What? Did he tell him what we did? I can feel the color draining out of my face.
“He was an ass when you came to the house and we didn’t really talk when you were leaving. I didn’t want you to think I didn’t care that he was being rude to you.”
“Oh, honestly it’s fine,” I let out a breath. “I was more concerned about you. He was rude to you as well.”
“Ah, that’s the way we are. I’ve known him since I was a kid, he’s like the annoying brother I never wanted.”
“So he’s like a brother?” I ask slowly.
“Taylor, I told you that day, he isn’t the one I… you know. That is someone else. Someone Noah knows but I’m not going there, it’s never gonna happen and I’ve made my peace.”
“I feel like we should be having coffee for this talk,” I laugh.
“Yeah, it’s not really a medical chat. If I’m wasting your time I apologize.”
“Not at all, honestly. It’s nice to wind down at the end of a busy day. However, we should maybe do some medical chat. What about the situation we discussed last time, have things got better?”
“It has. Well, in that I dumped the guy I was seeing. He had moved in with me without us really discussing it, that might have been something to do with it. Without sounding like an ass myself, I’m not short of money and he was using me. Breaking up and getting him out of the apartment has eased things up.”
“That’s good.”
“Yeah. Although I have got no one to test… on?” He laughs at the comment. “I feel better, mentally I mean. I know you said you’re not an expert or a therapist. Sometimes all it takes is a logical discussion, talking things through to see what a different way of looking at things could mean. I do feel like things are going to be better. It was psychological rather than physiological.”
“That’s great Jesse. I’m happy for you.”
He nods and smiles. “I really felt so bad about Noah though. He has his reasons for being the way he is.”
Do I tell him? Jeez, not that we had a moment in the bar, just that I’ve seen him since. No, there is no point. I will not see him again.
“Hey, there was one other thing I wanted to say.”
“Okay.”
“I’m sorry about your dad. I should have mentioned it sooner, but I didn’t want to pry or say anything that would upset you.”
“No, that’s fine. Thank you. It was hard but I’m getting there, slowly.”
“I hadn’t realized when I came in a couple of weeks ago. I knew he was sick. God, sorry, I’ll stop talking about it.
“It’s fine, don’t worry. Yeah he was ill, but it took him quickly. Which is sort of a blessing for him.”
“Not for you,” he says sadly.
“No. It’s always the living who suffer the most right.”
“If there is anything I can do.”
“I appreciate that but don’t worry I’m good.”
He stares for a moment with a strange look on his face, after a second he shakes it off and smiles again. “I’ll get out of your hair. And who knows, next time I see you, my sex life might be sizzling.”
We both laugh and I walk him out. That was nice, if a little odd, it seemed like there was more he wanted to say, but I’m glad he’s doing better.
I’m also glad I didn’t let the man he has a crush on go down on me in a bar.
“What are you looking so guilty about?” Caitlyn waggles her eyebrows. “Jesse got you hot and bothered?”
“Grow up,” I push her but we’re both laughing. “What time are you finished?”
