Homecoming - 3. Chapter 3

Adam invited Justin to come with him to get breakfast for the three of them.

“You sure your boyfriend won’t be pissed?”

“He suggested that I take you.”

Justin grabbed his coat and they left together going to Adam’s favorite diner. When they got there it was crowded, so they sat at the counter and ordered their takeout there and two coffees while they waited for their food.

“Justin, my family is having a birthday dinner for me at the farm and they invited you.”

“Cool, I’d love to. Is Patrick coming?” Justin asked, spooning in several measures of sugar into his cup.

“Of course,” answered Adam, watching Justin with great concern for his blood sugar level.

“Oh,” Justin said, stirring the cream in his coffee.

“Oh. What does oh, mean?”

“Well, I thought Patrick would get bored at small events for us simple folk.”

“Patrick is more down to earth than you think,” said Adam, taking a sip of the much-needed coffee.

“Really. I wouldn’t get that from looking at your kitchen.”

“For your information, he’s back there cleaning up his mess. And before you ask, he insisted on doing it himself.”

“Did he also insist on buying you a new microwave, coffeemaker, and toaster?”

“They can all be replaced. Wait, he broke the toaster?”

“I believe he hid it in the oven, I saw the cord sticking out.” Adam took another swallow of his coffee.

“It’s still no big deal.”

“Your mom is going to be thrilled to meet him.”

“My parents will love him once they get to know him.”

“And his cooking,” Justin smiled, as he raised the cup of sweeten coffee to his lips and drank half of it down.

“Okay, enough.”

“Okay, sorry. Changing the subject. Is Kyle going to be there?”

“Well, he lives there.”

“Cool, he’s fun.”

“Are you two turning into a couple?”

“No, but we chat online. And he comes up for visits.”

“He never visits me.”

“You’re not putting out.”

“I see. So, does that mean you’re coming?”

“Can I ride with you? I hate driving long distances alone.”

“Sure, but Patrick has shot gun. And we’re spending the night so go home and pack a bag.”

“I can bunk with Kyle.”

“We’ll see where we’re all bunking, when we get there.” Their order arrived and Adam pasted on a generous tip the young man who served them. Adam carried the platters and Justin carried three coffees.

They walked over to Adam’s building, and noticed a Merry Maid cleaning van and an appliance store van parked in front. Adam approached his front door when he was cut off by five uniformed Merry Maid cleaners walking out. They were talking amongst themselves about the tip they received as they passed Adam and Justin.

Justin raised his eyebrows at Adam, who needed to see for himself. The elevator opened and they rode up in silences until the doors opened on the second floor.

“Should I leave the building?” asked Justin.

“There’s no need for that, but you should have your breakfast at your desk.”

“Okay.”

Adam walked through his office and gave Justin his breakfast platter and coffee. He grabbed the tray with the remaining two coffees and the bag with the two meals and walked to his office. He opened the door to his apartment and almost ran into a man wearing a department store logo on his work shirt.

“Excuse me, sir,” the man said, with a smile, as he held, at least, three twenty-dollar bills in his hand. He walked past Adam and out of his office.

Adam raced upstairs and found Patrick standing in the kitchen reading a manual for the new coffee maker he just bought.

“Patrick,” said Adam, sitting the food and coffee down on the spotless counter.

Patrick looked over at him and smiled. “You’re back,” he said. “Just in time.”

“For what?”

“To eat. I’m famished.”

“Patrick why was a cleaning crew here?”

Patrick looked at him confused by the question. To-clean,” he said.

“I thought you said you would clean everything?”

“I did.”

Adam shook his head. “What about the delivery van?”

“I needed to replace all the items I broke.”

“Patrick when you said you would handle everything I didn’t expect people in my home I didn’t invite.”

“Don’t worry, I was right here. They were very professional.”

“That’s not the point.” Adam walked over to the coffee maker and noticed it was a high-end model. “My coffee maker was not this fancy.”

“I know this one is supposed to grind the coffee and it makes espressos,” Patrick said, leafing through the manual. Adam took the handbook and placed it down.

“Patrick, we need to have a talk.”

“Is it about the list, your mom sent you?”

“What, no. Wait, how do you know about that?”

“I saw it in your email.”

“You what?”

“Don’t worry, I didn’t read anything else. I Just printed the list and ordered everything.”

“You ordered everything?”

“Yes. Also, I found the address in your address book and had it all sent on.”

“It’s being delivered?”

“Yes, it is.”

“That was, a great help.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Thanks.” They kissed. Adam, forgetting why he was mad at Patrick. The thought of having to hunt down role playing gear was draining for Adam. Patrick opened a draw and pulled out silverware and napkins. He walked over to the table where the food rest and started removing containers from the bag. He set everything out and Adam joined him for their meal.

After devouring half of the container Adam decided to mention Justin to Patrick.

“By the way. Justin asked if he could ride with us.”

“Well, okay, but with there be enough room?”

“Of course, plenty.”

“Then that’s fine. I also called ahead and the staff is packing my things now, but I do need to get something at Mia’s, can you take me? Or I can call my driver.”

“No, I can take you.”

“Do you want me to help you pack?”

“No, I’m good.”

“All right, Mia can bring me back here and someone will drop my luggage off here.”

“Patrick. The next time you want to use a cleaning crew to clean here. Tell me first.”

“Alright. Just so you know they cleaned everything.”

“Everything?”

“Yeah. They would have been done sooner and you would have never known, but I figure I was paying extra they might as well do everything. Your sheets are in the washer so put them in the dryer before we leave.”

“Wow, okay.” Adam noticed the place looked cleaner. The bed made with a chocolate on his pillow, his shoes, put up, and the living room straighten.

“You should let me bring Poe over, he can do all of your cleaning and cooking when I’m here.”

“I don’t mind doing housework.”

“But why do it, when Poe can. You’ll have more time for me,” he smiled. They finished the rest of their meal in silence as Adam wondered how his parents were going to accept Patrick and his eccentric ways.