“Money-wise? You own the company, Cal. Well, you and Ellis.”
“Oh. I thought I just run it or something.”
Dawson snorts. “Justrun it.” He sits down on the other end of the sofa. “You’re the eldest and your dad wanted you to be in charge. But you’re not obligated to run it.” It looks like he’s going to say something else but changes his mind.
“What?”
Dawson hesitates, chuckling uneasily. “Nothing.”
“It’s something.”
“It doesn’t matter. You don’t need to hear all my rubbish thoughts. And I’m not supposed to put things in your head.”
“How else am I going to learn?”
“It’s just…” He sighs. “Look, this is my opinion only.”
“I want to hear it.”
Dawson shoots him an incredulous look. “Well, if you must know…I always thought you hated the job.” He seems to be holding his breath, waiting for Cal’s reaction.
“You said I worked all the time,” Cal reminds him. “Wouldn’t that mean I enjoy it?”
Dawson pulls his bottom lip between his teeth, hesitating. Cal zeroes in on his mouth, strangely transfixed. He kind of wants to…
“You’re good at what you do,” Dawson says carefully. “You worked hard for it. But I’m not sure you actually like it. You’re always so stressed, and I know it comes with the territory but…” He looks up. “I don’t think you’re happy.”
“Then why do I do it?”
Dawson shrugs. “I don’t know. Maybe you’re trying to prove something to yourself?”
“Well, that sounds silly.”
Dawson laughs. “Can’t argue with that.”
Thinking of his job reminds him Dawson doesn’t have one and that their apartment doesn’t exactly look cheap. It’s the first time the concept of money crosses his mind—maybe because Dawson never mentioned it to be a potential problem—but now he has to ask.
“What happens if I can’t get back to work?”
Dawson seems surprised by the question, which confuses Cal. Didn’t he just say Cal probably hates his job? The idea of him not going back shouldn’t be that astounding.
“I guess Ellis would take over. But maybe if he shows you the ropes, you’ll pick it up again.”
“But I hate it.”
“You wouldn’t have to go back to being the CEO. You could do something else. Whatever you want, really.”
Whatever he wants. That doesn’t exactly narrow it down. The things he knows he wants have nothing to do with work. Unless he can get paid for spending all his time with Dawson and eating candy.
“I want to get to know you. Again, I mean.”
It’s not what Dawson asked, but Cal felt compelled to say it. It might simply be his imagination—after all, he doesn’t have a reliable point of reference—but Dawson’s been kind of…withdrawn. Yes, he’s become a little more approachable as days went by, but Cal had naively hoped that coming home would bring them closer, make everything feel more normal. At least for Dawson, who must be as confused as Cal, even if it’s in a different way.
Dawson doesn’t seem to know what to do with Cal’s confession. He looks at him like Cal lost his mind, not like he’s excited about the prospect of rekindling everything Cal’s forgotten. And that’s another thing…
During his visits, Dawson was content to talk about anything and everything, from books to food to letting Cal complain about all the exercise he has to do. He had no issue giving Cal a rundown on his childhood and accomplishments. He was gentle as he explained that Cal’s mom left when he and Ellis were little, and their dad passed away shortly after he met Dawson. He told him that Cal loved motorcycles but hadn’t touched one since his accident four years ago that nearly cost him his arm.
He talked about everything.
