join me at the gym if you’re tired already.”
“Yeah. Well, it’s not like I have anything else to do. But what about you? Aren’t you busy with Dax in the evenings? I thought you two talked a lot.”
I shook my head. “First, I go on my way home from work so it’s always done. And Dax, he showed up in my office a couple of weeks ago, almost in tears. He said he couldn’t do it anymore; he didn’t want to risk me losing my job because of him,” I told Dave as we walked back out of his new house.
“What? And you didn’t say anything?” Dave grabbed my arm, stopping me just as I was about to walk up the ramp of the van.
“No. We don’t tell each other everything, Dave. And I’m holding out hope that he changes his mind and decides he wants to give us a chance.” I turned and walked up the ramp and picked up an end table. When I turned back around, Dave was standing there, blocking the way.
“I’m sorry. I know that you seemed really interested. Do you want me to try to talk to him?”
I shook my head and walked out of the van after Dave moved to the side. Dave and I both avoided the topics that were bothering us most. Instead we talked about our classes and what we had planned for summer break. Sadly, aside from traveling with Dax right after the end of the semester, I had no plans other than maybe painting my house and doing some major landscaping.
It was midnight before we were finally finished and were relaxing in Dave’s new house. After the furniture was moved, we went back and threw things into boxes and totes, loaded them up, and carried them into the house. I exercised regularly, but I was sore in places that I wasn’t normally sore in. And Dave was groaning with every move. I looked around the living room and realized Dave needed more shit.
“You need to go shopping. Your place seems empty. Is this place bigger than the other?”
“Yeah. I let Stacy take some of the things. She tried to take everything, but I drew the line with some of the stuff I had before her. Are all women so vindictive, you think?”
“No. I’ve known some really sweet women. My dad’s mother is one of them. His sister too. And there are some really nice women at work.”
Dave nodded. “It’s midnight. You staying?”
“If you don’t mind. I’m tired.”
“Don’t mind at all. Want some wine? Beer?”
“Wine sounds good. But just a glass. You know, I’ve been thinking about Dax.”
Dave’s snort turned to a groan as he got up and went over to the kitchen for the wine. “Since when aren’t you thinking about Dax? You’ve got it bad, my friend.”
“Yeah, I do. But I’m at a point in my life where I’m ready for more. I was trying to see things from his perspective, and something dawned on me.”
“What?” Dave pulled the cork from the wine and held up a red plastic cup. I nodded. Worked for me. It wouldn’t be the first time I drank wine from something other than an actual wineglass.
“I’m obviously older and make a shit ton more than him. He’s brought up the age thing before, and I know he struggled to get his passport. Every time I tried to bring up me paying for it, he changed the subject.”
“Umm, yeah, but I thought he realized that from the get-go. I mean, you said you took him back to your place. Does he even have a job? I don’t remember him ever mentioning one when I had him last semester.”
“He tutors. And I found out he house- and pet-sat over spring break. But do you think he feels like I’m…I don’t know.”
“Anderson, the only person who can answer your questions is Dax. I know you don’t want him at your place again, but I think you need to have a talk. You got him to talk to you before, you can do it again. And for fuck’s sake, not in your office. You two can’t seem to keep your mouths off each other’s dicks in there.” Dave handed me my cup of wine, and I took a deep drink, appreciating the dry crispness of the white.
After I thought about it for a few, I laughed at that because Dave was right. I’d given up on keeping Dax away, and when I had, he found his