Just His

Chapter 2-1

Chapter 2

“And really,” Adrian said in a soft, contemplative voice, “I think that’s my question for you.”

“I’m on a sabbatical from the hospital where I worked. Jez said I could stay here for a while. That no one was using it.”

Adrian smiled. He had a great smile. “She was wrong.”

“Well, hell,” Geoff mumbled.

“You may as well come in, Geoff.” Adrian looked past him. “You’re definitely not going down the mountain tonight, anyway.”

“I have groceries in my car. I stopped on the way because I thought I was staying.”

“I’m not kicking you out. There’s plenty of room here.”

“You drive a motorcycle now?” Geoff blurted out.

“No.” Adrian shook his head. “That bike belongs to Gil, a guy I used to see. He left it here when it wouldn’t start.”

“Oh. Is he coming back for it?”

“Maybe. Who knows? That was three months ago.”

Same old Adrian. Weird as ever.

“Uh. I’ll, um, just get my things out of the car then. I could go find a room at a lodge,” he suggested. He didn’t want to, but he wasn’t sure he wanted this awkward time with Adrian either. He’d never quite fully understood Adrian, and that had been part of the appeal and the problem.

“I already said you could stay.”

Adrian didn’t offer to help him, so Geoff went back out to his car and got his grocery bags and his suitcase, then returned to the house. He was freezing his nuts off and he had to admit going anywhere else in this bitter cold did not thrill him. Damn Jez anyway.

The door had been left open and Adrian was nowhere to be seen. But as Geoff closed the front door behind him, he heard the click of running toenails on the wood floor. He turned just as a Welsh corgi came dashing at him.

“Salem, down,” Adrian called from somewhere unseen.

Salem, the dog presumably, jumped down, but stared eagerly at Geoff.

“I didn’t know you had a dog.”

Adrian reappeared, holding a glass of red wine in his hand. He wore that impish smile that used to drive Geoff to distraction. “Why would you? It’s not like we’ve kept in touch.”

Geoff took his groceries to the kitchen, and both Adrian and the dog followed him.

“Want some wine?”

“What kind is it?”

“It’s a cab.” Adrian smirked. “You preferred white, as I recall.”

“I prefer whiskey, actually,” Geoff replied. “But I think I’ll pass. I need something hot, I think.”

“I’ve got the heat on and there’s a fire in the hearth down here.” Adrian glanced up. “You can have the second room on the right. There’s an attached bathroom.”

Geoff nodded. “I remember.”

“And a gas fireplace. You can use it, if you like. Just don’t burn the place down.”

“That’s just what I intend to do,” Geoff said sarcastically. “If this is inconvenient—”

Adrian snorted at that. “Of course it’s inconvenient. For me, for you. But I’m all grown up, Geoff, I can handle you here. And I know you can handle me here.”

“How come Jez didn’t know you were living here?”

“Maybe she does,” Adrian said with a shrug. “Who’s to say this isn’t another one of her games?”