The Merger – 7

 

"What do you do for entertainment?" Mike asked Josh.

"Run. Take in a movie now and then. Read and run."

"Now running I can get into," Mike replied.

Josh tilted his head. "I'd say from looking at you that you spend time at the gym, as well."

"Not really. I'm blessed, as my dad says, with a great metabolism. Spending time sweating at a gym doesn't do all that much for me. I'd rather do a half-hour run." Mike chuckled. "I still get sweaty but I also get fresh air and, if the time and weather are right, sunshine, too."

"Where do you run?"

"Do you know Palmer Park?"

Josh nodded. "One of my go-to trails is there."

"Where are the other ones?"

"The bike path along the creek and the running one along the canal."

"I never tried the path at the canal."

"You should. If you want…" Josh paused.

"Tomorrow morning?"

"Reading my mind?"

"Nope," Mike said. "Your hesitation. Like you weren't sure you should suggest we run together."

"I didn't want to impose. I feel like I'm sort of taking over your life."

"You're not. Honestly. Changing it? I suppose so. But I needed the push to get me to do what I've been planning but never took the effort to implement." Mike picked up his beer, took a swig, then said. "I'm not lazy. I'm just set in my ways, I guess. With you around, that might change." He smiled at Josh as he set the bottle down again.

Josh took that the way he was certain Mike meant it as a general, not a personal, comment. It can't be personal. As far as I know, despite the fact that we met here and are back here at his suggestion, there's no reason to think he could be gay. He's not checking out the men, for one. Of course, I'm not either, but it's not my thing. I have no interest in a one-off with someone.

"Promise me one thing," Josh said. "If I make suggestions you don't like, tell me. This merger isn't going to work if you start to resent my stepping in—or stepping on your toes."

"I will. I doubt it'll happen, though. I'm pretty easygoing when I'm not concentrating on a job. You start telling me how to do my jobs, then I might get pissed."

Josh laughed. "Since that's not my field of expertise, I don't see that happening, any more than you'd try to tell me the best way to set up security on someone's home or business."

Mike held up his hands. "Not in this lifetime."

"Then we're good on that. You asked me. Now it's my turn. What do you do for entertainment?"

"Nothing terribly exciting. Veg in front of the TV, read, occasionally hit up a club to hook up with friends."

"That's what you had planned the first time we were here?"

"Last Monday?" Mike rolled his eyes. "Nope. Like I said, I was unwinding after a very busy day—one beer then home to eat and see if there was anything on TV that wouldn't put me in a coma."

Josh chuckled. "It does have a tendency to do that. That's when I pick up a book instead."

"Yeah, I figured that from what you said about you being a reader."

"I am," Josh admitted. "Fiction, non-fiction… If it has words and makes sense, I'll at least give it a try."

"More than I usually do, unless it's a graphic novel. Now them I can get behind." He shot Josh a wry look. "And not because of the pictures, though the artwork can be pretty damned good."

"I know. I've read some, like…"