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The room was nice, and Zeke was designing his space in his head as he looked around. He wanted to make it comfortable for the two of them. He had goals of spending very few nights in bed alone, and based on the furtive glances he was receiving from Tanner, he was thinking the same thing.
"This will work for me," Zeke announced after giving the place a brief once over. Really, it could have been a festering dive, and he still would have moved in. The draw was Tanner, not his space. "When will you make a decision." Zeke was ready to get things moving.
"I have one more appointment this afternoon, so I'll let you know by four," Tanner told him and reached out his hand, which Zeke took and held for longer than was probably normal, but he didn't care. Touching his mate helped their connection take root, and he didn't want Tanner to give the room to anyone else.
He had a feeling he was in the lead, but he didn't want to take any chances, so he channeled his peace and calm nature to Tanner. He would see him as someone easy to be around and perhaps a benefit in regard to furnishings. He smiled and squeezed Tanner’s hand before releasing.
“You have my number, and I will await your call. Thank you.” He stepped away and headed for the door. Zeke could feel Tanner’s eyes following him the intensity of his stare had a physical touch.
“Which club to work at? You didn’t say.” Tanner asked.
"Club Zephyr, are you familiar with it?" Zeke answered matter of fact.
"I've made some deliveries there. I work for Eastland Beverage Distributors. It's a happening place from what I've observed."
"If we become roommates, I'll get you inside and show you around." Zeke was sweetening the deal, and it made Tanner smile again.
"I'll call you either way and let you know." He said. Zeke nodded, disappeared out the door, and kept going. It was always important to leave them wanting, and he could smell the want all the way down the hall and out onto the street.
Tanner stood there transfixed by the image of the man of his daydreams walking out the door, and there was nothing he could say to make him stay that wouldn't come off as desperate. He should have just straight up offered him the room, but he would have looked too keen and eager and might have put him off. Besides, he did have another interview, but the guy sounded difficult, and Tanner had no time for difficult people, especially in his home.
He listened to his footsteps receding down the hall until all that was left was silence. Tanner walked over, closed the door, and then sat down in the lawn chair. "That was intense and fantastic.” He smiled and clasped his hands while staring down at the carpet that needed a vacuum. Unfortunately, the vacuum belonged to Salem as well.
He checked his watch, and he had an hour before he was to meet the next prospective roommate. He wished he didn't have to go through the motions because the room belonged to Zeke and nobody else. It was impulsive, but sometimes you just know, and he knew that life with Zeke was what he was looking for.
The man was coming to the apartment since he knew the address and was referred by Salem's boyfriend, Blake Christopher. His name was Loren Fish, and he worked for Blake. Apparently, he was in need of an apartment and willing to share. He doubted Mr. Fish would be interested in the place once he got a look at it. Therefore, Tanner felt like he was just going through the motions so as to not insult Blake. He owed Blake nothing, but it would be ill-mannered to not speak with Mr. Fish.
Loren Fish was a half hour late with no call, and Tanner was about to give it up and call Zeke when there came a knock on his door. When he opened the door, he saw a man standing there looking bored and annoyed. "Mr. Fish?" He asked, and the man rolled his eyes and nodded. "Would you like to come in?" Tanner stepped back, and the man stepped inside. Tanner left the door wide open, suddenly feeling uneasy in the man's company.
The guy walked around, opening doors and clanging around the kitchen, mumbling to himself before checking out the bedroom and then returning to where Tanner stood in the living room. He was not impressed with Mr. Fish and wanted him to leave. Tanner moved closer to the door, hoping he would take the hint that the tour was over, but instead, he walked over to the window and looked out on the street below.
"It probably gets awfully noisy here with the traffic, and the bedroom is unbelievably small. Salem said the rent is reasonable, but this is really below my usual standards.” Tanner was fine with that and immediately grabbed the door and held it open while nailing the guy with an exasperated stare. The need for manners was over, and it was time for Mr. Fish to leave.
"Thank you for coming, Mr. Fish, and I hope you find an apartment to your liking. Goodbye now." He motioned for him to go, but he stood looking puzzled for some reason and then acted insulted that Tanner didn't beg for him to take the room.
"I was told you needed to make rent within the week; this is hardly a way to treat a prospective roommate."
"We wouldn't mesh; you and I are not compatible." Tanner was blunt, and Mr. Fish took a step back as if struck. "You need to leave now."
“I doubt you’ll find anyone else before your rent comes due and then you will be begging me to move in.” The guy was delusional.
"I have several other offers; as a matter of fact, the room is already taken, so please leave." Tanner continued to hold the door and motion for Mr. Fish to vacate, and finally, he took the hint and stepped out into the hall.
“Call Blake if you change your mind.” He drawled.
"I'll do that," Tanner said and slammed the door and locked it. Damn, that guy was annoying. Salem's pretentiousness was grating, but he didn't come close to Mr. Fish's level of grandiosity. There is no way that man would have been satisfied in a place like this. Within a week, he would be trying to worm his way out of any agreements, and Tanner had no time for that foolishness, and he had no time for Mr. Fish.
Now, he could put his focus on that dreamboat, Zeke Montgomery. He headed for his bedroom to call Zeke since he had furniture in that room, and he could sit down comfortably on his bed. His spirits were high, thinking about having Zeke as his roommate. As he passed by the living room window, it suddenly exploded, and shattered, raining glass shards down upon him.
Tanner ducked down and shielded his head from the flying debris. He received a few cuts on the backs of his hands, but otherwise, he was unhurt. The window was a total loss; nothing was left but a few shards stuck in the casing. He looked out onto the street below but saw no one and nothing to indicate what had destroyed his window. "Fuck!" He shouted when suddenly it began to rain.
He ran to his bathroom, grabbed the shower curtain, and hastily tacked it up over the broken pane. He pulled a few pieces of glass out of his hands and rinsed his hands off in the kitchen sink. They were shallow cuts and nothing to worry about.
Now, he had to call the landlord and see how quickly he could get it fixed. The man was not known for doing anything quickly. Tanner hoped it did not influence Zeke's acceptance of the apartment. He really needed a roommate within the week if he hoped to be able to pay the rent. Mr. Fish had been taking pokes at him, but he wasn't wrong. Tanner had very little time, but with that said, there was no way in hell he would ever share an apartment with Loren Fish. Tanner would rather sleep in his car than live with that conceited prick.
Zeke sat at his desk reviewing the video one more time, focusing more intensely on Tanner, seeing afresh the things that had attracted him to the man. The fact that Tanner was his mate had made everything about him more radiant and appealing, and Zeke now knew why the young man would not leave his thoughts.
He smiled to himself and then looked at the clock on the wall and then down at his phone, sitting next to him on his desk. It was not four o'clock yet, and the waiting was excruciating.
