Neither Here Nor There - 6. Chapter 6

Hudson

“This one’s out of order.” I heard Tango direct the waiting customer to use the other restroom as e slipped out and returned to work. E hadn’t wanted the two of us to be seen leaving together while e was on the job, so I stayed behind as e left on eir own.

I’d found em. The urge to raise my hands and do a victory lap around the room beckoned me. I’m far too reserved to do any such thing however, even in private, so I just visualized the victory lap in my head. Once I figured the hallway was empty, I slung my messenger bag crossways over my torso and left the restroom behind.

Maybe it was the distraction of my mental victory celebration or maybe it was the semi-darkness of the hallway, but I completely failed to avoid the prick waiting to pop the balloon of elation carrying me out of the coffee shop.

“I need to talk to you.”

The stocky blond stood blocking my way to the exit. A tribal tattoo circled the bicep of one arm and a Tasmanian devil spun under the shirt sleeve of the other. They were crossed over the chest of my would-be interrogator.

“Do I know you?”

“Dale.” A jaw thrust out as if even the courtesy of a name was reluctantly given. “I’m Tango’s housemate. And eir boss.”

Ah. The birthday boy. Or boi. Like Tango, Dale seemed to occupy some sort of middle gender territory. E looked pissed. We’d never met. I was pretty sure of that, and I couldn’t imagine why e was coming at me so aggressively.

“I’m Hudson,” I inclined my head. “But I take it you already knew that.”

“I don’t pay Tango to socialize during eir shift.”

“My apologies. I was just on my way out.” I made a move to do just that, sensing that this was a tinderbox I clearly wanted to avoid igniting. Sounded like I’d inadvertently put Tango in hot water.

Dale, however, didn’t budge and I was forced to stop.

“Tango says e invited you to my party tonight.”

I nodded, seeing where this was going and completely clueless as to what this kid’s issue with me was.

“Well, consider yourself uninvited. I have enough guests coming already; there’s no room for another.”

“Alright,” I drew the word out.

Best just to get out of here. Clearly anything I said was only going to make things worse for Tango. “I’ll give em a call when eir shift is over and let em know I won’t be there.”

This time I moved forward with no intention of stopping and Dale stepped aside. “Tango would be better off if you left em alone altogether. E’s got enough problems.”

I turned and took in the icy glare that had been watching my retreat. “Mind telling me why you think I’d be adding to them?”

“You’re conceited. You’re self-absorbed. You only look out for yourself. Tango needs someone who understands em and what e goes through on a daily basis. Someone who will put em first.”

“Someone like yourself?” Dale spoke like a jealous lover and I wondered if Tango was, perhaps, not as unattached as I had imagined. Instinctively I brushed Dale’s personal attack aside. I’d long ago trained myself not to be drawn into arguments with people who’d already formed an opinion of me.

“I’m Tango’s friend. I do understand em.”

I shook my head. “You may understand em. But I can assure you, that you do not know or understand me in the slightest.

“You don’t want me at your birthday party? Fine. I won’t be there. But as far as staying away from Tango, e’s going to have to tell me that emself.”

I made it out of the coffee shop and over to the motorcycle I’d left parked down the block.

Dale’s words rankled, as they were meant to, but a character debate would have solved nothing. As I pulled my helmet on an incredible weariness settled on me. Nothing in my life was straightforward. As it turns out, not even an easy hook-up in a bookstore was straightforward.

Impulsively, instead of heading home, I turned the bike onto the freeway and merged into the far left lane. The stream of cars was intent on getting out of town with as much speed as possible. I joined them. The concentration it took to maneuver the powerful bike through the slipstream of the cars kept the anger and disappointment at bay. The adrenaline revived me, flushed out the bitter thoughts.

When the suburbs thinned, encroaching on the fruit orchards, I took an exit off the freeway and turned back towards the city. Riding at a more sedate speed, I considered how to communicate this latest development to Tango. I didn’t want to call Dale out right away. E was Tango’s boss, landlord, questionably a friend and possibly a lover. I’d need to tread lightly when bringing up the discussion between Dale and me in the hallway. I wanted to hear from Tango exactly what the full extent of their relationship was.

Eir phone went to voicemail when I called, and in the end I settled on a short text message.

“Something unexpected came up after I left your coffee shop this afternoon. I won’t be at the party tonight. Call me!”