Page 56 of Pay It Forward
He couldn’t stop the tears from falling and gave in to the emotions.
* * *
The last thing Bailey felt like doing was attending a celebration, but Tom had seemed so disappointed when Bailey had initially turned down the invitation. Bailey wanted to spend a quiet night with Tom, to put his cards on the table and tell him about the eviction.Oh God, the eviction.Even now the very thought made him sick to the stomach. He needed Tom’s advice or at least a sympathetic ear, not to deal with a large group of people. But he had heard the disappointment in Tom’s voice when they’d talked earlier in the week, and so was now at a party picking up empties. He pasted on a fake smile and nodded at a few people as he moved around the room. He knew Tom’s close friends but had no idea who most of these people were. Friends of Phil’s, given it was his apartment?
“You don’t have to do that, you know.” Bailey looked up from the recycling bin to find Phil leaning on the counter. “I’ll clean it all up in the morning.”
“Yeah, I know. Just wanted something to do.”
Phil inclined his head towards the crowded living room. “Not into parties?”
“Sometimes. Just not in the mood to make small talk with strangers tonight. Sorry.” Bailey shrugged and hoped Phil didn’t mind his honesty.
“Nah. No need to be sorry, mate.” Phil grasped his shoulder and gave an understanding squeeze. “I get where you’re coming from. It must be hard when you don’t know many people and they’ve all known each other for years. Want a beer?” Phil didn’t wait for Bailey’s answer. He turned to the tub and dug around, fishing a couple of amber bottles from the ice.
“Thanks.” Bailey took the bottle and uncapped it, downing half in a couple of swallows. “Congrats again on the new contract, by the way. It’s awesome.”
“It is. Thanks.” Phil smiled. “It’s been a lot of hard work, but it finally paid off, thank Christ.”
“Definitely worthy of a celebration.”
“Ha ha. So true. But now the hard work really begins.”
They left the sanctuary of the laundry and made their way through the kitchen and back into the living room. Bailey was tempted to stop and get started on the cleaning up, or maybe help with the food, but Phil’s presence behind him kept him walking. He didn’t want to look as though he was totally antisocial. Bailey leaned on a wall, intent on people watching for a bit, surprised when Phil leaned up next to him instead of mingling with his guests.
“Look at him go, will you?” Phil used his bottle to indicate Elliot, who was dancing, one of the few people doing so. “Always the life of the party. But I don’t think we’ll see much of that at the next party.”
Bailey raised a brow. “Huh?”
“Not much dancing. The next party is Tom’s painting party. I don’t know what you said or did but I’m glad it worked. We’ve been hassling him to let us pitch in for ages. Seems he just needed you to give him a prod.”
“Yeah?” God, he had to stop with the one-word questions, but he wasn’t sure exactly what he’d done. Tom hadn’t said anything to him. “So a painting party?”
“Yeah, you know. Everyone picks up a brush and chips in with the painting. The host provides beer and pizza.”
“Hey, is Phil telling you about the party? I figured if the guys want to help so much then who am I to take away their joy?” Tom chuckled. “You too, Bailey. You up for it? I know you’re a whiz with the hammer and chisel, do you think you could handle a paintbrush?”
“You’re really getting stuck into the renos?”
“Uh-huh.” Tom threw an arm over his shoulder. “This awesomely smart guy suggested I give myself a break and just go with the flow.”
Bailey looked into Tom’s smiling face, his eyes crinkled with pleasure as he met Bailey’s gaze. Warmth radiated through his body and he couldn’t contain his grin. He could hardly believe that Tom was finally accepting the help he’d so long turned down.Does that mean he’s forgiven himself?God, there was so much he wanted to ask and say—how proud he was, how happy it made him to think of Tom coming to terms with his past. But here wasn’t the place for a deep and meaningful. Later. Later they could have a discussion and Bailey could get everything off his chest. It would be good to get the negative crap behind them and focus on a positive future. He smiled back at Tom. “Wow. He sounds like a goddammed genius, that guy. I’m glad you listened to him.”
Tom’s arm tightened around his shoulders. “Me too.”
“Speaking of listening. I’ve got something I want to talk to you about.”
“On that note, I’ll leave you guys to it,” Phil said. “I should play host and get some more food circulating anyway, otherwise this lot will be regretting the huge hangovers tomorrow.” He pushed himself off the wall and left the two of them alone.
“So what did you want to talk about?” Tom asked.
Me losing my job. Me getting evicted. My dead-end future because I can’t figure out exactly what I want to do with my career or how to go about it.He cleared his throat. “Maybe tomorrow, after the cafe closes? We can have dinner and talk about it then.”
“It sounds serious.” Tom’s eyes darkened as he turned to Bailey, both hands on his shoulders as he peered into Bailey’s eyes. “Is everything all right? Are you sure you want to wait till tomorrow? If something’s wrong we can always leave the party now.”
Bailey shook his head. “It’s just the continuing saga of my life. Nothing that can’t wait till tomorrow.”
“You sure?”
