Page 50 of Except You
I don’t think I am. If she only knew the kind of man I was, just weeks ago.
I’m a fraud. Mostly.
As she begins to move toward me, the doorbell rings, and I let out a sigh of relief. I don’t know if I’m ready to move forward. Not yet. Just a few more minutes and then I can get my shit together.
Pulling it open, muttered apology on my lips to Melissa, I see Beau on the other side, bags in his hands. He grins at me widely as Doggo pushes outside and jumps on him in excitement.
My nervous heart stills, and for the first time tonight, I feel at peace.
“Hey, you weren’t answering your phone so I thought I’d stop by and bring you…” His words trail off and his smile falters. “Oh, shit. You have company.”
Melissa makes an appearance and waves, a friendly smile lighting her face. “Hi, I’m Melissa.”
“I’m Beau. A friend of Max’s.”
Melissa glances at the bags in his hands and cocks her head. “What do you have there?”
“Oh, it’s nothing,” Beau says, looking slightly embarrassed. “Just wanted to bring Max dinner, but you know, I didn’t think he’d have company.”
“A date,” I say, and Beau nods with a swallow.
“Well, I can see that. Here,” he says, handing me the bags. “A little treat for your date and an apology for interrupting.”
Melissa peers inside, and I feel my heart drop when Beau mouths to me that he’s sorry. He has nothing to be sorry for. I’m glad he showed up. I’ve missed him.
“Want me to take Doggo? Give you some privacy?” Beau asks, and then he tells Melissa that we share custody.
The entire thing makes Melissa’s eyebrows rise, and I wonder what’s going on in her head.
I know, Melissa, I’m just as confused as you.
“Sure, you can,” I say, and Beau grabs the leash from the hook by the front door and leads Doggo to his car. With a wave, he takes off, leaving Melissa and me alone once more.
“Well, he seems nice,” she says as she pulls the stuff from the bags.
I glance at it and see that Beau bought us dinner and dessert. Always so thoughtful.
“We should have probably asked him to stay,” Melissa says, pulling the lid off one of the containers and peering inside. “This is really nice stuff.”
“Yeah,” I say, rubbing at the back of my neck, feeling like shit. “Didn’t think of that.”
Melissa pulls some plates out and then peers over at me. “You and Beau close friends?”
I nod and then move toward her, not sure what to do with myself. Do I help her? Do I sit back and let her serve me? Do I cancel this and call Beau back?
I want to call him back to me.
“Yeah, we met at a bar and hit it off.”
“That’s so cool. Is he gay?” she asks, pulling a breadstick out and taking a bite.
“Yeah.”
“That’s awesome. Love how a hetero guy can be cool being close friends with a gay guy. Speaks volumes about you, Max.”
I don’t think it does. Like I said, she has no idea how I was even months ago, before I started therapy, before I met Beau. I was not this open-minded. But it seems my mindset is changing. I’m changing. I almost feel like a different person now.
“My sister is gay. She’s married to her wife. Has a few kids too.”