The Sum of Us

Chapter 1

Alexander

When I exit the airport I am already 30 minutes late. There is a taxi waiting for me and I throw my suitcase into the trunk before sliding into the back of the car. Then I slip my headphones back on and drown out the traffic noise. We drive for another 20 minutes. I notice myself growing nervous. My eyes shift from my watch to the landscape that we are passing through. I tap my foot impatiently. We're getting closer, but it still feels like we aren't moving fast enough.

Damn flight delay. I spent all month ensuring that I'd have three full days off and then I spend most of the first sitting around and waiting. It shouldn't have taken me more than six hours to get from California to Miami, but it ended up taking almost all day.

My patience is wearing thin by the time we pull up in front of Conner's house. Conner and I are total opposites in a lot of ways. Where I am quiet and reserved he is loud and open. After college I moved to San Francisco to focus on developing my start up full time. Conner went to med school instead. It suits him. He is the kind of guy that thrives on helping people. 

I place my suitcase by the front door and press the doorbell, reaching into my pocket to retrieve the two season tickets I bought him. I'm not really into football, but Conner is obsessed. It seemed like an appropriate birthday present.

Conner opens the door, a wide grin on his face. He looks thrilled, and to this day, it still surprises me that someone could be so genuinely happy to see me.

"Happy Birthday, man!" I say, holding out my gift for him. "I'm sorry I'm late."

He ignores my hand with the gift and draws me into a hug.

"Jesus, I've missed you, buddy!", Conner says. I stiffen under his hug but let him slap me on the back a few times without complaining.

Finally Conner lets me go and turns to lead me in through the door.

"Welcome to my house!", he makes an exaggerated gesture. 

I look around the open area beyond the entry way. "I like what you've done with the place...", I should be used to it after living with this guy for three years in college, but it is truly impressive how much of a mess one man can make. I walk past a few empty boxes and step over a pair of dirty running shoes to get into the living area. 

"I know, right? Just make yourself at home!", Conner's smile is shameless. He knows how much I dislike chaos. Back in the day we used to get into disagreements about the state of our dorm room all the time. It used to drive me crazy that he would leave his stuff everywhere. If he wasn't such a damn good friend I would have never put up with it. But what can I do, I kind of love the guy.

"You can put your stuff in the guestroom.", Conner gestures towards a door to the right.

This place is nothing like my penthouse apartment. There everything is tidy. Straight lines, white walls, no clutter. That is how I like it. But I will probably survive for the few days I am staying with Conner.

When I come back into the main area Conner is standing at the kitchen counter, chopping up onions. I slide into a chair in front of the island. "My family is coming over for dinner later. I hope that is ok.", Conner looks at me, as if expecting a genuine response. I nod. 

I usually dread social gatherings, which is ironic considering that my job these days mainly consist of networking. Conner's family won't be so bad though. His parents are pleasant people and there is usually good conversation. And then there is also Olivia...

"Is Olivia coming?" I ask involuntarily.

"Considering that she is my sister and I have invited my family for dinner tonight, I would hope so!", Conner chuckles. I nod again.

Conner places a pan on the stove and turns on the heat. "So, Alex, tell me, how's business? You've been pretty quiet about it lately."

"It's going alright. Our team has been expanding, and we've been continuously taking on new clients.", I force myself to smile. "The technology is performing well and it shows."

"It really does show. You are fucking rich man! You made it. You put your ideas out there and you succeeded.", Conner looks me in the eyes as if to try and read what is going on in my head.

There is a pause as we stare each other down. Then there is the click of the front door, a loud thump, followed by a row of curses.

"Fuck! Conner, you really need to fix that fucking doorstep. I basically almost die every time I try to visit your stupid ass.", the voice is high and loud. It irritates me.

"Good day to you too!", Conner shouts back.

There is more rustling and a few more curse words, before she appears around the corner. She is holding a slightly deformed cake with pink icing. It has some writing on top of it that is difficult to make out now and is obviously self made.

"Happy birthday, dickhead!", she smiles. Then she sees me and her whole body freezes.

Olivia

"You remember my friend Alex from college, right?", Conner is standing behind the counter, preparing dinner.

Yes. I remember. I specifically remember a night about six years ago. It was Conner's and Alexander's graduation night and I'd had a little too much to drink. I had started college that therm and wasn't having the best time. My first year was rough and I was happy to forget about it for one night. That night I made an unfortunate choice. In a drunken attempt that could be described as clumsy and tactless I came on to Alexander. Hard. He was handsome, crazy smart and kind of funny and I had developed a bit of a crush. The booze did the rest and I had basically convinced myself that the feelings where mutual. Suffice it to say that it turned out they where not mutual. At the end of that night I found myself awkwardly getting off Alexanders lap after he asked me to please stop kissing him. He didn't look me in the eyes. He didn't say another word. He just got up and left me there, in the dimly lit living room, sporadically filled with half asleep drunks and one slow dancing couple. Questioning my choices to the soundtrack of Leona Lewis's "Bleeding Love" coming from the improvised DJ setup in the corner. To this day I cannot enjoy that song without cringing. It really is a shame I didn't drink enough to erase that night from my memory.

And now he is sitting right there at the counter. Opposite Conner. Looking uncomfortable.

"Yup. I remember.", I force the smile to come back. "Nice to see you again, Alexander."

He nods and mumbles something that could be interpreted as a greeting.

He looks good. Even better than I remember. The sleeves of his sweatshirt are rolled up and reveal strong forearms. His hair is a bit disheveled. His jeans fit nicely and hug his legs in exactly the right... What the fuck am I doing? I blush and look away.

"Well this is awkward...", Conner says in an attempt to make things less awkward. 

"I made you a cake.", I say and place the platter with my slightly damaged creation on the counter in front of him. 

"Thanks Liv! It looks a little squished...", Conner eyes the sides of it skeptically.

"It wouldn't be if it wasn't for your stupid doorstep.", I shoot back.

"And it is a little hard to read the writing...", Conner goes on.

"I think it says Happy Birthday Dickhead.", Alexander supplies.

"Well, that hardly seems appropriate.", Conner gives me a mock-stern look.

"Why not?", I ask. "It is your birthday and you are a dickhead."

Alexander snorts. Conner laughs.

"Thank you Liv. I love it!", he pulls me into a hug.