“Hey, TJ,” I said as I opened the door.
He stood there looking almost nervous, but flashed me his killer grin and replied, “Hey, Red.”
I looked down at the duffel bag in his hand.
“Do you need help with the rest of your stuff?”
“Nope,” TJ replied, lifting the bag and saying, “This is everything.”
I looked from the bag in his hand to his face in shock.
“TJ, that can’t be everything. What about the rest of your clothes … Shoes … Toiletries?”
TJ chuckled.
“Everything I need is right in here. Can I come in?”
“Oh,” I said, still baffled at his lack of belongings. I stepped aside and waved him in. “Come on in.”
“The place looks great as always, Sash,” TJ said as he looked around. “Thanks again for letting me stay.”
“Of course,” I replied. “I’ll show you to your room.”
I walked passed TJ and felt his eyes on me as he followed behind. I opened the door and stepped aside, allowing him to enter the room first.
TJ walked in and placed his bag on top of the dresser, looking around and turning to me, his hands in his pockets. “This is more than perfect.”
I smiled, happy that he was here, and that I had the means to help a friend when he needed it. I’d often felt burdened by my parents’ money and the life that they’d chosen to live, but in times like this, I was grateful to have it. TJ and I didn’t always see eye to eye, and we loved to tease each other, but when it came down to it, he was one of the most important people in my life.
“Great, well … I’ll let you get settled. I’ve put the spare key on the counter in the kitchen, and there’s food in the fridge, make yourself at home. I shouldn’t be home too late. We can go over rules of the house when I get back.”
TJ followed me out of the spare room and into mine. I sat on the bed to put on my shoes and he asked, “What if I break one of the rules of the house without knowing it? Shouldn’t I know what the rules are now?”
I caught his smile as I stood and shrugged on my tailored suit jacket.
“How about I hit up the important ones now, and we can discuss the rest later?” I suggested, my eyebrow raised.
“Sounds good.”
I nodded and held up one perfectly manicured finger. “First, put the toilet seat down. The last thing I need is to wake up in the middle of the night and fall ass first into your piss. Second, no jacking off in my bed … for obvious reasons.” TJ couldn’t hide his grin at that, but I didn’t return it. “Third, no chicks in my house. I know you’re single, but please … go to their house to have sex. I don’t want this to become your love den.”
“Love den?” TJ asked with a chuckle. “Alright, Red, I can handle those terms. So, what about you?”
“What do you mean?” I asked, picking up my purse as I got ready to leave. “What about me?”
“Well, you’re going on some hot date right now. Do I need to make myself scarce and put in some ear buds, so as not to interrupt the wild monkey sex?”
I punched him lightly on the arm.
“You aren’t going to interrupt …”
“Oh, so you want me to participate?” he countered, wiggling his eyebrows.
I stopped in my tracks and gave him a dirty look, then shrugged.
“I guess I walked right into that one,” I responded with a laugh. “No, TJ, I’m not going to bring home some guy while you’re here. I said no girls for you, and there will be no guys for me.”
“This is your place, Red, I don’t expect you to stop living your life because I’m here,” TJ replied, his face serious.