in you i trust

‘‘I don’t have access to his credit card, but if I did I’d be meticulously reading the shit out of those damn receipts,’‘ he admitted with a snort. ‘‘I don’t know. Maybe I’m paranoid… but we don’t communicate anymore, we I can’t remember the last time we’ve had sex,’‘ Malik added, a grin tugging at his lips as he raised his glass. He finally drank down what was left inside of his cup, before extending his hand to grab the bottle and fix himself another drink. ‘‘But I love him. Crazy, innit?’‘ The doctor smirked, slightly shaking his head at the thought of it. ‘‘Stop me from rambling so much about my life – tell me something that will make me feel better about my life. Tell me something terrible about yours,’‘ he added with a laugh.

“There’s the problem then. Trust me, I know all about not communicating properly.” he didn’t necessarily want to go into depth about Oliver. In fact.. he really didn’t at this point, but realized that was probably the only terrible thing he could mention right now. “It’s probably not the best thing to bring up, considering the reason we ended things had to do with cheating, but I ran into my ex at the gym the other day.” He let out a low sigh, downing the rest of the wine in his glass. He needed that if he was really going to talk about it. “Turns out he’s ‘seeing someone’. Meanwhile, I’m a man in his thirties, just roaming around doing nothing else than working and having one night stands. I’m starting to think I’ll just be alone for the rest of my life. Do you feel better now?”

‘‘I wouldn’t consider Kai a busy man, but I’m glad to hear he isn’t the only one on a captain crunch diet,’‘ Malik grinned to himself as he sat back, comfortably relaxing as he enjoyed his friend’s company. ‘‘My brother makes me realize what’s wrong with my marriage, and as much as I’d like to let it slide on my back I can’t help to give him points. It’s been eight years, it can’t be like it was at the beginning, right?’‘ He wanted Thomas to agree with more than he cares to admit. 

“What even makes you think your husband is cheating on you? What kind of reasons would he have?” he realized the sentence didn’t really matter at this point. Did cheaters really need a reason? “I well-.. Of course it can’t be the same after 8 years. You guys have both gotten older and changed a lot, but hey, it can’t be that bad.” he let out a light sigh, shaking his head a little from side to side. “What’s going on? Is he staying late at work and do you find weird credit card receipts?”

“It’s hard to believe that we’re the same age and you’re so incapable at technology.  I swear if you knew you could basically just look at hot men all day in ‘artistic poses’ on instagram you’d be loving live.  Besides, why’d you want a paper cut from a magazine from scrolling through it too much?”  He teased back, his smile equally as bright to his friend.  “But yeah, nothing important for me.  Not yet anyways. You do have the better job though, that much is certain.  I would love to just judge models all day on their looks and make their self esteem plummet.”  He was teasing of course, though only about the last half of his comment.

“Hey, I’m not incapable, I just don’t like it. It’s very efficient, I guess, but don’t blame me for having to wear big ass glasses in a few years for all the screen staring you’ve been doing.” he resisted the temptation of childishly sticking out his tongue as an addition to his teasing. “So like when’re you gonna come over and help me pick out some flowers for my apartment? I know you’re not a florist, but like, you gotta know a little about some beautiful exotic flowers i can add to splash in some color here.” Thomas let out a silent sigh, nothing too serious. He was just enjoying spending time with his old friend. “I mean I have a dossier of potential models for the upcoming issue, so if you’re bored, I can lend it to you for a while? Just don’t make a mess of it. I don’t want the pictures to get sticky.”

‘‘You’re not like any other exes, so I’ll make it as uncomfortable as I want to,’‘ Oliver replied with a small smile. He was trying his best to sound cool and comfortable with this whole situation, but he felt the same way Thomas did. ‘‘As often as I can, which means not as often as I should,’‘ he moved his hand over his stomach, a small grin on his face. ‘‘It won’t be awkward if you don’t make it awkward,’‘ he was giving that much power to Thomas, and loved how detached it made him sounds.

He hated it. All Oliver had to do was smile at him and he was right back there, wrapped around his finger, even with how much it tugged at him that Oliver seemed so indifferent about everything. He’d moved on, obviously and didn’t pay Thomas much mind anymore. “It won’t be awkward then, I guess. I don’t see why it should be.” he retracted, flashing another wide smile. “I uh- guess I’ll see you around then?” he paused, almost saying something he would regret, but managed to stop in his tracks, instead offering a few nods and an awkward smile.

‘‘I do – how will I know how to dress properly for a BBQ if I don’t pick up the magazine every other month,’‘ Oliver mused with a small playful smile tugging at his lips. He never been a fan of chronicals telling him to wear colored shorts. ‘‘No suit no problem – just wear a turtleneck sweater,’‘ his way to say he’d look good in anything. ‘’It was good seeing you, Tommy.’’ He should’ve gone for Thomas. Oliver didn’t want their conversation to carry on for too long, knowing it could get awkward real fast and he didn’t want that. He was glad they were on speaking terms – judging from this moment alone.

“I’d like to see you attend a BBQ in the first place.” he playfully scoffed, shoving a hand in the sweatpants he was wearing, definitely not the otherwise fashion forward style he had going on for him. “Don’t give me any ideas.” he took half a step backwards, realizing both of them were getting ready to leave not only the conversation, but the gym as well, which was just awkward in general, not only with your ex boyfriend. “Yeah, it’s been a while. Do you eh.. come here often? I don’t want to make it awkward by running into you at the gym all the time.” He wasn’t sure how that sentence came out, but it just did. “Running into your ex gets old really fast, I’m sure.”

He didn’t add more to it. He knew the smile on Tommy’s face wasn’t the most genuine, and being in his situation he’d be devastated. But he wasn’t Thomas, thankfully. ‘‘Models,’‘ he snorted. They have nothing on Thomas. Oliver just couldn’t be impressed by twenty years old who could strike a pose but couldn’t spell their own name. ‘‘You’re having image issues now?’‘ Oliver allowed himself to mock the other male, he was acting out of habit. ‘‘Congradulations on the new job; if someone deserves to call the shots it’s you.’‘  He knew how hardworking he was. ‘’Means you can manage to work on your own terms?’’ He didn’t want to brought up their scedule conflicts, but there he was.

Thankfully they left the subject. It’s not that Thomas was lonely and hung up on a past relationship, he just really didn’t want to picture his ex with anyone else. “I’m not having image issues. I need to look good in a suit, that’s basically half my job description.” he joked, trying to lighten the mood just a little, hoping they wouldn’t linger in conversation for too long. It never went by smoothly when they got talking. “Technically, yeah. I can come in whenever I want as long as deadlines are met, but in practice, I work just as much considering all the responsibility’s on me now. That’s the way I like it though. Hopefully you still pick up the magazine every now and then?”

Oliver wasn’t going to pretend like he didn’t find Thomas attractive. It was undeniable and truly would be laughable if he even tried. He smirked to himslf when Thomas admitted that he looked good. It feels good to hear it from his ex-lover’s mouth. ‘’I’m good, thank. Been working a lot and, I guess I’m seeing someone at the moment so…’’ He just couldn’t admit it was someone from the hospital, something inside of him was begging him not to reveal that information. He didn’t know why exactly, but it felt better not to. ‘’What about yourself? How are you doing? Think it’s safe you got that summer body going on for yourself, Tommy. You don’t have to go too hard on the treadmill,’’ the cardiologist mused, trying his best to sound amicable. They were adults. They could talk to each other without making it weird, right? He knew the allure of Thomas was due to some cardio time.

He shouldn’t have asked. You aren’t supposed to want to know what your ex has been up to, right? It was just a novelty question. He could already figure out from the phone call just a moment ago that there was probably someone else and then there it was, confirmation. “Ah, that’s cool I guess. I’m glad you’re happy.” he put on a smile. It wasn’t nice to hear but there was nothing to do about it. “I’m good. Really good. I’m the guy calling all the shots now. No more demanding bosses telling me how to do my job.” he dragged his tongue across his lower lip. He wasn’t sure where any of this was going. “You know I don’t work out to stay fit. It’s all stress relief. The body’s just a nice addition. It makes it easier to fit in with all the lean models coming in.” 

Emery was a flirty guy and with the way this man had just complimented him randomly it was easy for him to fall into his flirty mannerism. He was putting his phone into his pocket, now that he was actually talking to someone, his attention shouldn’t be focus on is little hacking. “I am sure the industry is filled with handsome flatterer that totally know how to play the game to reach the top. But then, you make it sound that I am just flattering you, but I am telling the truth.” Emery smirked. “I will hit you up once I feel like I should become a model. You have a card for me? I mean, your name and number will do just fine.” He grinned a little. “I am usually just doing photos for my Instagram. A real photo shoot sounds interesting though.”

Thomas hadn’t necessarily planned on pursuing anything or anyone with a small harmless compliment, but the situation had changed and considering he wasn’t one to back out of things all of a sudden, he couldn’t help but continue the conversation. “Flattering me is a pretty good step in the right direction, I’d say.” he shook his head, wanting nothing more than to shed the conceit he seemed to be showing. “I don’t really deal in business cards, but hand me your phone and I’ll code in my number. Instagram is fun and all, but working with professionals are a bit more rewarding. I’m Thomas, by the way.” he realized he’d barely even introduced himself. “I’m really not trying to hire you, I swear.”

“It’s your job as an editor to know how to use the muse people use most.  Instagram is the new magazine or so I’ve been told.  That and I can post thirst bait pictures of me at the beach and get every little boy and their daddy wet.”  He laughed with a cocky chuckle, knowing he was good looking enough to be the thirst trap without too much effort.  That’s what he really enjoyed.  “I didn’t do anything today really.  Just some pollination experiments and lab write ups.  It’s been abnormally dull without my undergrads around to break up the time.”  

“Don’t remind me. I miss the days of just picking up a magazine and going through it page by page instead of the mess of scrolling everyone does these days.” Obviously not happy with technology in general, Thomas had only adapted for the sake of professionalism. “Same old then? Sounds a little boring. You know I don’t know much about flowers so I guess I can’t really comment.” he shook his head, his lips curling up in a bright smile. “I don’t know if staring at page layouts is all that more interesting either though.. at least I get to stare at scantily clad models for most of the day.”

‘‘Did you plan to visit the emergency room?’‘ He questioned the other male trying not to bite. He knew it was a shade in disguise and preferred not to give in. ‘‘Been called chubby, and figured it would be best to take actions before it’s too late.’‘ He was almost throwing him a bone and grinned to himself. Oliver tried his best to look nonchalant, but that look was hard to pull in front of his ex-lover. The doctor was everything but indifferent when it comes to him.

“Can’t say I did, no. Like I’d have time to spend time in the emergency room.” he crossed his arms in front of him, trying his best to stay as neutral as possible to give no indication of how he was actually feeling, something he’d mastered after many years of practice in the industry, but when it came to Oliver, it was harder. “Chubby huh? That’s cute. I always preferred when you weren’t beefed up. You look good.” he realized it wasn’t in his place to say anything like that whatsoever. “How are you doing? It’s been a while since we’ve run into each other like this.”’

‘‘Oh, right, you two are good buddies. I almost forgot it,’‘ he rolled his eyes but chuckled at the other male’s word. ‘'Tom, I don’t need your help to get there. Look at me, I’m everything the Kardashians are into. I’m a beautiful, tall black man who also happens to be a plastic surgeon. I’m not trying to brag but if I can’t get close to ‘Ye there’s 90% chances his wife will eventually knock on my door, without me having to ask for it,’’

“Best buddies thank you. ‘Ye doesn’t go anywhere without me by his side.” he shook his head dismissively still, the mere thought of it being absurd to him. “So you’re saying he has a lame fashion show.. you’re also plotting to steal his wife? Malik you’re more vicious than I thought. You fit right into that den of snakes. Kris would probably love you.”

“Even though you literally comment on all of my instagram pictures with your judgements, albeit most of them good.  You’re lucky I trust you enough to actually value what you comment on them.”  He continued to smile, reaching out and pulling Thomas in for a hug, wrapping his arms firmly around the male.  “How was your day, mate?  Did you do anything worth wild today other than stare at pictures?”  

“You should just be grateful that I care enough to even learn how to use instagram for you, jello.” he wiggled his hands free of the hug and pulled back enough to face you once more. “I can’t say there was anything wild on my table today, no. The ordinary stress of yelling at your editors.” he let out a silent sigh. “How about you? Did anything crazy happen while you were staring at plants?”

‘‘I don’t know what kind of fashion show you attended, but I feel sorry for you.’‘ Malik flashed a grin to the other male before chuckling to himself. ‘‘Wait – I take that back. Can you hook me up with tickets for Kanye’ next runaway show?’‘ He knows Thomas is working in fashion, so it was legit to try.

“No take backs. I can’t believe you just called Kanye’s fashion show pitiful. I’ll make sure to tell him the next time I see him.” he was obviously joking. Even if he did get invited to some of the biggest shows during fashion week, there was no way he was close to someone of that stature. “Good luck ever trying to get close to him now.”