Conversations
Section 10 - In the laundry room, if he had to
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Section 10 –
“In the laundry room, if he had to”
(Charlie POV, Colby – Charlie goes to find Colby.)
[Takes place shortly after the previous section]
Colby leaned against a washing machine in the laundry room
of his apartment complex and watched his laundry tumble in the dryer.
waiting. When a thought did flicker
across his mind, it was usually of Charlie.
The laundry went round and round … That khaki T-shirt was
from the park in the
Charlie had gone hiking. He’d discovered
that Charlie could out-hike him and hit the exercise room with more
determination after that. … That red
dress shirt was the one he’d worn when he’d attended one of Charlie’s “Math for
Dummies” classes, and Charlie had later spilled coffee on it in his enthusiasm
to explain when he’d unwisely asked a question about the class.
wearing the night that Charlie told his father about them.
that Colby had been sticky with sweat.
Not that Mr. Eppes—Alan had
made him feel unwelcome.
easier. He was even learning to
recognize Alan’s particular sense of humor. … Colby’s golf socks from his first
time golfing with Charlie. He’d had to
hide a number of laughs at Charlie’s frustration that his math didn’t give him
an edge. … The laundry went round and round …
Since he was used to Charlie’s idiosyncrasies, Colby wasn’t
surprised when Charlie showed up in the door of the laundry room.
“There you are!”
Charlie said, sounding a little breathless.
“Had to do my laundry in a laundry room, how odd,” Colby
grinned.
Charlie made a beeline to Colby and practically tackled him,
shoving him back against the washer and kissing him urgently.
against his body and sliding his tongue between Charlie’s hungry lips.
Charlie’s hands fumbled at Colby’s waistband and Colby
realized that Charlie intended on getting Colby naked right this moment.
“Whoa, whoa,” Colby laughed, pushing Charlie gently away.
dirty towels to get an eyeful.”
“Why not?” Charlie grumbled, reaching
again to unbutton Colby’s shirt.
Colby shook his head, amused.
“Will,” Charlie mumbled, sliding his fingers between the
buttons to stroke Colby’s bare chest.
“You will what?” Colby grabbed Charlie’s hands.
“Will Stevens,” Charlie said, leaning forward to kiss
Colby’s neck but Colby danced away.
Charlie sighed and said, “He’s Don’s boyfriend.
tonight.”
“Oh!” Colby said,
surprised and delighted. So Don had
indeed found someone and Megan had figured it out weeks ago.
caught up with him.
Colby frowned. “This
Will Stevens got you all revved up?”
“Yeah,” Charlie said, still trying to kiss him.
Colby’s grip on Charlie’s hands tightened and Charlie looked
up, surprised.
“He’s that sexy, hmm?” Colby said stiffly.
“Well,” Charlie said, stumbling.
“He what?”
Colby snapped.
Charlie gave him a nervous smile.
wanted to show Don that he preferred him.”
“What?” Colby said
again, in disbelief.
“Don said that I stole you from him,” Charlie said, his
brown eyes wide and anxious. “And that
Will was his and I wasn’t going to steal him.”
“Stole me?” Colby
growled, anger shooting through him at this arrogant man who would dare accuse
and hurt Charlie. “More
like I moved on to bigger and better things.”
“I certainly think that Don is bigger than—“
“Come on.” Colby
turned towards the door and pulled Charlie along with him.
still there? We’re gonna go talk to
him.”
“They’re … they’re probably done.”
“Done?”
“Yeah,” Charlie said, falling into his nervous babbling
mode. “They were having sex in Don’s
room. I listened and it was pretty hot
so I wanted to come get you—“
Colby growled incoherently, feeling like this Will had
doubly violated Charlie.
“What about your laundry?”
Charlie asked, gesturing back at the still running dryer.
“Screw it,” Colby snapped and marched towards his car,
Charlie in tow.