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PAIGE: In the meantime, though, I’m going to enjoy seeing it while I can.
Chapter 10
“Long time no see, man,” Evan said as he held the door open, his smile wide.
“I’ve missed you, too,” David returned, accepting the good-natured jab as he stepped inside the apartment, which had once been the attic of the old Victorian house until it was converted into a living space.
“I didn’t say I missed you. I said ‘long time no see’.”
“I can read between the lines, Dick.”
“Jesus Christ. Have I told you lately how much I hate that fucking nickname?” Evan asked, closing the door. “My entire family is actually calling me that, now, including my mom. Oh, and my nieces and nephew call me ‘Uncle Dick’, now.”
David grinned. “Sorry.”
“Fuck you. You’re not sorry. It’s going to end up on my headstone, I just know it.”
Evan pointed toward the living room, indicating David should make himself at home, then disappeared down the hall.
Still grinning, David wandered into the living room. It was a fairly large space with intricately detailed crown moldings and a stunning parquet floor partially covered by a white, seventies-style shag rug that gave the room a retro vibe. This vibe was reinforced by the couch David parked his ass on, a ten-foot long monster of bottle-green velvet and comfortable as fuck. It had deep cushions, a low, tufted back and rolled arms, and probably could’ve comfortably sat half a dozen people, if Evan was ever inclined to invite that many people over.
A pair of chairs were arranged directly across from the couch that looked like they’d either once belonged in Buckingham Palace or a brothel. They had high, throne-like backs, with elaborately carved legs and arm rests painted a shiny gold, with the seat cushions upholstered in a busy pattern of pink, red, and purple flowers.
The coffee table situated in the middle appeared to have been made by someone with questionable woodworking skills in a dark room, before being tossed in a dumpster, which is where David suspected Evan had rescued it from. David thought it was the ugliest thing he’d ever seen, but he never had to be concerned with using a coaster and he could put his feet up on it with zero worries of being chastised.
Evan appeared and handed a beer and a glass to David, then took a seat on the couch a few feet away. He then proceeded to lean back and put his feet up on the coffee table, his heavy boots probably leaving a new dent on the already scarred surface.
“So, what’s been keeping you so busy?” Evan asked, taking a long drink of his Corona and focusing his dark brown eyes on David. “Little Man?”
David carefully poured the Hazed & Infused Pale Ale into his glass. “Mostly that,” he replied. “Being a single dad is taking some getting used to.”
“You were always a single dad.”
“Not like this. I know Ashley wasn’t a big help, but there were times when she was a little help.”
Evan made a face. “A ringing endorsement.”
“I know.”
David took a sip of his beer just as the telltale whoosh alerted him to an incoming text. Jacob was staying at Ashley’s that night, so he quickly pulled the phone out of his pocket to check it. He hoped like hell it didn’t have anything to do with Jacob’s visit even though it probably would, since Ashley couldn’t seem to get through one night without multiple texts, usually asking things she should already know.
To his delight, it was from Paige. She was working that night, which was a massive bummer, because it could’ve been an opportunity to spend the night with her again.
PAIGE: Here’s a video of Sputnik I thought you’d like. It’s from a few days ago.
David immediately opened the video and watched as Sputnik literally sat on the floor in the living room, watching (but otherwise completely ignoring) the little laser light that Paige was trying to get him to chase. After thirty seconds of this, Sputnik stood, did the arched-back cat stretch, then strolled off, his tail high in the air. The video then rotated up to Paige’s face, her expression one of disbelief for a long, humorous moment, before ending.
DAVID: That’s hilarious.
PAIGE: He’s normally pretty playful, but that day he was giving me the finger.
DAVID: He was just exercising his right to be a badass.
PAIGE: Whatever.
PAIGE: So, what are you doing tonight?
DAVID: Hanging out with my friend, dick.
