Page 100 of Rhymes with Metaphor
“We’ll burn that steak when we butcher it.She doesn’t need to know you’re back yet.You’re welcome to stay with me for as long as you like.”
“But I can’t live this way forever.”
“Why not?”
“I’m not independently wealthy.”
“Live off me,” said Reg.“I don’t mind.”
“But I do,” said Joel.“I don’t want to be kept.”
“Whatdoyou want?”
“I don’t know,” said Joel.
“You know youdon’twant to be a doctor.Go from there.You’ll find your Maxibon in due course.”
Reg pulled into the parking garage and shut off the engine.“Well.We’re here.”
“It feels weird wearing clothes again,” said Joel.
“We can remedy that once we’re inside.”
They’d barely deposited their luggage in the entranceway of Reg’s loft before they were kissing, Reg pressing Joel against the front door, pulling his shirt out of his trousers and feeling him up underneath, doing everything they hadn’t been able to do on the plane.
Reg’s phone rang.
“Who knows we’re back?”said Joel.
“I didn’t tell anyone.Except the chair.My defence is tomorrow.Shit.”Reg rummaged in his pockets and checked his phone.“It’s a university number.I’d better answer it.”
Joel stepped back and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
“Hello?”said Reg.
“Reg.”
“Martin,” said Reg.“This isn’t your number.”
“I dropped my phone from the ski lift at Blue Mountain yesterday.I’m calling from a payphone at the University Centre.”
“What’s happened?”
“Nothing yet,” said Martin.“When are you getting back?”
“In due course.”
“I should hope so if you intend to defend before the semester’s over,” said Martin.“But I’m calling you in particular about Juliet.You see, I’m thinking of proposing.”
“Does she know?”
“No,” said Martin.“I want to surprise her.I’m not doing it imminently, so spare me the lecture about rushing into things.I’m still in the planning stage.Which is why I need your advice on choosing an engagement ring.You’ve got such impeccable taste.Those diamond cufflinks you gave me for my twenty-fourth were outstanding.”
“I seem to recall that I lent those to you.”
“Reg...?”
“All right,” said Reg.“We’ll organize something when I’m fully back.”
