“Sounds good,” he said. “I made the final payment for the custom order I put in. It’s done. You want to see it?”
I leaned in to look at his phone and took in the picture of a polished wooden cane carved with leaves and mulberries, the handle wrapped in leather. “Wow, that’s sweet.”
“Yeah, it cost two week’s salary but he’s worth it. I… just hope he takes it well.”
I knew the answer but asked anyway. “What do you mean?”
“The way I figure it, I’ll get one of two reactions. He’ll love it, or he’ll hate it.”
“Because it’s a reminder of what happened?” I’d posed my words as a question, but I was sure we both knew the answer to that. I imagined it was hard to be twenty-seven and needing the use of aides just to walk.
Jere rubbed the back of his neck and bit his lip at the picture. “Yeah, but I think he’ll be happy because he’s told me having his cane makes him more confident that he won’t bust his nose on the pavement when he loses his balance. I’m going to give it to him for Valentine’s Day. He wants to go out and have dinner to celebrate my B-day and our first V-day together.”
I snapped my fingers and shrugged my backpack off. “Speaking of birthdays, I have a gift for you.”
“Really?” He rasped and accepted the little gift-wrapped box. He proceeded to stare at it for a long moment. “It’s too pretty. I don’t want to ruin it.”
“Well, you better, because it was expensive,” I teased.
He ripped the colorful paper off like a savage and blinked at the cologne box. “This will make me smell nice?”
“Oh yeah. Perfect for your date.” I showed him how to properly apply expensive cologne, cherishing our bonding moment.
“Thanks. It smells nice. Do you think Danny will like it?”
“Absolutely.”
He grunted softly. “I hope he likes my surprise.”
He was the best kind of partner, selfless, and completely devoted to Danny to the point that what he wanted didn’t matter.
“He’s lucky to have you.” I meant every word, but a tinge of jealousy nipped at me. I wanted what they had. It was why I’d sworn off casual sex because I wanted a deeper connection with someone. And having two younger guys find that while I got older and lonelier left a bitter taste in my mouth.
“No, I’m lucky to have him.” His eyes turned on me, the gray more silver. “And we’re lucky to have you. He got all excited when he told me you were planning to stop by today.”
“I’m sorry I’ve been scarce lately. It’s easy to get distracted.”
He slid the bottle in its box. “I get it. Your friend is very handsome, and Danny says you spend too much time sitting at the table, but not eating anything. I think I understand what he is saying.”
“He’s been gossiping about me, huh?”
He scratched the back of his neck. “I don’t think I should have told you about that.”
I laughed and play-punched his arm. “It’s fine. I’m going to go catch up with them. Care to join me?”
“Nah, going to hang out here for a bit. Sometimes I feel like I'm suffocating Danny, though I don’t mean to.”
I slung my backpack around my shoulder. “Talk about it Friday over a set?”
“Yep.”
I took my time making my way toward the basement, feeling hopeful.
It was odd, but I saw the theater in a new light, all the architecture and carvings standing out as if the walls had been recently painted and the statues lining the ceiling dusted. I knew it was because of Matteo. He had a deep appreciation of the arts and hearing him play made me realize I didn’t appreciate little things like beautiful architecture enough. I wanted to seethe world as he did and despite growing up in the shadows, he’d found a light, one that outshone the sun.
I made a promise to help him nurture it. Which suggested I wanted to be in his life for a long time. I had a comfortable and quiet life with good friends like Danny, Gabriel, and Jere. Matteo was on that list now.
I was certain of one thing. No matter what happened between us, I wanted us to be in each other's lives.
