The Men Next Door

Ch 30 - Brooks

"Have you seen Luca yet?" Jenkins asked as I leaned against the front desk next to him. "It's been almost two weeks."

My smile faded as I awkwardly scratched the back of my head. "No, not yet." Ever since Cam had chosen me, even getting a text back had been like pulling teeth.

"Hm..." the doorman replied. "I wish I could help, but it's been about the same for me."

"You haven't seen him leave?" I asked, worry spiking up through my chest. Mad at me or not, that wasn't like Luca. Did he have his meds? Was he even eating?

"No, no, he's left," Jenkins said, and I felt my shoulders relax. "Just...at odd times. Without a word to me. Never more than a 'hello' or 'goodbye' on his way through the door, at least." He shook his head. "I'm sure he's fine—or will be—but I do hope he can forgive you both once the anger passes."

I ignored the last bit, focusing on the fact that Luca had been in and out of his apartment at odd times instead. "His gym's open twenty-four hours. Maybe that's where he keeps disappearing to," I said with a shrug. "Always says the movement makes his mind shut up."

"Well," Jenkins mumbled, peering over my shoulder, "perhaps we should ask him."

My eyes snapped to the front door, where Luca was walking in with his head down. The hair peeking out from the front of his hood was as messy as ever, and I took that as confirmation that my gym theory was right. In hindsight, though, Jenkins' next words should've been a clue about where he'd been spending all his time.

"Long night, lad?"

"Something like that," Luca replied, typing away on his phone. When his eyes finally drifted up to see me, they nearly rolled right out of his head. "Did you guys set this up? Decide I need an intervention or some shit?"

I took a deep breath. "Come on, Luca. We can't keep doing this."

"That sounds like a yes," he replied sharply.

"How the hell was I supposed to know you'd walk in here at 10:00 a.m. on a Friday? You're usually at work right now."

"Took a few days off," he muttered, brushing past me and heading for the elevator. "Couldn't concentrate on anything."

Well damn.

After a moment of shock at the brusque interaction, I jogged after him. "Wait, man. Talk to me."

The silver doors slid closed in front of our faces, but not before Jenkins gave us both an encouraging nod from his spot across the room. With the way Luca was acting, I wasn't quite sure if I was about to get stonewalled or punched, and part of me wished the old man would've scurried in after us to play mediator.

Thankfully, my neighbor settled for a regular ol' conversation.

"I don't know what you want me to say, Brooks," he started as we jolted upward. "She chose you; you chose her; nobody chose me. I've been going through that shit my whole life, and it fucking sucks, alright?"

"I don't think it's fair to say that I didn't choose you."

"I do," he argued.

"Luca, be real about this." I looked over at him while he stared straight ahead, waiting to burst through the doors like a fervent horse in a derby race. "I've reached out every few days, whether you respond to me or not. The only reason I haven't come knocking is because I'm trying to give you space. And even at the very beginning of this mess, I talked to you before I ever pursued anything with Cam."

He sighed as we stepped off the elevator, then shook his head while he unlocked the door to 5A. The way his keys clanked against the handle was reminiscent of a funeral bell, and I'd be damned if it was tolling for the end of our friendship, so I followed him inside before he had another chance to shut me out.