Alone Together

Chapter 4-Chris

On a Wednesday afternoon, I got called into my boss’ office. I let out a noisy breath as I saved my work. I pushed away from my desk standing up. Weaving through the different areas of desks because my space is on the other side of the office.

When I get to Greg’s office, the door is shut. He keeps it shut most of the time, likely to not be disturbed from either his nap or his afternoon of computer games. Frankly, Greg is lazy and I have no idea how a man like him even got a job overseeing everyone. Just because they have been in the industry for over twenty years doesn’t mean they are good at it.

I learned that last year when I went to talk to Greg about an idea after talking it over with the manager of my department. He sent me back to my manager to deal with it. The only time he seems to care is when one of us is being sent to corporate because that is one less person to deal with.

I knocked on the door and Greg yelled for me to come in. Greg doesn’t bother to look away from the screen of his computer as I stepped into his office. He is rapidly clicking his mouse, grunting in frustration.

“What can I do for you, Greg?” I asked, sitting down just hoping to break his concentration and mess up his game.

“I need you to go back to Indiana next week. There is stuff going on with the project,” he answered quickly, clicking even faster on the mouse.

“When do I need to be there?”

“f**k,” Greg muttered under his breath, hitting his fist on the desk.

“Monday afternoon, Wexler. You’ll be there till Wednesday. Now get the hell out of my office.”

“Sure thing boss.” I saluted, watching his face turn red, which was either directed at me or his game. I didn’t stick around to find out. I chuckled to myself, shutting the door behind me.

Just like a few weeks ago when I first received news that I would be going to corporate I headed over to HR where they would book my stay. Once that was set up, I started back to my desk to get some more work done for the day.

I don’t get very far when Lewis stops me.

Lewis is the office playboy. A few years older than me, in his early thirties. He is the type of guy who is allergic to commitment. Often brags about his weekend exploits. Lewis isn’t a bad guy to hang around with if you want to watch a game. Outside of that, this guy is truly annoying.

“I saw you got called into the boss’ office,” Lewis smirks. “Went to HR afterward. What did you do? Get canned?”

As much as I love my job, working here, it is not the greatest. I may not even mind if I did get fired because it would give me the excuse to go look elsewhere. But because I have a decent job that pays well, I am more than happy with where I am at.

“No. I’m needed at corporate next week,” I said.

“Lucky bastard. You get away from this s**t hole for a few days.” Can’t argue about that one.

“They should send me. I am the better-looking one in the office.” I snorted in disagreement.

“Please you have wrinkles and are barely in your thirties.” Lewis glared at me.

“At least I don’t look like I have highlights in my hair.” I just laughed. My blonde hair has an array of different shades of blonde ranging from light to dark. At times, it does look like I had my hair done to achieve the color I have.

“Touche,” I respond.

“Still, you are lucky. Getting time to spend with all those ladies.” When I went to the head office a few weeks back I was surprised to see how many females were working for the engineering development team. Not that I don’t think women are capable of being engineers, but because there was a lot in my program, you just don’t see many hired. It makes me feel proud that society is changing.

“I’m not going there hoping to get lucky.” I rolled my eyes because I swear that is all Lewis thinks about. For me honestly, that is the last thing on my mind. Especially after what happened last year.

“Besides, most of them have children our age and are married.” I watched him deflate on that news. “Well, that’s depressing.”

“It’s not like you’ll ever go there,” I told him. “You’re the receptionist.”

“A damn good one!” He exclaims and I laugh.

“Yes, you are. Now get back to work.” I left him with a wave, going back to my desk.

A few days later, I’m sitting at my parent’s dining room table, shoveling mom’s pot roast into my mouth. “This is good mom,” I say between bites.

“Same way I have been making it since you were a kid,” my mom, Jessica, responded with an appreciative smile.

“Still good.”

“How’s work going for you?” My dad, Max, asked after taking a sip of his drink.

“Pretty good. I have to go to Indiana tomorrow for a few days. They want me back to work on the project some more.”

“That’s wonderful,” Mom gushed, being a typical overly excited mom no matter how old her children become. Not that I mind.

Sometimes.

My dad asked again what I was working on and I explained what the project was. He doesn’t understand much about cars, but he follows along with a nod. I know I am going to be excited when this car comes out in two years. Then I can say that I helped make that. Just like the part, I worked on that went into the model of the car that Analeigh has. It was cool to see someone I used to know have that vehicle.

“Have you talked to Justin lately?” I asked either of my parents. With him having a family, I don’t get to talk to him that often unless we are making weekend plans where I come up to visit them.

“On Tuesday, Taylor called to talk a few minutes. She thinks that Ben might need glasses.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “How would anyone know if a two-year-old needs glasses? It’s not like he can say things are blurry. Do people wait until their kid walks into a wall? Is that how they know?” I asked.

Dad laughed along beside me. “Christian!” My mother scolded me.

“What?” I feigned innocence. “I truly want to know if that is how parents evaluate toddlers needing glasses.”

“If my kids constantly run into things, that is how I would figure it’s time to go to the eye doctor. We should check Ben’s head the next time we see him,” dad said, still chuckling with laughter.

“You two are horrible.” Mom sighed, exasperated at us. One would think by now she would be used to it. We grew up in a home always joking around and laughing. Others may not find what we talk about funny, but we sure as hell do.

“Do children that age even need to see well?” I asked dad. “He’s not even potty-trained yet. It’s not like he needs clear vision.”

Mom frowned deeper. “And you say you want to have a family one day,” she huffed.

“Well yeah. That doesn’t mean I can’t laugh about stuff like that,” I responded, taking another bite of my food. “Besides, it’s not like I’m planning on having kids anytime soon,” I grumbled bitterly. “I would have to get together with someone first.”

The table goes silent. Mom and dad exchanged glances, communicating telepathically. I know they are trying to figure out what to say to me and my change of emotion. They don’t know what happened between my last girlfriend, Ellen, and me. As open of a person, I am, that is one thing I have refused to discuss with anyone. Not my family or not my friends.

Ellen and I weren’t close to thinking about marriage and kids with her in grad school and me being in my career a year, but I thought we were heading in that direction. Turns out that when you don’t know the person you are dating, you can change your tune real quick.

Mom took a breath, dad clearly lets her handle this and says, “Maybe not yet. One day you will. First, you got to get out and start dating again.”

“I’m good,” I answered simply. I have no desire to start dating again. The explosion of the last relationship left me uncertain of myself. I don’t trust myself or women at this point. Sure, not all women are like Ellen. But I still feel rattled about trusting another one to date.

Mom doesn’t say anything else, thankfully, letting me deal with my problems, myself. Dad shrugged it off, not really caring. Which is all fine by me. I may be an open person, but the subject of Ellen is one I don’t want to deal with. Not now, maybe not ever.

I hung around a little longer after dinner with my dad as we caught up on the football highlights from the games that had just finished playing. We love football, except we can’t wait for baseball season to get here. That is where mom finds her husband nearly every day. In front of the TV cheering on the Cubs. I make my way over here most weekends to watch together.

“Take care honey,” mom said as she hugged me.

“I will mom. I’ll probably be over once I get back from my trip.” Mom smiled, letting me go. I can tell she is looking forward to having me over again. I don’t think mom and dad know what to do now that they have an empty nest the majority of the year. I hope that one day if I decide to get married and the kids are off living their lives, my wife and I don’t end up like that. Too many couples are so focused on their kids that they forget to be husband and wife again.

Nope, I certainly don’t want to be like that.

“Alright. We look forward to seeing you. Be careful on your trip.”

Time to go home and start packing.