Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:20:51 -0600
From: Jonothan Wolf <jwolf24450@gmail.com>
Subject: The Funny Thing Is... Chapter 16

**Standard disclaimer applies. This is purely fiction (if based only
slightly on actual events). Don't read if you shouldn't because you're
under 18 or live in a backwards area. This is a continuation of The List.
It isn't necessary to read The List, but it would help in understanding
characters and references. I appreciate any and all feedback, so please
email me at jwolf24450@gmail.com. Enjoy the story!

        The Funny Thing Is... I Never Imagined I Would End Up Alone
        They say that earthquakes come in an instant. One second, you're on
solid footing and the next, the world is literally crumbling beneath your
feet. Living in Texas, I never experienced an earthquake. Until one showed
up straight from California and landed on my doorstep.
	"I'm sorry," I said. I had heard him just fine, but I couldn't
think of a more appropriate response.
	"I said it's nice to finally meet the man who's been fucking around
with my husband."
	I swallowed so hard I felt like my Adam's apple might burst through
my throat.
	"Don't you mean ex-husband?"
	Morgan shifted his weight, balancing between the door and the door
frame. The slenderness of his body formed a very seductive `s' shape. His
eyes narrowed and I swear he could have spit fire right into my face.
	"What exactly did Chase tell you?"
	"I don't think that's any of your business," I said, regaining my
footing and fighting through my desire to run for the high heavens.
	Morgan tilted his head and narrowed his eyes even further. I knew I
had to answer his question, so I took a deep breath and ripped off the band
aid.
	"He didn't say much other than that you were getting a divorce, and
he was moving on with his life. He did, however, mention that you a are
very specific kind of crack head."
	I knew it was a sharp dig, but I didn't care. He had gotten
aggressive first, and I wasn't about to be taken down by a rehabilitated
drug addict in a monogrammed bath towel.
	His response to my insult was nothing more than an icy smile.
	"Maybe you should come in," he said, opening the door wider. He
opened up his body to make a way for me to get in. I thought for a
second. I could run from this. I could run as fast as possible, straight
into another guy's arms.
	And I knew exactly who that other guy was.
	But I didn't want to. I wanted to fight for us, and this was my
chance. I decided in that split second that I wouldn't run until I got the
explanation and knew exactly what was going on.
	"Maybe I should I come back when Chase is here," I said.
	"What are you afraid of?" Morgan teased.
	Nothing, I thought. I couldn't say it out loud. Instead, I followed
him into the suite and took a seat on the couch. While my eyes adjusted to
the dimmer light inside the hotel room, Morgan dropped his towel and sat
down opposite me on the bed.
	It was clear why anyone would be attracted to him. He was svelte,
but he was incredibly sexy. His body was hard, almost as if he were carved
out of stone. I was glad he crossed his legs before my once over made its
way down to his crotch. I wasn't sure I could handle seeing exactly what
was dangling down there.
	I took the brief moment while the two of us got situated to sort
through my instincts. My first thought was that Chase had obviously called
his ex into town as a sort of rebound `fuck you' to me. It wasn't the sort
of bitchery that Chase was usually known for, but I had just told him I
might still be in love with Kyle. I couldn't blame him if he did call in a
warm body.
	And so what if he had? What would I do? I knew what I would have
done in the past. In the past, I wouldn't have even gone inside or
entertained the thought of hearing him out. And yet there I was.
	"Are you going to tell me what you're doing here?" I asked finally,
once the silence had become unbearable.
	"You know, you look so different than I expected," he said, his
whispery voice barely making it to where I sat. His `s' sounds had a
definitive hiss quality to them, and every consonant was punched hard,
almost as if he was acting in a soap opera at all times. "Chase has told me
a lot about you."
	I knew he was trying to get under my skin, and I wasn't going to
let him. I was tipsy and on a mission.
	"You aren't what I expected either," I replied with a curt
smile. He raised an eyebrow.
	"And what were you expecting?"
	I smiled the bitchiest smile I could muster up.
	"Track marks."
	Morgan smirked at me, stretched his arms over his head and lay back
on the bed dramatically. I could see his entire form, smooth, hard, and
tattooed. His pecker lay soft and to the left, dangling over a set of
massive balls. If I wasn't in love, I would definitely have entertained the
thought of jumping his bones.
	I shifted in my seat.
	"I'm curious what exactly Chase told you about me," he whispered.
	"Not a lot," I replied. "I guess there wasn't much worth telling."
	"You're a funny guy, you know that? Witty. Your readers must
fucking love that," he said, sitting up on his elbows. "But I'm the one he
called, remember. Now, remind me. Are you able to say that?"
	It was the first time since I'd arrived that his words actually
affected me. The way he said it made it clear he knew the entire story, and
I was suddenly embarrassed to be sitting there across from a naked stoner,
waiting for someone who was clearly not interested in seeing me. I took in
a deep breath, decided that as much as I wanted to, I didn't have quite the
fight that I thought.
	"I think I'll just call Chase in the morning," I said standing and
making my way towards the door, lying to myself that I did, in fact, intend
to call him. If this was the kind of guy that he was attracted to when I
was away, he could have him.
	As if it were scripted for some Broadway play, just as I reached
the door, it opened from the outside and Chase stepped in holding two
non-descript paper bags that smelled strongly of soy and chives.
	"Morg, they were out of—" he stopped dead in his tracks when he
saw me. It took him a second to register the look on my face, but when he
did, he dropped the take out and squared off in front of me.
	"What are you doing here?" he asked.
	"I asked him the same thing," Morgan said.
	"I came to tell you the truth," I replied.
	"I think we've had enough truth between the two of us."
	"Chase, I know that what I told you was hurtful and wrong. And I
don't even know why I said it. The fact is, I love you, and I have always
loved you, and I would give up anything to be with you." I turned around
and saw Morgan standing behind me, towel once again around his waist. "And
if I'm too late, I will live with that, but you deserve to know that I
chose you. And I'll do whatever it takes."
	I stepped around him and over the Chinese brown bags. I felt him
reach for my arm just as I made it to the hallway. In one swift motion, he
turned me around and kissed me like I had never been kissed before. It was
like I was finally able to let myself go with him in a way that surpassed
even our most passionate moments in college. There was no where in the
world I wanted to be more than in his arms right then and there.
	And then I was brought back to reality.
	"Um, excuse me," the whisper stunned me back to life. "Am I missing
something here?"
	"Shut up," Chase said to Morgan without even looking at Morgan. "I
brought your Chinese food. Eat it, and don't leave the hotel. I'll be back
in an hour."
	  Morgan started to shout something, but the door slammed in his
face. Chase roughly pushed me against the opposite wall. I briefly wondered
if the other guests in the hotel were prepared to see two grown men making
out in the hallway like school boys against a locker. I barely cared.
	I breathed in heavily when Chase finally let me out for a breather.
	"Gamin, I'm never fucking letting you go," he panted. He held my
head with both hands and kissed me again. I pulled back an inch and looked
him in his sincere and deep blue eyes.
	"What about Morgan?"
	"He's okay. I'll explain later," he said. He cupped the back of my
neck and brought me up to his face. I felt like a little girl being swept
away by her much hotter, taller, and stronger lover.
	Still the fact that his ex-husband was one unlocked door away left
me uneasy. I pushed him back slightly against his rock hard stomach that
once carried the sexiest eight pack I'd ever seen.
	"Maybe we should wait," I whispered.
	He looked at me like a kid who had just been told Christmas was
still another week away. He didn't say it, but I got a definite `are you
kidding me vibe' from his expression.
	"Why?"
	"Chase, Morgan is right in there," I said. "I feel weird."
	"And we're out here."
	"Why is he even here?"
	"I said I'd explain it later."
	"I don't know if I can do this until I hear the explanation," I
said honestly. I took a step back.
	Chase just shook his head slowly at me.
	"Do you have any clue how fucking frustrating you are? You put me
through every single ringer a guy could imagine."
	I could tell he was slightly joking, but very serious. We had been
through it all and I was still playing games. He wanted me to fight for
us. Here I was.
	Instead of responding, I stepped into his frame, and lifted my head
up to meet his. I ground my body into his and let him melt around me in a
big hug. We kissed again, against the wall, for another few minutes. As
soon as Chase's hands traveled down my chest to my stomach and lifted my
T-shirt above my beltline, I felt uneasy yet again.
	"Okay," I said, pulling back again. "We definitely can't do that
out here; are you crazy?"
	He looked at me with a face of resignation for a second. And then a
light bulb went off in his head.
	"It's a good thing we're in a hotel then," he said. It was the
quickest I'd ever seen anyone move towards an elevator. I guess for someone
like Chase being with someone like me, he wanted to consummate my decision
before I changed my mind again. And I didn't blame him one bit. I knew how
I could be. If I were him, I'd want to seal the deal as soon as possible
too.
	I waited in the hallway, pacing back and forth for Chase to return
with a new room key to a new room. I could have suggested we go back to my
place, but I didn't know how he felt about leaving Morgan.
	And as soon as that creeper reentered my thoughts, any traces of
libido I had in me vanished. I was still slightly tipsy from drinking with
Spencer, and so all judgment and rational thought were floating somewhere
overhead.
	Instead of keeping cool like I'd done brilliantly to start, I
knocked on the door and waited for the crack head to answer.
	"Finished already?" he asked when he peaked his head out and saw
that I was alone. "When he's with me, he goes for so much longer."
	"I think you meant to say when he was with you. You should know
that he's with me now, and I'm not losing him again," I snarled. I choked
back a burp. "And I don't know why the hell you're here or what the fuck
you've done, but know that he loves me and he always has. And if you try to
get between that..."
	"Are you threatening me?" he hissed, his speech pattern so slow.
	"If I was threatening you, you'd know it," I bluffed, raising an
eyebrow. "For example, I would say something like this. If I were you, I'd
get on the next plane back to L.A. and forget Chase Pallendrino ever even
happened to you."
	A second later, I saw the door fly open in a swift motion. A hand
shot up and grabbed me by the neck, propelling me into the wall behind
me. I could see the visceral hatred within his eyes as he held me firmly,
not quite choking me, but rendering me unable to move.
	"You listen to me," he whispered. "You know nothing about Chase and
my relationship, so if you plan on keeping your little Ken doll down here,
you'd better play nice. He may love you, for reasons I will never
understand, but he trusts me. And I could make this whole thing a living
nightmare for you. Understand... gamin?"
	He loosened his grip and shook off his hand, looking me up and down
as he did. I looked up and down the hall, wondering if anyone had seen this
lunatic attack me.
	When his once over was complete, he looked me in the eye for a
burning second and spit on the wall right next to me.
	That was definitely the last and final straw.
	As he turned around to reenter the hotel room, I pounced on his
back, and wrapped my arm around his neck in a vice grip. Almost
immediately, his knees buckled under my average weight, and we both went
tumbling.
	"You're a fucking two bit replacement card!" I shouted like a girl
in a cat fight as I straddled him and dug my knee into his back. With all
my might, I pushed his head down into the ground. I knew anyone who left
their rooms right then would see nothing but his legs squirming right
outside the door, trying to break free.
	He mumbled something I couldn't understand, so I lifted his head up
by a clump of hair.
	"What was that?" I asked calmly.
	"You're a fucking midlife crisis, you washed up piece of shit," he
snarled, raising his voice for the first time. I loosened my grip for just
a second, enough time for him to slither around and grab my neck from
below.
	This time, he wasn't trying to scare me. He was trying to injure
me. I flailed, landed a hit across his chin, and before I could place a
second one, I felt someone lift me up like I was a rag doll from a pile of
dirty clothes.
	Everything sort of swirled around me as my head refilled with
air. I watched in slow silence as Chase set me aside and stepped between
Morgan and I. He was in definite attack mode, with his hand in Morgan's
face. I caught every few words as I tried to ring out my ear.
	The shouting was mostly about Chase being unreliable and Morgan
being an ingrate. As it unraveled, every other word for every other word, I
learned that Chase hadn't called Morgan to come all the way to Dallas for a
cross continental booty call. He'd put him on a flight because when Chase
called to check up on him, he was clearly drunk and quite possibly
stoned. A little bit of investigation, and Chase found out that Morgan had
missed two weeks worth of meetings and was on an epic bender.
	"On my fucking dime! I'm paying for you to be here, you'll respect
me and my friends."
	"If I'm such a burden, send me back," Morgan said. He turned around
in his usual saunter, gave Chase one more challenging look, and then closed
the door.
	"Are you okay?" he asked me, moving quicker than I'd ever seen him
do. He was usually so laid back and relaxed; it was jarring seeing him so
worked up. As sexy as he'd been defending me before, this time, I was too
high strung to be turned on by his behavior.
	"I'm fine," I said, shaking it off. My ear was still ringing, but
with less commotion going on around, I could focus a lot better. "Take me
home?"
	He nodded. As we walked down the hallway, Chase took my hand and
pulled me close. I realized right before we got to the elevator that we
were walking in perfect step.
	"What the fuck were you doing getting in a fight with a drug
addict?" Chase asked in the elevator. He had a hint of humor in his voice
and I looked up and smiled at him. I shrugged weakly and he pulled me in to
a soft hug.
	"What the hell am I going to do with you, Cooper Carpenter?" he
asked himself.
	Twenty minutes and one returned hotel room later, Chase and I
finally made it to my apartment. There was a tentative half second where he
motioned to come in and I turned to say goodbye. I assumed he had to go
back and tend to his detox patient.
	"Are you staying?" I asked.
	"I can. I never want to leave you alone again."
	"What about Morgan?"
	Chase stepped in, closed the door and sighed. "Morgan is on his
last piece of rope with me."
	I could tell he was aggravated. I led him through the house to the
bar area where I poured tonic water for myself and started a pot of coffee
for the two of us.
	"Is he ever going to be okay?" I asked, my head still throbbing. I
sat down next to Chase and tried my best to simply listen.
	"Probably not. He has this thing, I don't get it. He could
literally have everything in the world. He's gorgeous. He modeled a little
after Rio, you know that? He's insanely smart. He's the biggest manipulator
I've ever seen. He can get people to do things they'd never dream of in a
million years. And yet he wastes it on fucking drugs and
hookers. It's... disappointing."
	"I can imagine."
	Chase shook his head. "Not unless you've seen it first hand."
	"Hello, I think I just did. I need a hepatitis booster shot from
seeing it first hand."
	"Gamin, it's been so much worse. There were times when I was afraid
to be in the room with him because even I couldn't calm him down." Chase
took a big pause and I noticed a rare tear form at the edge of his eyes,
making the blue that penetrated me so much deeper. As quickly as it
appeared, it disappeared and Chase was back.
	"I'm afraid that if he's left on his own for too long, he'll
die. Or even worse, he'll hurt someone to get money or something."
	I knew what Chase was implying. Instead of responding, I stood up
and checked on the coffee. As he told me more about the dynamic, me
sobering up slowly and listening to someone I cared about tell me their
biggest life burden, I couldn't get one nagging thought out of my
brain. After two cups of coffee and an hour and half of listening, I
finally found the perfect moment to ask it.
	"I'll see if there's an in-treatment program around here, maybe
down south a little. He won't like it, but if I'm paying for it, he'll go."
	I nodded.
	"Chase, I have one question for you. And I don't want you to take
this the wrong way; and this isn't me conjuring up another reason to
leave. I just need to know something."
	"Go ahead."
	"If he wasn't how he is... if he was clean and sober and the great
guy that you knew when you met him, would you ever have come back?"
	I saw the wheels turning in his head as he contemplated an honest
answer. I knew I was treading dangerous territory asking it, but I had to
know. It had gnawed at me for almost two hours. I wasn't sure what I'd do
with either answer, but I knew that one response wasn't driving me away
again.
	"I think so."
	It wasn't the three words I wanted, but it wasn't the three words
I'd expected, either. I think so was better than no and more honest than
yes. And for the time being, I think so would do.
	There was no appropriate response to that, so I simply leaned in,
kissed Chase, and changed the subject.
	I was brought back to reality when I stepped on campus the next
morning, reminded of the fact that I had to do something about keeping my
job. I gave my students the best lectures I could under the circumstance,
but for the entire day, my mind was elsewhere.
	I asked Kyle about my options over the phone during lunch and he
told me that when it came to fighting the academic world, I really didn't
have any.
	"They have exceptions built into your contract left and right. You
fail the wrong student and their father complains by donating a new wing to
the science center, and you're done."
	I was perplexed that pre-tenure teachers had such a microscope over
them, but it wasn't worth stressing out over, especially considering I had
a million other things to stress out over. I had a few weeks to come up
with a plan before the book went to print.
	The other thing Kyle had to say was much more important.
	"The judge emailed us this morning. He explained the procedure to
the kids. They'll have two weeks to come up with a decision. He told them
that it was per your request that they both choose the same thing. In two
weeks, he'll schedule a hearing with them. Franklin and I will attend that
meeting and they'll give the judge their choice."
	"It's that simple? Like ordering off a menu?"
	"I'm afraid it is," Kyle said. I could tell he was reading
something while he talked to me. His voice sounded fast and
distant. "You're coming Saturday, right?"
	"Yeah," I said. "I wouldn't miss it. I'm assuming its adults only?"
	"Look, I know Ceej is staying with you for the weekend, but
yes. It's adults only." I frowned for a second, but I understood. This was
a life changing announcement for Kyle and I wouldn't miss it for the world.
	"Last thing and I'll let you go," I said. "Can I bring a plus one?"
	I saw it clearly in my mind. Kyle sat up, took his glasses off, and
moved the phone from one ear to the other.
	"Yeah, I don't see why not. Who do you have in mind?"
	I could tell he was trying to be breezy and nonchalant about asking
me. I wasn't stupid enough to believe Spencer hadn't already told him I'd
broken up with Chase for a moment... literally, a moment. But I hadn't even
told Spencer how my night had gone, so none of them knew that we had
essentially gotten back together.
	"Chase," I said as if it was common knowledge.
	"Oh. Of course." It was the only response I got from Kyle. The rest
of the conversation involved me telling him I'd talk to him later and to
keep me posted on anything the judge said.
	Within minutes my phone rang with Spencer on the other line.
	"Nope. No way. You're not doing it," he said before I even said
hello. I looked at the clock and realized I had to endure him for twenty
minutes before my next lecture was set to start.
	"I beg your pardon?"
	"You're taking Chase to Kyle's event? That's like taking Barack
Obama to dinner at Crawford Ranch."
	I rolled my eyes and wondered if Spencer had watched a lick of news
since taking Current Events in college. I'd bet on no.
	"It's not a big deal," I replied.
	"You didn't just get a text from Kyle saying that it is in fact a
big deal."
	"This is the thing. Let's say I don't take him to this event. There
will be events that he comes to. He's in my life and he's in it for good,"
I said, getting slightly agitated. I don't know why I thought things would
be easier now that I was solid in my decision. I still needed my friends to
be on my side, and it was looking like that would be an uphill climb.
	"Yeah, Coop, but this isn't about you and Chase. This is Kyle's day
and he doesn't deserve being stressed out by having you and your boyfriend
there."
	"You guys will have to see him at some point. You'll have to bury
the animosity."
	"We can bury it at a party at your house. At least that way people
can leave."
	"We're adults, Spence," I replied. "If Kyle really has a problem
with it, he'll call and tell me. Besides, Britney's coming, right? No one
can stand her."
	"Britney is bringing a check with enough money to repave Loop 12,"
Spencer replied. "Money trumps brand new boyfriend."
	I sighed, said goodbye, and hung up. Maybe it was a bad idea to
take him to the party. But after what Bass had said, minimizing my
relationship because it hadn't received the stamp of approval from the
other three Musketeers, I thought this time I'd do it right and show him
off.
	I thought about pitching a fit. If Chase couldn't come, then I
wouldn't go. I could make it that simple. That catty. But then I had the
brainstorm of all brainstorms.
	I recited my last lecture of the day with a different tone. I was
hopeful and excited, and I couldn't wait to get out of class and set
everything in motion.
	I called Devon from my office and asked her if I could have CJ for
dinner. She was reluctant at first, until I reminded her that she couldn't
keep me from seeing them for fourteen days until Judge Sizemore called them
back into his chambers. She said I could pick him up from school, but he
had a big science test the following day, so she'd prefer it to be an early
dinner.
	"I'll have him home by eight," I said, annoyed that I had to
coordinate with her in the first place.
	His face lit up like a Christmas tree when he saw me round the
middle school pick up at 3:25. He left the bus line and came to my open
window.
	"Hop in, we're hanging out," I said. He gave me a quizzical look.
	"Does mom know?"
	"Yes, she knows, killer, now get in the car. It's cold," I replied.
	"Can we take Chris home? He hates riding the bus and he lives by
your place."
	 I nodded and CJ ran back to the line to get his friend. We drove
around the northern part of the Village until we found Chris's house.
	"Thanks Mr. C," he said as he stepped out of the Audi and into an
expansive driveway that led to an immaculate brownstone. CJ slid back into
the front seat.
	"So what's the occasion?"
	"What? I can't kidnap my own son for no good reason?" I asked with
a smirk.
	"So mom doesn't know?" he had a worried look on his face that
actually pained me.
	"Your mother knows I have you, son. And that's not something you
have to worry about ever. You understand me?"
	"Yes," he said as I pulled out and down onto Fitzhugh Avenue. My
plan was to pick up some steaks from the Whole Foods on Park Lane and grill
them out with CJ. "But she's been super weird lately."
	"Weird how?" I asked, not intentionally trying to pry, but curious
at the shift the kids had obviously noted.
	"Well she's like super excited about going to Chicago. She keeps
hinting at what a wonderful start it'll be for the whole family."
	It made me upset that she considered her and the two kids the whole
family, but I didn't show my disdain. I simply nodded, agreed, and
listened.
	"Is she trying to coerce you?"
	"The judge said you both would in your own way." CJ looked at me
with a raised eyebrow. He was probably contemplating how he could get me to
bribe him with something expensive.
	"I'm sure that's not all he said, kiddo."
	"Yeah. He said that we should ignore all the presents we're about
to get and think about which one of you two would provide the most
comfortable and stable life."
	I wanted so desperately to ask him where he was leaning. I could
have and it wouldn't have mattered. But the truth was, I knew it wasn't
fair to him. I knew he would struggle with disappointing one of us, that
one could very well end up being me, and to put undue pressure on him would
just make that worse.
	"Well, you still have plenty of time to decide. And I assure you
this dinner is not about bribing you to stay," I said. I pulled into the
parking lot at Whole Foods and found a spot towards the back with the other
luxury cars too pretentious to park next to a Ford pickup that could
haphazardly put a ding on the detailing.
	"Do you not want us, Dad?" CJ asked as I pulled into the spot. I
was so taken aback by the sentence that my foot actually jerked off the
break. I turned to him slowly.
	"What in the world gave you that idea?"
	I turned off the car, undid my seat belt and faced him square on.
	"I don't know. It kind of seems like you do want us to pick mom. I
mean, you left and then started a different life. And now you have the
chance to keep us, and there's no gifts, and you tell the judge that you'd
rather us pick together than separate. It just seems like you're trying to
get rid of us."
	"Okay, we'll start from the beginning on this one," I said, my
brain swirling at how to make him understand why I had done what I had
done. "When I left, I didn't leave you and Liz. You got that? Your mom and
I were struggling for quite some time, and if you had grown up in
that... you would have seen two roommates and not two people in love, and
that would not have been healthy for you. I repeat, I didn't leave and
listen, got that? I never want you to feel like I was leaving you guys. You
mean everything to me. Understood?"
	"Dad we don't have to have this conversation in the middle of a
grocery store," he said with a hint of attitude.
	"Except that we do. I want you to understand that I love you, and I
would never try to hurt you."
	"I get that," he replied.
	"And the reason I want you and your sister to do this together is
because you two are going to hurt because of this for a very long time. I
get that. It's something that I'll have to live with for causing you the
pain of seeing your mom and I split up. You will have to take care of
Lizzy, kiddo. She'll need you more than you know, and you have to be there
for her."
	I saw him roll his eyes.
	"Listen to me. Listen. I can live with you coming to visit me once
or twice a month. I wouldn't be able to live with you not seeing your
sister every single day. Get that, please."
	He nodded. I wasn't sure if he sensed just how serious I was about
the whole thing, but I couldn't sit there in the parking lot and harp on it
forever.
	"For the record, I want you to pick me," I called as we got out of
the car. I pulled him into a side hug and ruffled his hair.
	"Yeah, yeah. Put your money where your mouth is, Dad," he joked. I
punched him in the arm and ran. He chased me to the front of the store
trying to get me back.
	Four angus steaks, a bag of leaks and potatoes, and a bottle of
Mountain Dew later, we loaded the car and drove downtown towards my
apartment.
	"Is Chase coming to dinner?" CJ asked out of nowhere as I prepped
two of the steaks and set water to boil on the stove. He sat on the bar
texting.
	"I didn't ask him," I replied. "Why?"
	"I dunno. I just thought maybe he was."
	"Do you want him to?" I asked. CJ did what I hated most about any
kid. He shrugged, not giving me any indication of his preference. "I can
call him."
	"I'll do it."
	"You have his number?"
	"Yeah." He didn't even look up. I was so confused that I put the
meat down and walked to the opening in the bar.
	"Okay, explain," I said.
	"I got it when I had lunch with y'all on Saturday. After karate
practice."
	"Yeah, yeah, I get that. What? When?"
	"I dunno. I guess you were in the bathroom or on the phone or
something. I told him to come to my showcase on Saturday if mom wasn't
going and he said sure. I said I'd call him and we bumped phones."
	My face must have been some special sort of bewildered. I had no
idea what to make of the fact that my son and my ex turned present
boyfriend had bumped phones and exchanged numbers.
	"He's coming. He asked what kind of wine he should bring."
	"Tell him red," I said. I shook it off and pulled a third steak out
to prep. "This should be easier than I thought."
	"What?"
	"I was going to ask you if you'd be cool staying with Chase this
Saturday night. I'll be at your Uncle Kyle's little party or whatever. I
thought it'd be fun if he came over to watch you."
	"Dad, I'm almost fourteen. Why do I need to be watched?"
	"Are you kidding me? You? You will turn this place into a rager
while I'm gone. I know you, mister."
	"Dad, come on."
	"Okay. Not watched, watched. Just... y'all can hang out. Get to
know each other better. Even though you already text, evidently."
	He looked up from his phone for a second and flipped his shoulder
again.
	"It's fine," he answered. And that was that.
	Chase showed up forty-five minutes later with a bottle of
merlot. He gave me an awkward kiss on the cheek when he rounded the corner
into the kitchen and I knew it was because CJ was sitting right there.
	"Thanks for inviting me to dinner CJ," he said looking at me
pointedly.
	"Well, if I had known that you and my son were texting buddies, I
would have invited you a long time ago."
	"Mmmhmm," he said with a smirk. He shook CJ's hand and took of his
coat. I noticed how fluidly he moved around my apartment, almost as if he
already lived there. He sat down on the love seat with a huge sigh and a
stretch of the arms.
	"Long day?"
	"Very," he said. "I had my orientation meeting at St. Mark's this
morning. I start observing the other coaches at the beginning of the
month. In January, I take over varsity swimming full time. It's crazy fast
how this is moving."
	"Sounds like it," I said as I put food on to serving plates. We
talked over CJ and he couldn't be bothered to look up from his phone.
	"Yeah. And all that, coupled with Morgan being ridiculous. It's a
lot."
	I nodded my understanding, not trusting what I'd say if I tried to
say something.
	"CJ, can you help me set all this stuff on the table while I open
this wine?" I asked. He slithered out of his stool and came into the
kitchen.
	"Can't we sit in the living room? This isn't family dinner or
anything."
	I thought for a second. Technically, he was right. I didn't want to
push something that wasn't there, and I hadn't even thought about the
association of eating at a table. It was a very intimate thing to do with
one's family, and it wasn't something he was ready to do with me and Chase.
	"Yeah, for sure," I replied. "Make a plate."
	While he stuffed his plate and poured a huge glass of Mountain
flavored soda, I made a plate for Chase and I.
	"If you grab the wine glasses and silverware, I'll get the plates,"
I said. We teamworked our way to the living room where we sat on couches
and ate, not like a family. Apparently kids absorb the things adults talk
about even when they're fingers deep in their phone.
	"Did you say you were getting a job at St. Mark's?"
	"Mmm, at the high school," Chase replied. "Swim teacher."
	"Cool," CJ replied, stuffing his face with potatoes and ignoring
the English peas that danced around untouched.
	"Do you swim?"
	"Some," my son replied. "My focus is on karate, though. I'm gonna
move up a belt class on Saturday, I can feel it."
	"I can too," Chase said.
	"You're coming, right?"
	"If it's okay with your dad."
	I smiled and raised a shoulder.
	"I have no problem with it," I said with a smile. I didn't have a
problem with it at all. As surprising as it was that I didn't have to work
at all to get them to get along, it was one thing I was thankful for. Mine
and Chase's relationship would have been dead on arrival if they didn't.
	"It's pretty early, so you should probably sleep here on Friday."
	"Again, only if your dad's okay with it."
	"Umm, newsflash. He's obviously okay with that."
	I almost choked on a piece of meat. Not sure how far he'd take it,
I cut CJ off by changing the subject.
	"Speaking of, I was also hoping you'd do me a favor Saturday
night. Kyle is having a shindig, I tried to get you in, but my friends
are... reluctant. I was hoping you'd stay here with CJ that night. Y'all
can hang out or whatever."
	"Are you asking me to babysit? Does he really need a babysitter?"
	"See!" CJ exclaimed. "I told you. Fourteen years old."
	"Almost fourteen."
	"Practically fourteen. I don't need a babysitter."
	"So now you two are teaming up against me?" They both backtracked
at the same time and I found it amusing. "Just, spend the night over here
and hang out. No boys after midnight and I'll pay you ten bucks an hour."
	Chase gave me a cutting look. I noticed that he didn't confirm
either way. I didn't ask him about it until dinner was done, the kitchen
was cleared, and CJ was dropped off at his mom's house.
       While I drove to Highland Park, Chase drove back to his hotel to get
clothes for the next day and check in on Morgan. We returned to the
apartment for another glass of wine and some much needed R&R that was
anything but R&R.
	As we lay in my king bed with Chase's arms wrapped tightly around
me, I asked him what he thought about spending the weekend with my son and
me.
	"I don't know, gamin. I'm not really the stepdad type of guy."
	"But you two get along amazingly," I said, not buying it for a
second. "Really, you just make sure they don't die."
	"I don't know." He squirmed in my arms and I turned to face him.
	"You'll be fine, I promise. Taking care of a teenager is the same
as taking care of a drug addict, only one eats and the other doesn't."
	He winced when I said that and I instantly wished I could take it
back.
	"I'm sorry."
	"No, don't be. I'm just... I don't know how this is going to go
with the two of you."
	I mustered up any compassion I could find and decided that the
supportive boyfriend route would get me more flies than the bitter
boyfriend route. Chase's commitment to Morgan was one that I couldn't
understand, but that I would have to try to.
	"It's just like tonight. I want to be here for you and with
you. And the same for this weekend. But the idea of leaving him alone for
two nights in a row... I just don't know what to expect."
	And at that moment, as if fate was out with the sole purpose of
fucking me over, his cell phone rang. He looked at the screen and I knew
exactly who it was.
	"Gamin," he said.
	"Take it."
	He looked at me, answered his phone, listened for one minute before
responding.
	"Okay. Don't do anything stupid. I'll be right there."
	A minute later, he was out of bed, dressed, and kissing me
goodbye. And just when I thought I was done being alone, there I was
again. Alone.

I hope you're enjoying the series so far. More to come soon. As always,
comments and reviews are the only currency for Nifty writers, so your
feedback good or bad is always greatly appreciated. Contact me at
jwolf24450@gmail.com. Thanks again for reading my story!