“The doctor assumed I was dehydrated. The labs came back negative today, so there’s nothingwrongwith me. Everyone quickly assumed dehydration as a diagnosis, so we’ve all moved on.”
Blayne and Roy talked for a few more minutes as Roy periodically dropped in a few more details here and there about the last couple of days. Roy had gotten up this morning and returned to work as if nothing had happened.
“I wish I could escape from my life,” Roy admitted.
“We’ve all been there.”
“Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll come to visit you, Blayne, and we can reallymeetfor the first time.”
“You know what? I think I would like that. It’d be fun to hang out in person instead of on the app for a change.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“In my line of work,” Roy started, “there aren’t too many people who do things for others without wanting something in return.”
“That sucks,” Blayne said. “I can’t imagine living like that from day to day. Sure, academia has its trials and tribulations, but mostly, people are supportive.”
“That’s cool.”
The two spent the next hour talking about a wide range of topics, from growing up in the South to politics. Throughout the conversation, Blayne could sense Roy opening up more and more to him.
“So, earlier,” Roy finally said, “you mentioned you’d like to see me face-to-face sometime. Are you up for that?”
“Sure. Let me know if you’ll ever be in the area. I’d love to have you over. Hell, I have a spare room you can use. It’s technically my office, but I have a spare bed in it.”
“Sounds like you have a big place?”
“Not really. It’s about nine hundred square feet, but it was designed well.”
“I’m sure it feels like you.”
“I’ve definitely left my mark on the place. It’s not too cluttered but not too clean, either. Thankfully, I have a houseboy who comes by and cleans every other week.”
“You have a houseboy?” Roy asked.
“I just call him that. He’s a friend of a friend who was looking for work, and his rates were amazing. So I thought, what the hell? Besides, I hate housework.”
“More of an outdoorsy, yard-work guy?”
“More of a none-of-the-above-type guy,” Blayne replied.
Blayne listened as Roy chuckled on the other end of the phone. “You know what—and I know this is an absolutely crazy idea—and feel free to say no—can I come to visit?”
“Sure. When?”
“Tomorrow?”
“What?” Blayne replied without thinking.
“Too soon?”
“No, just taken aback. Are you going to be in the area?”
“I can be.”
Blayne sat there for a second, not sure what to say. He’d opened the door for this, but was he ready to have company? He liked Roy, and they seemed to get along. So, having Roy visit for a couple of days wouldn’t be too bad. Worse came to worst, he’d tell Roy to take a hike.
