So I know I said it would be a chapter a week but my Beta, xie_xie_xie went away, leaving me bereft, and with a really valid excuse to procrastinate. On the plus side, i got time to work on my Justin Worship fic, and that's done now too.

But anyway, here is Chapter Six of Keeping Time.

(feedback is why authors write, and those who deny it are lying)

Chapter One is here
Chapter Two is here
Chapter Three is here
Chapter Four is here
Chapter Five is here
Go to the index of my fiction if you want to catch up on the other stories in this series.

As always this chapter is dedicated to my wives.

The banner and dividers were made by thing_of_wonder

It was beta'd by xie_xie_xie

---

Keeping Time

Chapter Six

---

Justin emerged from the studio to get a bottle of water. Brian was at the dining room table on his laptop. Justin opened his water bottle and stood behind him. “Brian.”

“Hmmm?”

“That’s an eight hundred dollar espresso machine.”

Brian didn’t look up from the screen. “I know, but the one he wanted was for shit. This is better.” Justin sat down next to Brian and pulled the laptop in front of him, scanning the shopping cart shaking his head. “He doesn’t need half this shit.” Justin scrolled down further and then clicked on an item not on his brother’s wish list. “They do need a new duvet though, and this duvet cover set.”

Brian nodded and Justin pushed the laptop back to Brian. “But that’s it. Nothing else.”

Brian nodded absently and clicked on another item. Justin went back to his studio before he started adding more to the list.



Once he’d finished his online shopping Brian wasn’t sure what to do with himself. He knew Justin was trying to finish a couple of things before he his first trip to Miami… he didn’t want to bother him. He paced for a few minutes and then left the loft.

Twenty minutes later he was sitting on the now cleared chair in Aaron and Lee’s room. “You look…”

“I still look like shit.”

“I was going to say cleaner.”

“Yeah, I showered today. Quite the accomplishment.”

“From two days ago… yeah it is.”

Aaron didn’t say anything else. He held up the game pad to Brian, “thanks for this.”

“Wouldn’t want you to get bored.”

“Yeah, that would suck.” Aaron rolled his eyes and Brian took the game pad out of his hand.

“What are we playing?”

Aaron glared. “You only bought me two games.”

“Are you complaining?”

Aaron shook his head hit the start button on the newest version of Mech Assault.

They played in silence for a while. After about a half hour Aaron seemed to be waning. He put the controller down and moved to the head of the bed, leaning his back against the wall.

“You need anything?”

Aaron shook his head. “Lee will be in soon to make you leave. I think he picked up your overprotective tendencies.”

“Those are Justin’s, not mine.”

“Whatever.”

“Rest. I’ll save Lee the trouble of kicking me out.”

“Thanks for the game.”

“You had to have some way to kill the time.”

“Thanks.”

“You said that.”

“I mean for not expecting me to be productive.”

“You’ve never been productive. Why would I expect it now?”

“Mmm hmm” Aaron was clearly having trouble keeping his eyes open. Brian left, closing the door quietly behind him. Lee was standing in the living room, his arms crossed.

“Is he asleep?”

“Getting there.”

Lee nodded. “Thanks.”

“Why’s everyone fucking thanking me?”



Justin was staring at the inside of the refrigerator when Brian got back. “Italian or Greek?”

“Huh?”

Brian kissed the back of Justin’s neck and closed the fridge door. “We’re out of food. Italian or Greek?”

Justin seemed to snap out of his daze. “Oh, um, Greek’s good I guess.”

Brian ordered while Justin wandered the apartment aimlessly for a few minutes. When he hung up he put himself in Justin’s path. Justin almost walked into him. He looked up and laughed. “Hey.”

“Hey, where’d you go?”

Justin flopped back on the chaise lounge. “Miami. I’m not sure I should be leaving. Aaron…”

“Is a big boy. If you don’t want to take the job, don’t. But go, see if it’s something you want before you rule it out.”

“I’m just worried that…”

Brian waited.

“It’s stupid.”

“Yeah it is.”

“You don’t even know what I was going to say.”

“Well, if you’re worried that Aaron’s going to go back to abusing drugs, or that I’m going to change my mind about the whole July thing simply because you’re away for a weekend, then I do know what you were going to say, and it is stupid.”

“When you say it like that it is.”

Brian sat between Justin’s thighs, leaning against his chest. He tilted his head back. “You’re not stupid, but you can’t control either of us.”

“I don’t want to control you both.” Justin wrapped his legs around Brian’s waist and his arms around his torso.

Brian laughed. “Which one of us do you want to control?”

“Pfft. As if I have delusions about being able to control either one of you.” Justin’s foot was resting on Brian’s thigh; he moved it lightly, letting his heel follow the line of Brian’s zipper. He was kissing Brian’s neck.

Brian felt Justin’s body wrap even more tightly around his and then he felt it unravel. Justin slid out from behind him, pushing him back onto the chair at the same time. His hands were pushing Brian’s wife beater slowly up his torso. His lips were tracing waistband of Brian’s jeans. He raised his arms over his head, grasping the top of the chair, trying to wait patiently but Justin was in a mood to tease.

His tongue flicked in and out of Brian’s belly button, his hands stroked Brian’s thighs through his jeans but made no move towards his fly. Brian moved to unbutton his jeans himself and Justin grunted his displeasure. Brian let out a low sound and gripped the top of the chair to resist the urge to move things along more quickly.

Justin’s knee was between Brian’s thighs, his tongue pressing into Brian’s mouth and his hard cock pressed against Brian’s hip. Brian didn’t move his hands. He did press his body closer to Justin’s, he did respond to Justin’s tongue in his mouth and eventually his hands, of their own volition moved to the small of Justin’s back, pulling him closer. One hand moving down to cup his ass through his loose paint covered cargos and one hand moving up to wind through his hair and pull his mouth closer. When he had Justin almost exactly where he wanted him Justin twisted out of his grip and gave an evil smile. Brian groaned again and Justin stood in front of the chair, removing his clothes. Slowly.

Brian moved his hand to his own jeans again but Justin shook his head. Brian closed his eyes for a moment, and let his hands rest idly at his sides. Justin made a motion with his head. Brian sighed but put his hands back up above his head, his eyes never leaving Justin's now naked body.

Justin moved towards Brian, his fingers wrapped around his cock. He knocked Brian’s legs off of the chair and planted his knees between Brian’s thighs. “I don’t think you’re going to reconsider the July thing.”

Brian nodded. His cock restricted by his jeans, now pulled tighter as his legs were spread. Justin’s finger traced the line of Brian’s erection. “I wish we could do it now.”

Brian nodded again. Justin unbuttoned the top button of Brian’s jeans and Brian let out a breath he had not been completely aware he was holding. “It’s going to happen. I know it. I dream about it. I fantasize about it.” Justin unbuttoned another button and then squeezed the base of Brian’s cock through his jeans. “If I didn’t think it would kill us both I’d say we shouldn’t have sex at all until then.”

Brian let out a loud sound that was either a groan or a growl. Justin kissed Brian’s neck. “Relax. I said it would kill us both. Trust me, I’m no longer able to go more than a couple of days without your cock in my ass. Without your hands on my naked body, fucking me, claiming me, and making me so crazy, so ready, so fucking satisfied when we’re done. I don’t want to give that up, even if it does mean we have to keep doing it with condoms.”

Justin's voice was low and even against Brian’s ear. And Brian finally couldn’t take it anymore. He wrapped his arms around Justin, flipping him over quickly. In seconds his jeans and shirt were gone. The condom and lube retrieved from his pocket put to their uses and before Justin could exhale Brian was buried deep inside him.

Justin’s hands wrapped in Brian’s hair tugging hard, kissing him, biting at his lips. His legs wrapped around Brian’s body, his ankles crossed and his heels digging in high on Brian’s back. “Fuck me.”

Brian was pulling at Justin’s hair too, biting his shoulders, fucking him hard, pulling out as much as Justin’s steel like grip allowed and then pushing back in, angling to hit Justin’s prostate with each movement.

Justin’s hand snaked between them and Brian pulled their bodies even closer, shaking his head. Justin’s hand slid out from between their sweat soaked bodies and dug into Brian’s shoulder instead. “Fuck me.”

Brian nodded and complied and they were both rutting together in a frenzy of need. Justin bit Brian’s shoulder as he came. Brian pulled at Justin’s hair again, their eyes meeting as Brian came while Justin’s entire body held him tight. When they collapsed against each other Justin was running his fingers through Brian’s hair and Brian’s head was buried in Justin’s neck.

Neither moved until the buzzer announced the arrival of dinner.



Justin’s bags were by Aaron and Lee's front door. Justin was sitting on the chair by the bed. “You sure you’ll be okay?”

Aaron was lying on his side, his eyes barely open. “I can lay here and do nothing without you.”

“If you need me, I’ve got my cell, and Brian knows how to reach me at the hotel. You know what…” Justin pulled a sketchpad out of his messenger bag. Lee took it from his hands. “Justin, if Brian can find you, then we can all find you. He’s here every day.”

“I know I just…”

“You’re going to miss your plane. Go, or you won’t be able to get a cab.”

Justin bent over 'til he was eye level with Aaron. He brushed his hair back. “I’ll be back in a couple of days.” Aaron nodded and closed his eyes.

When Lee came back into the room he sat down and sighed. Aaron pulled the covers over his head. “Brian will be here in an hour.”

“Maybe not.”

“Keep dreaming.”

“Make him stop.”

Lee laughed. “You’re the one who can get him to do anything.”

“Anything except stop hovering. He’s been doing it since I met him.”

“Yeah, I kinda remember hearing about that from Justin.”

Aaron peeked out from under the covers. “Justin used to tell you about his twat half-breed?”

“You know this. Didn’t matter. I still fell for you the minute you walked in. Christ, you were hot.”

“Yeah, was”

“Stop it. The self loathing is unbecoming.”

Aaron didn’t say anything. What was there to say? There were so many things about him lately that were unbecoming, or just fucking ugly. He pulled the covers over his head again. This crying every ten minutes thing had to end soon, right?

He felt Aaron tugging at the covers. “You can cry if you want. You don’t have to hide.”

Aaron gripped them tighter. “I’m not hiding.”

“Are you cold?”

“No.” Aaron sighed. “I’m really just tired. Can you please send Brian home today and just… you know, leave me alone to sleep.”

Aaron heard Lee leave and pushed the duvet below his face. He had to admit it was nice. The whole set was nice. Justin had good taste. The doorbell rang and he groaned, except in husbands, or whatthefuckever boyfriends or somethings, one day without being tag teamed might be nice. He braced himself but the now familiar sound of Brian’s feet in the hall didn’t come.

Lee did eventually come in with a large pile of boxes, pushing an even bigger box through the door. “Another delivery.”

Aaron smiled. “What’d we get?”

“We? Like any of these are addressed to me. You know the UPS guy thinks my name is Aaron? It’s gonna suck when I fuck him and he calls out your name.”

Aaron stopped smiling and ripping at the box tape. “Is he hot?”

Lee shook his head. “I was kidding. I’m not fucking anyone but you.”

“You could you know.”

“Can we please not do this now. We have a whole new set of crap we don’t need, but now have to find storage for. Can we handle the emotional baggage afterwards.”

“I’m just letting you know you have options.”

“I know. I want you. I use small words, all single syllables… I can’t make it any more clear.”

Aaron shrugged and then took the letter opener from Lee’s hand, slicing open the box. “Excellent, three new games.”

“Well, at least those don’t take up much space.”

“Gimme”

Lee sighed and Aaron moved to the edge of the bed and cut open the large box that had been pushed against the bed. He laughed.

“Do I want to know?”

“Probably not.” Aaron sat back on the bed. “I think Brian assumes you watch as much television as I do.”

“Huh?”

“It’s a new TV, and unless I’m guessing wrong, the other box is a DVD player, since we moved the other ones in here.”

“Because you watch movies and play video games and I don’t.”

“Maybe they’re hoping I’ll come out to the living room soon?”

“Oh Christ this has to stop. I barely needed the old TV I had, now we have two?”

“Yeah, can we set the good one up in here and move the old one back out to the living room?”

“No.”

“No?”

“No, I don’t care why Brian bought it. I want you to come out to the living room soon. It’s been two weeks.”

“But”

“I signed for them, I’m putting them in the living room.”

The doorbell rang. “Good, send Brian back, he’ll make you set it up in here.”

Lee laughed and shook his head. “Not if I get to him first.”

Aaron sat back and tossed a ball of used packing tape at him. “You suck.”

“So you’ve said.”



Brian returned home a little more hopeful about Aaron’s recovery. He had been in a slightly better mood, willing to playfully pout when Brian sided with Lee on the new TV issue. In the end he’d ordered dinner for all of them and was considering changing and going out when the phone rang.

“How was your flight?”

“Boring.”

“Best kind.”

“I know. You see Aaron yet?”

“Yeah, he hasn’t fallen apart without you as his wet nurse. Meeting still set for tomorrow morning?”

“Yeah, what is it with people and early fucking meetings?”

“Gives them the rest of the day to find someone else if you say no.”

“Good point.”

“You’re not going to say no.”

“I don’t know what I’m going to say. I’ll figure it out after I talk to him. Anyway he owns some club that’s the place to be. I was going to go check it out, see if I can get a feel for what he’s about.”

“Yes, because Babylon is such a reflection of my personal and business ventures.”

“You going out?”

“Thinking about it.”

“I’ll call you after the meeting tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

“Later.”

“Later.”



The club was really quite impressive. Huge, creatively lit, and the men were well; impressive was a good word there too. Justin danced, smiling and shaking off the offers for more than a little bump and grind on the dance floor. He had to admit that there were some things about Babylon he missed, (like not having to pay for drinks) but it was also nice to buy his own fucking drinks.

He let guys hit on him and knew if Brian were there he would call him a shameless flirt. He smiled and blinked while he turned down someone’s offer to buy him a shot. Flirting was fun.

It was almost three when he stumbled back into his hotel room, pulling his sweaty clothes off and enjoying the cool almost too cold feel of the overly air-conditioned room. He fell back onto the bed completely naked and was trying to set his cell phone to wake him up in the morning when it rang. It startled him and he dropped it in the mass of finely woven Egyptian cotton bedding. By the time he found it he was certain Brian had hung up. He hadn’t.

“Hi.”

“Hey.”

“I dropped the phone.”

“How wasted are you?”

“Depends, how wasted are you?”

He heard Brian laugh and knew just from that sound that Brian was more than wasted. “How does my level of intoxication affect yours?”

“It’s a relativity thing.”

“Well, I’m not as wasted as the speed of light.”

“Okay, I’m less wasted than you, I think, so you’re like the speed of sound and I’m probably you know, um…something slower than that. And don’t roll your eyes at me. I make total sense in my head.”

“That’s the only place though. How was the club?”

“Amaaaaazing. The guys were hot, but they have this system that cools the whole room down by like twenty degrees in two minutes. I want one.”

“For what? We live in New York, not Miami.”

“Oh, right… when we’re old and wearing muumuus and we retire down here, can we get one?”

“Sure.”

“Excellent.”

“What did you learn about Senor Femosa?”

“Nothing.”

“He wasn’t there?”

“I don’t know. We didn’t have an appointment. I went, I danced, I flirted, I drank, I came back to my room, I got naked, I called you.”

“I called you.”

“Oh, right… um, I think the rest was accurate.”

“Your brand of flirting should be illegal.”

“Not everyone is as susceptible to it as you are.”

“Pfft. You don’t flirt with me.”

“I don’t have to.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Because you’re already gonna come back to my place to look at my etchings.”

“Yes, yes I am.”

“Brian?”

“Mmm?”

“Is it weird that you actually would look at my etchings?”

“No. Besides, I’d fuck you after I expressed awe at your incredible talent.”

“Oh yeah, and then you could express awe at my talent in the bedroom too.”

“I could, but I’m the one who trained you.”

“Pfft. I was a natural.”

“I helped you hone it.”

“If you want to believe that.”

“Justin.”

“Hmmmm?”

“Go to sleep.”

“I was going to jerk off first.”

“Well, okay, do that, then go to sleep. Talk to this guy in the morning, and then you can decide what you want.”

“You. I want you.” Justin smiled as he heard Brian groan. “See, you didn’t teach me that.”

“To want me? No. You came up with that one all on your own.”

“No, the catch in my voice. Makes you hard. You didn’t teach me how to make you hard with words.”

…

…

“Brian?”

“Mmm?”

“Are you jerking off without me?”

“You’re in Miami, it has to be without you.”

“No fair, you’re cheating.”

“Did you want me to say 1 2 3 go?”

“Now you’re just being stupid.”

“Justin?”

“Mmm?”

“Are you saying you haven’t been touching yourself since you answered the phone?”

…

…

“Thought so.”

Justin made a small sound in the back of his throat to warn Brian he was close. Brian’s voice cracked a little as he said Justin’s name. When they came it was at almost the same time.

“Good night Justin.”

“Good night Brian.”



Justin listened to Jordan Femosa’s pitch over breakfast and when the man sat back, smiling, Justin took a moment to swallow his Eggs Florentine and decide what to say next.
“I’ve seen the work you do. It will be perfect in the lobby.”

“Here?”

Jordan laughed. “No, this is the hotel my father built. Beautiful, elegant, and not my style. The new building is almost completely my design. I want a young artist’s instillation in the lobby. Miami is becoming quite the hip art scene. I hope to tap into that market.”

“So that’s why you want me? Because I’m young.”

“I want you, because you’re talented. If I can’t have you… I suppose I’ll have to settle for someone less talented, but still young.”

Justin laughed. “Well, you’re good for my ego.”

“Why don’t we go look at the space? You can tell me what you think.”

Justin nodded and followed Jordan to the car. He almost shivered in the dim interior. What was it with Miami and air conditioning?

Ten minutes later Justin was clenching his teeth to keep them from chattering when they pulled up to a very sleek narrow high-rise building. Justin cocked an eyebrow, impressed.

When the driver opened the door Justin followed Jordan into the lobby. He introduced Justin to his wife, a petite woman with jet-black hair. Jordan Femosa was clearly in love with his new building, his detailed description and his rapt expression as his hand ran over the polished marble of the front desk made his wife shake her head ruefully. “I was once the most beautiful thing he could think of. Now I come in second to a hotel.”

They all laughed and Jordan draped an arm around his wife’s waist, leading them all to the most intimidating blank wall Justin had ever seen.

“The atrium is over there. The first three floors are for upscale boutiques, the next seven for businesses, and the rest, all luxury suites. Except for the very top floor.

“That’s for you?”

Jordan smiled. “Yes, we’ll be living there.”

“Swanky.”

Jordan laughed. “I really do love this building.”

“So why hire an artist? Why do anything that’s not within your complete control?”

“Many reasons, and it won’t be completely out of my control either. I have final approval.”

Justin nodded. It didn’t matter what his manager had promised him, he’d expected as much.

“It would be a boost for your career. It would bring people into the building, start a buzz, and of course, there’s the smart investment aspect, not to mention avoiding possible local legislation later.”

“Is Miami talking about requiring new retail construction to designate a percentage arts and culture?”

“No, but a lot of major cities are. If we do this now, I don’t have to worry about the percentage when the tax assessed value is doubled.”

“Doubled. You don’t dream small.”

“The costs are the same either way.”

Justin nodded and ran his hand along the blank wall. “Something with natural stone worked into the paint. Reality and fantasy combined maybe.” He stepped back, craning his neck to take in the three stories of creative possibility and bumped into Mrs. Femosa. “Sorry.”

“It’s alright. I like the sound of what you’re thinking.”

“But I’m still thinking. I haven’t said yes.”

“What could keep you from accepting an offer like this? A beautiful city, a fabulous opportunity, and a paycheck at the end.”

“All things to consider. Let me give it some thought and call you tomorrow?”

“Is there anything I can do to make your decision easier?”

“No, I mean, yes, pay me more, but even then, no… I’m not ready to make a commitment today. Whom else are you meeting with?”

“No one.”

Justin snorted.

“I wanted to hear your answer first.”

“And I have 'til when to tell you?”

“Aaaah, someone who works best under deadlines… lets say tomorrow evening, before you get on the plane back to New York.”

Justin nodded. “I’ll let you know before then.”

Jordan smiled and shook his hand. “The car will take you back to the hotel, or anywhere else you’d like to go.”



Justin had the driver head towards the address he’d gotten earlier. It was a high-end salt-water aquarium shop. He wanted to speak to a couple of experts before they actually put one into the new place. He also just wanted to clear his head. They were a few blocks from their destination when Justin got out, needing to move. He thanked the driver and shook his head at the heat. Miami apparently had two temperature states, muggy and debilitating, or overly air-conditioned and dehydrating.

Justin headed towards the fish shop when his eye was drawn to an open-air market. The street music was blaring and most of the people seemed to be moving with the beat. Several of the tents were manned by artists displaying their work. Justin lingered. This was not commercial crap. These were artists creating for the sake of it. Playing the game? Sure. Hoping for recognition? Probably, but working because they couldn’t not. He understood that. He’d only recently found that again and was he really ready to give up the freedom to create whatever he wanted whenever he wanted?

He moved further into the square, drawn to a prominently displayed painting. He was mesmerized. It wasn’t perfect, but it was powerful and accomplished and just… good. He had no idea how long he’d been standing there before the guy said something to him. “You like it?”

Justin nodded. “It’s strong. The use of forced perspective and contrasting tones are amazing.” he took a step closer, “this isn’t all oil on canvas.”

The guy was cleaning a paintbrush and shaking his head. “No, it’s pieced together, wood, and fiberglass and canvas, I think I spent more time making the surface than painting the thing.”

“I doubt it.”

The guy laughed. “Yeah, I think they both took some time. So you’re an artist.”

Justin nodded.

“That sucks.”

“Why?”

“Because I was hoping that you liked it and might buy it. If you’re an artist you’re broke. Someday someone with money will appreciate what I do.”

Justin took a step backwards, taking in the full scale of the work. The artist introduced himself. “Norris Hayden.”

“Justin Taylor, nice to meet you. This really is just… I don’t think I should look at it too long, I might end up stealing your ideas.”

Norris laughed. “Hey, I can’t copy write something like this. So, you new in town?”

“I’m here for business. Just for the weekend.”

“That’s a shame.” Norris’s hand brushed Justin’s.

“Justin took a small step backwards. “I might be back in a couple of weeks. Not sure. I live in New York with my boyfriend so…”

“That’s an even bigger shame.”

Justin laughed and looked back at the painting. “Can you ship this?”

“Where?”

“To New York, I have the perfect spot for it.”

“Hey, you’re hot, but I’m not devastated. You don’t have to buy it just because you’re turning me down.”

“You really think I have the money to buy something from everyone I turn down?”

It was Norris’s turn to laugh. “Good point.”

“So can you? Ship it, I mean?”

“Yeah, for a price.”

“Isn’t everything ‘for a price’?”

They finished the arrangements and Justin knew that it would be perfect in the new dining area. In fact, its muted tones would contrast nicely with the salt-water aquarium…if they decided to get one.

He continued to walk, getting closer to the hotel. There was a Chinese restaurant, a pizza place, and a coffee shop, so at least the essentials would be covered.

There was a new neighborhood to discover, and clubs to try and…

Justin stepped into the coffee shop, ordering a double shot espresso and adjusting to the cold of the store after the heat of the sidewalk. He decided not to consider the ridiculous climate in his pro and con list. There were already enough matters confounding the issue.

He and Brian were moving. Remodeling, building a home, and giving up being there for that was huge. Then again, so was the project he was talking about taking on.

Aaron was still shaky in his recovery… and nothing Justin did would make him more or less stable.

He sat back and thought about what he wanted, really really wanted, because there was something to be said for his current level of independence, something he’d be giving up to take on this commission.

Three coffees later he was no closer to a decision than he had been when he started.

When he went back to the market it was closing for the evening and quite a few faces showed disappointment as they packed up their unsold work… the offer he was debating was one many of them would kill for.

He shook his head and realized he was hungry and tired. Back at the hotel he ordered room service, tried to set the A/C to a reasonable temperature and picked up his sketchbook.

When he started paying close attention to what he was drawing he picked up the phone. “Jordan? It’s Justin. Yes. I’ll take the job. I think I’ll have a few preliminary sketches ready for you tomorrow if you have time to meet before my plane leaves. Great, I’ll see you then.”

Justin yawned and signed for his room service, picked a movie and was asleep almost before he’d finished his last French fry.



When Justin woke up it was a little before eleven pm. He yawned, stretched, and realized the room was now too warm. He called Brian while he adjusted the thermostat.

“So when do you have to be back?”

“Who said I took the job?”

“Didn’t you?”

“Yes. But you don’t know everything.”

“I know you. And this works out perfectly because I’ve already hired someone to come in and turn your studio back into a bedroom.”

“Brian! What were you going to do if I didn’t take the job?”

“Doesn’t matter does it?”

Justin sat down on the bed, tucking his feet under the edge of the duvet. His toes were cold. “No.”

“So what are the specifics?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“You’ll tell me when you do?”

“Don’t I always?”

“Lately, yes.”

“You see Aaron today?”

“He and Lee are driving each other insane.”

“Has Aaron left the bedroom?”

“Not yet. I told Lee to move all the porn into the living room.”

“That should do it.”

“If it doesn’t we’ll know we should be really worried.”

“So what’s on your agenda this evening?”

“I was thinking about staying in, clearing out the DVR buffer. You?”

“I was going to order a romantic comedy on pay per view, run up a huge tab on Jordan’s dime.”

“Well, try not to hurt your eyes sitting too close to the TV.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight, Justin.”