Page 20 of Necessary Space

“Admittedly good to hear your voice, Rome.”

The smile in his voice was clear when he answered, “You too. So what is going on in California? Tell me all about it.”

“Everything here is dead, for one.” I laughed under my breath. “And if it’s not dead, it’s a palm tree.”

“I meant about the neighbor.”

“He’s young.”

“My age?” Rome asked, amusement laced through the two short words.

“God, I hope not.”

“I think I should be insulted,” he teased.

“Far from it. If anything, you set the bar far too high for him to even come close.”

“That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me, Hendrix.”

I chuckled, propping my feet up on the coffee table and crossing them at the ankles. This was what I missed the most about Rome, about having a relationship in general. I hadn’t realized how much I missed the casual conversation that existed between two people who understood the ins and outs of each other’s lives.

“I think he’s interested,” I said.

“Are you?”

“He’s annoying.”

“That’s not an answer. Max is annoying sometimes too.”

“I’m notnotinterested,” I admitted.

“What’s the problem then?” he asked. “As someone who wastedyearsworrying about all the things that could go wrong, all the wondering about what a life with Max would have or could have been like…”

“Are you saying I’m old enough to know better?”

“Aren’t you? I think you know yourself and trust your gut a bit more than I do.”

He wasn’t entirely wrong. But it felt more complicated than that. I’d used my time post breakup with Rome as wisely as I could manage. I’d tried to reassess where things had gone wrong between us, but I was smart enough to know it wasn’t either of our faults. Rome was chasing a ghost and I was happy to turn a blind eye to the things between us that had been less than perfect. But, in hindsight, I knew I’d picked him, that I’d opened up to him, because the distance between us had given me a taste of what I’d wanted all along.

“Remember, we met at a place that ensured we were both after the same thing. I met Miles in the driveway. Well, I met him the night before when he patronized me through the fence that separates our yards.”

Rome laughed, a hearty chuckle that warmed my heart to hear. I was genuinely happy that he was happy, even—or especially—if it wasn’t with me.

“Patronized you how?”

“He calls me buddy.”

“Buddy?” Rome scoffed.

“Hey there, buddy. You okay there, buddy?” I mocked the tone Miles had taken with me the night I’d fallen through the chair.

“I’m surprised you didn’t throttle him.”

“The fence.” I sighed. “But then we ran into each other at a bar a couple nights ago.”

“Bathroom blowjob?”

“Sometimes I forget you’re so young and then other times…” I rolled my eyes, letting the rest of the accusation trail off.