13
Buzz
"You sure you're not mad at me?"
Courtland asks Howie fifteen minutes later.
The four of us are sitting in a booth at the diner, digging into our respective pancake stacks.
Howie stops shoveling food into his mouth. It takes a while for him to finish chewing, and when he does, he says.
"Nah. It's fine."
His eyes drift to me.
"'Bout time for me to move on anyway. Didn't want to overstay my welcome."
"What on earth gave you that idea?"
I answer with a smirk.
"In my defense, I had no idea Buzz would be so heartless and throw you out onto the street,"
Court quips.
"I told him I was perfectly happy staying at the inn."
Howie chuckles.
"You guys should live together. You're married."
"Where are you going to live though?"
Court asks.
"Gonna crash at a buddy's house while I look into buying a place."
"Here in town?"
"Yeah."
"Cool."
Court then asks how his rehab is going right as Zane asks me if we're still on for our chocolate-making class next week.
"Of course we are," I say.
"Just because I'm married doesn't mean I'm not allowed to leave the house."
"Wouldn't be so sure about that,"
Court mutters, eavesdropping with zero chill.
Zane's eyes flick between me and Court, and it looks like he's about to say something when the waitress comes over and refills our coffees. By the time she leaves, Zane is talking to Howie about where my bro wants to live—downtown or a bit farther out.
"Cheers, husband,"
Court says, raising his mug.
I clink mine against it and smile.
"Cheers, husband."
"You know, it's not too late for an annulment if you've changed your mind."
"I'm fine. Unless I hear you snoring through the wall. So…ask me again tomorrow morning."
He grins. "I will."
We finish eating, pay at the counter, and bundle up in jackets, gloves, and scarves before stepping out into the cold.
"All right. Well, I guess I'll see you later,"
I say to Court.
He frowns.
"Where are you going?"
"Back to mine with Howie to make sure he's taken all his shit and left the bedroom in a decent state before you move in."
"The bedroom is perfectly decent,"
Howie says, opening the door of his SUV.
"I was a respectful house guest and only jerked off in the shower. Mornin',"
he says to a clearly horrified Mrs. Cunningham, who yanks at her necktie with a huff and storms past us down the sidewalk. Howie calls out, loud enough for her to hear.
"Yep, I checked off the shower to make sure that leak was fixed. And good news, it was!"
"Too late. She hates you,"
Court says, grinning.
Howie chuckles then gets into his car.
"I'll see you later?"
I say to Courtland.
"Yeah. I'll be over around three."
"Perfect."
We hug, and I jump into Howie's SUV.
It's only after we take off that I realize what I've done.
"Turn the car around,"
I order, my voice laced with panic.
"What?"
"I said turn the car around."
Howie ignores me and keeps driving.
"What are you talking about?"
"Court and Zane. I left them alone. Together."
"So?"
"So? So? That's like saying Putin's dropping by for a chat. It's not a safe situation for either one of them."
"Dude, chill. If they've got issues, keep your nose out of it, and let them sort it out. They're grown adults."
"Have you met Courtland?"
Howie chuckles.
"Why does he have it in for Zane? Dude seems pretty cool if you ask me."
"I don't know. It's some weird jealousy thing."
"Ah. So same as always then."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Court is overly protective of you,"
he replies, not taking his eyes off the road.
"Always has been. Used to think it was because you guys were besties, but…"
"But what?"
Howie parks along the curb in front of my single-story apartment and turns off the engine.
"Don't know how to break it to you, Buzz, but I think your husband may be in love with you."
I scoff.
"Yeah, right."
"What, yeah, right? It's obvious. So obvious even I can see it. And you know how clueless I am when it comes to these things."
"You are pretty clueless,"
I concede, still unsure if he's just giving me shit as usual or if he's, god forbid, actually being serious. I hedge it's the former and say.
"You're so clueless that you're completely wrong."
"Nope. Not on this one. It's clear as day."
"That doesn't make any sense. We're friends."
"That's halfway there, isn't it?"
I shake my head.
"It's not like that. Courtland is brilliant and talented. His hard work, his dedication, all the sacrifices he's made in pursuit of his career. He belongs to the world. Not to me. Not here in Clovelly."
Howie unclips his seat belt and glares at me for a beat.
"Court may be all those things, but you're not nothing, man. You're brilliant and talented in your own ways."
When I roll my eyes, he continues.
"I bet the Carters thought you were pretty damn brilliant when you put out their chimney fire. Or Hank at the gas station when you and the guys arrived after the fuel pump exploded last year. Or that couple you rescued from their burning car after that massive collision on Route 202. They'd all vouch for your brilliance and talents."
"But I'm a small-town guy,"
I explain, since he's missing my point.
"Court isn't."
"For the next six months he is."
"Right. And after that? Then what? He'll go back to Boston. Or he might do some more international work. Who knows? Bottom line, he won't be here."
Howie gives me a crooked grin.
"Depends on how well you put out."
I hop out of the car, shaking my head. We may be twins, but I swear half the time I don't know how Howie comes up with stuff.
There's no way Court is in love with me.
No. Way.