Just Us Box Set

And This Is Ed-8

Sunday afternoon I spent delivering meals and doing safety checks on the elderly. One of the oldest residents on my roster fainted while I was visiting, and by the time the ambulance arrived, he had slipped into a coma. I carried that event with me for the rest of the day.

Voldemort actually lay across my lap that evening, perhaps sensing how down I was. I petted him lightly while I watched On Golden Pond, a favorite movie of my father’s. I fell asleep near the end, and when I awoke the next morning, my neck wasn’t happy with me.

I took a really hot shower to loosen things up, then got ready to head out. It would be interesting to see Titus’s reaction to my choice of meeting places. Whatever he wanted from me, he’d have to prove himself first. I dressed in worn black jeans and an old green T-shirt. I wasn’t dressed to impress, deliberately. I did a final check of my face in the mirror, since I’d nicked myself with the razor earlier.

I had my dad’s light brown skin and my mom’s inky black wavy hair from her Mexican ancestry. My brown eyes looked ready for anything. Dad was of mixed race. His father was German and had just arrived in America before falling in love with my grandma Mel, an African American jazz singer who’d swept him off his feet.

I parked in front of the building with five minutes to spare, next to a dark blue Mustang with tinted windows. I got out of my truck, then noticed Titus exiting the sports car. He was early.

“Morning, Ed.” He came up to me and smiled. “When I asked if we could meet, I was hoping for breakfast or lunch, preferably dinner.”

“That seems rather personal, since I hardly know you, Titus, and this is what I do in my spare time. If you want to talk to me about something, you’ll have to do it while we’re working, unless this isn’t your scene, then I’ll see you at work tomorrow.” It was a challenge. I wanted to see what he would do.

“Well, I guess there’s a first time for everything.” He gamely smiled, and I led the way inside.

Tabitha was busy with the other volunteers who would be working today. “Hi, love,” she said when she finally caught my eye. “Who’s your handsome friend?”

“This is Titus. I invited him to help out today, since I knew you had that big event at the community center, as well as the regular meal deliveries to get done.”

“Fabulous,” she exclaimed. “I could really use both of you at the center today. We need people to work the buffet and to act as gophers whenever needed. Think you can handle that?”

I glanced at Titus, who nodded slowly, bemused. “Sure thing. We’ll head on over there right now.”

“Bless you both,” she replied, and handed us some T-shirts and aprons to use before sending us on our way.

“Do you want to follow me in your car, or car pool?” I asked as we stood between our vehicles.

“I’ll follow you,” Titus replied, looking a little uncomfortable, though I wasn’t sure why.

“You okay there, buddy?”

He looked startled for a second, then pasted on a smile. “I’m fine, thanks. Lead the way.” I had to be satisfied with that.

* * * *

It was hard work, but the guests at the community center had a great time, as far as I could tell. There was a lot of food, activities, performances, and even bingo and poker. One of the seniors suggested strip poker, but that didn’t fly. Whew! As for Titus, he looked the worse for wear, but by the end of the day, he seemed to have gotten into the groove of things.

We walked together to our vehicles when it was over, a little sweaty and tired, but pleased with our efforts. “You do this sort of thing all the time?” Titus asked as he unlocked his car trunk and pulled out a fresh shirt.

I watched as he stripped out of the stained one he’d been wearing and pulled the fresh one over his head. And no, I will not comment about tight abs or lickable n*****s or anything along those lines.

“Pretty much whenever I have free time. I find it very rewarding.” I would wait until I got home before I changed. I certainly did not look as good as Titus did shirtless.

“Don’t you ever do anything else? Hang out with your peers, or whatever?” He slammed the trunk closed, then unlocked the driver’s side door.

“My staff and I have a get-together once a month at a bar or restaurant somewhere.”

“Why don’t you tell people about the stuff you do here?”

“Why should I? I’m a private person. What I do on my own time is my business. I don’t need to have my f*****g ego stroked.” Okay, that was a little pissy of me, but it was a sore point.

Titus raised his hands in surrender. “Sorry, didn’t mean to upset you.”

I took a deep breath. “I apologize for snapping at you. Look…it’s something I do, just for me, and I don’t share those things often, unless I feel I have a connection with someone, or in rare circumstances. With you, I dunno. Maybe it was a dare, but you came through with flying colors.”

I expected Titus to grin and preen, but instead he looked, shaken. “I…thanks.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Hey, how about a meal? My treat? What would you like?”

“You sure you want to be seen with me? I’m stained and sweaty.” I tugged at my T-shirt. Maybe I should just find a restroom and put on a clean top or change in my car.

He frowned. “Why wouldn’t I? How about the steakhouse downtown?”

I shook my head. “Too fancy. There’s a bar and grill around the corner from here. Decent food, down-to-earth people. If you’re buying, then that’s what I want.”