Oops! I almost forgot! I’ve had my head down, added 4000 words today (We’re past 80,000 now), and only just realized what time it was.

Slightly longer section this week. We meet Michael again, and one of Ross’ coworkers, Marie.

“Is that him? He’s cute.” Marie nodded at the big glass doors, where Ross could see Ben coming up the steps.

“Yes, and yes,” he said gratefully, feeling his mouth spread in a broad smile. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Michael stand up and tug his coat into place, so he hurried forward to meet Ben just inside the door. “Hi, perfect timing.” He could almost feel the vibrating rage coming off Michael from across the foyer, despite the pleasantly neutral expression he wore. Some little devil of perversion, and maybe the hope that Michael would leave him alone if he saw that Ross was with a cop, prompted him to tilt his head back and press the tiniest of kisses on Ben’s mouth, even as some part of him gibbered in terror the whole time. You’d think I’d have learned by now. He felt the warmth of Ben’s hand land on his hip and saw Ben’s smile, and it all became worth it.

Marie cleared her throat behind him.

“Ben, this is Marie. Marie, this is Ben.” He made the introductions as quickly as he could, then took Ben’s arm and turned him back toward the door. “Let’s go.”

“Am I escaping an interrogation?” Ben chuckled as Ross hurried him down the concrete steps.

Ross nodded. “Something like that.” He glanced over his shoulder and saw Michael in the doorway, wearing that calm, intent expression that Ross had learned to dread. Because there was no way to win when Michael looked like that. He turned back to Ben. “So, where are we going?”

Yeah, I gotta go wash again…