I was going to have to lure him out.
Grown-up stoic Joe who avoided dealing with me wasn’t the person I was going to tempt, though. No, I needed to get through to the kid inside that’d loved sitting with me and talking about the book he was reading or the movie he’d seen. That Joe wanted to have someone to share things with and to hear he wasn’t a pervert.
That was the Joe I was looking for.
But how?
Heading back into the kitchen, I started searching through the pantry. I’d made the mistake of going to the store hungry, so on top of the staples I’d known I would need, I’d also ended up with more than enough random food to find something fun to make for Joe.
Bingo.
Brownies.
I couldn’t even remember putting them in the cart, but somehow I’d ended up with a box mix as well as several other weird items. No more shopping hungry for me or I’d end up rolling to my new job. But since my goal was to tempt Joe, I wouldn’t be eating them all.
Joe had always loved chocolate as a kid, so the promise of brownies and a movie would get his attention, even if all he did was grumble.
I’d take complaints as long as he was talking to me.
The brownies were simple to put together and soon the cabin was beginning to fill with the smell of chocolate. I knew it wouldn’t be long before it would start driving him crazy upstairs, so as the brownies cooled on the counter, I went to look at the movies I’d brought.
Knowing the cabin didn’t have much access to TV or even the internet because no one lived in it year-round, I’d made sure I had a few series and some movies before I’d come up. Sorting through my options, I smiled. I had just the thing.
As the opening to the first Star Wars movie began to play, I set a plate of brownies on the coffee table. They were still warm and a bit gooey, but I had a feeling that wouldn’t be an issue for Joe. Before more than a minute or two had passed, I heard footsteps inching down the stairs.
I wanted to smile, but I kept my face blank as he finally made his way toward the bottom. “There’s too many here for me to eat unless you want me too fat to drive down the mountain later this week. Have some.”
I was trying to make it clear that nothing had changed. I’d leave in a few days if that was still what he wanted, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t try to get him to open up in the meantime.
Joe inched closer, finally coming to sit on the opposite end of the couch. He perched just on the edge like he was ready to leave at any second. He’d always been more of an introvert at heart, but when had he gotten so skittish? Was it me or something that had happened over the last few years?
“Thanks.” He tentatively reached out and picked up one of the brownies carefully, smiling to himself without even seeming to realize it.
As he started to eat, he sat back, curling into the side of the couch. This had been his favorite movie as a kid. Something about the story had captured his imagination even though there’d been new, more high-tech movies he could have obsessed over. I’d heard how awesome this movie was so many times I could probably quote his favorite parts.
Seeing him relax had me feeling more at ease, so I settled in to enjoy it. I might not be able to talk to him while it was on, but sitting there with him was a long way from the cold shoulder he’d given me earlier. It felt like a good first step even though there were still so many things I was in the dark about.
Time passed quickly as the movie played, but it didn’t take long for Joe to start getting cold again. The cabin wasn’t that chilly, but he’d never run hot, so I grabbed the blanket off the back of the couch and tossed it over him. He jumped, but then looked down and nodded. “Thanks.”
Again, it wasn’t much, but it was a start.
As the movie played, he had two more brownies while he was curled up under the blanket. I could almost see the ghost of the kid he used to be sitting there instead of the man he’d grown into. It was still a bit odd seeing him as an adult, but it wasn’t as hard as it should have been.
“What?” Joe turned to give me an odd look. “You’re staring at me.”
“Sorry.” I shrugged.
I didn’t feel bad about looking at him, but it was a good opening to start changing the narrative. “I just can’t believe how much you’ve grown up. You were such a funny almost-teenager the last time I saw you and now you’re a man. It’s weird.”
Joe huffed, but I could see a faint blush on his cheeks as he turned back to the movie. “You’re insane. Everyone grows up.”
“You weren’t supposed to. You were supposed to stay shy little Joe forever.” I grinned as he snorted.
“I got taller…and it’s Joseph now.” He paused, swallowing as he stared pointedly at the TV like making eye contact would be painful. “My friends call me Joseph.”
It wasn’t a big opening, but it felt like I’d just won the Superbowl.
“Well, Joseph. I think you’ve grown to be a fine man.” He glanced over and I could see a question on his face.
Was I joking?
No.
No matter what had happened or what he’d done, nothing would ever convince me that he wasn’t doing his very best to be the most upstanding man he could be. That was just who he was…smart, sweet, earnest, shy…but at the core, he’d always been a good person just looking for someone who understood him.
And that someone had always been me.
Chapter 4
Joseph
I’d been caught like an animal in a trap, but how was I supposed to resist brownies and Star Wars? He just knew me too well, damn it.
When I’d walked down I’d been prepared for an interrogation, but he’d lured me in with food and my favorite movie, waiting until my guard was lowered to talk to me. But even then it hadn’t gone like I’d expected.
He hadn’t charged in or asked questions. He’d just smiled and told me I’d grown up to be a fine man. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, but every time he opened his mouth he said something nicer than the last comment.
It was Twilight Zone level weird.
“Thanks.” I wasn’t sure what else to say.
It would have been easier if he’d been sarcastic or teasing. I had comebacks and ways to blow off that shit. But actually being nice? That was more difficult to handle.
With the movie playing, it was easy to push my confused emotions to the back of my head. I’d become a pro at ignoring things. That was the safest way to handle most awkward problems. Real problems like sleeping in my car and how to make enough to eat and pay lawyers were easier to tackle headfirst.
Those were problems I could solve without having to question my sanity or the past.
And I’d done a damned good job of turning my world around.
Yes, I had a way to go. Just seeing Forest in my living room when the cabin was supposed to be mine said there were a few issues I needed to confront, but I could do it. A bit more work and a few calls to the lawyer and I’d be back on track with the asshole.
He just needed to see that the pervert he’d pushed out of the house had some balls left and he’d back down for a while. Playing these games with him was not how I wanted to spend my money, but I could handle it.
It was Forest I wasn’t sure how to handle.