“Hey, Cade,” he greeted.
“Hey, man,” Cade replied as Elias stepped aside to allow him in.
“What brings you by?” Elias led them into the living room.
“I was supposed to have a date today, but she stood me up. I was nearby and thought I’d stop in.”
“Sorry, that sucks, but you might have dodged a bullet.”
“True. Let’s play some video games,” Cade suggested. “Do you have any beer?”
“In the fridge. Help yourself,” Elias replied.
While Cade went into the kitchen, Elias grabbed the game controllers and changed the channel. He didn’t care what they played, and when his friend returned a minute later with two beers, he let him choose.
They played a few rounds of a fighting game. Cade had never once beaten him at it, and today was no different. After his fifth loss, his friend wanted to change games. As they waited for the next one to load, Cade finished his beer.
“Be a good friend and set me up with someone,” Cade said. “I’m tired of being single.”
Elias thought about it briefly as he took a drink from his beer bottle. “Any women I know who would be worth dating are already taken. Well, except for two. But one doesn’t bat for our team, and I know someone else has their eye on the other one.”
“I’m not afraid of a little competition.”
“I’m sure you aren’t, but I’m positive the interest goes both ways.” Elias wouldn’t put him in a situation to be let down. “Be patient. You’ll find someone.”
They played games for a few hours before Cade left. It was a little after ten, and Elias ensured the door was locked, grabbed his phone off the coffee table, turned off the television and the lights, and headed to his room.
He put his phone on the charger and went into his en suite. He turned on the shower and took his clothes off as it heated, then stepped inside.
Once finished with his shower and dressed in a pair of boxers, he slid into bed and turned on the television. He watched an episode of a documentary, and, like clockwork, Eri called a quarter after ten. Anytime they weren’t together, she would call to hear his voice before she went to sleep.
He knew it had started as something for herself, but it had become something he looked forward to as well. Elias could admit that previously, he had never been one to stay on the phone with someone just for them to fall asleep in past relationships. It had never been something he found appealing. At least not until he started doing it with Eri.
Unlike the few times he’d done so in the past, their late-night calls weren’t filled with the two of them only breathing on the phone. Though with her, he would have been fine if they had. Eri talked to him about what she had done that day, asked him what he’d done, and wanted to know every minor detail. He enjoyed the sound of her voice. It was even more adorable when she was tired. The soft sound of it always made him smile.
When she started to drift off to sleep, Elias took the phone off speaker and brought it to his ear.
“I love you, Amate.”
She hummed softly into the phone. “I love you.”
“Good night, baby.”
“Good night.”
They ended the call, and Elias ensured his alarm was set before turning off the television. He stared at the dark ceiling for a moment. He would have much preferred to have Eri beside him, but he was okay with waiting a few more months. Her lease would be up, and if he had it his way, they’d be under the same roof.
Another thought he’d never had in previous relationships because he was content with them having their own space, and while they still gave it to one another, he preferred when they were together, and he had every intention of making that happen sooner rather than later.
Epilogue
Eri looked herself over in the mirror, turning to the side to get the full view of herself in the red long-sleeve, form-fitting, ankle-length dress. She’d bought it a few days ago for the occasion. She grabbed her purse and exited her bedroom as she heard her front door open. She met Elias in the living room, where he stood, holding a large bouquet of red roses.
“You look gorgeous, Amate,” he complimented as his eyes shifted over her.
“Thank you, baby. You look handsome.”
Elias moved the flowers aside and pulled her into a brief kiss. “These are for you,” he told her when they pulled apart, handing her the bouquet.
