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“Want to watch something? Evie’s got a huge TV with all the streaming apps.”
“You want to?”
He stood and gathered our plates. “Sure, why not?”
“Yeah, okay.”
We cleaned up the kitchen, then Graham led me into a big living room at the back of the house. We settled on either side of an oversized, squashy sofa in front of the massive TV.
“Pick whatever you want.” He handed me the remote.
“This might be a weird question, but do you go by Gray, or Graham?”
“Gray. You’re the only one who calls me Graham.”
“Do you want me to call you Gray, instead?”
“No.” He crossed his arms, his eyes on the screen as I navigated through the search. “I’ve been going by Gray since I was five, but my name is Graham. It’s nice to hear it, like a reminder that I’m not that kid anymore. What’s your nickname?”
“I don’t have one. Caleb can’t really be shortened. People sometimes call me Cale, but I don’t really like it.”
“Looks like I’ll have to keep calling you Caleb. Or asshole.”
I laughed. “Looks like.” I paused my search and clicked on an action movie that had come out the previous summer. “Have you seen this?”
“Nope.”
“Want to give it a try?”
“Sure.” He glanced at me. “Want a beer or anything?”
“I shouldn’t.” I started the movie. “I have to work tomorrow.”
“Are you going to be okay? Maybe you should call in or something.”
I didn’t know what to do with his concern. He was being kind to me because I’d had a shit day. It didn’t mean he cared. We were nothing more than stepbrothers who saw each other’s O faces.
“I can’t. Staffing issues aside, sitting at home for the day would drive me nuts. It’s better to just get back to it and remind myself why I went into healthcare in the first place.”
“I’m sorry I said shit about you being a nurse.” His voice was gruff, but his words were sincere.
“It’s okay. I get that a lot.”
“It’s not okay. You’ve never once said anything disparaging about my job. Which one of us is making a difference or helping people?”
“Stripping is work. You’re providing a service. It’s not like anyone can just go on stage and do what you do.”
“Maybe not, but I’m still sorry for what I said.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.”
He shrugged, his eyes glued to the screen as the opening scene started.
“G?”
He looked at me.
“Can you sit a bit closer? I just… I’m still not…”
