Tyler woke up and checked his phone.

No text. No call.

"Hi, do you have a minute for marriage equality?"

No text. No call.

LaTrice almost chopped off Tyler's finger because he was too distracted in the Haven kitchen because there was...

NO TEXT and NO CALL.

Sigh. Charlie came into the doorway of the kitchen as Tyler was washing up.

"Hey Tyler, you almost done? We can walk home together."

"Yeah, I'll meet you out front."

He checked his phone again. Still nothing.

*

"So hopefully by the time I'm cleared to go back to work, the post-strike contract negotiations will be over. It is gonna be weird starting again, especially since I wasn't even around to start the semester."

"Uh huh." Charlie had to pull the mom-car-arm as Tyler tried to cross the street without having the right of way; he was too preoccupied with his phone.

"Tyler, everything alright?"

"Andy hasn't returned any of my texts or calls. It's almost been a week."

"Did you guys have a fight or something?"

"No! That's the thing. Last time I saw him, we had an amazing night. We even... " he looked around and lowered his voice. "... did it."

"Oh."

"That's good, right? Like that's supposed to be a good thing."

"Yeah of course. But babe, sometimes... some guys will just ditch you once they get what they want. Not saying that he is or... "

"Andy's not like that. He's an artist and stuff. They're in tuned with their feelings and whatever."

"Well maybe that's it then. Didn't you say he was having a hard time painting? Maybe he's still struggling with it and is too busy."

"He painted something the morning after."

"Well then maybe he's on a roll. I know I'm the last one to be dishing out relationship advice, but either way, you can't obsess over it. Stop checking your phone. He'll get a hold of you when he... "

And waiting at their outer door was Andy. The space between them was odd. Uncertain. Charlie excused himself upstairs and left them alone.

"Hey," Tyler said, stepping in closer, filled with anxious excitement.

"Hey."

"I've been trying to get a hold of you."

"I know, I... "

Tyler stepped in closer and leaned in for a kiss. "I missed... "

Andy turned his head, dodging the kiss. "Tyler we... we should talk."

###