He huffed a weary breath and shut everything off. He checked the windows, looking down on the street to see if any activity was going on before he went upstairs. There were only three rooms on the top level. One had weightlifting equipment and a treadmill. The master bedroom was his and Ruxs would often crash in the other. Green had told him to just move in. The guy never fuckin’ left. He probably had more clothes there than at his own place.
He walked through the small sitting area in his room, not bothering to turn on any lights. His electric bill could be a bitch if he wasn’t conscious about not putting on all the lights in his place. Just as he was getting ready to peel out of his sweats his phone buzzed on his dresser. He looked at the display screen and couldn’t stop the smile that stretched across his face. He hit the speaker and took the phone to his nightstand.
“Date over already?” Green said instead of hello.
“Nah, man. What are you doing?” Ruxs’ deep voice filled his room.
Green barked a laugh. “What does it matter? You’re on a date. Shouldn’t you be trying to round third base by now?”
“Oh, yeah. Bases. Who won the game?”
Green really laughed loud. “That was not the bases I was talking about, dude. What the fuck, man?”
“Who won, Green?”
Green huffed. He clicked on his television, turning back to the game. “Braves are still down by three.”
“Goddamnit! What inning is it?”
“Bottom of the ninth!” he yelled. “Where’s your date?”
“She’s inside waiting on a table.”
“By herself? Mark, what the hell.”
Silence.
“Mark.”
Ruxs voice was barely a whisper, “You hardly ever say my first name.”
Green sat there a couple seconds. What was that sound in Ruxs’ voice? He’d said his name plenty of times. Or had he? He was about to speak again when Ruxs spoke first.
“She’s getting on my nerves. We don’t have anything in common. She keeps asking questions about God and what he’s like. And she kept grabbing my arm during the scary parts of the movie.”
Green listened to his partner, shaking his head at the absurdity. “You’re both in law enforcement, so you have something pretty big in common. Everyone asks questions about God, he’s fuckin’ weirdly scary interesting. And if you take a chick to a scary movie, that’s what she’s going to do.”
“She’s boring and we still have to get through dinner and drinks.”
“You’ll be fine. Talk about work. About a happy case, not a fucked up case. Talk about that big one vice just solved and all those girls were returned to their families. You’re funny too, tell her some crazy shit you do at work. Next thing you know she’ll be pulling her panties down for you. Just talk.”
“I don’t wanna talk to her. I wanna talk to you.” Ruxs voice was low and deep again… almost sexy.
Green tried to ignore it. “You sound like a kid. I’m going to bed. See ya in the morning.”
“Wait! Wait!”
Green let his exasperation be heard. “What Mark?”
Ruxs let loose a soft chuckle. “You said it again.”
Green just sat there listening. Was he for real right now?
“Come up here.”
“What!” Green sat up straight.
“We’re at The Brick Bookhouse. Come on. It’s only fifteen minutes away,” Ruxs pleaded.
“I don’t give a fuck if it’s downstairs, Ruxs. I’m not gonna crash your date. How pathetic do you think that would make me look?”
“No it won’t.”
“Yes. It would. Besides how do you expect to get laid, dude, if I’m there? She’ll think you’re trying to do some kinky shit if you ask me to join you.” Green laughed.
“She ain’t gonna sleep with me. She’s one of those ‘gotta at least be date number five’ chicks. Just come on Green. I’ll buy your drinks and your food.”
“I already ate,” he said, bored.
“Come on, man.”
“No!”
“Please, Chris,” Ruxs said softly. “Please.”
Fuck. Why did their first names sound so good coming from one another? Green was already rising up out of bed. He opened his dresser and pulled out a simple white cotton tee.
“I can hear you getting dressed. Thank you. I’ll wait outside for you.”
“No, Ruxs. Go back inside and be with your date. I’ll be there in twenty.”
“Say my name again.” Ruxs teased him.
“Shut up, Armin.” Green smiled.
“Hey! You know I hate that name. Anyone else calls me that and I’ll punch them in their throat.”
Green could tell Ruxs was smiling. He hung up on him. Fuckin’ Armin Mark Ruxsberg. He couldn’t believe he was actually going. He pulled on some comfortable jeans and slipped his feet in his Jordans. He had no clue why he splashed his face with his brand new Azur aftershave, but he did. After running his fingers through his hair with a little product, leaving the long strands standing up and some falling in different directions, he flicked off everything and jogged down the metal stairs.