Page 1 of Three Reasons

Eli

There was a time in my life when I’d have been happy alone. My family has always been overbearing. Trying to set me up since I graduated college, throwing me in one direction when I wanted another. It wasn’t until my best friend, Callan Ford, and I left Toronto for Calgary that we finally felt we were on the right path.

We spent a few years there, learning the trade and the climate, before moving to the small town of Ruby, where we’ve opened our own landscaping company. Ruby First Landscaping and Snow Removal has done well right from the start, and it’s now given us enough cushion that we don’t have to work from dusk until dawn. We hire some high school kids in the summer to help out, but inwinter, it’s mostly been just the two of us.

How we like it.

Or how we did.

Years ago, we discovered our desire to share a woman—not just for a night or two but permanently. We want to share a life with her, have children, create a home. And as it turns out, that’s much harder to find than we thought.

Ruby is close to the college town of Olds, so we meet a lot of co-eds looking for a good time with experienced men. We’re not into that, not anymore.

In our early thirties now, we’re interested in settling down, and while we might not like it, we’re willing to wait for the right woman. In the meantime, we’ll continue to work, build a life that will attract that special woman, and wait until the universe smiles down on us.

After shovelling the freshly fallen snow, I stomp the snow off my boots before entering the house. “Yo, Cal, let's go!” He has no idea about my plans, but he knows we’re going out.

One ofthebest tattoo artists in the province just happens to have a shop in Ruby, much to my delight, and I was able to snag an appointment for tonight. Typically, he’s booked months, if not a year or more out.

Callan and I have been stuck in a rut, so tonight, I wanted to switch things up instead of sitting around the house doing nothing or working even more unnecessary hours.

He’ll probably be pissed that this appointment is for him. He’s not opposed to tattoo–he’s been with me for every single one of mine since we were sixteen–he’s talked about getting one to memorialize his dad, who passed away two years ago, so we’re doing something about it tonight. And while he’ll bitch and moan, I know he’ll do it.

Stepping into the doorway of our shared office, Cal doesn’t look up when he says, “I’ve still got invoices to send out. You go without me.”

“Don’t care. We’re going out. I’ve made reservations, and you’re not blowing me off this time.” Walking away before he protests further, I wait in the truck, confident he’ll be out in a few minutes.

Growing up together, Callan was always the quieter of the two of us. A bit more straitlaced and by-the-books, too. Ourfamilies have been friends for generations, so it was no surprise when we became attached at the hip from the time we were able to crawl. As we grew older, he became more introverted, only going out when I really insisted on it. We could have grown apart, but we’ve always had this connection that kept us close.

My friend is the epitome of the strong and silent type. Even in business, I’m the one who deals with clients, while he enjoys getting right to work. Whether the physical labour or office work, he gets it done and ensures we stick to the promised timeline.

Lately, though, he’s been more withdrawn, crankier, and less patient. He’s stormed out of the office or house with an anger that isn’t ordinarily prevalent, and I think a lot of it has to do with the loneliness we both feel. He’s grown restless, and I’m starting to worry.

“‘Bout damn time,” I smirk when he finally climbs in the truck with a scowl on his face.

“Where the fuck are we going, Eli?” He slams the truck door harder than necessary.

“Can’t tell you, but you’ll like it.” Pulling into the street with a grin on my face, I listen to his bitching and moaning all the way to the shop.

He stares at the sign reading Gray’s Tattoos and sends such a fiery glare my way that I worry I might burst into flames. “What the fuck?” he grumbles, following me out of the truck reluctantly.

“It’ll be fun,” I say, opening the door and halting in my tracks.

Standing behind the counter is the most beautiful pixie I’ve ever seen, helping a woman who jabbers on and on about some ski trip.

I’m instantly lovesick and can’t help but check my chin for drool. Watching the change slide across Callan’s face when henotices her gives me hope because there's apparent interest before he wipes it away.

“Saw that,” I mutter as he walks in before me.

“Shut the fuck up, Eli.” His grunt doesn’t scare me off, it just amuses me.

Callan

For as long as I can remember, Eli and I have been inseparable. We’re complete opposites, but still, we work. As business partners and roommates, there’s not a lot we don’t know about each other. Like how to get on the other’s nerves, and Eli is fucking doing that right this minute.

We’ve both been restless for a while now. The holidays closing in has only made it worse, and now, he’s pulled me from the pile of invoices I wasn’t thrilled to do in order to get a tattoo—something I’ve wanted but have been putting off.

He’s pushing me past my limits, and I want to fucking strangle this asshole. I don’t always hate it when he drags me out of my shell. My personality can be frustrating; I get that. I hate meeting new people, new situations, new experiences. There’s no reason why I’m this reserved; I just am. And I think that’s why we work so well together. Eli is outgoing; he’s the extrovert to my introvert, and when I’m sick of people, he always steps in. I think that’s how tonight has come to pass.

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