“Ten-four.”
This guy is a single head of a hydra that just grows bigger every day. You take one down and two more pop up right in its place. I can’t imagine how the people on theofficialside of this work deal with the horror and frustration of knowing this goes on every day. It’s disheartening. I’m not technically a good person, but I do hope this helps, at least slightly.
DB, Thane, and I wrap up a few more details, then say our goodbyes. I lock up the shop and head the few blocks over to home, really needing tonight. Having a little Rafi snuggle will help make theickof this day go away, at least temporarily. As if he can read my mind, the slight knock of my favorite guy sounds throughout my place.
I open the door with a flourish. “Rafi! Come here, give me a hug.”
I gather him up in my arms and squeeze tight, like I always do. This is normally followed by him complaining while wrapping his arms around me and squeezing just as tightly. He does none of that and instead stiffens in my arms. I pull away and look down at him, my arms still around his shoulders. “Baby boy, what’s wrong tonight? Where’s my hug? Are you okay?”
He examines his shoes, scuffing them on the hallway tile. “Uh, yeah. I’m fine. Sorry, just not in a super huggy mood tonight.”
Hm. Sometimes he gets a little sad and tries to hide it from me; maybe it’s one of those things where a hug would just set off the waterworks. Even though I’ve held him through several bouts of crying, it’s possible that tonight he just needs me to lighten things up.
I cuff the back of his head and smile. “Is it me? Did I do something? Do Ismell?” I ask, raising my arm to sniff the pit loudly.
Huh.No reaction.
“Oh, no. Nothing like that. I’m just having a weird night,” he says, ducking under my arm and heading for the living room.
In the six months since we’ve been hanging out, I’ve never seen him act like this, but it’s clear he doesn’t want to talk. Sometimes, the job of a friend is to sit there and not be a judgmental dick. I can manage that.
Frankly, it should probably feel like a relief that he’s not wanting to be as cuddly tonight. I mean, itdoesn’t, but maybe itcould. My neglected nuts would certainly thank me.
I grab a bowl of kettle corn from the kitchen, along with a couple of ciders since he hates beer, and walk into the living room. He’s sitting on the edge of the couch, at the opposite end, where the cushionsaren’tindented by weeks of shared space. His back is straight, his feet are flat on the floor, and he’s staring at the TV screen like it’s his only hold on reality. Nothing like the rag doll that usually hangs out on Monday nights.
Whatever’s going on, watching TV with him is going to get awkward, quick. Maybe we need a distraction, especially if he’s going to continue to sit as far away from me as possible.
Dangit. I hope he hasn’t picked up on my not-small crush on him. I will all my vital organs to calm their tits and remember what’s important: having him in my life.
Well, having him in my life and keeping him away from the fact that I regularly have to get my trunk detailed because bodiesleak. Seriously, the fact that I’m thinking of buying a murder car does not and should not bode well for any kind of future romantic entanglements.
No matter how much I want to take the guy to pound town and then hold him all night long. And, like, see how crazy his hair gets in the morning, and find out if he thinks morning sex is as amazing as I do.
I bet he likes his coffee with lots of cream and sugar.
How do I not have his coffee order memorized?
Er…I seem to have strayed from any sort of a point.
Aaaanyway.
Shaking my head, I lay out a different option for my best friend. “So, change of plans. I know you want something lighter than Australian melodrama, but instead of a rom-com, would you be interested in giving my new VR set up a try? I have a dual-person shooter game that’s supposedly both fun and realistic.”
Rafi pauses, picking at the imaginary lint on his shirt. “Um, sure. I might like that.”
I lean over and stroke the worry line between his eyebrows. “So, we’re not going to talk about what’s going on with you tonight?”
When he finally faces me, his face is flushed and his bottom lip is nearly bitten ragged. He looks so uncomfortable and…ashamed. Oh shit…maybe he’s seeing someone. God, that would suck.
I mean, yay for my friend, or whatever, but ugghhhhh.
Though, I think he would tell me if he were seeing someone. Maybe it’s because I was—
“Is this because of Darren? I feel weird about not telling you, but it was just a first date. And it didn’t work out anyway.”
That is not hope on his face.
“Oh, really?” he asks with wide eyes.
