Still Sore and unwilling to go for a run, I chilled out this afternoon. Slinking into the sweet spot on my couch, I held onto an ice cold grasshopper and began to shut out the world.

Then without a knock my door opened.

"Hey, You up for csi Tonite!?" He shouted, walking in through my unlocked door, still wearing a suit and tie. As he kicked off his shoes he saw me on the couch, not bothering to look up at him. "Whoa! Drinking on a monday are we? Musta been a good day." He said, going to my fridge and helping himself to my stockpile.

"I guess you got that memo about my new Open Door Policy eh?" I said, shifting and reluctantly sitting up to face him as he took the arm chair, fully uninvited to do so.

Accepting my disapproval of his Self invitation P sat down, "Cheers to shitty mondays." he said as he threw the beer back. "So what's up?"

"Remind me, when did we become comfortable enough with each other for me to be okay with this?" I asked.

"Well I figured this was the next step. I mean, You see my nuts almost everyday, and I see yours."

This was true, we do run together as of late more than most couples do, and we both wear spandex runners. Though his are Pink and yellow and much tighter than mine. Mine are black and blue and glow in the dark.

"Alright, good answer. Well as for what's up...Not much really. The arse came out of 'er at work today. We're screwed... and, hmm, oh, I'm trying to make increasingly complicated travel plans."

"So everything went well after?"

"Better than you could imagine actually, I thought about it today, it was probably the most fun I've ever had with someone, we didn't laughing." I said, sipping my beer and looking away to avert his probing look.

"Sounds good. Tell her how you feel?"

"Ya. At dinner before she left."

"Love her?"

"What is this!!!" I said, lurching forward, completely insulted by the sudden jabbing probe. "Where the fuck did you get that question from?"

"We saw you, and who I assume is her at the airport on Saturday.... I didn't want to interrupt so we walked by"

I was shocked. I didn't have anything to say to that. He leaned forward.

"Are you going to do something crazy?" That was the second time that question, more or less, had been asked in an hour. I always suspected him of having some sort of extra-sensory ability.

My answer was the same, "Ya, I am, so?" I said, slumping back onto the couch.

"I quit today." He said, changing gears.

"You what?"

"I quit."

"Why?!!"

"I'm moving."

"You just moved in!?"

That explained the suit. The Tie. The half frown, half smile. He had always boasted how he loved his job. He never spoke about how much he made, but it was more than obvious from his apartment, which unlike mine, was always locked.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" I said, leaning forward, now completely serious.

"I'm doing something crazy."

"What?"

"I'm going with her."

"You're going with her? what?! To South Africa? Are you shit nuts?" I said, not realizing what I had said until I had said it.

He set down his beer and stood up.

"Yup. I am." He said.

"You love her?" I said. I'd always suspected him and N had been more than 'just dating'.

"Yup."

"She know?"

"I think She does."

'It's not ready for words' was the quote that came to mind and I smiled.

Before he could leave I plastered him with questions. Did you have a job lined up there? no; Was it hard? no; Feel good? yes; Happy? More than ever; When do you leave? With her.

"Just... Do it.... Even if it is crazy." He said as he opened the door with the same hand he held a beer. "Go someplace warm, Walk on a beach. Or go someplace cold. Don't let the obstacles get in the way." He said, smiling now, then becoming serious. "You and I, we're lucky, we have the ability to get around most of them on our own. We can get around all of them with their help. I saw you Saturday, you know it's worth it."

He smiled. "My place for Csi tonite. Bring some Party mix... and a couple of these" He said showing the beer in his hand...and the door closed.

I stood there on the other side of the bartop like an idiot. My mouth hanging open.
I'd just had my mind read.
That asshole. He didn't even ask.
...And he was right.

I was the last one left.