This guy looks like he’s just getting off a two-day bender.
And he’s not as young as the typical Pat boy-toy. This dude is far from his usual type. This guy looks downright homeless. Aside from the old baseball hat, he’s donning a loose-fitting rumpled t-shirt and faded jeans that look like they haven’t been washed in months.
“Joey, this is my friend, Theo.”
Patrick returns next to me and leans in, whispering conspiratorially, “He’s a bit surly. Had a bad day.”
Well, gee, buddy. So have I, but you don’t see me treating people so disrespectfully.
Whatever. I’ll take the high road.
My voice is chipper. “Nice to meet you, Theo.”
He grunts, his attention not leaving the TV. Loud sports noises blast through the speakers and you can barely hear my thinly disguised grunt of disapproval. Patrick laughs and walks into the kitchen, ignoring the poor manners of his friend.
“Everyone okay with gumbo and cornbread?”
I place Woody on the floor and walk in the small, yet modern kitchen that’s nearly identical to mine.
“Mm. That’s what smells so delish in here?” I grin, pulling off the cover of the large pot on the stove, leaning in to take a long inhale of spicy aroma. My mouth immediately begins to water and my stomach growls. It certainly beats my box of mac and cheese in my pantry.
Pat shoos me away, removing the lid from my hands and begins to stir the spicy concoction.
We stand side-by-side, his broad frame about six inches taller than me, our shoulders pressed together.
I give a surreptitious glance over my shoulder before I say anything to Pat. He’ll be able to detect my underlying pettiness in my voice.
“What’s his deal?”
He cocks his head, bending to my ear. “Theo is a good guy, just going through a rough time. He has a beautiful soul and I love him.”
“Well, regardless. His mother did a horrible job teaching him manners.”
I suppose if Pat gives him such a glowing endorsement and feels that strongly for him, I’ll have to do my best to get along with him.
After all, he’s not the guy I’m sleeping with, so it really shouldn’t matter one bit what I think.
