“What’s up, G?” Darius said when he picked up. “I’m thinking we should switch to video, so we can screenshare. I have a few things I want to show you.”

“Works for me. You want to send the invite, or do you want me to do it?”

“Just sent it.”

“Okay.” He ended the call, opened the email, and hit the “join meeting” link. For the next two hours, they discussed what they wanted to include on the note-taking app. “Are we talking something where multiple people can take notes, share them, or add to them, all from their phone or tablet?”

“Yes, and the ability to use it on a desktop, as well. Think about how easy it’ll be if people could access their notes across all platforms.”

Gabriel read the document Darius had up. “Even better.” They went on to discuss having a variety of fonts, highlighting, folders. By the time he looked up again, four hours had passed. But they’d made good progress and would be able to start writing the initial codes. “I can’t believe we talked this long.”

Darius nodded. “The only time we get caught up like this is when we’re designing our own programs,” he said with a chuckle. He ended the screenshare. “Now that we’re done with this, what’s up with you and Serenity? I hope you took our advice.”

Because they had always kept each other’s confidence, Gabriel was comfortable sharing the decision he and Serenity had made. “We decided to date for as long as I’m here, but to keep it light…no commitments. And before you say anything, it’s what she wanted. She’s been hurt before.”

“Welcome to the club. You sure it’s a good idea, though? I can see this going sideways if one of you changes your mind.”

“It won’t,” he said emphatically. Because of their histories, he felt it wouldn’t be an issue for them to keep their emotions out of the equation. He had finally met a woman who wanted the same thing he did out of a relationship, and he planned to enjoy it to the fullest.

“If you say so. Well, it’s after six, and I’m supposed to be meeting someone for dinner in an hour.”

“A potential Mrs. Right?”

“We’ll see.”

“Keep me posted and let me know if I need to dust off my tux.”

Darius chuckled. “At the rate we’re going, by the time you, me, and Brent get married, we’ll have to buy new ones because the old ones would have disintegrated.”

Gabriel laughed. “You’re probably right. Later.” Still chuckling, he cut the connection.

He’d promised Nana he’d do her yard, so he put on his shoes, loaded up his mower, and drove over.

“Come on in, Gabriel,” Nana called when he knocked on her screen door.