Never Again – 28

 

Even though he had only finished half of his beer, Joseph nodded. He watched as Cal walked away, suddenly very much aware of him as a male. Not that I haven't been before, but after Steve's hinting? More than hinting damn it! He had to go putting thoughts in my head. Thoughts I'm much better off without, Beth to the contrary. He chuckled softly, jumping when Cal suddenly reappeared, setting a full bottle of beer beside his half-full one.

"Telling yourself jokes?" Cal asked as he retook his seat across from Joseph.

"Believe me, no one laughs at my jokes, including me."

"Come on, they can't be that bad."

Joseph snorted in amusement. "Uh huh. I told this one to Beth and she just about brained me." Taking a deep breath he said, "Archaeologists in Britain found part of an ancient door. It had a stone hinge on it."

For a second Cal looked puzzled. Then he groaned. "Yeah, if that's the kind of jokes you tell, don't quit your day job."

"Wasn't planning on it. I like what I'm doing now."

"Good, because I'd hate to lose you."

"You'd find someone else—probably someone a bit more skilled at construction than I am."

"Hey, don't put yourself down. You've learned a lot over these past few weeks—" Cal paused, grinning, "—rich boy."

"You're never going to let me forget that, are you," Joseph growled in mock anger.

"Nope. When you're old and gray, I'll still be calling you that."

Joseph looked at him in shock. "How long do you think Rebuild is going to be around?" He had the distinct feeling it wasn't what Cal meant, but he was not going to allow things to slip into something quite as personal as his words sounded. "I mean, face it, with any sort of luck or…whatever, in twenty years it won't be needed. People will wake up, finally realize what's going on, and decide to do something constructive to end homelessness."

"I wasn't—" Cal bit back whatever he was going to say, talking a long pull on his beer, then nodded. "You're right, I hope. But I'm not going to bet the farm on it." Then, completely out of the blue, he asked, "Do you ever go fishing?"

Joseph smiled, instantly remembering when he'd last shifted, picturing the big catfish he'd caught for his supper. Not that he could tell Cal. It would be hard to explain how he did fish, but with his claws not a pole. Still, it will be interesting to see where he's going with this. "I've been known to on occasion, although more to have a reason to get out of the city and relax than anything else."

"Drop a line in the water, lean back against a tree, and hope the fish don't bite?" Cal asked with a grin.

"Got it in one. Take a good book along sometimes. That's the life."

Cal leaned back, looking at him. "We don't work Sundays, so, I mean, if you don't have any plans."

Joseph hesitated. Tell him I'm busy. That I'm going to Beth's for… whatever. His common sense said that's exactly what he should do. His emotions objected, however. What can it hurt? A couple of hours out at a lake, a cooler of beer maybe. It's just what Steve suggested, sort of. Hell it's only one day, afternoon, whatever.

"It's taking you long enough to reply so I guess you're not interested."

Joseph quickly shook his head, seeing the hurt in Cal's eyes. "Not at all. I was just trying to remember where the hell I stashed my pole after the last time I used it. Can't fish without one."

"So you're willing?"

"Definitely. We can figure out what time to meet and where to go on Saturday after work, depending on the weather reports."

"With my luck it'll be the first time this year we get a day of torrential rain," Cal muttered, but he looked happy nonetheless, which was all that mattered at the moment as far as Joseph was concerned.