Count On Me

IX

Cal:

The next day the doorbell ringing made me jump out of my skin. It wasn't until the door opened that I heard Xavier's voice.

"Hey." He says suddenly, standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame. He looked casual and laid back, his eyes hard and sure of himself. "Sukie let me in, if that's okay."

"Of course" I say leaning back in my chair.

He glances around the room, my office den where I do all my work. It's covered in blueprints and measuring tools, compasses and pencils.

"You work at home?" He asks.

"For now. I'm still watching over Sukie." I explain.

Xavier pauses, and I regret mentioning it since he technically stopped working as a caretaker for me.

"What are you working on?" He asks, changing the subject.

"Just finishing up a small design." I say glancing back at my cluttered desk. I stand up quickly, stepping past more unfinished projects on the floor.

"Um. I can come back later, if you need me to. I did kind of just arrive here unexpectedly." Xavier says stepping back, but I quickly take his arm and pull him back to me.

"Don't you dare." I say pulling him into my embrace. "I invited you here in the first place. You're staying."

"I'm not arguing" he says into my shirt, voice muffled.

Xavier spent most of his time here with Sukie, so I spent most of my time here pouting.

"I like any kind of ice cream." Xavier says to Sukie as he sits on the couch near her. "I also don't care what brand, any brand is fine. I'm not picky."

"Same." Sukie says taking a bite of her sandwich.

"I used to eat it all the time when I was in college." Xavier confessed.

"Freshman 15?" I ask

Xavier rolls his eyes, blushing. "Maybe a bit more. It was nice to have around whenever I studied."

"What about carrots? You can chew on those just fine." Sukie suggests.

"Ew." Xavier groans.

"You work at a hospital. Don't most doctors tell you that it's bad to have an unhealthy diet?" Sukie asks.

"Hey. I'm the cool EMT that brings his patients ice cream instead of saltines or whatever crap they give to you guys." Xavier grins.

"You gave me gram crackers when I was with you." Sukie argues.

"That's a snack. Ice cream is a meal."

"Dessert." I pipe in.

"Ice cream is great." Xavier repeats. "They come in many flavors and colors, and sometimes having the slightest brain freeze from it makes you reload your thoughts all over again."

Sukie and I both blink, not sure how to respond.

"Sorry." Xavier says glancing away. "I just went through a lot during college."

"Gee. Can't wait." Sukie mumbles.

"It's a good experience. You're pushed past limits that you never even dreamed of. You can literally be anything you want to be there. There's just so many options." Xavier says trailing on again. He grins behind his glass of water. "Like ice cream."

I glance back to Sukie, giving a silent gesture that I want some time along with Xavier.

"You're taking me out for ice cream at some point." Sukie says sighing reluctantly.