We stop at a local coffee shop and sit next to each other on one side of the dark wooden table. With his hood up on his head, and how early it is, chances are likely that no one will recognize him. The only thing which can sometimes be a giveaway is his size. Men his size are often groomed at a young age to play a sport, so naturally people stare at first to see. Is he someone famous?
I drink my coffee with cream and two sugars and he drinks a protein smoothie and we chat about irrelevant stuff that most couples do and it feels really… right.
“We should probably start thinking about what we’re going to do with your room.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you haven’t slept in it much.”
“Do you want me to go back to it?”
I give him a quick peck on his succulent lips.
“Hilarious, Bird.” He taps my nose with his pointer finger. “I’m just saying that at this point it isn’t your bedroom anymore. You sleep with me now because that’s where you belong.”
“I don’t think we have to do anything with the room. My blue sofa likes it in there just fine.”
“It’s the second biggest bedroom in the house. Maybe we should make it your office or something. I mean, you are my house manager and all.”
“Which, by the way, I think you could cut your costs down enormously by making a few adjustments. The landscapers don’t need to come every week. Grass doesn’t grow that damn fast. They can come twice a month. And what’s up with that koi pond?”
“What about it?”
“You already have fish in the aquarium in the house.”
“And I have fish in my yard too.”
“It costs a fortune to maintain it, and for what? You have zero time to sit out there and enjoy it.”
“I have the off season.”
“It’s freezing in New Jersey in March and April.”
“The pond stays.”
“Ugh, fine.”
“I see you like to live on a lean budget.”
“Getting rid of a pond is living lean?”
“You know what I mean.”
“It’s just that I know what it’s like not to have enough money to pay the bills when you feel like just a few moments ago you had it. I don’t want you to pay for the upkeep of this pond, and ten years from now you wonder where all your money went. I’ve seen the ball player financial horror stories on television.”
“I’m not trying to brag, Bird, but trust me when I say that I make enough money to afford this lifestyle for the rest of my life if I’m careful with my money.”
“The key word is careful.”
“I’ve put a large portion of my income into investments that I have my parents watching with a very close eye. I even bought some popular Tesla stock before it doubled in price.”
“Tesla?”
“Yep.”
“But you drive a Range Rover.”
“Which the Tesla dividends paid for.” He chuckles.
