After the third knock, the door slid open to reveal a very groggy Roth with a bedhead, who still managed to look sexy with it. He was wearing only boxer shorts and nothing to conceal his chiselled abs and defined arms. He had perhaps woken with a morning wood as evident from the bulge in his shorts.
The sight of him made Tristan lose his mind. For a second, he forgot what he was there to say and continued to stare at Roth, who had been looking inquiringly at him for the past two minutes. Finally, as Tristan made it clear that he would not be the one initiating the conversation, Roth broke the silence, "Hey Tristan, everything good?"
Roth either did not remember or had already decided to let the previous night's outburst go. That was an encouraging start for Tristan, but despite everything, he reminded himself of the decision he had taken. So, he told Roth about it, and the response was exactly what he had expected.
"YOU ARE LEAVING THE MANSION?!" Roth exclaimed in confusion and disbelief.
"Yes, Roth, I'm sorry for whatever happened yesterday. I guess Ruby living with us is just a lot to take," Tristan said, fixing his gaze at the floor, because he knew if he maintained eye contact with Roth for too long, he would melt.
Roth stepped out of the door frame, letting the door close behind him, where Ruby was still asleep, oblivious to everything around her. He put an arm behind Tristan's back and attempted to drag him with himself, "Let's not be hasty. Come on, let's talk it out."
Tristan, suddenly very aware of his naked body in such close proximity to his, slipped from beneath the arm, "Don't you want to put on some clothes first?" Roth first raised an eyebrow at him, then upon realizing that Tristan was serious, let out a hearty laugh, "Oh come on, you are my best friend. We have no secrets."
Except that Tristan did, he had a secret he was especially keeping from his best friend. Soon, they were sitting around the dining table with an apple in Roth's hands.
"So, do you have a problem with Ruby?" Roth said, taking a bite from the apple but not removing his gaze from Tristan's face.
Tristan licked his lips before he opened his mouth to say something, but Roth beat him to it with a hint of reprimand, "And don't bother denying it." Tristan looked ashamed, "Sorry, Roth, I just didn't want to hurt you. Besides I don't have a say in your life anyway, you can choose whomever you want to live with, date and fuck. So, instead of hurting either of us, I think it's best if I just move out."
"Who told you you don't have a say in my life, Tristan? It's okay if you have a problem with Ruby living with us, I understand it's not easy for you to see her around all the time. Do you want me to get her an apartment uptown?"
Tristan wanted to tell him that he has a problem with her being in his life, not in their mansion, but he could not do that without giving away his darkest secret. So he just gave Roth a grateful smile.
"Say, do you want to go on a date?" That characteristic mischievous glint was back in Roth's eyes. Tristan was obviously taken by surprise as his head jolted up with confusion, "Are you, are you asking me out?"
A brief look of confusion passed on Roth's face before he laughed, "No, silly, I just met this new woman whom I think is totally your type."
Tristan gave him a somber look, "You have no idea what my type is, Roth." He poured himself a mug of coffee and started walking out of the kitchen. Roth stared at his back for a while before cheekily calling out, "Your type is non-existent, Tris."
x - x - x
Ruby, surprisingly, took the news well, "Do we still continue to see each other?" She munched on a bagel, clad in only a T-shirt and shorts. Roth was both relieved and disappointed, but above all confused, at the lack of reaction from her.
"Yeah, we just don't live together, but you have no problem with it? At all?" He probed her.
"Of course." She remained indifferent.
Her nonchalance seemed to faze Roth. He pulled out a chair before her, sat on it and stared at her in disbelief, "That's it? Did our relationship mean nothing to you?" She smiled at the last piece of bagel in her hand before putting it in her mouth.
Ruby looked up at Roth after finishing her bagel and held his gaze, "Roth, since the moment that I have walked into your life, I know I don't belong. You belong with the high-class women with perfect bodies who won't give you their all, because you are not the commitment kind of guy."
She stood up, "I will be out of here before tonight." Roth looked at her with sorrow - she was right to feel that way, and even though she was not right. Maybe Roth had not been the relationship kind of guy before her but she had changed his views about love, but he couldn't tell her that.
"Ruby, I have genuine feelings for you. I always did ..." He still tried.
"Shh, it's okay Roth. I don't blame you," She walked towards him, "You know what?" She held his hand.
He looked up at her inquiringly.
"I am not Tristan's problem. You are Tristan's problem. If you don't soon figure out what exactly is the deal, none of you can be happy." She patted his hand and walked out of the kitchen, leaving Roth to his thoughts.
As he looked at her walking away out of his life, her words echoed through his head. She was right now that he thought about it. Tristan barely knew her - how could he have a problem with her. As Roth racked his mind further, he remembered that Tristan never seemed to be on good terms with any woman he went out with.