Jamie stacked the rest of the dishes into the rack for the dishwasher.
Salzy stopped and looked at him.“I wish you’d just sleep with that man.It’s like watching a corny rom-com.”
“I have no idea what you mean,” Jamie said, washing his hands.
“Oh, jeez.”Salzy slammed the door down on the big dishwasher and pressed the start button.“The two of you were making goo-goo eyes at each other all night long.”He turned towards Jamie.“You don’t have to go and marry the guy, but at least go and do the nasty tango and get it over with.”
“Since when has my sex life become everyone’s hobby?”
“I’d say it’s because you and Mike have something between the two of you, and it’s like watching soft porn.It’s...almost embarrassing watching the pair of you.”
Jamie sighed.“I can’t help that he’s that good-looking.”
“Yeah, he is hot.”Salzy leaned against the big sink.
Jamie lifted his eyebrows at him.
“What?I can admit when a guy’s super-hot.I’m not blind.”
“Then you have sex with him.”Jamie stretched and yawned.
“Uh, no thanks.He’s hot, but I still like women more.”Salzy jammed his hands into his pockets.“You think I stand a chance if I ask Terry out?”
“I do.She is hot.”Jamie smiled.“And no, I wouldn’t sleep with her.”
“That’s good to know.”Salzy smiled.“Let’s call it a night.”
He draped his arm across Jamie’s shoulders.“So, you think she’d go out with me?”
“I think she’d be crazy not to.”Jamie closed and locked the door to the diner.“I also think she’d say yes.Take her to that Mexican place.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah, I think so.”Jamie pushed Salzy off.“Go.Get some sleep.Lord only knows what’s going to happen tomorrow.”
Salzy smiled brightly.“’Night, boss.”
Jamie rolled his eyes.“Good night, Sally.”
He let the door close softly behind him before locking the screen door, leaving the main door open, hoping to catch a breeze.He could see the light on in Joesph’s room, the door open.He knocked softly, seeing the man propped up in bed, a book in his hands.“Everything okay in here?”
Joesph looked up and smiled.“Yes.Just winding down, trying to settle my mind before I turn off the light.”
“You think I’m doing the right thing?”Jamie looked towards his feet.“You know...moving down here and doing all this?”
Joesph closed his book and set it on the nightstand.“Jamie, how long have we known each other?”
“About six years, maybe seven.”
“Right.We’ve been through stuff that only real friends...well, go through together and still remain friends.”
“Yeah.I’d say so.”Jamie shifted, leaning on the door frame.“Good and bad.”
“Very true.Jamie, I think this is your destiny.It’s where you belong and I think you know that.I do hate the thought of my best friend being two hours away though.”
Jamie smiled.“Yeah, I know, me too, but it...feels right.Like I’m finally home and I know myself.It’s like everything was leading up to this.”He looked around the old room that his grandparents had shared most of their lives.“I have roots here.Deep roots.”
Joesph nodded.“And it shows.”
