"Hey, Richie!" Joe greeted enthusiastically when Richie entered the bar a
few weeks later. "What are you doing home? And how did you get here so
fast? Did you skip classes?" It was eight o'clock Friday night.
"I flew. I came up to get my furniture. And Adam's class is the only one I have on Monday so I have plenty of time to get back."
"Late class?"
"Skipping."
"If he would leave Saturday instead of Sunday he wouldn't have to," Duncan said putting a hand on Richie's shoulder.
"I have to load the truck tomorrow. Besides is it really skipping if your professor has your cell phone number? I can always call during class and listen in."
"Kid's got a point, Mac," Joe agreed. "So you're loading all day tomorrow?"
"It won't take all day," Richie said. "I mean, it's what--a bed, a couch, a kitchen table, and a couple chairs? Just a few hours. less if Mac will help."
"I assumed I was. How are you going to carry a couch by yourself?"
"Last time Nick and Jason helped me."
"Last time you didn't tell me when you were moving."
"I was afraid you were going to get all weird on me."
"Then maybe I won't help." Duncan sat down on his usual bar stool.
"What if I give you." Richie dug through his pockets. "Oohh. a not so shiny nickel? Would you help me then?"
"Make it a quarter and you got yourself deal."
Richie paused. "Joe, can I borrow a quarter?"
. . . . . .
"I don't remember this," Richie said as he walked into his storage garage. "When did I get this?" He walked around the chest of drawers in question. "Is this yours?"
"I just bought it."
"Oh, cool. You ready to get started?"
"I never said it was mine," Duncan hinted.
"I was just curious how it got here; I could care less whose it is," Richie said, positioning himself at one end of his couch.
"It's yours."
"Mac," Richie groaned. "I thought we went over this!"
"What?"
"You just buying stuff. You gotta stop."
"Why? Richie, I just thought you might need a little more storage space."
"If I needed it, I woulda' bought it. I have a job you know. Start on Wednesday."
"Doing what?"
"Don't change the subject."
"Richie. what's wrong with spoiling someone a little bit?"
"Mac."
"Okay. I'll stop. Last thing, I promise."
"You promise?"
"What, you want it in writing?"
"Well, it would make it legal."
"I had to get lawyer boy started, didn't I?" Duncan rolled his eyes.
"You're the one who wanted me to go to school. Speaking of. I'll never get back if we don't get this stuff loaded."
"That's just like you, you know. Starting an argument to get out of work." Duncan smiled.
"I didn't start anything!"
"See? There you go again. Arguing!"
"Oh. you just think you're soooo smart don't you?"
"Of course not. I'm not the one with the four point o."
"Three point nine," Richie corrected. "But I'm working on it."
"Three point nine?" Duncan grunted as they lifted the overstuffed leather couch. "That the best you can do?"
"I know, I'm a slacker. I'd rather argue than get my work done."
"It's not like it's hard work. I mean, pre-law? Couldn't you have picked something challenging?"
"This from the guy who didn't even graduate kindergarten."
"Shut up and watch your step."
"Thanks for the concern." They positioned the couch in the back corner of the rental truck and covered it with a blanket.
"So what's this new job?" Duncan asked as they started loading the kitchen table. "Another restaurant?"
"Nope, another gym. Teaching karate, kick boxing and kendo."
"That sounds a little more up your alley than 'may I take your order?'"
"You're telling me. Although the tips were pretty good."
"So how'd you find the job? You didn't tell me anything about a gym."
"It just kinda happened. About two weeks ago, I dropped Courtney off for ballet and took Brandon across the street to sign him up for karate lessons 'cause he's kinda getting picked on. Well, it turns out the instructor had to leave suddenly 'cause his mom was sick or something so they had no one there to teach. We talked it out; I showed them my moves and bam got the gig."
"That worked out well."
"Yup."
"What about the apartment? Easy commute?"
"Yeah, about thirty seconds. It's just across the street."
"Next to the ballet studio?"
"Above it, actually. It's a loft." They settled the table in the truck.
"Is it nice?"
"Yup. Got it from the guy whose job I took. I bought him out of his lease. And you won't believe who's got the loft right below me."
"Who?"
"Alex."
"Big brother who hates you, Alex?"
"He doesn't hate me anymore."
"Why did he? Jealous?"
"No, he didn't mind me on his team." He followed Duncan with the chairs. "He just didn't want a hardened criminal like me, dating his sister."
"What does he know about you being a criminal?"
"Well, when Coach Roberts struck deals with players, he always talked it through with the captain."
"He told Alex about you?"
"No details; just the basics. You know one conviction, spent time in juvie, cleaned up his act, that type of stuff."
"Juvie?" Duncan repeated.
Richie looked up. "I told you about it ages ago."
"I know. I'm just surprised Roberts would tell something like that."
"I was kid when it happened. It was a minimum-security juvenile detention center, not Alcatraz. Besides after I did that lecture, it's not exactly a secret."
"I know. So what made him change his mind?"
"His whole family trusts me; I sleep with his sister without sleeping with her; I take care of his little brother and play chauffeur to his little sister. What's not to trust?"
"I've known you for a lot longer than he has and I still don't trust you."
"Gee, thanks, Mac. Good to know you care."
They continued to joke around as they loaded the rest of the furniture.
"Are you coming up for Christmas. Hanukah. winter break?"
"Actually, no. I don't really have time. We're only letting out the classes at the gym for a week," Richie said as he pulled the gate closed on the truck. "But, I was wondering if maybe you wanted to come to me this year. I'm sick of doing all the traveling."
"Alright. Just give me the dates."
"And between me and Adam," Richie continued. "There's enough room for everyone so we can do the whole big hoopla thing."
"And?"
"And?"
"You sound like you have more to say."
"I was thinking. that maybe. we could do a big dinner. While you guys are there so you can all meet Heather's family. And they can meet my. family. sans Greg. I was thinking of calling Conner too. What do you think?"
Duncan smiled. "I think that's a great idea. You sound like you're getting serious with Heather."
"Mac, it's been serious. This isn't a flavor of the week. I think this is it. She's the one. I know she is."
"Richie."
"Mac, if you're going to lecture me, don't. I've never felt this way about anyone. I saw the way Tessa looked at you. That's how Heather looks at me."
"I was going to say I do, too. I've seen you two together. I've heard you talk about her. I know you're in love."
Richie paused. "Okay. awkward moment. Sorry, didn't mean to jump down your throat like that."
"Don't worry about it. You do crazy things when you're in love. So I'll see you in December?"
"Yeah."
"Alright then. You better get going. You have a lot of road to cover."
"And a lead foot. No problem."
"You can't die until you graduate. I've been waiting years for this."
"So just as long as you get the pictures, I can die?"
"Exactly."
"Okay, it's a deal." Richie stuck out his hand.
"Take care of yourself," Duncan said pulling him into a hug.
"Always do."
Richie got into the truck and pulled into traffic. Duncan closed up the garage and went to talk to Joe and make arrangements to fly to Missouri for Christmas.
"I flew. I came up to get my furniture. And Adam's class is the only one I have on Monday so I have plenty of time to get back."
"Late class?"
"Skipping."
"If he would leave Saturday instead of Sunday he wouldn't have to," Duncan said putting a hand on Richie's shoulder.
"I have to load the truck tomorrow. Besides is it really skipping if your professor has your cell phone number? I can always call during class and listen in."
"Kid's got a point, Mac," Joe agreed. "So you're loading all day tomorrow?"
"It won't take all day," Richie said. "I mean, it's what--a bed, a couch, a kitchen table, and a couple chairs? Just a few hours. less if Mac will help."
"I assumed I was. How are you going to carry a couch by yourself?"
"Last time Nick and Jason helped me."
"Last time you didn't tell me when you were moving."
"I was afraid you were going to get all weird on me."
"Then maybe I won't help." Duncan sat down on his usual bar stool.
"What if I give you." Richie dug through his pockets. "Oohh. a not so shiny nickel? Would you help me then?"
"Make it a quarter and you got yourself deal."
Richie paused. "Joe, can I borrow a quarter?"
. . . . . .
"I don't remember this," Richie said as he walked into his storage garage. "When did I get this?" He walked around the chest of drawers in question. "Is this yours?"
"I just bought it."
"Oh, cool. You ready to get started?"
"I never said it was mine," Duncan hinted.
"I was just curious how it got here; I could care less whose it is," Richie said, positioning himself at one end of his couch.
"It's yours."
"Mac," Richie groaned. "I thought we went over this!"
"What?"
"You just buying stuff. You gotta stop."
"Why? Richie, I just thought you might need a little more storage space."
"If I needed it, I woulda' bought it. I have a job you know. Start on Wednesday."
"Doing what?"
"Don't change the subject."
"Richie. what's wrong with spoiling someone a little bit?"
"Mac."
"Okay. I'll stop. Last thing, I promise."
"You promise?"
"What, you want it in writing?"
"Well, it would make it legal."
"I had to get lawyer boy started, didn't I?" Duncan rolled his eyes.
"You're the one who wanted me to go to school. Speaking of. I'll never get back if we don't get this stuff loaded."
"That's just like you, you know. Starting an argument to get out of work." Duncan smiled.
"I didn't start anything!"
"See? There you go again. Arguing!"
"Oh. you just think you're soooo smart don't you?"
"Of course not. I'm not the one with the four point o."
"Three point nine," Richie corrected. "But I'm working on it."
"Three point nine?" Duncan grunted as they lifted the overstuffed leather couch. "That the best you can do?"
"I know, I'm a slacker. I'd rather argue than get my work done."
"It's not like it's hard work. I mean, pre-law? Couldn't you have picked something challenging?"
"This from the guy who didn't even graduate kindergarten."
"Shut up and watch your step."
"Thanks for the concern." They positioned the couch in the back corner of the rental truck and covered it with a blanket.
"So what's this new job?" Duncan asked as they started loading the kitchen table. "Another restaurant?"
"Nope, another gym. Teaching karate, kick boxing and kendo."
"That sounds a little more up your alley than 'may I take your order?'"
"You're telling me. Although the tips were pretty good."
"So how'd you find the job? You didn't tell me anything about a gym."
"It just kinda happened. About two weeks ago, I dropped Courtney off for ballet and took Brandon across the street to sign him up for karate lessons 'cause he's kinda getting picked on. Well, it turns out the instructor had to leave suddenly 'cause his mom was sick or something so they had no one there to teach. We talked it out; I showed them my moves and bam got the gig."
"That worked out well."
"Yup."
"What about the apartment? Easy commute?"
"Yeah, about thirty seconds. It's just across the street."
"Next to the ballet studio?"
"Above it, actually. It's a loft." They settled the table in the truck.
"Is it nice?"
"Yup. Got it from the guy whose job I took. I bought him out of his lease. And you won't believe who's got the loft right below me."
"Who?"
"Alex."
"Big brother who hates you, Alex?"
"He doesn't hate me anymore."
"Why did he? Jealous?"
"No, he didn't mind me on his team." He followed Duncan with the chairs. "He just didn't want a hardened criminal like me, dating his sister."
"What does he know about you being a criminal?"
"Well, when Coach Roberts struck deals with players, he always talked it through with the captain."
"He told Alex about you?"
"No details; just the basics. You know one conviction, spent time in juvie, cleaned up his act, that type of stuff."
"Juvie?" Duncan repeated.
Richie looked up. "I told you about it ages ago."
"I know. I'm just surprised Roberts would tell something like that."
"I was kid when it happened. It was a minimum-security juvenile detention center, not Alcatraz. Besides after I did that lecture, it's not exactly a secret."
"I know. So what made him change his mind?"
"His whole family trusts me; I sleep with his sister without sleeping with her; I take care of his little brother and play chauffeur to his little sister. What's not to trust?"
"I've known you for a lot longer than he has and I still don't trust you."
"Gee, thanks, Mac. Good to know you care."
They continued to joke around as they loaded the rest of the furniture.
"Are you coming up for Christmas. Hanukah. winter break?"
"Actually, no. I don't really have time. We're only letting out the classes at the gym for a week," Richie said as he pulled the gate closed on the truck. "But, I was wondering if maybe you wanted to come to me this year. I'm sick of doing all the traveling."
"Alright. Just give me the dates."
"And between me and Adam," Richie continued. "There's enough room for everyone so we can do the whole big hoopla thing."
"And?"
"And?"
"You sound like you have more to say."
"I was thinking. that maybe. we could do a big dinner. While you guys are there so you can all meet Heather's family. And they can meet my. family. sans Greg. I was thinking of calling Conner too. What do you think?"
Duncan smiled. "I think that's a great idea. You sound like you're getting serious with Heather."
"Mac, it's been serious. This isn't a flavor of the week. I think this is it. She's the one. I know she is."
"Richie."
"Mac, if you're going to lecture me, don't. I've never felt this way about anyone. I saw the way Tessa looked at you. That's how Heather looks at me."
"I was going to say I do, too. I've seen you two together. I've heard you talk about her. I know you're in love."
Richie paused. "Okay. awkward moment. Sorry, didn't mean to jump down your throat like that."
"Don't worry about it. You do crazy things when you're in love. So I'll see you in December?"
"Yeah."
"Alright then. You better get going. You have a lot of road to cover."
"And a lead foot. No problem."
"You can't die until you graduate. I've been waiting years for this."
"So just as long as you get the pictures, I can die?"
"Exactly."
"Okay, it's a deal." Richie stuck out his hand.
"Take care of yourself," Duncan said pulling him into a hug.
"Always do."
Richie got into the truck and pulled into traffic. Duncan closed up the garage and went to talk to Joe and make arrangements to fly to Missouri for Christmas.