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24
Max
I’m standingaround the buffet table stacked with donuts and cookies with Leo. Sunday night meetings are my favorites; everyone is so relaxed as if their work weeks give them the drive to drink. Leo is talking about how insane his fiancée is driving him with wedding details and all I am thinking of is getting home and seeing Tatum.
After all the meetings we attend together, we linger and have a donut with stale coffee while we catch up. Even though we see another twice a week, it’s good to catch up on what’s been going on. Most of the time, we don’t talk about anything other than his upcoming wedding. This time around, I can’t wait for him to finish his latest, so I can tell him that Tatum moved in finally.
She moved in and I am trying to refrain from thinking about her as anything other than my roommate. I don’t know how this sort of thing works, I’ve never lived with a female before, I practically begged for Betsy to move in, but she liked her own space and even though she had plenty of her belongings at my house and stayed over more often than not, she still refused to make it official.
Tatum has got a slight baby bump, it’s not too noticeable, but I swear that I saw it when she came out into the backyard wearing the tank top that was practically flashing her high-beams at me this morning.
“You’re awfully quiet, yet you seem alright… what’s up brother?” Leo asks.
“Tatum, she moved in yesterday.” I smile.
“Whoa, really? I thought she hadn’t given you an answer?” Leo says.
“She sprung it up on me when she stopped by, which by the way was a little awkward.” I clear my throat. “Nikki had stopped by, for some quick release.”
“Nikki… is she the college student? One of the hook-ups?”
“Yeah, a steady one.”
“Whoa, how did that go? Tatum didn’t interrupt, or walk in… did she?” Leo was a bit dramatic.
“Not at all. I couldn’t go through with it with Nikki. Tatum would have probably interrupted if I could have though.” I ran my hand through my hair. “Nikki and I, well we’re friends too. And well, we’ll stay that way, and only that way now.”
“Are you and Tatum..?” Leo asks.
“No, no, and no! We’re getting to know one another, we’re just roommates.” I explain.
“Okay, sure.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“We’ve known another for what, 3-4 months now? I’ve known you to be driven and moody in the little time we’ve been acquainted. Right now, right now you look eager to get home to your woman.”
“Shut up.” I don’t think that’s true, is it?
“I’m just calling it like I see it man. So, when do I get to meet her?”
“Whenever. Maybe you and your lady can come over next week for dinner? I can clear it with Tatum and then yeah.” I offer.
“Yup, clear it with your woman and I’ll clear it with mine.” Leo smirks. I playfully punch him.
* * *
I unlockthe front door and hear the hum of the television from the living room. The house is mainly dark except a lamp is on next to the couch. Tatum is sitting on the couch surrounded by drawings and construction paper. School had started earlier this week, Tatum is sitting cross legged and dammit she’s wearing that tank top again. Rule number three is broken and now I’m thinking inappropriate thoughts.
“Oh shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t know when you’d be home. I’ll clean this up. Just some school work.”
“This looks better than when Davis would sit around with his school work for his class. It all looked much more boring, yours is colorful.”
She laughs softly and starts stacking some of the drawings. I grab a few off the arm of the couch.
“What’s this supposed to be?” I ask holding up a drawing.
“The topic was summer plans. I think that’s a house. Let me see whose it is?” She stands and comes closer to me, I can clearly see through her tank top, thankfully she’s wearing a bra. My pants are tightening, which seems wrong while I’m holding a 5 year old’s homework assignment.
