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“Carlos,” TK’s plea comes across more as a whine. “Stop being difficult.”
“I’m not being difficult babe,” Carlos says, laughter laced through the lie. “I’m serious, you don’t need to get me anything special.” He takes another fry from TK’s plate as TK continues to frown. “In fact, you don’t need to get me anything. Your presence is enough.”
“Oh bullshit, Carlos.” TK says before taking a sip of his lemonade. “It’s our one year anniversary. What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn’t get you a gift?”
“One that I would still love.” Carlos says, grabbing TK’s hands. He looks deeply into TK’s eyes before TK’s rolls his eyes.
“Ugh, you’re no help.” TK says, collapsing against the seat of the booth. “Why can’t you be normal and just say you want an ugly shirt that you’ll only wear once?”
“After a year together, you should know I’m anything but normal.” Carlos smiles and leans over to give TK a kiss. “I’m serious, Ty; you don’t need to do anything special.”
TK sighs as he looks at his phone. He grabs his backpack as he realizes he needs to head to class. “Fine, well if you won’t let me buy you anything, at least let me pay for lunch.”
“TK,” Carlos starts to complain but TK slaps a $20 on a table and gives him a peck on the cheek.
“I can’t hear you I’m leaving.” TK says, his voice getting further away before eventually it fades to nothing. Carlos stares at his plate pushing a mushy fry around a puddle of ketchup before letting out a sigh.
“Are you gonna keep playing with your food or are you gonna eat it?” He hears a voice above him and he glances up to see Grace smiling at him. He smiles back before saying, “Sorry mom.” His smile doesn’t keep as his mind continues to race.
Grace’s eyebrows furrow and she asks, “What’s up?”
“Grace, I’m freaking out.” Carlos spills out; finally happy to say it out loud. “It’s about TK.”
“Why Mr. Reyes, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so flustered over a guy before.” Grace says teasingly.” She waits for Carlos to feed the same energy back to her but when he just gives her a lost look, she realizes how serious it is. “Diane, I’m taking ten.”
She takes the place of where TK once was and asks him again, “What’s up?” Carlos frowns, almost comically and Grace is stuck trying to piece together what could possibly, be, well, up.
“My anniversary with TK is next week,” Carlos says, as if connecting all the dots. Grace continues to stare, waiting for the rest of his explanation. When he doesn’t say anything, Grace asks, “Isn’t that a good thing?”
“Oh it’s the best,” Carlos clarifies, “I just, I don’t know what to get him.” Grace has to stop herself from rolling her eyes because of course this is what Carlos is freaking out about.
“Oh,” Grace responds, “Well why didn’t you say that from the beginning. This is extremely serious.” Carlos can see that she’s trying to stifle a laugh.
“Grace this is serious.” Carlos rushes out. “I’ve been with the guy for almost a year and I have no clue what to get him.” He sighs and sits back against the booth. “What kind of boyfriend does that make me?” Grace gives Carlos a sympathetic look.
Carlos stares at Grace and she can practically see the gears turning. “What did you and Judd do for your anniversary?”
“Oh no,” Grace says, shaking her head. “Absolutely not. I already told you; leave Judd and I out of it. We told you that we weren’t going to get involved with anything that had to do with you two. Not after the baking class fiasco.”
Carlos rolls his eyes, and pretends to be affronted. “It wasn’t that bad.”
“I’ll have you know that we were getting flour out of our hair well into the next day, thank you very much.” Grace says and Carlos laughs.
Her eyes soften and she gives Carlos a warm smile. “You worry yourself too much, hun. You know TK.” Carlos looks spectacle and Grace continues, “You do. Carlos, you knew him before you even met him.”
Carlos smiles at the thought; when he first heard a pensive listener calling in for help for his “friend.”
Grace reaches across the table, grabbing one of Carlos’ hands in hers. “You’ll figure it out, Carlos. You always do.”
— —
“Happy Anniversary!” TK exclaims as Carlos walks into their shared apartment. Carlos jumps slightly and his eyes widen when he sees the displayed set on the dinner table.
They’re dinner table, has, well, dinner on it, for once. It normally doubles as a gaming table for when their friends come over and they can’t be bothered to clean it off. Carlos walks up to the table to see what TK’s concocted.
He looks on at the salad, mixed greens with vinaigrette dressing and those garlicky croutons that Carlos will never admit that he loves. It’s sitting in between two plates; plates that are filled with mixed vegetables and,
“Is that Red Snapper?” Carlos asks, his head snapping up to look at TK. TK can barely contain himself as he nods his head excitedly.
TK reaches over to Carlos, grabbing his backpack and tells him to take a seat. Carlos sits down and TK soon follows. He’s trying to act nonchalant, placing salad on his plate but he doesn’t stop staring at Carlos; waiting to see him take a bite.
Carlos tries not to notice TK’s piercing gaze as he stabs his fork into the meat; the fish flaking off. He takes a bite and he feels like he’s about to fall in love all over again. TK stares on excitedly and Carlos narrows his eyes. “Okay, where are they?”
TK’s eyebrows draw in together and he looks at Carlos, confused, “Who?”
“The gourmet chef that you hired to make this meal.” Carlos says before taking another bite. He narrowly dodges the crouton TK flicks at him and releases a playful laugh.
“I’ll have you know that I made this all by myself, thank you very much.” TK says with finality. “What, is it so hard to believe that I can cook a good meal?” Carlos raises an eyebrow, the answer going unsaid. “Okay, that’s fair.”
Carlos lets out a percussive laugh before taking another bite. “It’s not that I don’t think you can cook.” TK cocks an eyebrow at him and the question goes unsaid, “Okay; well, I figured, based on the infamous baking class; that you hated the idea of making anything in the kitchen.”
“Oh my gosh, I do hate it.” TK says, relieved. “You’ve always got to be watching something, everything’s too hot or too cold and why are there three different types of peelers for vegetables?” TK cuts himself off when he notices Carlos smiling through his chew. “Okay yes, I hate cooking,” TK admits, “But I love you.”
Carlos pauses as he’s about to take another bite and slowly lowers his fork. He’s staring at TK when TK asks, “What? Novelty wear off; doesn’t taste good, now?”
“No babe, it’s delicious, it’s just,” Carlos leans over and gives TK a kiss; his lips tasting of vinaigrette. “I think I might just be the luckiest man in the world.”
“No baby,” TK says with a warm smile. “That’s me.”
— —
“So,” Carlos begins as he starts washing another plate. “About your gift.”
“Oh baby,” TK says grabbing the plate from him, beginning to dry it with a dish towel. “You know you didn’t have to get me anything.” TK says, throwing Carlos’ earlier words back at him. Carlos side eyes TK and gives him a knowing look. “Okay, maybe I would like something.”
“Well, what if it wasn’t something, but, somewhere?” Carlos questions and TK stares, waiting for an explanation. “Just, don’t make any plans for tomorrow night.”
— —
“Carlos, I love you; but I’m about five minutes away from turning on Find My Friends” TK says as they pass another route marker.
“Well hold off the SWAT team, we’re here.” Carlos says as he starts to pull into a parking lot.
“Where is here, exactly?” TK says, looking at the spherical building in front of them. Carlos gets out of the car, without answer, bracing that TK will follow. TK does, as expected, and Carlos grabs his hand.
“You know,” Carlos begins as they start their walk towards the entrance. “About a little over a year ago, I was working on at my little radio show. I had a caller call in, and he needed some advice for his friend.”
“He sounds hot.” TK replies and Carlos lets out a laugh.
“He said that had this friend who was a little unlucky in love. He, I mean his friend, had this huge crush on this guy and it felt like the universe kept setting him up to fail.”
“Poor guy,” TK says, frowning comically. “Imagine being that hot and unlucky in love. Sounds like he was really out of sorts.”
“Oh he was,” Carlos confirms and TK gently nudges him. “He was, I mean his friend, was convinced that the universe had it out for him.”
“So what’d you tell him?” TK says, hanging on to every word as if he hasn’t heard this story before. As if he hasn’t lived this story. “I told him that love is weird. It’s chaotic, and it’s wonderful. It’s not something that’s planned. It’s a surprise because who knew a person could make you feel this way? Who knew that a person could stop you in your tracks; keep you on your toes, and question a future that’s not with them?”
When they get to the top of the stairs, Carlos pauses. TK notices that Carlos is looking past him and TK turns his head. In big bold lettering, the words “Scobee Planetarium” are plastered across the wall
“I told him, that the universe didn’t have it out for his friend,I told him that the universe is just taking its time to align the stars.”
— —
“You know; I’ll be the first to admit it, I think you were right.” TK whispers into Carlos’ ear. They’re both looking up at the cosmos being projected against the ceiling.
“What are you talking about, Ty?” Carlos whispers back. “You hate to admit when I’m right.” TK gently nudges him with his elbow but the smile on his face shows there’s no malice behind the action.
“I think the caller, his friend?” TK continues, “I think he’s gonna be okay. I think he’s gonna find out that he’s gonna be the happiest he’s ever been. Maybe the universe was just taking it’s time.” TK says. “What about you? Do you think the universe knows what it’s doing?”
Carlos looks over at TK and TK’s still staring up at the display; looking just as beautiful as ever. “Well,” TK turns his head and looks back at Carlos. “I can’t help but think, who are we to deny the stars?”