“You alright man?” Green swatted him hard on his back. “What happen, you swallow wrong or something?”
“Um. Yeah.” Ruxs ground out. He saw that they were pulling up to the curb in front of his complex. Damn the place was a piece of shit. He didn’t even want to go in. He hadn’t been there in almost two weeks; it was probably rank in there. Dark and quiet. He felt like throwing a hissy fit right there in the truck. Go out with me not her! She doesn’t care about you! I do. Can’t you see that! I’m crazy about you! I fuckin’ love you! Oh yeah, he was about to lose it. Green came to a stop and Ruxs had the door open before Green could shift the gear into park.
“So. I’ll pick —”
Ruxs slammed the door shut – cutting off whatever Green was saying – and hurried up to his place without looking back. He shakily got the key in the door and shouldered it open, quickly slamming it behind him. He said a silent plea that Green wouldn’t come after him to see what the hell was up. He heard the diesel engine of the Ram truck rev up and fade away. He was glad Green didn’t chase him; and then of course a part of him was hurt he didn’t. He flicked the light switch. Nothing. He flicked it off and on again. Nothing. Fuck. Realizing his goddamn electricity was off; he pressed his back to the door and slid down to the floor, dropping his face in his hands. His eyes finally adjusted to the darkness and he looked around his place. One loveseat in front of a forty-two-inch television. A pretty cool sound system that he was actually surprised hadn’t been stolen yet sat in the corner. His kitchen was separated by a little breakfast bar that was scattered with unopened mail. His electric bill probably buried somewhere in the pile. He was sure he had some beer in the fridge, but warm Bud Light didn’t appeal to him at the moment.
He sat there for another ten or fifteen minutes, getting more and more pissed as he replayed Green fucking a beautiful brunette all night long while he sat home alone in the dark. Fuck that. Picking up his phone he typed in a text message. He’d ask his good friend to hang out with him tonight. Furi was always up for some fun.
Furious Barkley was his sergeant’s life partner. Syn had taken one look at the man with the long beautiful hair and countless tattoos, and fallen completely in love. Ruxs had met the ex-porn star/bartender turned mechanic/business owner after they all rallied together to protect him from his psycho ex-husband. Ever since then, he and Furious had formed a good bond, they were close friends and Ruxs knew he could talk to him the same as Green.
What’s up tonight… Wanna hang??? Ruxs closed his eyes waiting on Furi to respond. After a couple minutes his phone pinged with a notification. He pulled up the message:
Furi: Me and Syn going to the movies with god and day…welcome to come along
Thats alright…will chill home tonight
Furi: You sure……
Yeah man ttyl
Furi: Peace
“Fuck.” Ruxs groaned. Maybe Curtis wants to do something.
He quickly pulled up Curtis’ number and sent a message to him. Hey bud, what’s up???
Ruxs only had to wait a few seconds before Curtis replied. over Shanes kicking his butt in MLB 14…don’t worry no drugs or booze. Luv ya see you tomorrow
“Damnit” Ruxs yelled, throwing his phone across the room. Everyone had someone, something to do, except him. He ran his hand back and forth over his buzz-cut, squeezing his eyes shut at the ache of loneliness. He got up from off the floor, thinking that there was no need to wallow. He’d find something to do. He was on his way to his bedroom when he heard his phone ringing. It wasn’t a call it was his alarm. He turned around and went in search of the irritating noise. He bent and picked it up, looking to see what he’d forgotten. The alarm indicated that his grandmother’s birthday was tomorrow.
Jesus. He couldn’t believe it’d been another year. That woman had kept them a family when he was young. It wasn’t until after she died that his mom started using. He put flowers on her grave every year. He always asked his mom to go with him but she was always too depressed–and high–to go. He stood there staring at the phone for a few minutes, wondering if what he was thinking of doing was such a great idea. He wondered if going over to his mom’s place and talking with her around the anniversary of her mother’s passing could help her. Help her see that she still means something to him. That she means everything to him. They could be a family, just him and her. They weren’t alone. They had each other. He’d hate to pull the deceased grandmother card, but it might help getting her back into rehab, and this time Ruxs would make sure she stayed clean.