You Can See Me by A. E. Via Read Free Book Online Page B

had to be Leo’s breakfast and entire damn place setting crashing to the floor. “Pres, goddamn you!”
    He closed the door and hightailed it down the hall, bypassing the elevators and taking the stairs. His heart was heavy with the realization that it would probably be the last time he talked to Leo.

Chapter Ten
     
    Pres had just finished with his evening chores of walking Josey, sanitizing his already spotless kitchen, and listening to some notes from one of his reviews. He was sipping a glass of Merlot when he picked up his cordless phone and dialed his girlfriend.
    “Hello.”
    “Hi, Vikki, how are you, babe?” Pres put one hand behind his head as he reclined in his favorite chair.
    “Oh, hiya, Pres. I’m fine. I was actually getting ready to call you,” she replied casually.
    “Really?” Pres replied, feeling a little silly at how happy that made him.
    “Yeah, my credit card bill came today, and they said because I missed the last two months’ payments that they were going to start collection activity soon. I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she huffed.
    “It’s all right, honey. I’ll make your last two months that you missed,” Pres replied.
    “Thanks, Pres. I appreciate that. Well, I gotta go. I’ll talk to you later.”
    “Babe, wait!” Pres yelled. “I was wondering, if you weren’t busy tonight, then maybe you’d like to come over.”
    “And do what, Pres?” Her mood immediately switched to irritated.
    “I don’t know…maybe watch a movie or—”
    “You can’t watch movies.” She cut him off, stating the obvious.
    “I actually still like listening to movies, Vikki…but whatever. We don’t have to do that if you don’t want to. We can listen to some music and talk instead. What do you say? I really miss you.”
    Pres was getting tired of begging her all the time to be with him, especially after he paid one of her many bills. Leo had told him to dump the high-priced hooker, but that was real easy for him to say. Leo had a warm body in his bed every night. He pushed down the thoughts of him and Leo. He’d done enough pining over that horrible fiasco for the last few days and refused to let his mind wander there again.
    “I’ll call you back later, Pres. I got to go. I have another call coming through.”
    Pres heard the definitive click of the line disconnecting before he could say another word. He let the cordless drop and sat there in silence, wishing he had some company. Automatically, his thoughts went to Ric and the wonderful time they’d had in the lounge last week…and how it’d ended.
    He replayed Ric’s words. “I don’t really have the time to eat a real dinner anyway.”
    Pres jerked upright. Hmmm. Maybe you don’t have time to cook you a real dinner…but I sure as hell do. He jumped up from his couch with a newfound determination.
    Pres first turned on his favorite classic rock station and swayed his hips to the music as he grooved his way to his gourmet kitchen. Hmmm. What would Ric like to eat tonight? He mentioned mac ’n’ cheese and mashed potatoes. You’re a startchy kind of guy, huh, Ric? Pres moved around in his pantry feeling the Braille labels on his boxes of pasta. Let’s see…fusilli, ziti, cavatappi, linguine. Pres found the one he wanted. Bingo, ditalini. I’m thinking, thinking… Pres tapped his chin with his finger. It came to him quickly.
    “Mini Swedish meatballs over parmesan ditalini pasta,” Pres whispered to himself as if he was in awe of his conclusion. Feeling the hands on his wrist watch, he figured he’d have this all done in two hours…and special dinner delivery at seven.
    Two and a half hours later, Pres was popping the last Tupperware lid over the pasta and tucking it into the insulated thermal food bag. He cut a thick piece of fresh parmesan from his block and sealed it in another container. Oh, don’t forget the grater.
    Pres immaculately cleaned his kitchen. A real chef never left his kitchen dirty. Since