Hodgepodge

January 5 short story

“So,” Titus asked Jane, his roommate, over dinner, “How close are you and Steve to moving in with each other?”

“Is this your way of telling me that you want me to move out?”

Titus nodded. “Yeah. But I don’t want you to have to pay rent for a place of your own.”

“Give me one of the studios. Didn’t you tell me number eleven is moving out soon?”

“I’m going to need the income from that unit and I don’t want it to come from you.”

Jane smiled tenderly at him. She reached across the table and put a hand on his cheek. “You were asked to host me for a year. It’s been over two years. You’ve done your duty.”

He took her hand and held it in place. Gazing deeply into her eyes, he said, “You know you and I were past the ‘hosting’ aspect of this a long time ago.” He turned his face to kiss the palm of her hand and then made her take her hand back. “I don’t want you out in the housing market place just yet. You’re still in college. It’s ridiculous what they are asking for rents out here. Housing sharks.”

“You should know.” She grinned.

He chuckled. “Yes, I’m one of the evil sharks.”

“I could see what kind of student housing UCLA has.”

“No! Look, if you’re not moving in with Steve, then you’re staying here. I don’t want to worry for you. Student housing is the pits.”

“I can handle myself, you know.” Jane was finished eating. She stayed at the table and waited until Titus was also done. She took the dishes to the dishwasher.

As she started to run water to clean the pot and the pan used for cooking, Titus showed up behind her. “Let me do that. Call Steve and ask him to come over so we can discuss this.”

“You are serious.” She turned to him. “Is Jessica moving back?”

“I’d like her to, but I don’t know. I do know that it is time I made a real children’s room for Daniel here. I want to have him more often. I can’t do that unless I have a real place for him to stay.”

She smiled. “It’s nice to see you come to your senses about your kid.”