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“Yeah, no. That’s not what I meant. I’m calling you out for sitting hunched over the computer for so long. We talked about this. You need to take regular breaks. You know it’s the healthy thing to do.
JJ’s about to argue, but he knows that he can’t make a case for himself. I’m using his own words against him. He’s all about good health practices but his concern is always for other people, never himself.
If he didn’t have Asher and I looking out for him, he wouldn’t be in good shape. He’s way too intent on work lately, even more so than usual. I can’t blame him, but none of that willwork out if he’s in no condition to lead his teams. I’m not going to let him destroy his own health for anything.
“You’re right,” he says. “It’s time.”
I’m astonished that he’s agreeing with me so quickly. We always go back-and-forth for a few minutes while JJ insists he has just one more thing he needs to do before he stops. I don’t fall for that anymore. His ‘one more thing’ can take hours.
Now JJ knows I won’t stop until I get what I want, no matter what excuse he tries to make. He doesn’t argue anymore. Not too much, anyway. He has no chance of winning tonight. It’s way too late to still be working.
“You need to rest your eyes,” I add for emphasis. “Did you even eat recently? Or at all?”
“I ate this morning,” Julian says, as if that’s a reasonable case he can make.
“Yeah, it’s after eleven,” I counter. “At night.”
“Okay. I’ll break for dinner then get back to it. Do you want to order in?”
I’m way ahead of him. “I already have and the food’s been delivered. Ready and waiting.”
“Great,” he says, thrown off. Usually I have to talk him into stopping while we’re waiting for dinner but not this time. I’ve wised up to that tactic of his too.
We head into the living room where I’ve already got everything set up. Plates and pizza boxes are spread out over Asher’s insanely large coffee table. Normally I’d click the TV on, but not tonight. Tonight’s going to be different.
“How’s everything progressing? Timeline still on track?” I ask him as we start to eat. Julian’s already looking more relaxed than he was. I know he’s driven, but burnout’s a real thing. I’ve been there myself and I make a point of taking it a little easier than I used to. I’m going to make sure my friend does the same.
It’s not easy to stop when you’re into what you’re doing. I get that. Asher’s the same way. One of the things that we all have in common is that we’re all pretty single-minded and driven.
Julian’s a whole other kind of breed. He’s passionate about this project in a way that goes beyond how invested the rest of us are.
“It’s not bad.” He tells me briefly about what he’s working on. It only takes a moment before I pick up on what he’s not saying. JJ’s not going to stop for the night, he’s just taking a break for now and then he intends to get back to it.
That’s no good. I’m enjoying talking to him, especially when I get him away from the topic of work. I’m into my work too but there’s only so much you can focus on it before anyone would need a break.
“Let’s have a couple beers,” I suggest. I know Julian doesn’t like to go back to work after drinking. I cut him off before he can object. “Come on. You’ve been working for what, twelve hours? Fourteen? It’s time to stop and kick back. You know that as well as I do.”
He rubs at his eyes and blinks at me. “Okay.”
That’s how I know he must be pretty tired because he’d usually put up more of a fight at this point.
“Great. I’ll get them.”
I head to the kitchen before JJ can change his mind. Asher’s got one hell of a nice place, even better than I realized before I moved in. I’m going to have to up my own game for finding my next one. I’ve already decided I’m not going to settle for anything less than this.
At the same time, I’m not sure how much I care either. This is a great penthouse and the location can’t be beat, but most of what makes it great for me is being constantly in contact with my two best friends.
In spite of what I told Asher, being in between places isn’t the main reason I wanted to crash here.
All I can think about lately is something that happened back when we were all in college.
Julian and I used to have a lot of fun when we were roommates. He’s always been very studious but back then he knew how to have a great time. All he needed was someone to bring it out of him and I was very good at that. He gives his all in everything he does and that includes letting loose. Or he used to.
Now it’s time to bring that out of him again.
I grab a couple of beers. Then I make it four. This night needs a good kickoff.
There’s something that happened between Julian and I that Asher doesn’t know about. One unforgettable night back in college. Just one, but it changed everything. Lately I can’t get it off my mind.
