Jerk

He stops wiping the windows, as if something just occurred to him. Then he turns and, for no seeming reason, looks my way.

I glance down at my tea, as if contemplating it. Then I lift it to my lips for a sip and gaze away.

Does he see me through the window? Is he watching me right now?

Finally, I dare to glance his way.

He’s looking right at me.

A moment passes where neither of us seem to move. A rag and bottle of cleaner hang from his hands. A cup of tea rests in mine. Is he waiting for me to acknowledge him first, or am I?

He looks away, then faces the window again and resumes cleaning. Our moment’s ended.

I nod to myself with understanding, then resume making love to my tea.

The next time I see Danny is at our gym. It catches me by surprise, since I haven’t seen him here since that night. I’m doing bicep curls when I notice Danny a few benches over doing his own. I can’t be sure if he knows I’m here too, but I have to assume he does.

Someone eclipses my view of the mirror—some guy I’ve never met with a buzzed head, muscles everywhere, and a suggestive smirk. “Hey there,” he greets me. “Need a spot, hot shot?”

That’s three rhyming words in a row. I wonder how many times he rehearsed that line.

“Nope,” I answer. “I’m good all on my own, thanks.”

The guy quirks an eyebrow. “You sure?”

“Totally.”

After a dubious look at me, he finally leaves me alone, and I resume my set. After I finish and rest my arms, I notice Danny glancing my way. Of course the moment I turn to him, he looks away, then quite suddenly decides to relocate to a machine somewhere else.

But I’m pretty sure he witnessed the exchange.

Then in the locker room later, I get to enjoy a lovely berating from Jonathan. “Again??” he cries out as we’re changing. “Dude, you haven’t had a night out with me in weeks. What’s up with you? I’m having to do the whole routine myself, and it’s boring, and … Romeo, are you even listening?”

“Maybe I’m just not into it anymore,” I say as I shrug on my shirt.

Jonathan sighs as he leans against the locker. “So level with me. What’s going on? What aren’t you telling me? Why aren’t we getting ass every night anymore?”

I face him. “Maybe a year ago, we had something to prove. To the assholes who stole the attention. To the dating world we kept stumbling through. But what about to the person who really matters?—to ourselves? Haven’t we proven enough?”

Jonathan scrunches up his face, confused.

“I gotta get home,” I tell him as I sling my backpack over a shoulder. “Give myself some self-love with a nice book and maybe some hot tea. It’s my new routine. You should try it.”

With Jonathan still staring at me like I just turned into a banana, I turn to make my way to the door, only to be stopped by the sight of Danny at a nearby locker. I’m guessing he heard everything, because there’s a curious glint in his eyes as he gazes at me, lost in thought.

I give him a tiny wave.

He gives me a subtle nod back.

Nope, we still don’t talk.

But the next day, we do.

He approaches me after I finish a set on the leg press machine. “Hey,” he greets me, hands in the pockets of his gym shorts.

I gaze up at him from the bench. “Hi, Danny.”

He seems unsure what to say. “You … seem to be doing well.”

“Thanks, Danny. I appreciate it.”

He nods, then looks away.

I decide he’s fishing, and I bite. “I’ve been taking a lot of time to work on myself lately. Someone wise told me I have to love myself before expecting to give my heart away.”

Danny tries not to smile. His eyes meet mine, soft and sweet. “Sounds like whoever said that might have only had your best interest in mind.”

I nod in agreement. “I believe they did.”

“Well … I don’t want to interrupt your workout.” He nods at me. “Good to see you again, Romeo.” Then he walks away, and I watch him, a little warmth returned to my heart.

Is that his way of nudging our door back open?

I’m certain that’s the closest thing I’ll get to a cue from Danny.

The next time I’m in the area for tea, I decide to head across the street instead. The nutrition shop is brightly lit and surprisingly colorful inside. Several scents hang in the air, from garlic, to peppermint, to something oaky and woodsy. I survey the aisles of the store, glancing at each of the supplements on the shelves. I expect most vitamin and supplement shops to be sterile, cold, and medicinal. This place is full of color and life—much like the special person I’m here to see.