Salubrious part 21

“Sal-u-tatttieonns, Charlie!” Allan said in a silly accent to Charlie after he walked into the break room. This was the very next day of their meeting at the bar, and all last night they had been talking on the phone until five in the morning.

“Good morning, Allan,” Charlie said. “Um, can I ask you something?”

Allan grinned, giving Charlie a small hug. Charlie hugged back immediately.

“Sure-uh, what would you like to know?” Allan asked. He had his gardening apron on, and was holding a trowel.

“First of all, I like your style here, it’s very nice. Are you gardening today? What are you thinking of doing tonight? I was thinking Netflix and chill. What you think?” Charlie said quickly.

Allan gave him a funny stare, “Uh? Thanks. But, I’ve worn this before. We can do whatever tonight.” He lifted his trowel. “I’m phlllulling out weeds this morning.”

Charlie nodded. “Uh huh. That’s great. And I know that you’ve worn that before. I just wanted you to know I think it looks good on you, you know? And… I noticed something about you.”

“What’s that?”

“When you’re like super stressed out or angry you don’t do the weird extra emphasis on words thing you do when you’re happy or normal.” Charlie started to say.

“So what?” Allan asked with a bit of sarcasm.

Charlie leaned into kiss Allan’s cheek quickly, still looking around for their co-workers. “That’s what. You’re just frigging adorkable.”

Allan touched his face where Charlie kissed him and then his mouth, “Ohh, morning work pda. That is quite unscrupulous of you, Charlie,” he laughed softly. Charlie nasally laughed, feeling so relieved that they broke the ice last night, resolved some key problems and...

“I’m just a rebel at heart, baby,” Charlie snuck in the nickname he used during their first kiss.

Allan noticed it. Their relationship was barely a day old, so the euphoria was there, bursting with excitement and newfound curiosity of each other. Even so, Allan usually had a pragmatic approach to serious matters.

“So, you know I come into work earlier than everyone else on most days to do my gardening. I appreciate you coming in early too, but, Charlie? What are we going to say about our… well, our new relat-ceon-ship?”

Charlie frowned, “I haven’t thought that far ahead. Fuck. We got to do something I guess.”

“I mean, we don’t have to,” Allan said.

“Everyone will figure it out. Pim will know like instantly. I think we just need to make an announcement,” Charlie suggested.

“Um, sure… what if we just made out on the table and everyone can watch?” Allan asked seriously.

Charlie blanched, looking at Allan a little horrified.

Allan laughed, “Nah, I’m just fucking with you.” He leaned forward and messed with Charlie’s hat, turning it backwards. “I like it that way. It looks cooler backwards.”

Charlie blushed, giving Allan a thumbs up. “Cool.”

“I made an itemized statement about our new relationship plan,” Allan said suddenly. He takes a piece of paper out of his apron pocket.

“Wow, that was fast. How did you find the time? An itemized … what now?”

Allan shrugged. “It took me ten minutes.”

Charlie smiled weakly. “That’s efficient.”

“First thing here is communication. When there’s any doubt or confusion, I would appreciate some kind of communication, via email, text or phone call. In person is also recommended. That way we can get past it without having to wonder what is wrong.”

Charlie nodded, feeling overwhelmed. “Um, sure. Sure.”

“I have a copy, so I’ll give you this one.” Allan handed the copy to Charlie. “You may look at it later when you’re free. I also want to settle one more thing,” Allan sat down, looking at Charlie seriously.

“What’s that?”

Allan cleared his throat, “Well…”

“Oh heya guys!! Good morning Charlie! Good morning Allan!!” Pim smiled, waving at them. “It is so nice to see you two talking again.”

Allan gave Pim a wave, looking perturbed that his conversation was interrupted. “Hi Pim.”

“Morning Pim,” Charlie replied with a yawn. “Coffee…” he said in a zombie-like tone, getting up to get a cup.

Allan hurriedly makes a cup of coffee for Charlie, saying, “Don’t worry, Charlie, I’ll make it for us.”

Charlie heard the word, us, and immediately shrank, nodding to Allan but looking scared.

“Did you sleep okay last night, Charlie? You look bushed,” Pim asked.

Charlie sat back down. “Uh, yeah. No, I slept like shit. But it’s all good. I guess.”

“I slept okay. Just a bit tired but things have been settling down here, so it’s good,” Pim said, looking at Allan then Charlie as he spoke.

“Good. So we have any jobs today? If it’s a slow day today I really wouldn’t mind, hah,” Charlie said.

Pim shook his head. “Well I haven’t talked to the boss yet. So, maybe? I don’t know.”

“Okay,” Charlie said, yawning again as Allan brought over the two mugs of coffee. He handed one to Charlie from behind, their hands touching. It looked to Pim that Allan was intentionally making hand contact.

“Oh!” Pim made a tiny noise, his eyes wide.

Charlie looked self-conscious but didn’t move away from the contact, saying, “Thank you, Allan.”

Allan turned, looking at Charlie, “It was no trouble at all.”

Charlie pursed his lips. “Pim, so what’s on the agenda today?”

Allan looked a bit put off, feeling ignored as Charlie kept talking to Pim.

“Um, it’s like I said, I don’t know yet. Maybe we can check in with the boss in a bit.”

Charlie took a sip of the coffee, smiling instantly. “Hmm, this is good. You made it good. Allan?”

Allan turned around, looking at Charlie, giving him a small smile. “Yeah?”

“You made like a perfect cup of coffee, man. Thanks. It’s great.”

Allan nodded. “I can attribute that to the grind.”

Charlie laughed. “No, you know exactly what I like, it’s just…” he took another sip. “It’s just.. perfect.”

Allan grinned. “That’s good to hear.”

Pim smiled, but still felt the energy was off. Glep came in at that moment.

“Hey!” Glep said to everyone. Allan and Charlie said hello to Glep in unison, making Pim and Glep give each other a look.

“Oh good morning Glep! How are you?” Pim asked.

Glep shrugged and muttered in tired gibberish, “Been better, but I’m still here.”

Pim laughed, “Yup sounds like me too!”

Allan sat down, taking a drink of his coffee. “Charlie and I were up until five in the morning. I don’t really feel tired, though.”

Charlie’s eyes widened, feeling panicked. He grabbed his coffee, laughing too loudly. “Yeah we were texting. Shooting the shit. You know.”

Pim cringed, feeling the blow land softly with Allan, who gave Charlie an estranged look.

“Yeah. That is so nice, Allan. I’m glad you two… you know, worked out so well,” Pim tried to word it carefully, eyeing Charlie who was avoiding all eye contact.

“Yeah. We did. Didn’t we, Allan?” Charlie attempted to make things smooth over, but Allan looked unconvinced.

“Sure Charlie. That’s right,” Allan responded dryly.

Charlie finally picked up on the awkwardness, standing up straighter. “Hey everyone, uh, I … have… we have an announcement.”

Allan perked up, giving Charlie a look that said stop. Charlie looked at Allan, his eyes saying, “Isn’t this what you want?”

Allan said with his eyes, again, “Stop.”

Pim waited and said, “It’s okay if you want to wait.” Glep gave them an affirmative nod.

Charlie gave his friend a sweet smile, “Okay. Yeah. That’s what we’ll do.”

Allan nodded. “I have to go now. I have to pull the weeds. See you all later.”

Charlie nodded, waving to Allan. “Hey, I’ll see ya later.”

Allan smiled at Charlie, “Yup. You sure will.”

Mr. Boss walked in finally, “Morning, my dear boys! How’s it looking today?”

Charlie sighed, drinking the coffee Allan made him with relish.

As they all started discussing plans and potential jobs, Charlie felt an urge to go immediately talk to Allan, but decided to wait a bit. Not too long. He would text Allan, though. No doubt.