As I comfortably settled on the couch, I placed my slightly cracked phone on the little table next to him.
"Wait, I should really make dinner."
"If you're hungry, go make your pasta, Chicken. I'm good with it. I can even help with dinner, you know?"
"Nooo, don't worry," I said, standing up, grabbing my phone, and heading to the kitchen.
"Now that you mention food, I've been kind of worried about your diet… Have you eaten anything other than steak and pasta? I mean, since I was the one taking care of the food at home for you guys, I can't help but worry, you know?"
"Well… you don't have to. I've got the most charming neighbors giving me food from time to time, so I eat pretty well—not just takeout, don't worry. I still need to stay sexy, don't forget."
"Okay, show me your belly then," said Elliot with a serious face, arms crossed.
I placed my phone on the kitchen counter, angled it just right, and proudly showed him my sculpted six-pack.
"Ooooh, good, good," answered Elliot like a proud dad.
"Casanova never forgets about his victims' perception. I can't have that kind of motivation though—too fuckboy for me. All I want is to be able to lift my lady if I need to, you know, like a gentleman," he added, proudly shaking his head and judging me a bit.
"I know. You're such a babe, and that's why old women always trap you into doing weird stuff for them," I said, focusing on grabbing my pre-seasoned steaks and putting them in the pan.
"Don't start! They never fully show their real intentions at first! How could I knooow??"
"Well, discernment, man. If she's too touchy, that's a no. If she insists on you coming to her house and staying, that's also a big no. You can't go from 'carry my groceries to my place' to 'change the lightbulb in my bedroom' to 'spend the night in my bed.'"
"Okay, I see who you're talking about. But it was raining like hell with a big-ass storm and everything! I thought she was just being caring, you know…"
"Yeah babe, I know. And that's why we're here—to talk some good sense into your brain sometimes. That's what friends are for. So… tell me about Sara. What happened?"
I stirred my pasta into the boiling water, multitasking while being fully present to hear my friend spill his heart.
"Maaaaan, you're gonna judge me soooo hard," Elliot groaned.
"Never. And you know that." My answer was quick and sharp, but mostly it was meant to reassure him.
"Thanks…" Elliot paused. "You know, Sara's not a bad person. I mean, she really felt bad after everything happened—she was always crying and questioning herself… and us."
"Eli… start from the beginning. Take a deep breath and tell me how it started."
"Okay, okay," he said, breathing in and pausing. "After you left—and I'm sorry for being this weak—"
"Don't apologize, man," I cut him off instantly.
"Okay…" Eli gave a small, reassured smile. "I was sad, and like I told you, she was there. Asking questions, wondering why I seemed off or distant. At first, I didn't want to vent, but Theo had his own struggles and I didn't want to burden him, so… I started talking a little with her. Saying how much life sucked and all that. And honestly? She was just there for me. Listening, bringing me food, you know… hugging me sometimes. And one hug after another… we kissed. Then it got more… intimate. And honestly? I thought she was the one."
He paused, then continued.
"I told her I wanted to make it official. Like, come to the house, meet you guys—because she's a really nice woman. But… she didn't want to."
"Why? Because of her kids?"
"No. Worse… her husband."
"Oh…"
"Yeah… she had one. And never told me about him. After almost a full month of seeing each other constantly, she finally explained why she didn't want to go out or let me post pictures of us. You know, just being a normal couple. And you know what's worse??"
"That you were about to propose?" said a familiar voice in the background.
"Theo, honey, you're home!" Elliot jumped.
"Yop," Theo said, flashing a peace sign. He leaned over Elliot's phone. "Look at you, all fat, cooking by yourself," he teased me through the screen with a cocky grin.
"I know you missed my ass—don't try to start a fight," I said, pausing my cooking to tease Theo, waving my spatula at him like a weapon.
"I know you'd lose, fatty."
"If you were here, I'd show you who the fatty is," I threatened playfully, still waving my spatula.
Theo rolled his eyes. "So scaryyy," he said, smirking. "It's good to see you're doing alright… You got company?"
"Nope, not yet. But I got my cat though."
"You do?"
"Yes! And I've been waiting… how long now? An hour?"
"Wait a minute," I said, turning to Buddy. "His Majesty is awaited. Can you come, please?"
"Are you calling your cat or Queen Elizabeth?" asked Elliot.
"Eli, Queen Elizabeth is dead. That reference doesn't work anymore—but it's okay, you tried," said Theo, teasing.
Buddy gracefully leaped onto the counter, staring at me.
"He is just magnificent!" exclaimed Elliot.
"Someone's been reading lately!" I teased.
"Nah, he's been watching The Crown, don't let him fool you," said Theo, leaning more into Elliot's space, pushing his head off-screen.
"Okay, okay, stop it!"
The three of us burst out laughing, enjoying a rare, well-earned moment together.
And then… Buddy pushed the phone off the counter and leaped down.
"See why I call him 'His Majesty' now?" I said, finally having witnesses to Buddy's attitude. "Guys, do you know why he did that? Can you guess?"
"He finds Elliot annoying?" Theo smirked.
"No, no, no! It's the lack of attention. Worse than a woman in love! If he wants something, or if he's waiting for you to do something, he will let you know." I took his plate and set it on the kitchen table.
"So anyway—now that you've seen Buddy—did Theo just say you were going to propose?"
"Yeah… I bought a ring. But now I'm gonna sell it to pay the rent."
"Well, it's not gonna be enough for the rent anyway…"
"Theo… man… not you…" I said, desperate. If he didn't pay his part, that meant none of us did. Which meant… this month would add up to the previous one.
We were screwed.
"Life's been messy lately, you know…" Theo said, catching my look.
"Are we gonna be homeless or what?" Elliot laughed, followed by Theo's resigned chuckle as he threw an arm over his shoulder.
"Did the landlord say anything?" I asked.
"We leave early and come home around midnight," Theo answered, Elliot nodding feverishly.
"Guys, you know… I actually inherited my grandma's house. Once I sell it, money won't be a problem, but—"
"Wait, whaaat?? Not your dad?"
"Yeah, I know… The old man doesn't know yet. But when he finds out…"
"Sweet Jesus," muttered Elliot, half-excited, half-freaked. "You can't sell it!"
"Huh? Of course I can. What are you talking about?"
"I mean, think about it. It's a big house, with a cat, and no rent—just bills. Man, that's a dream. It's perfect!"
"Nah, it's too much of a hassle to keep that house."
"You should think it through a little more, Jace," said Theo, suddenly serious.
"Well, for now… let's finish the Sara story, okay?" I said, changing the subject before diving into the drama tied to that house.
"Okay, Chicken," said Elliot, clapping his hands—his voice echoing. "Where was I? Oh, right, the part where she didn't want to be seen with me! So what I did… was show up one day!"
"At her house?"
"Yes. I needed answers. I wanted to introduce myself to her kids. So I showed up with toys, all wrapped up nice, and rang the bell. And then—"
"Her husband opened the door, didn't he?"
"No, no—her daughter. Lina. She'd already seen me at work, so she recognized me. She asked why I was there, and I told her I wanted to introduce myself to her and her little brother—because yeah, she had two kids. Lina, who's nine, and her little brother Joe, who's four."
"They're pretty young though."
"Not too young. They both go to school, so I was fine being the dad that drops them off. I was really ready, I swear, man…" Elliot's face fell, his voice softer now.
"Anyway, after I said that, her dad—the husband—came to the door. Looked at me all pissed and said, 'Why would a random guy bring toys to my kids, huh?'"
"And man… my face collapsed. I couldn't say anything. I handed him the toys, apologized, and turned to leave. He grabbed my arm, but I shook him off and said, 'I'm not some weirdo bringing toys to strangers. You're lucky to have a family,' and then I got in my car."