I blow out another sigh. As she often does, Michele has managed to see through the layers of bullshit, and cut right to the heart of the matter.
“You make some good points.”
“I know I do. I want what’s best for you, you know that, right? I love you, my friend.”
“I know. Thank you Michele. I love you too. Thanks for always telling me the truth, even when I don’t want to hear it.”
“You know I always will. Now, I want to you pack up your shit, go home, and pour yourself a nice Scotch. Maybe sit in the hot tub for a while. But think about what I said. Call me if you want to talk more, okay?”
“I will, thanks Michele. Say hi to the kids when you see them, right?”
“I will. Now go home, Matthew.”
“I’m going,” I say, smiling.
I pack away my laptop and hit the light switch in my office. Michele is right. I could hand off the day-to-day drudgery part of the company to someone else. Wasn’t I just thinking that I’d love to do nothing but sit around daydreaming up new game ideas? Why the hell can’t I do that? The only thing stopping me is me. The company will be just fine with someone else handling the minutiae. I’m not even at my house before I have a plan for what I’m going to do. The excitement that rolls through me thinking about it tells me it's the right decision. Now all I need to do is execute on the plan.
Chapter 24
CASE
Threedaysisaboutmy limit when it comes to spending time at my parents’ place when all of us are ‘in residence’, and this time I stayed nearly a week. I love all my siblings to death, but when we’re all there, it’s a lot. I was more than happy to drive away from them a couple of hours ago. We can be a rowdy bunch, and I’m looking forward to some quiet time.
The talk I had with my mom was helpful, although it took me a day or two to really absorb it. But when you strip away everything, I've made many decisions based on fear. Some of that is okay, but I don’t want to miss a chance to have something with Matt. I don’t know how well I’m going to deal with the way being in love makes me vulnerable, but that horse has left the barn. I love Matt, and I need to tell him. When I’m staying with my family, though, it can be hard to get time alone for a private phone call, and he said he’s had a lot of catching up to do at work. We’ve talked and texted, but we haven’t had any serious conversations yet. I plan to change that tonight.
Pulling into the garage of my townhome next to the beach, I get that warm feeling in my chest. I’m a California boy, through and through. I love it here, but I know that if being with Matt means I need to relocate, that will be okay. It’s just geography. My home is with Matt. I just haven’t figured out how to deal with the work issue yet. That part won’t be easy, but I’m determined to find a way to make it work.
MATTHEW
I’ve been sitting in my rental car parked on the street outside Case’s house in Carlsbad for long enough to feel like a stalker. I’m guessing he got away from his parents' house later than planned. I swear, I’ll never complain about that little habit, though. If he had left his friend Reed’s place earlier the morning he was supposed to go skiing with his friends, we would have never crossed paths again. So I’ll happily spend the rest of my life being okay with his chronic lateness. And I do intend for it to be the rest of my life.
I’ve spent the last day and a half talking with Hunter about taking over more company operations, so I don’t have to be around as much. He was floored when I told him I wanted to make him COO, and while I know he’s ready for it, he’s nervous.
I’m just changing things around so that I get to do more of what I want–which is work on the creative side of things. I want to come up with new ideas, and figure out how we can use new technologies to make games that can not only entertain, but educate.
My focus, though, the biggest reason for this change, is the man I just watched pull his white SUV into the garage of the beachfront townhome. He leaves the garage door open while he gets his bags out, and I climb out of my rental, watching him with a smile as I walk up his driveway. When I get close enough, I can hear him singing under his breath. It sounds like Harry Styles, which makes me laugh. He jumps and turns around quickly, his face lighting up when he sees me.
“Holy shit!” He drops the duffel bag he’s holding, and we crash together like it’s been months since we’ve seen each other, instead of only a few days.
“What are you doing here?” he asks breathlessly when we come up for air. I grin at him.
“I was in the neighborhood,” I grin, and he rolls his eyes cheekily. “Let’s go inside and I’ll fill you in.”
Case’s home is stunning. It’s on the beach in Carlsbad, a little coastal town about halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego. He has a huge patio off the front of his house, as well as a rooftop garden, making it easy to enjoy the stunning view of the ocean. His place is decorated simply, but it’s welcoming and homey. While he makes us drinks in the kitchen, I wander around, checking things out. There’s one photo I love. It’s Case with what must be all his siblings, including Danny, on a ski trip. The photo shows them all with their jackets off, but still wearing ski pants and boots. Everyone’s sunglasses are pushed up on their heads, and they all have brilliant smiles on their faces. The background is a stunning mountain vista, and everyone’s laughing, arms around each other with rosy cheeks and big toothy grins. Just looking at the photo makes me smile.
Case steps up behind me while I’m looking at it. He hands me my drink and then presses up against me, his chest to my back, and with his free arm he encircles my waist, holding me close.
“I love this photo. You all look so happy.”
Case rests his chin on my shoulder, looking at the photo, and I can hear the smile in his voice. “We were. That was the best trip. A couple of years before Danny died, we did a family trip and spent a week skiing at Whistler Mountain in BC. It’s one of my best memories.”
I nod, placing the photo back on the table, and turning to him. “That’s a powerful reminder to do the things you want to do while you can. Don’t put things off.” I smile at him. “And that’s kind of why I’m here. Let’s sit outside?”
Outside, Case lights the fire table to ward off the cool, damp air starting to creep in from the ocean, and turns on a string of white Christmas lights. He sits back on the outdoor couch, one leg stretched out, and his other leg still on the ground. Then he pulls me into him and arranges us so I’m leaning against him with my back against his chest. He covers us with a cozy blanket and leans in to kiss my temple before letting out a quiet sigh. “I’m so fucking happy you’re here,” he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice.
“I am too,” I say, taking a sip of my drink. “And the best thing is that I’m going to be able to stay for a while.”
I can hear the confusion in his voice when he replies. “Not that I'm not thrilled by that idea, but how’s that going to work? I thought you couldn’t work remotely that often without things getting messed up.”
