I enlarge a recent photo and notice his T-shirt for the first time. It reads, Weed Saves Lives. My heart squeezes uncomfortably tight. Damn, is he into that shit as hard as Ezra, my ex from college? Again, why does it matter? I’m not trying to date him, only reconnect with an old friend. But from the looks of it, we’re different as night and day. I’m still shaking my bible-thumping traditional upbringing, and he’s as free and eclectic as this town.
I hear a key scrape in the door as my roommate walks in, carrying our pizza. “Sorry, there was a line.”
I shut my laptop and twist toward him. “No worries. Is Wendy joining us?”
“She had a work thing,” he replies, placing the large box in the middle of the table as I reach for a couple of plates from the cupboard.
Drew and his fiancée, Wendy, have been so gracious since renting me this room four months ago. This is technically Drew’s apartment, but they’re engaged to be married and want to save money for all the expenses they’ll be accruing next year. So Drew thought having a temporary roommate in an expensive city was the perfect idea. Over a couple of beers last month, Drew shared that Wendy still resides with her parents, who frown upon the idea of them living together before marriage, and since they’re primarily footing the bill, they decided not to rock the boat.
“How was your day?” he asks around his slice of broccoli and mushroom. Not my favorite combo but since he’s a vegetarian and has been so cool with helping me navigate this city, I’m not going to complain. There are plenty more eye-opening things to embrace besides veggies on a pizza.
I briefly tell him about the flower garden we planted today with the plastic pink flamingos in Nob Hill and he fills me in on his busy day as a programmer in Silicon Valley.
Once we obliterate the pizza, Drew’s cell rings with a call from Wendy and he heads to his room to talk to her in private. Alone with my thoughts again, I take a deep breath to bolster my courage, open my laptop, and tell myself I’ve got nothing to lose.
Hey, Xavier! This is Ben Emerson. It’s been a long time. I heard through the grapevine that you live in the city and I recently moved here too. Just wanted to say hi and that I’m sorry…about a lot of things. Hope all is cool on your end.
I hit send and hope like hell he isn’t still holding a ten-year grudge.