Page 45 of Cedarwood Manny

“Daddy?” Kyle crept into the room. “Nathan left. He’s crying. Did you quit him?”

“No.” He scooped Kyle into his arms. “He’s helping a friend who is sad. He’ll be back.”

“He will? Married?” Kyle asked.

“No, kid.” He carried his son to the playroom. “Not married.”

“Okay.”

Adrien appreciated Kyle’s ability to see things in black and white terms. He might only be four years old, but he was wise beyond his years. Adrien had overestimated him plenty of times, but this was one situation where his view mattered the most. If he trusted Nathan, then so did Adrien. He wasn’t worried Nathan wouldn’t return. He loved Nathan and when his boyfriend returned, Adrien would confess his truths.

* * * *

Nathan parked in front of Rhett’s building, then rushed into the foyer. He pressed the button for Rhett’s unit and waited for an answer. “Come on,” he shouted.

Delaney, one of Rhett’s neighbors, entered the foyer. “Who are you shouting at? Rhett? Isn’t he answering?”

“He’s not.” He stepped out of the way. “Can you help?”

“Sure.” She unlocked the door. “Rhett’s talked about you non-stop. Did you forget your key?”

“He’s talked about me?” He held the door for her, then entered the main portion of the apartment building. “I don’t know why. I don’t have a key to his place.”

“You don’t? He said you were dating again.” She frowned as the elevator stopped. “I wondered why you hadn’t been around in a while, but I chalked it up to my not paying attention.”

The elevator opened and he allowed her to enter first. “He and I aren’t dating.” He pressed the button for the fifth floor. “Is he acting strange?”

“No more than normal.” She shrugged and adjusted her grasp on the grocery bags. “I don’t talk to him much.”

“Seems we should both keep closer tabs on him.” He held the door as the elevator stopped and opened. “I’m here to check that he’s okay.”

“Sure.” She lingered by Rhett’s door. “If you need me, shout.”

“I will.” He knocked, but the lock wasn’t engaged. He pushed the door open. “Rhett? It’s Nathan. I’m here.”

Rhett stood just inside the door. His shirt appeared rumpled and he hadn’t brushed his hair in a while. Dark circles accentuated the tiredness in his eyes. “Hi.”

“Hi.” Nathan’s heart sank. He’d thought Rhett had himself together. “What happened?”

“Come in.” Rhett moved out of the way. “I’m…it’s not a good day.”

“I can tell.” He ventured into the apartment and shuffled his feet. “It’s dark in here. Why don’t you open the curtains?” He faced Rhett. “What’s wrong? Talk to me.”

“You hate me.”

“I don’t.”

“Then why’d you move on with the dentist?” Rhett sank onto the beat-up sofa. The television was on and playing a talk show. The screen lit the room and threw odd shadows. “What’s he got that I don’t?”

“Rhett.” He had to proceed with caution. “You and I weren’t going to work. You like to go out. I’m a homebody. You hate anything that requires attention. I wanted a dog.” He sat opposite Rhett on the armchair. “We were never meant to be anything more than fuck buddies.”

“He has money.”

“So? I don’t care about that.”

“You must. You’re with him.”

He left the chair and opened the curtains. Waning daylight filtered into the room. “I’m with Adrien because I work for him.” That sounded wrong. “I like him and the chemistry is off the charts.”

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