Chapter 37: An Unexpected Friend.
Kyle was done with Calista for the evening, and this time, he had made sure to completely exhaust himself. He was so drained that even if he wanted to, there was no way he could muster another erection. However, in hindsight, he realized he might have overdone things with her. She had passed out on his bed, her breathing soft and steady, leaving Kyle in a bit of a predicament. He wanted to leave the house for a while, perhaps to clear his mind or get some fresh air, but waking her up seemed insensitive. After all, she had put in just as much effort as he had, and she deserved to rest.
Not wanting to disturb her, Kyle decided to leave a quick note before stepping out of the house. He wasn’t worried about anything being stolen—there was nothing particularly valuable to take, and besides, he had already demonstrated to her that he could take care of her needs. Stealing would be unnecessary and foolish. With that thought in mind, he quietly exited his apartment, hopped into his car, and prepared to go for a drive.
As soon as he started the engine, his phone rang, and he noticed it was Nate calling him. Kyle had tasked Nate with something earlier, but he didn’t expect him to have completed it so quickly. Curious, he answered the call without hesitation.
"Hello, Nate. What’s up?" Kyle asked casually, his tone signaling he was open to conversation.
"Hey, man! I’m all done. Where do I leave the extra keys?" Nate’s voice came through, slightly out of breath, indicating he had been working hard. Kyle was impressed; Nate had wasted no time completing the task.
Kyle couldn’t help but reflect on the situation. While he had taken Nate out of a job, he trusted that Nate’s resourcefulness—and perhaps the genetic advantages he possessed—would help him find another opportunity easily. Still, Kyle valued loyalty, and he believed in building a network of reliable people around him, especially as he worked toward the ambitious goals he had set for himself.
"Where are you right now?" Kyle asked, shifting gears in the conversation.
"I’m at 4th Street... You know what? Let me just share my location," Nate replied, realizing it would save time. Moments later, Kyle’s phone beeped with the notification of Nate’s location. Kyle glanced at the map before putting the phone back to his ear.
"Alright, I’ll see you soon," Kyle said, ending the call.
Kyle drove toward the location Nate had shared, arriving only a few minutes later. However, what he saw when he got there took him completely by surprise. Nate hadn’t kept a single item for himself. Instead, he had taken everything from the store and gone to a well-known area that was home to many homeless people. There, he was distributing the goods directly to those in need.
Kyle parked his car a short distance away, ensuring he remained out of sight to avoid drawing unnecessary attention. He decided it was better to approach Nate on foot. As soon as Nate spotted him, he waved enthusiastically, seemingly unbothered by Kyle’s sudden appearance.
Despite being a few years older, Kyle couldn’t help but respect Nate. His actions spoke volumes about his character, and Kyle found himself admiring the younger man’s dedication.
"What are you doing here?" Kyle asked, his gaze shifting to the queue of homeless individuals waiting patiently. The sight was oddly heartwarming, as these people displayed more civility and respect than many of the so-called "civilized" members of society.
"This could’ve been me," Kyle thought briefly, reminded of how fortunate he was to have had the guidance and support of someone like Mr. Jones.
"I know you told me to take everything to charity," Nate began, wiping some sweat from his brow. "But after volunteering at a few of those places, I can tell you firsthand that they’re not always as honest as you’d hope."
Kyle nodded, understanding what Nate meant without needing further explanation. Many organizations had a reputation for prioritizing themselves over the people they were supposed to help, keeping the best items for their staff and distributing only the leftovers. It was an unfortunate reality.
"So, you decided to take matters into your own hands and do the extra work?" Kyle asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Haha! Yeah, I figured a few hours of my time could make a world of difference for these people. It’s a fair trade-off if you ask me," Nate responded, his tone light but sincere. His words brought a warm smile to Kyle’s face.
Rather than leaving Nate to finish alone, Kyle chose to stand beside him, much to Nate’s surprise. Nate had expected Kyle to postpone their conversation until later, but instead, Kyle rolled up his sleeves and joined in the distribution. It wasn’t like he had anything pressing to do, and it felt like a meaningful way to pass the time.
It took several hours to ensure that everyone received something, but they didn’t stop until every person in line had been attended to. Many of the recipients thanked them with tears in their eyes, and Kyle found himself deeply moved by the experience. It served as a stark reminder of the harsh realities faced by those without money or resources—a reality Kyle was determined to never face again.
When they were done, the two of them headed to a nearby restaurant to grab something to eat and rehydrate. The place wasn’t fancy, but it had a reputation for serving some of the best burgers in town.
"Hey, man, I just want to thank you for helping me out back there," Nate said, taking a large bite of his burger, his gratitude genuine and unfiltered.
"I should be the one thanking you. You didn’t have to go out of your way to do all of that," Kyle replied, though Nate quickly brushed off the compliment.
"I don’t know, man. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always told myself that if I can leave a positive mark on the world—even if it’s just through small acts of kindness—then I’ve done something worthwhile. It’s all about playing it forward because, honestly, we never know when we might find ourselves in their position," Nate said, his words thoughtful despite being muffled by his chewing.
Kyle listened, intrigued by Nate’s perspective. It was rare to meet someone his age who wasn’t preoccupied with parties, drugs, or chasing after fleeting thrills. Nate’s grounded mindset was refreshing, though Kyle wasn’t particularly interested in engaging in a philosophical debate. Still, he felt certain at that moment that Nate was someone worth keeping around.
Kyle had few friends, and having someone with a strong moral compass in his corner might help keep him grounded as well. After all, money had a way of changing people, or so the saying went. Kyle was about to test that theory on himself, knowing this was only the beginning of his journey.
When they finished eating, Kyle paid the bill, much to Nate’s delight.
"Thanks again for everything today, Kyle. I might be out of a job, but at least I’ve gained a friend," Nate said sincerely.
"That’s such a cliché line," Kyle thought to himself, but he responded aloud. "It’s fine, it’s fine... and you might not be out of a job just yet."
Nate blinked, confused. "Huh?" he asked.
Kyle smirked as he realized he finally knew exactly what he wanted to do with the building he had recently purchased.
