I'd thought I'd come by

 Dory was in a mood. He wanted to take things apart. Maybe it was a symbol of some kind, thinking he needed to take his own life apart.

"It's the only way it can be cleaned," he insisted to Chili about the vita mix. They were alone and he needed to lash out to someone. After all, he didn't know what he was really doing with Cedric. Yes, it was nice to be coupled he guessed, but he wasn't certain he knew all the cues.

"No, absolutely not." Chili was firm on her answer about the vita mix. "We are doing the correct protocol."

Still, Dory was in a fret. He turned from her and she touched the center of his back and of course, he flinched.

"What's really going on?" She asked.

He felt like being in some sort of testy dance. He shrugged it off. Still, he didn't want to confide. What was the point? But he gritted and thought he did need to talk about this. He closed his eyes and thought of Claude. They'd mostly e-mailed each other over time. They'd never met in person. But he was his partner. It was a love like no other. Or was.

Oh, he knew Chili would think it weird. Of course, Claude didn't even have the same e-mail address anymore. He knew Claude didn't care, even if years ago, he'd promised they would always be together. Even if he lived in Paris.

"I don't know what Cedric sees in me," Dory winced. Sure, he'd had a falling out with Claude. He knew it was over, yet the feelings remained. He liked having an e-mail pal because that sufficed his loneliness. Yes, there was a time, he thought he would be in Paris with his violin, but it hadn't panned out. And it was a history he didn't want to think about. 

"If only he knew what a failure I am." Dory pressed his lips tight.

"Don't say that," Chili said she didn't believe that. "You are really talented. And I hope you are  happy here."

Dory nodded. 

"Maybe, you need to confide in Cedric. I know you don't like to be touched. But maybe you two can slowly reach out to each other."

"Like how?" He scowled when he looked back at her.

"Um, holding hands would be a start," she told him. Dory nodded. He heard the door of the coffee shop jingle. He really didn't think anyone would be here yet, but it was Boone's mom Janine and she was bringing in a bag of stuff. Just for him.

Dory's eyes lit. He didn't know what to make of it. Couldn't she have come by the apartment?

"Didn't want to make Boone jealous," she smiled. She'd brought him a new winter coat and a few sweaters. "He's a hoodie boy, while you look so fetching in a sweater." She told him. Before he knew it, she was hugging him.

Dory had never remembered being this smothered in love. She was like falling into a cozy blanket. Yes, so many things were changing in his life and he knew he had to embrace it. Dory sighed.

"I have a few things for Cedric too," she told him.