I feel bad for him and anybody who has to struggle to be who they are, but I think he needs time to figure that out, and he was right, we were never supposed to be anything more than fuck buddies.
23
The restof the week keeps me busy. I'm getting closer to the end of the school year, so studying for exams has taken up almost all my free time. I've partied less, focusing on both my schoolwork and work for MGD.
I won't lie and say I haven't thought twice about Alek, because I have. I've seen him a handful of times at the office, in the meetings, and occasionally when I walk past his office, but he never spares me a second look or more than a cursory nod. I'm not sure if he took offense to what I said, or if it'll be something he looks into. I guess it's not my concern.
On Friday, I stay a little late with Luther, Phillip, and two other interns, so by the time I have to cross in front of Alek's office, Linda is already gone, and his voice filters through the closed door. After a laugh, I hear him decline some sort of invitation, saying he already has plans.
Something akin to jealousy coils in my stomach before I shake my head at myself. He can have plans. Maybe I should make plans for myself. I haven't been out with my friends in a while. Maybe the guys will be up to head to a club, and perhaps I'll find someone to spend time with afterwards.
As I head to the parking lot, I pull my phone from my pocket, wanting to send a message to Trev, Renzo, and Dex to see if they have plans. Instead, my phone rings before I can even type two letters.
"Hello?"
"Hey, son."
"Hey, Dad. What's goin' on?"
"Oh, not much. Just checking in on ya. You doing okay?"
"I'm fine. Busy."
"Busy is good."
I laugh. "I suppose."
"You don't have any parties to go to tonight, do you?"
With a sigh, I ask, "Why?"
He chuckles. "Wondering if you want to have dinner with your old man," he says in a genial tone.
"What?" I exclaim. "Are you here?"
Dad laughs again. "Yep. Just got settled into my hotel about an hour ago."
"Holy shit," I say with a laugh. "Yeah, of course. Is Mom here?"
"No, she couldn't make it. Stuck with me, I'm afraid."
"No, that's fine. When do you want to meet up? I can go there now."
"Meet me in an hour. I'll send you the address."
"Okay, sounds good."
"See you soon."
"Bye. Love you."
"Love you, too, son."
I drive home to be able to shower and change, excited to see my dad again. I went home over Christmas, so it's not like it's been that long, but my dad has never been here before.
Excited that I may have time to show him around campus, maybe introduce him to a few of my friends, I don't even think about the fact that I've slept with his friend—our boss. Not until I show up to the address I popped in the GPS and it brings me to the same exact hotel Alek is living in.
"Are you fucking kidding me," I say when I park in the lot.