.

Teddy caught Carter’s inquiring gaze. “Gia works here part-time in the box office,” he explained.

“Just until I can convince that Clique guy he needs an intern,” Gia called over her shoulder. “A paid one!”

Teddy stood there, close enough to smell Carter, yet not touching. He had such an awareness of Carter’s presence, his skin felt prickly.

“Ah! Here it is. Actually, we have three, yay,” Gia said, straightening with a smile. She set all three glasses cases aside, then repacked the tote before securing the lid again.

Gia grabbed the cases and turned to Teddy. “Hey, so I’ll see you Sunday?”

“Sunday?” Carter asked, looking between them with his brows raised.