Roger sipped his coffee and kept his voice low. "Bruce told me the old man's kind of a romantic loner, ever since his wife died, anyway."

     Calvin kept his voice just as quiet. He adjusted himself on the very comfortable loveseat. "So, what do you suggest? We act like a couple?"

     "Just don't act like your usual, cold self."

     His smart-mouth comments were becoming too much for Calvin. He needed to make time to discuss that with him, but not now.

     The meeting was originally scheduled to take place in George's Cassles office, but when he heard that the men were from Julian's drama department, he asked Bruce to pass along his home address to have them meet him there.

     The men waited outside of George's Cassles study to talk to him.

     "Remind me, why am I doing this with you?" asked Roger.

     "Because Bruce likes you, and we need all the leverage we can get."

     "We?"

     Calvin heard a wooden door open and shushed Roger.

     The two of them straighten up in their seats.

     After fifteen minutes of fiddling with tea cups and looking around the intimidating house, George Cassles stepped out of his study. We wore a forest green cardigan, was slightly overweight, and despite the dark circles under his eyes, appeared happy and awake. "These must be the Julian men."

     Roger stood next to Calvin. He offered the benefactor his hand. "We are indeed. I'm Roger Stuart."

     George ignored Roger's hand and wrapped his arms around him.

     Calvin was just as shocked as Roger at George's actions. Up close, he could smell the whiskey on his breath.

     George laughed. "Roger, welcome. Bruce tells me you've been such a good influence on him. Thank you. I understand the boy can be a little... edgy at times."

     Roger blushed. "He's great. It's a pleasure to work with him, Mr. Cassles."

     "George, please."

     George turned his attention to Calvin. "And who might you be?"

     Calvin offered his hand, but braced himself for a hug. "Calvin Leblanc, at your service."

     George's smile disappeared. He looked at Calvin like he was staring at his past. "Leblanc, huh? Any relation to John Leblanc?"

     Calvin became nervous. He didn't know what George wanted to hear. "He was my father."

     George smiled again. "Oh, my lucky stars. You're John's boy?"

     "You knew my father?"

     "Years ago, I did. He left quite a mark on his city before the tech boom hit. Didn't he tell you?"

     Calvin frowned a little at his father's workaholic memory. "My father liked to keep his work and home lives separate."

     He patted Calvin's cheek. "Understandable."

     George walked to his study as he spoke. "Well, I'd be more than happy to share some stories with you over a drink. But first, let's talk about the play. How's it coming along?"

     "Very well, George," said Roger. "We didn't know you were a fan of theater."

     George walked to the mini bar and motioned Calvin and Roger to sit. "My Rose loved it. Before she passed, I agreed to support the art somehow, in her honor. What do you boys drink?"

     Calvin was ready to decline, but Roger picked up on his impending answer and spoke up first. "We'll have bourbon, please."

     "What?" Calvin mouthed.

     "Just go with it, Benjamin," Roger whispered.

     Calvin cleared his throat."We're sorry about your loss."

     George distributed highball glasses of whiskey, keeping one for himself. He remained standing, leaning on the edge of his mahogany desk. "She was in a lot of pain. I'm just happy to have a couple of romantics pay me a visit, without being intimidated by the wealth."

     Calvin looked into George's grey eyes, and finally grasped the depth of his loneliness. No wonder he invited Bruce to stay with him. He needs all the company he can get. "You must get very lonely."

     George sighed. "You have no idea. If I needed the income, I'd return to work."

     "Well, we really appreciate your support. We want to do our part and be as transparent as possible about where your money goes."

     George twisted his lip in disgust. "I don't want to talk about work right now. Let's get to know each other. Tell me about yourselves."

     Calvin and Roger stared at each other, then looked up at George.

     "Well, we're English teachers," said Roger. "The most exciting thing that happens to us is tenure."

     George finished his bourbon in one gulp. "You know something, I look at the two of you, and I can tell there's plenty of love in your lives."

     Calvin finished his drink. If he was going to chat up a rich drunk, he might as well get drunk, too.

     "Tell me, Roger," said George "Are you in love?"

     Roger couldn't stop his lips from smiling. "As a matter of fact, I am."

     George glowed as if he was looking at his own son.

     "Her name's Cookie," said Roger. "She's the most selfless, caring, humble person I've ever met."

     "Young love. How wonderful."

     George turned his attention to Calvin. "And what about you, junior?"

     Calvin looked up from his highball glass. "Me?"

     "Yes. Do you have someone special in your life?"

     He looked away, unsure how to answer. "Um... well..."

     "Of course he does," said Roger. "We're both romantics after all."

     Calvin's eyes bulged out at Roger. Where was he going with this?

     "I knew it," said George "I have an eye for these things. What's her name?"

     "Her name?" said Calvin.

     He looked at Roger for help, who tried his best to discreetly nudge his head at George. He was trying to encourage him to say something, but Calvin wasn't sure what.

     "Her name, um. Well, you see, it's a little compli—"

     "Her name's Genevieve," said Roger.

     Calvin heard that familiar sound of shattered glass, the same noise he heard when something ridiculous entered his ears. He slowly turned to Roger, hoping he could kill him with a stare.

     "Genevieve. Beautiful name," said George. "What's she like?"

     Calvin knew what was going on. Roger was trying to pass him and Roger off as romantics to get on George's good graces. It was a plan he disliked, smart as it was. But how could he describe Genevieve when he wasn't sure himself who she was?

     He rubbed his hands together. It was time to share out loud what was in his mind for months. "I don't know what to tell you. Other women have entered my heart before, but Genevieve seeped into my blood cells, into my bones. I've been under some spell since the day we met, but I wouldn't have it any other way."

     Roger and George stared, speechless.

***
     Calvin marched ahead of Roger, livid and in no mood for small talk.

     "Hey, wait," said Roger.

     He turned around. Rage carried every one of his words. "Don't you ever blindside me like that again. Do you hear me?"

     "Stop being so dramatic. You got what you wanted, didn't you? He said he'd invite his friends."

     Calvin stopped outside the car. "You practically put words in my mouth."

     "And what was your plan? To sit there mumbling and looking unromantic to the one man you need the most right now?"

     Calvin crossed his arms "I would have figured something out."

     Roger mirrored Calvin. "That's not true. You're just upset because I got you to admit out loud what you've been denying for weeks."

     Calvin rested his hands on his belt and looked around.

     "A nice girl like Cookie wasn't enough for you, but you're like a Pavlov dog whenever your precious Genevieve rings her bell."

     "There you go again, blaming Genevieve. Why can't you let me be happy for once? Are you plotting to snatch her from me like you did with Cookie?"

     It was a low blow, but he couldn't take it back anymore.

     The words slapped Roger's face.

     "Damn it, Stu. That came out all wrong."

     Roger dug into one of his pockets, took out the keys, and tossed them to Calvin. "Take the Mustang home. I need to take a walk."