The magnitude of this simple act hits home. “You bought coconut water for me?”
“Well, it’s your favorite. And I knew you’d be coming over this week.”
First, he’s paid enough attention to know what my favorite drink is. Second, he went out and bought some to have at his apartment for me.Has he been thinking of me?“I would love some. Thank you.”
He places a carton in front of me. “Is that stuff any good?”
“I love it.” I twist the cap and offer him the carton. “Try it. See if you like it.”
He takes it from my hand and then quickly passes it back after tasting it. “Ugh. I don’t know how you drink that stuff.”
“It’s not as sweet as what most people expect. You might like the one that comes with pineapple juice in it.”
“Nah. Coconut and pineapple sounds like a girly cocktail.”
“And you’re a manly beer drinker.”
“Damn right, I am.”
Bram’s choice in alcohol isn’t the only manly thing about him. His voice. His stubbled face. His muscular body. All of it screams masculinity. And it’s terribly difficult to push it out of my mind as I work on the next few calculus problems he assigns me.
I push my paper toward him when I finish. “All done.”
“You sound confident.”
“I am but only because you’re really good at explaining calculus.” Mr. Garrison should take lessons from him on how to teach this stuff.
Bram checks my work and scribbles A+ at the top of the page. “Excellent job. Think you want to try a few more?”
I’ve been at Bram’s a while but if doing more math means I get to stay with him longer, I’ll do them all week. “If you have time, I’d like to practice more.”
“You can do as many problems as you like. I have no plans other than grabbing some takeout for dinner.”
Why should he get takeout when I’m here? “I can cook something for you.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I don’t mind.” I would come over and cook for him every night if he’d let me.
“You know me, Claud. I’ll never turn down a home-cooked meal.”
There’s no way I wouldn’t take this opportunity to cook my specialty for him. Especially since they say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. “Spaghetti sound okay?”
“Sounds delicious. You know how much I love spaghetti.”
I do know. And it’s why I’ve spent the last few months learning how to make the perfect meat sauce. “Let me do three more problems and then we’ll make a grocery run; I know you don’t have the things I’ll need.”
“Accurate assumption. I have beer and chips. That’s about it.”
I giggle and roll my eyes. “You need more than that for sustenance.”
“Beer and chips are bachelor food. And I’m a bachelor.”
Thank God for that. “We’re getting you some decent food while we’re at the store.”
“I’ll buy whatever you put in the cart as long as you cook for me.”
“I need tutoring. You need dinner. We’ll make a trade out.”
“Sounds like a good plan to me.”
I get to spend more time with Bram. That’s not a good plan.
It’s a great one.