Wayne made it to the front of the house, but he couldn't bring himself to move a little closer. He stood alone on the sidewalk, gazing at his ex-girlfriend's current residence with concern. With the usual green sedan parked on the driveway, the presence of another man in the house would be expected. Wayne tried to calm himself with slow deep breaths, but it barely worked. At 18 years of age, gaining experience with a former relationship would have been an automatic advantage on his part. But on this occasion, it didn't seem to show any success.
Wayne finally gathered enough courage to move across the walkway before reaching the front door. He raised his fist to knock on the door, but he quickly pulled it away. He tried to keep a sharp focus on a simple subject. All he needed to do was enter the house, grab what he had left behind, and exit the building. It would have been a simple formula to remember. But Wayne almost faltered when being aware of an obstacle that could have been waiting for him. He slid his hands across his blond hair. Long strands that ended at his shoulders. He needed to do this. He needed to get out of the house as quickly as possible.
He could have knocked on the door, but as he raised his first to try again, he didn't need to. The door opened. The man who opened it made Wayne feel tense. He tried to be strong with his words and posture. He needed to overcome his invisible feelings when the man stood right in front of him.
Aaron was a tall and handsome man. Being the single father of Wayne's ex-girlfriend couldn't have been more of a stroke of luck. At the age of 42, Aaron maintained a healthy figure, complete with muscular arms and sturdy hands. His clean brown hair and green eyes would be an added bonus. He had the looks and the charm to grab a woman's attention in just a few seconds. And that was why Wayne almost stumbled when he tried to say something.
"...Hi."
Aaron asked, "What brings you here?"
Wayne couldn't stop staring at the older man. "I'm, uh...I left my phone here. I need it back."
Aaron already understood. "Rest assured. You didn't lose it. I found it on the floor."
Wayne breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. I didn't mean to leave it here, but...I forgot about it when Veronica and I...uh, when we..."
"I know what happened. It's a real shame."
Wayne needed to ask, "Can I come in?"
Aaron held no reservations. "Of course, you can."
He let the younger man into the house. As soon as he walked past him, Wayne could sense Aaron's warm breath hitting his neck. He trembled at the touch. But he regained his senses soon after. He needed to retrieve his personal item.
Aaron led him into the living room. "Your phone is upstairs. I'll go get it."
Wayne smiled. "Thanks."
Aaron exited the living room before making his way upstairs. Wayne could hear the footsteps fading into complete silence. He took a seat on one of the armchairs. He slid his hand across his blond hair once more. The search for serenity almost didn't come to fruition. He couldn't stop thinking about Aaron. He couldn't stop imagining the alternate route he could have taken if he wasn't committed to another relationship.
He looked out the window. It had become a tranquil afternoon in the city of Sacramento. The entire neighborhood had been blessed with a peaceful afternoon. Rows of cumulus clouds hovered over the region. Cool temperatures resided during the late summer, an unusual feature that spread all across Southern California. A heat wave had been nonexistent for the past two weeks, which made Wayne more thankful of such a simple miracle.
Aaron returned with something in his hand. Wayne stood up and waited for the other man to hand over his smartphone.
Aaron added, "I can promise you that I didn't look into any of your apps. I'm not that paranoid."
Wayne replied, "I can trust you on that."
He checked his screen. He was fortunate that it didn't break when his girlfriend hurled it at the wall a couple of days ago.
He placed it in his pocket and said, "Thank you."
Aaron nodded. "You're welcome."
Silence between the two men took place without any warning. Wayne couldn't say anything at the moment. He already distracted himself with his observation. He couldn't look away from Aaron. He didn't want to look away. He had already forgotten about his smartphone and his girlfriend. His ex-girlfriend's single father was the hot topic in his thoughts. He couldn't help himself. He viewed Aaron as a great man, a good-looking individual who worked hard to make it through life. Wayne admired him. To the point where he wanted to stay with him.
Aaron finally spoke up. "So you and Veronica are no longer together, huh?"
Wayne broke his concentration to say, "Yeah. I guess it's my fault. She lost interest in me. I guess I'm a little too boring for her."
Aaron shook his head. "Don't say that. I don't know much about you, but I can tell that you're far from boring. You've got some greatness in you. I bet you'll have a chance to do some really good things when you start your first college semester."
Wayne appreciated the inspiration. "Thanks a lot. That's why I like you."
Aaron didn't get the hint. "I do what I can."
Wayne didn't stop there. "No...I mean I like you."
Aaron grew more solemn. "Excuse me?"
Wayne slowly stepped forward. "I really like you. I want you."
He suddenly stopped himself. He realized what he had said. He quickly turned away.
"I'm sorry. I should just get going."
Astonished by his immersion of his original topic, the remorse that followed it became official. Wayne left the living room and headed for the front door. But before he could touch the doorknob, he felt something grabbing his arm and pulling him away.
Surprised by this gesture, Wayne found himself with his back against the wall. Aaron had brought him away from the door with his sudden movements. He now towered over the young man, who couldn't move a single muscle.
