Life with Kevin 9

Kevin saw Corey at work the next day. Kevin was organizing the aisles and looked at Corey as he walked to the breakroom on his lunch, his blue assistant manager coat unbuttoned. Kevin tried to talk to Corey, but he only got one word out, “Corey”. Corey looked back but said nothing.

“I’m taking my lunch,” Kevin said to the full-time manager in the aisle.

“Wait, I said we’d take our lunches after this aisle.”

Kevin continued to walk to the breakroom, then rushed after Corey.

He walked upstairs and found Corey sitting alone at the farthest table.

“Room for one more?” Kevin asked.

Corey looked down at his food.

“Look, I’m sorry for running off. I’ve just never been in a serious relationship before and I need to take things slow,” Kevin reassured.

“I’m sorry too, I should have taken things to the next level,” Corey replied, standing up and pulling out a chair for Kevin to sit in. “Since we’re taking it slow, let’s have dinner at my place this weekend, and see where things go.”

“Sure.” Kevin got up and pulled his lunch box from the fridge.

“What should I make us?” Corey asked.

Kevin opened his sandwich baggie and pulled out a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. “I don’t know, what do you usually make for your guests?”

“Well, I usually make something easy like spaghetti and meatballs, but I want to make something special for us — -What’s your favorite food?”

“Uh, pizza.”

“Hm — I’ll make a breakfast pizza with bacon and cheese and maybe scrambled eggs.”

Kevin gently pushed Corey’s shoulder, “Ew, don’t put eggs on pizza.”

“Hey, you never know, it might taste good.”

“I do know, my mom made it for me when I was little and I hated it.”

“Alright, I won’t put eggs on the pizza.”

“Good.” Kevin continued to eat his lunch.

Corey left after thirty minutes because that’s all the time he got for lunches. Kevin had an hour lunch. He sat there thinking about what it would be like to eat at Corey’s house. What did the interior look like? What would they talk about?

The next few days dragged on and Kevin’s anxiety grew.

When the day arrived, Kevin dressed in the fanciest attire he owned. He was so anxious, on the drive over he sweat through his undershirt. He thought Corey wouldn’t notice since he wore a jacket over it. He sprayed on some more deodorant to be on the safe side.

Corey opened the door, “Well look who it is, the most dapper man on the block. Come in, ol’ chap.” He said in an American accent that fazed into a British one.

“Thank you, good sir,” Kevin played along in a similar accent, which sounded more Australian.

“Anyway, I’ve got the first course ready on the table,” Corey said, while he led Kevin to the dining room.

A buffet of different types of bread and little bowls of margarine and butter were spread on the table. Kevin stared in amazement.

“Well, you eat up, I have to finish cooking the main course,” Corey smiled and walked to the kitchen.

Wow, I can’t believe he made me all this. He must really love me or he was unsure what bread or butter I like, Kevin thought.

Kevin devoured the bread.

“Don’t fill up on bread!” Corey shouted from the kitchen. He walked out of the kitchen with a tray of English muffin pizzas. Simple, yet conversational.

“Aw, my mom and I used to make these together when I was younger.”

A repressed memory resurfaced in Kevin’s mind.

Kevin and his mom were making these when his mother walked away to take a phone call. Kevin played with the oven settings and the oven went ablaze. His mother grabbed him and she ran out of the house. She called the fire department, but it was too late the house had burnt down.

Kevin looked down at his food.

“What’s wrong?” Corey asked as he sat down to enjoy the little pizzas. “Is something wrong with the food?”

“No, the last time I made these with my mom, I burnt down the house.”

“Oh my god, were you two okay?”

“Yes, no burns, we got out on time.”

“Thank god.”

Kevin continued to eat his mini pizzas. “So, do you have any siblings?”

“No.”

There were twelve mini pizzas and they each ate six.

“Are you ready for dessert? I know I am,” Corey said.

“No, I’m stuffed.”

Corey didn’t hear Kevin, so he stood up and walked to the kitchen. He returned with a chocolate cake.

“My favorite, you remembered,” Kevin replied with excitement.

Corey cut him a slice and set it on his plate.

They dug in.

“So, what are your hobbies?” Kevin asked.

“I like to write and watch TV.”

“Me too, what do you write?”

“Mostly short stories.”

“I’m working on my novel.”

“Really, what’s it called?”

“Riverton Skies.”

“What’s it about?”

“It’s about witches.”

“Cool, I write about Romance and Fantasy.”

“Hey, I have a porch swing outside, do you want to go sit in it? I mean if you’re ready.”

“Sure, I’d love to.”

They walked outside and sat on the porch swing underneath the stars. They watched as a few shooting stars shot across the sky. Kevin fell asleep in Corey’s lap.

Corey later woke Kevin up and drove him home.