Box Shaped Heart Ch. 22

That made sense. It was clear that everyone around was well paid, but Simon did have an expensive car and was always dressed like he was ready to walk down the catwalk, despite only working for the marketing department. So Alex had a nose for choosing his victims well. Despite being different from one another, Aron and Simon had a few things in common, such as solid work ethics and generosity. And fat bank accounts.

The scumbag didn't deserve Aron. What the fuck was he to do? All this time, he only wanted to see Aron happy, but was this really okay? Alex seemed to be on a quest to dig up all the money in the world, and not one second willing to stop. And he didn't seem to love Aron too much. He didn't love Simon either.

The guy simply loved money and nothing else.

"Simon, puppy eyes," he murmured, "I'm saying this, and I hope you'll understand. Go find an awesome guy to deserve you. I'm ..."

A piece of shit.

We don't know all the facts.

Stop being the devil's advocate.

"I will be your friend until you're ready to accept me," Simon spoke. "I won't take no for an answer. I'll show you that I can be the one for you. Even if every day you will still go home to your husband. But I'll leave you now. Everyone is talking about you, how much you've worked lately. It looks like we'll all get a raise because the company is getting showered in contracts. And the guys with the underwear collection? Their sales seem to have taken off after your homemade clip. So, it looks like everything you touch turns to gold," Simon laughed. "So I won't keep the company's employee of the month from working his magic," he added. "See you around."

Carter stared at the door closing behind Simon. Not one moment without a surprise, or so it looked.

***

"Are you sure we shouldn't bring anything?" he glanced nervously at Aron, as they stood in front of the door to Aron's parents' home.

He only needed to look over the fence and see his childhood home. His parents were probably inside, but the house seemed silent. But there were more memories he had from this house, the one in which Aron and he had grown up, under the loving watch of Aron's mom and dad.

And now, that he was here again, he had the strangest of sensations that he had suddenly grown too much, and the house was smaller than what he could remember.

"Don't worry, mom clearly said that everything is taken care of, and just bring ourselves," Aron replied, and took him by the shoulders, squeezing in reassurance.

It was not reassurance he needed, but a cleaning agent for all the stuff Alex was capable of. Somehow, he doubted such a solution had been invented.

The door opened, and there stood Gary Ruskin, Aron's dad, with a warm smile that was lighting up his entire face. Aron was handsome like him, and anyone could notice the resemblance, although not Gary, and certainly not Clementine, were as tall. Apparently, Aron was taking after a grandfather, in terms of height.

Carter could not help notice the signs of time on Gary's face. His hair was completely white now, and the wrinkles he remembered were now deeper and set. But he was still the jolly man Carter knew.

"Clementine will be so happy to see you two," Gary gestured for them to come inside and hugging them both. "I told her not to worry too much, but you know how mothers are. Always worrying," he added, with a small, but fond eye roll. "Come, come, let's have a seat at the table while my lovely wife is making herself pretty. She prepared some really delicious foods she intends to fatten us tonight with. Alex, please, this is your father in law asking. Just forget about your diet for tonight. Clementine really went head over backward to make the most exquisite foods. I promise, it's nothing too fat."

"Sure thing ... dad," Carter said, after a short moment of hesitation.

Two pairs of dark eyes stared in shock at him.

Great.

It felt weird to just call him Gary, okay? He was always Mr. Ruskin to us.

Yeah, but I doubt Alex is calling his father in law 'dad'.

Eh, we'll live through it.

The older Mr. Ruskin seemed to be to first to recover himself from the shock. He smiled fondly and hugged Carter again.

"It's good to see you, son," the man said simply.

"I ... I think I'll just go grab some water from the kitchen," he replied.

He was in danger of doing something stupid again, and he needed a small break.

"I could bring you a glass," Gary offered.

"No, that's okay," he shook his head.

"Do you still remember where the kitchen is? You so rarely visit. I'm sorry, it wasn't a reproach," Gary added quickly.

"Baby, are you okay?" Aron intervened.

"Yeah, don't worry. I know where the kitchen is. I'll be back in a jiffy," he hurried the two other men to see about their business.

He could find his way in that house if he was blind. And he really needed that glass of water. That was no lie. His throat was dry and his eyes were prickly again.

Ah. But it was inevitable, and it was better like this than together at the table, with all eyes on him. He took in Clementine Ruskin, her wavy hair styled in an updo, probably for the occasion. She was turned with his back at him, fiddling with some kitchen utensils. She was wearing a flowery dress, and Carter could swear he could smell vanilla from where he stood, in the kitchen door.

"Hey, Mrs. R," he spoke in a tiny voice.

"Carter?!"

The woman turned so fast on her heels that she managed to catch a porcelain bowl in the process, making it slide and crash on the floor.

Carter stood nonplused. Was he transforming? Could Clementine see him? Really see him?

"Ah, I'm so sorry, Alex," the woman started speaking right away. "For a second, I thought ... Never mind."

She made a gesture to begin gathering the shards from the floor. Carter shook off his trance. He wasn't transforming. So he hurried to help Aron's mom.

"Please let me," he offered right away. "Your dress is too pretty to risk staining it."

"Oh, thank you, Alex," the woman smiled. "For the help, and for the compliment, of course."

"My pleasure," he said politely, while Clementine pointed out the trash can for him.

"Were you here for something?"

"Just a glass of water. I didn't mean to startle you."

"Oh, don't worry," Clementine waved. "I just visited Carter at the hospital two days ago, and I just ... Well, I suppose Aron told you how close we all used to be. I feel like he's my son, too. And I was just thinking about him ... But don't let me bore you with this. I'll get that glass of water for you."

He focused on the shards, placing them in the trash can and then grabbing the broom from a nearby closet for the smallest ones.

When he raised his eyes, Clementine was staring at him, the glass of water in her hands, which she held onto like a talisman. There was something odd in her eyes.

"I didn't know you were so handy around the kitchen," she said.

"Ah, I just thought not to leave anything sharp on the floor. So that someone doesn't get hurt," he explained.

"Okay," she nodded, and her warm smile returned. "Now please, get out of my kitchen, and go take a seat with the rest of the boys. I will be right there."

"I can help," Carter offered.

Clementine's smile widened.

"That is so very nice of you."

The least he could do. So Clementine had gone to the hospital to see him? He was such a douchebag for not visiting them in two years. The same two years spent away from Aron. Like he had denounced his friendship with the entire Ruskin family. That wasn't fair.

***

It had to be a wonder the way he could manage to answer all the polite questions Clementine and Gary were asking him about work, not once mentioning the scandal. Aron seemed happy, really feeling at home, joking with his parents and laughing.

And he felt like he was going back in time. How many times had he had dinner with the Ruskins? It had been more times than with his own mom and dad, with them always away on their exploring missions, away from home and, what truly mattered, away from him.

It felt like home, not only for Aron, but for him, too. He studied the wine glass in front of him, lost in thought.

"You made quite an impression on Carter's parents," Clementine was the one to address him again. "Such a fine young man, they said, and I can only agree. I am happy to be your mother in law. Proud, too," she added. "I know Carter managed to make a bad impression at the wedding, but you should know, that is not who he is. We know him since he was seven years old. To this day, I cannot say I know what caused that outburst. And, after that, he has never returned our calls, nor picked up when we called him."

"He was surely embarrassed, dear," Gary spoke. "Carter has always had troubles expressing his emotions," Aron's dad said in an apologetic tone. "And he grew up here, with Aron, like they were brothers. I'm sure that somehow he thought at that moment that you were going to steal his longtime friend. In his name, I feel like I must apologize."

"No need to," Carter made himself little in his chair.

"Well, I will have a talk with him once he gets up from that hospital bed," Clementine spoke again. "It's enough how long he has ignored us. I won't let him do that again. Time heals all wounds, and he must be less affected now than two years ago by the fact that Aron is married."

To a guy.

To a douchebag.

They don't know that.

They might suspect it.

Are you getting involved with the in-laws too, now?

"I would like to ask you, Alex," Clementine placed a small warm hand on his, "to try being friends with Carter. He is usually such an easygoing person. All right, I admit that he might have his quirks, but he's a true friend to Aron, so it would be nice for you to welcome him as a friend, as well."

Carter looked at Aron, searching for help. His husband was seemingly preoccupied with examining the leftovers on his plate. Ah, so the entire family was ganging up on him.

It should make you happy. They love you.

Yes, they do. But Alex still hates us, remember? I cannot really offer the right answer here.

Always ruining a good thing? Stop talking about 'us' in this. I want to hug Mrs. R so much right now.

No can do, and you know it.

"I'll consider it," he said slowly, afraid of the words coming out of his mouth.

Well, Alex was bound to be back to his own body at some point and he surely wasn't going to be all lovey-dovey toward Carter. So there was no point in giving Aron's parents false hopes. Better to just leave things in a limbo.

"Thank you, dear," Clementine squeezed his hand, without showing one second whether she was disappointed by that vague reply or not.

Not the same thing he could say about Aron. His friend was looking at him from across the table, his eyes a bit sad. He looked away. Talking about a huge ass mess up.

To his relief, Aron's parents dropped Carter as a topic of conversation for the duration of the dinner.

***

In the end, he had survived dinner at the Ruskins, and he almost felt the need to pat himself on the back. Except for that freakish moment when he had thought Aron's mom had seen right through him, everything seemed in order. If anything, Aron's parents seemed enchanted with him, although he had made an effort to speak very little. It was quite funny that he was so stressed that Clementine and Gary could guess he was not the real Alex.

But everything had an explanation. And that was that Aron's parents knew him, Carter, inside out, and it was more like he was afraid of giving himself away than anything else.

"Well, that was fun," he commented, as soon as they were in Aron's car and on the way back home.

"I thought you were starting to warm a little toward Carter," Aron said right away. "I was a bit surprised by the answer you gave mom."

Ah, Aron had no intention of beating around the bush. Well, the man deserved an answer, even if it wasn't going to be the correct or the honest one.

"Well, I'm totally ready to welcome Carter in our lives, as a friend," he spoke. "But, as long as he's asleep there, in the hospital, there's no way of telling how he is going to react. I didn't want your mom to be disappointed when he'll wake up and start spewing all kinds of homophobic shit at us again."

Aron stopped for a second, as the light turned red. Then he turned toward him.

"But you have no issues, otherwise?"

Carter shrugged.

"Why should I? Let bygones be bygones."

The smiled he earned from Aron was killing him a little inside.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure he'll keep his big mouth shut until I convince him to behave like a normal human being. And thanks for thinking about my mom's feelings. That's really thoughtful of you."

"That's who I am," Carter sighed.

How long do you think this is going to take until it blows right into our face?

Hmm, give or take, exactly two seconds after the body swap gets reversed.

That is absolutely correct. Alex will want our head.

We need our head, though.

Yeah, tough luck for him.

"So we'll go to see him tomorrow?" he said nonchalantly.

"Yeah, sure. Should I come pick you up from work?"

"Yeah, that would be nice. I'll take a taxi to work in the morning."

"You could still take your car. It's no problem if we drive separately to the hospital. I know how much you love your car," Aron said with a smile, now focused on the road ahead.

Good thing he wasn't looking, or he might have noticed the expression of disgust on Carter's face. That guy and his greed. Damn, he needed to bring Aron up to speed about the entire cheating deal. But not tonight. Tomorrow was as good a day as any. He doubted he could go see his body again, if Aron was going to kick him out of the house and he needed to sleep in the bushes.

Or at a hotel.

C'mon, you're ruining the dramatic effect.

Sigh.

***

Aron was prompt at his workplace at the hour they had agreed on, and Carter had to admit that his heart felt a bit small in his chest. He was going to see how Aron really saw him. Him, as Carter, not as a stand-in for a cheating husband.

"Since I leave early, I suppose you could leave now, too," he spoke to Mark on his way out.

"Yes, thank you," his assistant answered brightly. "Good luck, boss."

"Hmm, okay," he replied.

Good luck? What was that supposed to mean? What did he need luck for?

"Just for the record, boss, it's been really nice working for you," Mark added. "I wish you all the best."

"Hey, it's only mid-week. You'll get to see more of me. No need to see me out like I leave on a three-month trip to see Machu Picchu," he joked.

"Why Machu Picchu?" Mark inquired, his face all a smile.

"I don't know. It seems like a faraway place. And eight thousand feet above sea level? It should take me quite a bit of time to get there," Carter explained.

"It's not eight thousand feet above sea level," Mark remarked.

"No, it's 7.970," Carter laughed. "What's a few feet here and there?"

"Enough to make a difference," Mark said enigmatically.

Carter took a moment to stare at his secretary.

"You're full of puzzles today, Mark. Well, I'd love to stay and chat about the importance of a few feet above sea level, but I must go. See you tomorrow," he waved with a smile.

He could swear Mark had sighed as he closed the door behind him. Not a sigh like the guy was in pain, but a sigh like it was coming from someone feeling suddenly very compassionate and resigned about another person.

But why would Mark feel that way toward him? It made no sense.

***

"So, we're here," Aron stopped in front of the door to the hospital room. "Ready?" he turned with a smile toward Carter.

"I was born ready," Carter smiled.

The room was as he remembered it. The same breathing machines keeping the guy on the bed alive. The same pristine white bed. Even the air seemed the same.

"Hey, buddy," Aron spoke, taking him by surprise.

He took in with dread how Aron hurried to the bed, and took an inert hand into his. Well, at least, his body was no longer looking just as bad as before. Maybe the doctors were right, after all.

"Today I brought someone special with me. You already know him, but, well, I feel like you two should get reacquainted."

Aron was talking to his body, and he was standing right behind the guy. If this didn't count as an out of body experience, he had no idea what else could.

Is that allergy acting up again? And really, Aron is talking to us. Shouldn't we talk back?

Shut up. As usual, you're a complete moron.

"Alex, come here. I want you to talk to Carter, too, today," Aron encouraged him.

"Nah, I think I'm fine over here," he refused.

Aron didn't look like he was willing to take 'no' for an answer. So, with a fond smile, he grabbed Carter's hand and brought him closer.

"Here, you can touch his hand, too. Who knows? Maybe you'll have more luck than me to convince him to wake up," Aron made a small attempt of a joke.

The hand was warm in his, like he could almost feel a pulse. It was faint, but it was there.

Of course it's there, we're not dead.

No, no, this seems ...

What the hell was happening?

"Alex!" he heard Aron's panicked voice through the drums giving a rock concert in his ears.

It was like he was falling, but without hitting the ground. Another rabbit hole? What kind of Wonderland was this, anyway? His eyes closed on his own accord, too dizzy with everything around him spinning fast.

Then suddenly he felt at peace inside. Could he attempt to open his eyes? Hmm, his eyelids seem to be controllable. That was good.

He opened his eyes and blinked. And stared at Aron who was gently shaking his husband, speaking in a hurried voice, like he was trying to make sense of why the guy was standing there like a statue.

And the guy was looking at him like Carter was some kind of sea monster, ready to sink all his sails. It took him a moment to hit him.

"Ah fuck!" he said out loud.

His voice was hoarse and sounded weird, like it was coming out of a well. Aron stopped shaking his husband and turned towards him in obvious shock.

"Carter, you're awake?"

Is this a good moment to faint?

Exit. Stage left.

TBC