Julia - Weird relationship

[moonshadows]

“Julia?”

I pause in the middle of my hanging sit-ups. “Hey, Audrey! Be right down!” It only takes me a few moments to join her on the deck. “What’s got you over here so early in the morning?”

She rubs one arm. “Oh, having a little…plumbing…issue in the apartment. Wondered if maybe Duke could come take a look at it.”

I squint at the sun, but it’s overcast and check my phone instead. He should be up by now. “Let me text him and see if he’s wearing clothes.”

Audrey looks at me funny. “Wait…did I hear that right? There’s a chance Duke might not be wearing anything? Is something…new…going on between you?”

Text sent. “Hmm? No, he just forgets he’s naked sometimes.”

“Julia!” She’s struggling not to laugh. “I can’t believe you just said that with a straight face!”

I can’t help cracking a grin. “It’s just…okay, look, all guys have their bad habits, right? And the longer you live with someone, the more of their bad habits you see. Some guys leave towels on the floor or dishes under the couch; Duke walks around naked. You get used to it.”

She crosses her arms, clearly skeptical of my nonchalance. “That’s it? He walks around naked and you’re not the least bit bothered or excited?”

“Not gonna lie, that’s one of my favorite non-monetary job perks.” My phone remains silent. “Hmm, he’s not answering – must not be by his phone. I’ll go let him know. Wait here unless you want to risk seeing the Crocker family jewels.”

While she covers her face and tries to think wholesome thoughts, I slip inside the cabin and peer around each corner before actually going around it until I find Duke frowning at a paper and some receipts, back and backside to the door.

“Boss?”

He doesn’t turn around. “Mm?”

“Audrey’s outside, says there’s a plumbing issue in the apartment.”

Now he turns; I keep my eyes on his face. “Okay. Tell her I’ll be by in an hour.”

“Got it.”

Audrey’s waiting when I get back out. “He’ll be by in an hour.”

“Soo…was he dressed?”

 “Naked.”

Again, she looks skeptical. “And you didn’t…I don’t know, tell him to put something on?”

I shrug. “He probably didn’t realize, and I didn’t want to embarrass him. He’ll put on pants at least before he leaves the boat.”

She stares in disbelief for a long moment. “You didn’t want to embarrass him. He was walking around naked.”

“Yes…on his own boat. That’s his prerogative.”

“It’s still rude,” she insists, but I shrug again.

“I don’t mind the view, and I’m glad he trusts me enough to not be concerned about it. Honestly, it bothers him a lot more than it bothers me, and I’d take it as kindness if you didn’t say anything about it to him when he stops by to deal with the plumbing. He’ll already be kicking himself for forgetting again.”

For another long moment, she just stares at me. “You two have a weird relationship,” she says finally before taking her leave.

 

 

“I’m sorry about earlier,” Duke says as he hands me a glass of whiskey and sits with another.

I take it and sip; it looks like this isn’t his first glass of the night. “Why, what happened earlier?”

He looks at me with one part curiosity and two parts skeptical suspicion, but I shake my head. “Earlier,” he says slowly, “when Audrey came by?”

Audrey came by. Plumbing issue in the apartment. Oh! She better not have said anything to Duke about that. I’ll kick her in the shins if she did.

Duke nods at the change in my expression. “That.”

I take a longer sip, silently accepting the apology. “You don’t have to apologize for that.”

“I shouldn’t-”

“It’s your boat! I don’t want you to be uncomfortable in your own home! I’m the one intruding on you, not the other way around.”

“You’re not intruding,” he says quietly.

Pull the temper back. Inside voice. “Duke…we talked about this. I’m not bothered by it. It’s not like you’re negatively impacting the aesthetic of the room.”

He drains his glass and stares into it for a long moment before saying, “I’m going to bed,” and it’s that closed, strained expression I’ve seen him wear that means I’m going to get thanked for making breakfast instead of scolded.

“Good night, Boss.” My voice is small and light; a child’s voice. Bed suddenly sounds like a very good idea and I drain my glass as well before leaving the room at something just shy of fleeing in shame.