Nick needed a break. Ben was actually driving him out of his mind. He actually wondered if giving he and Ben another try was actually a mistake, as they both seemed more distant lately. Nick could only account for himself, but there was something not there whenever he and Ben were together - especially when they were having sex, which seemed more frequently than ever. Trying to keep Ben satisfied was also interfering with Nick's writer's block. Maybe he could write an essay about the life of the partner of a sex addict.
Nick sighed as he sat at his desk starting at the blank screen of his laptop. He wondered if he should call Ben and apologize. Their argument over the phone last night showcased utter contempt over the relationship. However, Nick thought better of calling Ben as he felt they both needed something of a break. Maybe he's just unwilling to tell himself the truth that trying to have a monogamous relationship with a sex addict just isn't possible. Nick wondered what Matt was doing, and, just as quickly, pushed the question out of his head. He wondered if two sex addicts will be able to carry a relationship?? The thought lingered for a moment before Nick looked back at the blank screen on his computer and began to type.
Ben looked at himself in the mirror. An expression of dispair looking back at him. He'd did it again. No one would be surprised if they ever found out; but, yet again, he failed Nick. It would have been simple if he could have found something else to occupy his mind, something else to focus all of his energy on. Instead, feeling miffed at Nick's rejection of him last night, he took off for a bar and ended up in the alley smoking a joint with some guy before getting a half-assed blow job behind the dempster dumpsters, which, of course, led to the hiring of a guy and girl from an old madam from years ago. One wild and fucked up night because he had no self-control.
Okay, it happened. Now what? Does he confess everything to Nick? Does he take this opportunity to get some help? Or will he brush it all off as he did in the past, leaving nothing but scars and skid marks over those that cared the most about him?
Ben left the bathroom, walking into his bedroom and picking up the phone. He dialed his office.
"Marsha, I'm going to be working from home today. Can you messenger over the Lennigan project and tell Sybil to look into Jed Langton's boyfriend's project. Oh, and one more thing, hold all my calls and see if you can rearrange tomorrow's meeting with those government jerks."
After hanging up the phone, Ben went to his home office and turned on his computer. He needed to focus on some work in order to think through his cheating on Nick and why his libido is completely whacked right now. Maybe a little help is what he needed. He felt terrified to attend an SA meeting. If it makes any sense to anyone they were basically meeting places for nymphomaniacs. When one gets a roomful of sex addicts talking about how often, how much, how and where then there is nothing but sexual energy emmanting through the room with an orgy just waiting to happen.
Maybe he and Nick should have waited awhile before another go at their relationship. Maybe Ben should have just given himself more leeway in terms of understanding himself. He couldn't do this again to Nick or himself. He would seek out the help of a psychologist...yeah, someone whom he could talk to and not feel so much pressure; so trapped. But once Ben's computer was on, he found himself tapping into the numberous porn sites on his favorites list. And, suddenly, he nearly gasped at a photograph that came across his screen. A photograph that was only one of a series of photographs that both shocked and excited him...
Matt left the television station needing something more than a drink, he needed to bust that shithead of a director a new opening in his skull. How in the fuck is he supposed to know about film journalism after only having come from a newspaper? Matt felt confident as both an editor and a producer, but just because this was an editing gig he took because the original editor was reassigned a new gig doesn't mean that the director - who probably got daddy to pay his way into the position - knows much more about putting together a compelling piece of story.
Just before Matt gave in and bit his lower lip to keep from smashing his fist into the jerk's face, he got a call on his cell phone. It was Damien with an invitation for drinks at Nexus. A drink was just what he needed.
Matt walked into Nexus with his anger nearly gone. He found Damien sitting in one of the booths, concentrated on something on the screen of his cell phone. Just as Matt approached the booth, Damien looked up and smiled.
"Hey there handsome guy," he said.
Matt slid into the booth. "How's it going, Damien?"
"Not bad. Not bad at all. So, how's work over at the television station?"
"I will tell you later. Right now all I need is a couple of shots of whiskey."
"Fear not, I pre-ordered for you and I think your wish is about to be fulfilled."
The bartender brought over a couple of shots for Matt and sat them down. Both Damien and Matt thanked him as he returned to his position behind the bar. Matt took the first shot and gulped it down. A slight grimace crossed his face as the liquor ticked his throat.
"You know, you should do a movie about rich kids that grow up and are forced into the limelight," Damien said.
"Would this be about Paris Hilton or someone like, uh, you?"
Damien laughed. "That's good. Cheap, but good. No, well, maybe I can contribute something but I know a lot of kids who were born into rich families but who would like to just live a more simpler life. And, I know a lot of people that you can call to invest."
"Thanks, Damien, but I'm a lone wolf when it comes to the conception and producing of my projects. I have a crew of people I know to hire to get the job done and know who to work for me. And, to be quite honest, that is one of the lamest ideas for a documentary I've ever heard of."
Matt spoke with the comfort that only a good friend would administer, so Damien tried not to take critisism of his idea to heart.
"Okay, hot shot, why not make it a narrative then. Why not give features a shot, you just might have a hidden talent in there that you don't know about."
"What are you getting at?"
Damien took a deep breath. "Nothing. You seem a little upset working at the television station and I'm trying to be a friend and give you alternatives."
Matt looked over at Damien. "You know, you're right. I'm sorry, Damien," he said, taking Damien's hand into his.
Damien's eyes lit up a bit. He looked over at Matt, who was staring him in the eye. "Its okay," Damien said. "You can make it up to me by accepting a dinner invitation."
Jed sat in his office staring at the hard copy of the first issue of Blade Magazine. There it was. Everything he had dreamed of staring him right back in the face! He was about to send it off to the printers where he would later watch to first printing. Of course, he would have to have his mother present. After all, she had encouraged him to follow his dreams and to be himself, no matter what the stakes were.
He should give her a call to make sure that she has the date and time of the printing solid on her schedule. Jed could almost detect a pre-occupation concerning his mother these days; always as if her mind were drifting somewhere. It all started the night he took Steve over for dinner...
Could it be that she doesn't like Steve and, therefore, only puts on an act for his sake? That would sound so unlike her that it's just not possible to even think about. When he came out to his mother she had always been receptive of his dates in the past. Oh there was maybe one that she had something to say about and that was only because the guy did come across as a social climber. Funny how she picked that up.
Jed took out his cell phone and began to dial. Normally if there were anything wrong then they would just talk about it. Maybe Jed was too paranoid.
"Hello, Frank. Jed Langton here. Listen, I referred someone to you fairly recently and I wanted to know if they've contacted you yet?"
"Uh...okay, what's the name?"
"Mrs. Theodora Raines."
"Nope. No one by that name has called into here."
"That's odd."
"Maybe whatever they needed got solved on its own."
"Yeah, you're probably right. Thanks, Frank. I will keep in touch."
Helene Langton-Marshall was a simple woman, even when she married a wealthy man, she retained her simple outlook on life with a certain class that one usually ends up in desperation in any attempt of imitation. At first frowned upon not only because she was a poor farmer's daughter who married well but because she nailed one of the most handsome and eligible bachelors in the country. Soon enough, though, Helene had eased herself into her position as mistress of the Langton household but as a much respected member of the community.
It was her understanding that people usually do not understand the depths of human complexity. Her graces and demands made her respected and, therefore, taught her how to listen to the lives and the secrets of her peers. Helene had learned that not only should she maintain an image but to protect her and her family from any - and she means any - attempt to bring disgrace to her beloved dead first husband or her devoted son and her new husband.
In her private office inside of her home, Helene sat reviewing her her social schedule for the upcoming week. The mobile phone on her desk rang. She looked at the display screen and discovered who was trying to contact her.
"Hello,"
"Mrs. Langton-Marshall? You know who this is?"
"Yes, Mr. Evans. Do you have anything?"
"Not yet, but I do want to warn you that your son is beginning to ask questions..."
"Damien, that's was good! Really good!" Matt said, sitting back in the chair, stuffed and relaxed.
"I'm glad you liked it. I told you that restaurant had excellent chicken caccitore."
"If only you knew how to cook."
"Why, when there are hundreds of restaurants right here in Port Wayne to cater to whatever I want whenever I want it?"
"You are a spoiled fucking brat!" Matt said in jest.
"So, you want to finish that off with a nightcap?"
"Sure! Whattaya got?"
"Your favourite bourbon. How's that?"
"Excellent!"
"Let's go into the den."
Once they reached the den, Matt settled in on the sofa while Damien put some jazz on the stereo and poured a glass of bourbon for Matt and a brandy for himself. He settled onto the sofa next to Matt.
"Thanks!" Matt said, taking the glass from Damien. He took a sip and leaned back into the sofa, a lazyiness drifting through his body.
Damien took a sip of his brandy and set the snifter down on the table. He looked over at Matt, who's eyes were half closed as he looked over at Damien. Matt smiled and reached up to grab Damien's shoulder, which he gave a rough squeeze.
"Thank you for being a good friend," Matt said, his hand now rubbing Damien's shoulder.
Damien's body shuddered. Matt had closed his eyes, his hand paused and resting on Damien's shoulder. Damien leaned down towards Matt until their lips touched and Damien began to kiss Matt.
"What the..." Matt opened his eyes and swiftly pushed Damien away from him. "what're you doing?"
"I...I mean...I was kissing you."
"Why?"
"I thought because we were getting along so well together that, well, we were heading...wait a minute! You're telling me that you thought of us as friends the whole time?"
"What fucking else could I think of us as? Look, Damien, you're a cool guy and everything but I don't have that kind of attraction towards you. I'm sorry, but I thought we were just friends."
Damien sat. His eyes moved from Matt to the glass door that lead to his patio. "Matt, I do apologize. I think you should go now."
"Yeah, I think that would be wise."
Monday, December 24, 2007
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Episode 007, Season One
To the average person sitting inside of Caverns in the early evening the four men at the table by the front window would have seemed to have been friends who have known each other for years. Actually, the average person would have been three quarters right their summation. An invitation to cocktails from Jed to Nick and Damien so that they could meet his boyfriend Steve turned into an early dinner and a good time. Sometime during the evening Jed actually thought his life was perfect. He was taken aback at such a conclusion since he never thought a person, a life or a mere existence could be described as perfect. Yet here he was, his life had magically taken shape into a world he'd dreamed of. Jed smiled, for he felt the total equal to some sappy dime store romance book - the kind that the bored and ignored, but faithful, housewife would spend late afternoons swimming in before the kids got home from school and the husband would call, once again, to announce that he had late meetings or overtime.
Nick excused himself to go to the restroom just as Jed started to tell the story of he, Nick and Damien's introduction to each other in a journalism class sophomore year.
Once the story - that wasn't completely hilarious nor anywhere near it - was over, Damien excused himself to go to the restroom. And just as he walked in he found Nick splashing water on his face.
"Are you bored or just trying to close those pores?" Damien asked.
"Funny."
"Nick, oh my, is something wrong? You've looked so peaked lately. Are you getting enough sleep or is age finally catching up with you?"
"You know, Damien, you'd be a lot more funnier if you could just get a sense of humour. Its Ben, he's been so fucking horny lately."
"Lately? The man is a sex addict, I'm pretty sure a libido in overdrive comes with the title," Damien said as he moved over the urinals. "So what do you think about Steve?"
"I think he's nice. He and Jed seem to actually be in love."
"There's something about him I don't get. I don't know."
"Damien, whatever it is that's going through your big head, leave it alone. Jed seems happy."
"Yes, but there is something suspicious about Steve."
"Look, hot shot, you don't have to like Steve but Jed does. You do something to sabotage this and I promise you that I will lower myself to your level and..."
"And do what? Yell at me?"
Nick glared at Damien. "You leave those two alone. Enough said."
Nick walked out of the restroom and back into the restaurant just as Damien saddled up to the sinks to wash his hands.
Joey and Jon sat inside of Joey's studio apartment, looking through the contact sheets of the photo shoot from the other day in the park. Joey felt that he'd completed a pretty good job making Jon look as sexy as possible, if one could pull of such a task being that Jon already had the smoldering sexual vibes coming from out of his pores and a face that could launch a few million masturbation fantasies for both men (gay and straight) and women (straight and gay). However, even though Jon was graced by touches of the gods Joey found that he could not stop thinking of Ben...especially the way that Ben has looked at him in the park the other day.
"These are great, Joey. I can say that I'm glad I looked you up. These are better than the stuff you did for me back in L.A."
"Well, back in L.A. you didn't have any clothes on and a monkey could have taken those pictures and you'd still come out hot."
Jon blushed a bit. Joey thought it was cute.
What if...
What if Joey handed himself the opportunity to try to forget about Ben?
"I'd like to hire you again to do some more work for me," Jon said.
"Clothes on or off?"
Jon giggled. "This is for my clothing line."
"Sure. I'd like the chance."
"Alright!"
Joey's heart jumped just a bit as he felt a tingle in his groin. He reached out and touched Jon's hand.
Jon looked at Ben with a bewildered look in his eyes. Joey moved his face closer to Jon's to meet for a kiss. Jon responded, dropping the contact sheets onto the floor as he brought Joey into his arms and they leaned back onto the sofa.
Matt hated Hollywood. How could a businessman tell and artist how to create? One of the most sickening aspects of captialism is that the corporations think they know what the public wants. Even more annoying and dangerous is seducing the public into believing what they think they want. That should be the topic of his next project...if only he could get anything off the ground. Matt moved to Port Wayne to run his own shop and without money he doesn't have enough room to move around in. Oh, he could probably get one or two small television projects off the ground but that meant listening to a bunch of network fuckheads who would want to edit the final project into a warped sense of what they would call the truth. Running shop from his apartment could get quite chaotic, but it was his best bet since the money he had left from his grandfather's inheritence would be able to see his own company through about a year and a half, maybe two and that's without a staff.
Maybe if he took on investors, but, again, that would be someone else telling him how to do his work. He thought about hitting up Damien, but they were friends and he didn't want to jeopardize that. What a fucking character Damien was. He's a cool cat, a bit, well, not there but still fun to hang around with just the same. They've been spending a lot of time together and even though Matt had been enjoying himself, he knew he had to get his focus back on his production company. Yeah. He couldn't even get a loan from the bank unless he had guaranteed work to back him up and how much could he put upfront fromthe local news departments who have bascially beggedhim to produce or edit or shoot local news spots for them? Crap!! It did help some that he had something of a name, but that Matthew Galveston could only get him so far.
Maybe he should take these television stations up on their offers...that way he could probably still live like a college student and save enough to get Matthew Galveston Productions off the launching pad. Man, what a rush to think that he was so near his dream.
Matt stood up and walked over to his sofa where he stretched out and closed his eyes. Dreams do come true, he toldhimself. He knew that for a fact for he had lived some of his dreams. Matt took a deep breath. A whole new beginning...in Port Wayne...
And out of nowhere he thought of Nick Fuller. They were reunited and Matt wondered if it was coincidence or manufactured plot...after all, he did know that Nick was from Port Wayne when they first met...but, no, he's not the type of guy to go chasing after someone after only a couple of dates. But, then again, Nick wasn't like any other guy he'd ever met.
Steve just left Ben Taylor's office. He was right to use Nick's advice. Okay, Ben was Nick's boyfriend and all, but at least the meeting went better than expected. Everything felt to surreal; so perfect. Steve had never believed in perfection for he thought it was too boring a conception. However, the way his life was moving and shaping since his return to the States would probably force him to believe in such unabashed rediculousness. Jed's friends all seemed to like him, even though, Steve had to admit, there was something sneaky about Damien. Of course, Jed had told Steve all about Damien's crafty way of dealing with whatever surrounded him and it was nothing more than a security blanket. Steve knew that. But, all in all, he told himself to keep an eye on Damien. Steve had learned a few tricks. Tricks that he never thought he would have to use. One would call that self-defense, right?
When Steve reached his house he found a package on the front steps. He picked it up and brought it into the house. After setting down his briefcase he took the brown paper wrapped packed and eyed it carefully. No address or return address or card or anything. Curious, he tore off the wrapping and found a travel book on Budapest.
Steve's hands began to shake and he looked nervously around his house and through the windows. He looked back at the book, his heart pounding heavily in his chest.
Nick excused himself to go to the restroom just as Jed started to tell the story of he, Nick and Damien's introduction to each other in a journalism class sophomore year.
Once the story - that wasn't completely hilarious nor anywhere near it - was over, Damien excused himself to go to the restroom. And just as he walked in he found Nick splashing water on his face.
"Are you bored or just trying to close those pores?" Damien asked.
"Funny."
"Nick, oh my, is something wrong? You've looked so peaked lately. Are you getting enough sleep or is age finally catching up with you?"
"You know, Damien, you'd be a lot more funnier if you could just get a sense of humour. Its Ben, he's been so fucking horny lately."
"Lately? The man is a sex addict, I'm pretty sure a libido in overdrive comes with the title," Damien said as he moved over the urinals. "So what do you think about Steve?"
"I think he's nice. He and Jed seem to actually be in love."
"There's something about him I don't get. I don't know."
"Damien, whatever it is that's going through your big head, leave it alone. Jed seems happy."
"Yes, but there is something suspicious about Steve."
"Look, hot shot, you don't have to like Steve but Jed does. You do something to sabotage this and I promise you that I will lower myself to your level and..."
"And do what? Yell at me?"
Nick glared at Damien. "You leave those two alone. Enough said."
Nick walked out of the restroom and back into the restaurant just as Damien saddled up to the sinks to wash his hands.
Joey and Jon sat inside of Joey's studio apartment, looking through the contact sheets of the photo shoot from the other day in the park. Joey felt that he'd completed a pretty good job making Jon look as sexy as possible, if one could pull of such a task being that Jon already had the smoldering sexual vibes coming from out of his pores and a face that could launch a few million masturbation fantasies for both men (gay and straight) and women (straight and gay). However, even though Jon was graced by touches of the gods Joey found that he could not stop thinking of Ben...especially the way that Ben has looked at him in the park the other day.
"These are great, Joey. I can say that I'm glad I looked you up. These are better than the stuff you did for me back in L.A."
"Well, back in L.A. you didn't have any clothes on and a monkey could have taken those pictures and you'd still come out hot."
Jon blushed a bit. Joey thought it was cute.
What if...
What if Joey handed himself the opportunity to try to forget about Ben?
"I'd like to hire you again to do some more work for me," Jon said.
"Clothes on or off?"
Jon giggled. "This is for my clothing line."
"Sure. I'd like the chance."
"Alright!"
Joey's heart jumped just a bit as he felt a tingle in his groin. He reached out and touched Jon's hand.
Jon looked at Ben with a bewildered look in his eyes. Joey moved his face closer to Jon's to meet for a kiss. Jon responded, dropping the contact sheets onto the floor as he brought Joey into his arms and they leaned back onto the sofa.
Matt hated Hollywood. How could a businessman tell and artist how to create? One of the most sickening aspects of captialism is that the corporations think they know what the public wants. Even more annoying and dangerous is seducing the public into believing what they think they want. That should be the topic of his next project...if only he could get anything off the ground. Matt moved to Port Wayne to run his own shop and without money he doesn't have enough room to move around in. Oh, he could probably get one or two small television projects off the ground but that meant listening to a bunch of network fuckheads who would want to edit the final project into a warped sense of what they would call the truth. Running shop from his apartment could get quite chaotic, but it was his best bet since the money he had left from his grandfather's inheritence would be able to see his own company through about a year and a half, maybe two and that's without a staff.
Maybe if he took on investors, but, again, that would be someone else telling him how to do his work. He thought about hitting up Damien, but they were friends and he didn't want to jeopardize that. What a fucking character Damien was. He's a cool cat, a bit, well, not there but still fun to hang around with just the same. They've been spending a lot of time together and even though Matt had been enjoying himself, he knew he had to get his focus back on his production company. Yeah. He couldn't even get a loan from the bank unless he had guaranteed work to back him up and how much could he put upfront fromthe local news departments who have bascially beggedhim to produce or edit or shoot local news spots for them? Crap!! It did help some that he had something of a name, but that Matthew Galveston could only get him so far.
Maybe he should take these television stations up on their offers...that way he could probably still live like a college student and save enough to get Matthew Galveston Productions off the launching pad. Man, what a rush to think that he was so near his dream.
Matt stood up and walked over to his sofa where he stretched out and closed his eyes. Dreams do come true, he toldhimself. He knew that for a fact for he had lived some of his dreams. Matt took a deep breath. A whole new beginning...in Port Wayne...
And out of nowhere he thought of Nick Fuller. They were reunited and Matt wondered if it was coincidence or manufactured plot...after all, he did know that Nick was from Port Wayne when they first met...but, no, he's not the type of guy to go chasing after someone after only a couple of dates. But, then again, Nick wasn't like any other guy he'd ever met.
Steve just left Ben Taylor's office. He was right to use Nick's advice. Okay, Ben was Nick's boyfriend and all, but at least the meeting went better than expected. Everything felt to surreal; so perfect. Steve had never believed in perfection for he thought it was too boring a conception. However, the way his life was moving and shaping since his return to the States would probably force him to believe in such unabashed rediculousness. Jed's friends all seemed to like him, even though, Steve had to admit, there was something sneaky about Damien. Of course, Jed had told Steve all about Damien's crafty way of dealing with whatever surrounded him and it was nothing more than a security blanket. Steve knew that. But, all in all, he told himself to keep an eye on Damien. Steve had learned a few tricks. Tricks that he never thought he would have to use. One would call that self-defense, right?
When Steve reached his house he found a package on the front steps. He picked it up and brought it into the house. After setting down his briefcase he took the brown paper wrapped packed and eyed it carefully. No address or return address or card or anything. Curious, he tore off the wrapping and found a travel book on Budapest.
Steve's hands began to shake and he looked nervously around his house and through the windows. He looked back at the book, his heart pounding heavily in his chest.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Episode 006, Season One
Jed layed in bed, his arm thrown over Steve. He thought about the first time he and Steve had made love...nervously and clumsy. It felt as if he still had that tingle - that wonderful throb - in the pit of his stomach. He then knew that he was falling in love, something that hadn't happened in a very long time. He had always felt that life was some thing of a tease: always dangling a few carrots in front of you but never allowing one to have the entire bunch. Now, it seems, he had found some way to grab onto everything; having it all, he guessed. His dream of a magazine is about to be launched, his two best friends are helping him with bringing Blade to life and he was in love. It was almost...perfect. Jed smiled.
The only thing that seemed out of place was his mother's actions the other night during dinner. She seemed, well, okay. Jed didn't seem to want to make a big deal out of whatever was bothering him. It just seemed like his mother was a little, well, off...no, pre-occupied. However that should not be much of a surprise to him since his mother has never been quite the same since the death of his father.
Steve stirred and rolled over to face Jed.
"Morning," Jed said.
"Mmmm, good morning," Steve said his eyes still closed and a sudden smile spread across his face.
"Did you sleep okay?"
"As always with you, I slept beautifully."
Jed smiled, caressed Steve's face and kissed him. "You hungry?"
"Yes, but not for food."
"You're a dirty boy!"
"Nope, not dirty. Maybe a bit nasty..."
There was something that wasn't right, Nick thought. Maybe it was throwing themselves back into something that probably hadn't healed just yet. Sure, two years was probably enough time for he and Ben to heal their differences and even with Ben having something of an affair with Joey must have put some kind of a heal to whatever was going through his mind once Nick decided to leave Port Wayne and move to New York. However, there's still some kind of a spark between he and Ben. Nick knew that it wasn't something he was trying to convince himself of because when he returned to work for Jed and Ben had called him up to ask him out to dinner there was something in the air...something.
Nick looked over at Ben, sleeping peacefully. Maybe there are changes that they both faced over the past two years that is making him feel that something isn't right. Maybe Ben, once an admitted sex addict, wanted to change. He somehow seems a bit different. Still handsome. Still smart. Still...sexy in his own right. Probably not as sexy as Matt Galveston.
Nick blushed a bit. It was good to see Matt and surprising to hear that he decided to move his operations to Port Wayne in order to get away from the nearly brutal crawl of trying to run a business in New York and the shady plastic veneer of Hollywood. It was only a few months ago that they met at a film festival where Matt's new film was featured. During the Q&A after the film, Nick had stood up and asked a question about his subject matter and, later, Matt had caught up with him and asked him to join him for a coffee. They talked long into the night, sharing cultural opinions on film, music and art. They met up again for an interesting dinner where Nick discovered that Matt had come from an upper middle class family but made friends with inner city kids. This blend of suburban boredom and urban thrills mixed with growing angst had given Matt his artistic edge. Nick had become intrigued. They met again for a quick lunch when they both had news of their pending departures from New York: Matt to promote his film and Nick to go write for Blade. It was the last time they had seen one another. Up until the other night...and now they both have the opportunity to become friends.
Ben yawned and stretched. He rolled over and placed a hand on Nick's bare torso, which he began to rub.
"Good morning," Nick said.
"Yeah, morning. What time is it?"
"Uh...a couple of minutes after six."
"Mmmm, I could sleep in a little more or..." Ben moved closer to Nick, bringing their bodies together. "I could show you how I can get rid of this, um, problem."
Maybe some things haven't changed, Nick thought. He remembered that Ben always woke up with the same problem. Nick giggled.
This morning's jog was refreshing, Damien thought as he prepared to take a shower. There was something about the open road on quiet mornings that caused him to think more clearly. Nearly all of his best ideas came to him while he jogged on those free mornings when it was just him and the pavement.
Once he was under the spray of the cool water - which he would slowly heat up over the next few minutes - Damien thought of his dinner with Matt the night before and how they had gotten to know each other. Matt was one sharp guy, but he seemed to enjoy Damien's company. He takes no nonsense and is quite open with his opinion. Damien was nearly offended when Matt told him that he didn't seem like a snobbish and bratty rich kid. Actually, Damien had kind of found it a bit funny, as that was what he was...well, at one time in his life. Damien stood still for a moment. He felt as if he has to change. It seemed that something had snapped inside of him once he saw the raw expression of bliss on Jed's face when he offered Damien a job at his new magazine. Sure, as rich as Jed and his family is he could have easily just walked out, bought a magazine and probably would have been in circulation for years now. However, back in college Jed had stated that he wanted to gain experience and travel through the annals of magazine publishing and journalism before landing his dream of starting up a one-of-a-kind gay periodical. And that is exactly what he did, working first as a pup reporter for some small town rag back in Wisconsin and working himself up to editor-in-chief of Pride Magazine. It wasn't until the owner/publisher disagreed with the direction that Jed wanted to take his magazine that Jed felt that he'd gained enough experience through the years to obtain a fading bar rag and turn it into a major publication.
Damien had to admit, he admired that. And all he - Damien - had done for his entire life was to live off of the money his parent supplied him with until he got his trust fund which could have sent him into early retirement and a very comfortable life for him and his offspring for years to come, if he ever decided to jerk off into a cup and buy some un-maternal lesbian off. However, children were not in his future. Becoming friends with Jed had somehow stirred something inside of him, and seeing how...what...how Nick had somehow clawed his way from humble beginnings had somehow made Damien rethink his directorial undertaking. But, man, how that Nick thought so fucking highly of himself just like some poor misery-loving heroine of some daytime drama. Ick! It made Damien sick just to think of it. But, he and Nick have known each other a long time and Damien did - somewhere inside of him - want to bury the hatchet, and not just in Nick's forehead. Maybe Matt is the thing life is rewarding him with for trying to conform himself into what people think he should be.
Ah! Matt Galveston...just thinking of him made Damien the most excited he'd been in a very long time...
Jed was preparing to leave, looking through his cloth briefcase for the final details on the launch party and the re-check his schedule. Steve had come from upstairs and wrapped his arms around Jed.
"Busy day?" Steve asked.
"I'm launching a magazine here, everyday is a busy day. What have you got planned?"
"I'm going to look through some properties and I've got a couple of chefs to interview. I was thinking of taking your mother's advice and using your step-father help."
Jed froze. He took Steve's arms from around him, turned and placed his hands gently on Steve's shoulders. "Hey, babe, I love you but I want you to get one thing straight: that man has nothing close in relations to being any kind of a father-thing to me. He's the man that my mother chose to marry. To me, he's just Logan Marshall."
A shiver ran down Steve's back while he looked at the serious glance in Jed's eyes. "What's up with you two?"
"I've never liked Logan. There is something about him and I think he used my mother to gain a position in this town..."
"Certainly, owning some hotels and resorts I'm pretty sure he's made his name on his own."
"I can't prove it, but he used her somehow. He only owned two pieces of property when he started to court my mother."
"Jed, don't you think you're over-reacting?"
"No. I think my mother was lonely when my father was killed and I went away to school and took the first punk what walked in front of her. Its a decision she made that I have to respect."
Steve thought for a moment. He couldn't see anything particularly wrong with Logan, except there was a demonic air about him but Steve chalked it up to his freakishly handsome face. He decided right then and there to not interfere with Jed's family connections. "I'm sorry. Hey, did you notice that you said that you love me?"
Jed smiled. "Yeah, I did, didn't I?"
"I love you, too, Jed."
Jed took Steve's face into his hands and leaned down to kiss him.
Ben had to leave the office to meet with the contractor to one of his job over lunch. They met at Parkside Cafe across the street from the Center City Park. Ben felt as if things in his life were pretty good. He and Nick seem to be on a good course, his business was doing really well and several meetings with SAA seemed to have him feeling pretty good about his life.
When the contractor left, Ben decided to stay and have another cup of coffee to reflect on how satisfying his life was turning out to be. He somehow knew that Nick was right for him long ago and could kick himself in the ass for being such a prick. And then there was Joey, sweet kid that he is, Ben somehow felt that Joey was not mature enough to handle such a commitment with him. Especially such a commitment from a recovering sex addict. When Ben and Joey dated, Ben found himself suppressing his sorrow over loosing Nick and reverting back to his old ways of having sex with nearly any guy he could come in contact with...and a couple of girls in the process. No, it would have been too much for Joey to handle.
When he heard that Nick was returning to Port Wayne, Ben cautiously thought about a reunion, albeit one where he could possibly turn things around. That's when he decided to call up a local chapter of Sex Addicts Anonymous.
After the coffee, Ben walked across the street to the park. One of the things he contributed to keep him libido at bay was to take a walk. He strolled through the park while he thought, once again, of the direction his life was taking him. Then he noticed someone taking photographs of a hunky guy with black hair dressed in a loose pair of jeans and a tight wife beater. As Ben got closer he discovered the photographer was Joey. There was a tingle in the pit of his stomach and he froze for a moment. The model looked up at him which caused Joey to take his attentions off of his camera and look towards the direction of his model's eyes.
"Ben! Hey, how's it going?"
"Fine, Joey. Everything is fine."
"Take five, Jon." Joey said to the model.
The model looked familiar to Ben. He was a model so, of course, there would be a fair amount of familiarity. Joey walked over to Ben.
"I thought you'd be working at the magazine at this time of day," Ben said.
"I am allowed some work hours to take pictures. Besides, this is a little work. A favor for a friend of a friend."
Ben and Joey stood looking into each other's eyes. There was a slight tension between them. Ben wanted to say something but he couldn't think of anything. Luckily he saw the model approach them out the corner of his eye. It was a good excuse to force himself to look away.
Joey, too, could not hold the stare. He noticed his model coming up to them. "Ben this is Jon."
Ben and Jon shook hands.
"I should be going," Ben said. "Um, I guess I will see you later. Nice meeting you Jon."
"Yeah, man, likewise."
Ben walked away from Joey and Jon and felt his body become warm. His knees where somewhat weak and his heart began to race. He pulled out his cellphone and dialed a number.
"Hello?" he heard Nick say.
"You working from home today?"
"Of course. Where are you?"
"On my way to your place. And I'd really like it if you're naked when I arrive..."
The only thing that seemed out of place was his mother's actions the other night during dinner. She seemed, well, okay. Jed didn't seem to want to make a big deal out of whatever was bothering him. It just seemed like his mother was a little, well, off...no, pre-occupied. However that should not be much of a surprise to him since his mother has never been quite the same since the death of his father.
Steve stirred and rolled over to face Jed.
"Morning," Jed said.
"Mmmm, good morning," Steve said his eyes still closed and a sudden smile spread across his face.
"Did you sleep okay?"
"As always with you, I slept beautifully."
Jed smiled, caressed Steve's face and kissed him. "You hungry?"
"Yes, but not for food."
"You're a dirty boy!"
"Nope, not dirty. Maybe a bit nasty..."
There was something that wasn't right, Nick thought. Maybe it was throwing themselves back into something that probably hadn't healed just yet. Sure, two years was probably enough time for he and Ben to heal their differences and even with Ben having something of an affair with Joey must have put some kind of a heal to whatever was going through his mind once Nick decided to leave Port Wayne and move to New York. However, there's still some kind of a spark between he and Ben. Nick knew that it wasn't something he was trying to convince himself of because when he returned to work for Jed and Ben had called him up to ask him out to dinner there was something in the air...something.
Nick looked over at Ben, sleeping peacefully. Maybe there are changes that they both faced over the past two years that is making him feel that something isn't right. Maybe Ben, once an admitted sex addict, wanted to change. He somehow seems a bit different. Still handsome. Still smart. Still...sexy in his own right. Probably not as sexy as Matt Galveston.
Nick blushed a bit. It was good to see Matt and surprising to hear that he decided to move his operations to Port Wayne in order to get away from the nearly brutal crawl of trying to run a business in New York and the shady plastic veneer of Hollywood. It was only a few months ago that they met at a film festival where Matt's new film was featured. During the Q&A after the film, Nick had stood up and asked a question about his subject matter and, later, Matt had caught up with him and asked him to join him for a coffee. They talked long into the night, sharing cultural opinions on film, music and art. They met up again for an interesting dinner where Nick discovered that Matt had come from an upper middle class family but made friends with inner city kids. This blend of suburban boredom and urban thrills mixed with growing angst had given Matt his artistic edge. Nick had become intrigued. They met again for a quick lunch when they both had news of their pending departures from New York: Matt to promote his film and Nick to go write for Blade. It was the last time they had seen one another. Up until the other night...and now they both have the opportunity to become friends.
Ben yawned and stretched. He rolled over and placed a hand on Nick's bare torso, which he began to rub.
"Good morning," Nick said.
"Yeah, morning. What time is it?"
"Uh...a couple of minutes after six."
"Mmmm, I could sleep in a little more or..." Ben moved closer to Nick, bringing their bodies together. "I could show you how I can get rid of this, um, problem."
Maybe some things haven't changed, Nick thought. He remembered that Ben always woke up with the same problem. Nick giggled.
This morning's jog was refreshing, Damien thought as he prepared to take a shower. There was something about the open road on quiet mornings that caused him to think more clearly. Nearly all of his best ideas came to him while he jogged on those free mornings when it was just him and the pavement.
Once he was under the spray of the cool water - which he would slowly heat up over the next few minutes - Damien thought of his dinner with Matt the night before and how they had gotten to know each other. Matt was one sharp guy, but he seemed to enjoy Damien's company. He takes no nonsense and is quite open with his opinion. Damien was nearly offended when Matt told him that he didn't seem like a snobbish and bratty rich kid. Actually, Damien had kind of found it a bit funny, as that was what he was...well, at one time in his life. Damien stood still for a moment. He felt as if he has to change. It seemed that something had snapped inside of him once he saw the raw expression of bliss on Jed's face when he offered Damien a job at his new magazine. Sure, as rich as Jed and his family is he could have easily just walked out, bought a magazine and probably would have been in circulation for years now. However, back in college Jed had stated that he wanted to gain experience and travel through the annals of magazine publishing and journalism before landing his dream of starting up a one-of-a-kind gay periodical. And that is exactly what he did, working first as a pup reporter for some small town rag back in Wisconsin and working himself up to editor-in-chief of Pride Magazine. It wasn't until the owner/publisher disagreed with the direction that Jed wanted to take his magazine that Jed felt that he'd gained enough experience through the years to obtain a fading bar rag and turn it into a major publication.
Damien had to admit, he admired that. And all he - Damien - had done for his entire life was to live off of the money his parent supplied him with until he got his trust fund which could have sent him into early retirement and a very comfortable life for him and his offspring for years to come, if he ever decided to jerk off into a cup and buy some un-maternal lesbian off. However, children were not in his future. Becoming friends with Jed had somehow stirred something inside of him, and seeing how...what...how Nick had somehow clawed his way from humble beginnings had somehow made Damien rethink his directorial undertaking. But, man, how that Nick thought so fucking highly of himself just like some poor misery-loving heroine of some daytime drama. Ick! It made Damien sick just to think of it. But, he and Nick have known each other a long time and Damien did - somewhere inside of him - want to bury the hatchet, and not just in Nick's forehead. Maybe Matt is the thing life is rewarding him with for trying to conform himself into what people think he should be.
Ah! Matt Galveston...just thinking of him made Damien the most excited he'd been in a very long time...
Jed was preparing to leave, looking through his cloth briefcase for the final details on the launch party and the re-check his schedule. Steve had come from upstairs and wrapped his arms around Jed.
"Busy day?" Steve asked.
"I'm launching a magazine here, everyday is a busy day. What have you got planned?"
"I'm going to look through some properties and I've got a couple of chefs to interview. I was thinking of taking your mother's advice and using your step-father help."
Jed froze. He took Steve's arms from around him, turned and placed his hands gently on Steve's shoulders. "Hey, babe, I love you but I want you to get one thing straight: that man has nothing close in relations to being any kind of a father-thing to me. He's the man that my mother chose to marry. To me, he's just Logan Marshall."
A shiver ran down Steve's back while he looked at the serious glance in Jed's eyes. "What's up with you two?"
"I've never liked Logan. There is something about him and I think he used my mother to gain a position in this town..."
"Certainly, owning some hotels and resorts I'm pretty sure he's made his name on his own."
"I can't prove it, but he used her somehow. He only owned two pieces of property when he started to court my mother."
"Jed, don't you think you're over-reacting?"
"No. I think my mother was lonely when my father was killed and I went away to school and took the first punk what walked in front of her. Its a decision she made that I have to respect."
Steve thought for a moment. He couldn't see anything particularly wrong with Logan, except there was a demonic air about him but Steve chalked it up to his freakishly handsome face. He decided right then and there to not interfere with Jed's family connections. "I'm sorry. Hey, did you notice that you said that you love me?"
Jed smiled. "Yeah, I did, didn't I?"
"I love you, too, Jed."
Jed took Steve's face into his hands and leaned down to kiss him.
Ben had to leave the office to meet with the contractor to one of his job over lunch. They met at Parkside Cafe across the street from the Center City Park. Ben felt as if things in his life were pretty good. He and Nick seem to be on a good course, his business was doing really well and several meetings with SAA seemed to have him feeling pretty good about his life.
When the contractor left, Ben decided to stay and have another cup of coffee to reflect on how satisfying his life was turning out to be. He somehow knew that Nick was right for him long ago and could kick himself in the ass for being such a prick. And then there was Joey, sweet kid that he is, Ben somehow felt that Joey was not mature enough to handle such a commitment with him. Especially such a commitment from a recovering sex addict. When Ben and Joey dated, Ben found himself suppressing his sorrow over loosing Nick and reverting back to his old ways of having sex with nearly any guy he could come in contact with...and a couple of girls in the process. No, it would have been too much for Joey to handle.
When he heard that Nick was returning to Port Wayne, Ben cautiously thought about a reunion, albeit one where he could possibly turn things around. That's when he decided to call up a local chapter of Sex Addicts Anonymous.
After the coffee, Ben walked across the street to the park. One of the things he contributed to keep him libido at bay was to take a walk. He strolled through the park while he thought, once again, of the direction his life was taking him. Then he noticed someone taking photographs of a hunky guy with black hair dressed in a loose pair of jeans and a tight wife beater. As Ben got closer he discovered the photographer was Joey. There was a tingle in the pit of his stomach and he froze for a moment. The model looked up at him which caused Joey to take his attentions off of his camera and look towards the direction of his model's eyes.
"Ben! Hey, how's it going?"
"Fine, Joey. Everything is fine."
"Take five, Jon." Joey said to the model.
The model looked familiar to Ben. He was a model so, of course, there would be a fair amount of familiarity. Joey walked over to Ben.
"I thought you'd be working at the magazine at this time of day," Ben said.
"I am allowed some work hours to take pictures. Besides, this is a little work. A favor for a friend of a friend."
Ben and Joey stood looking into each other's eyes. There was a slight tension between them. Ben wanted to say something but he couldn't think of anything. Luckily he saw the model approach them out the corner of his eye. It was a good excuse to force himself to look away.
Joey, too, could not hold the stare. He noticed his model coming up to them. "Ben this is Jon."
Ben and Jon shook hands.
"I should be going," Ben said. "Um, I guess I will see you later. Nice meeting you Jon."
"Yeah, man, likewise."
Ben walked away from Joey and Jon and felt his body become warm. His knees where somewhat weak and his heart began to race. He pulled out his cellphone and dialed a number.
"Hello?" he heard Nick say.
"You working from home today?"
"Of course. Where are you?"
"On my way to your place. And I'd really like it if you're naked when I arrive..."
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Episode 005 - Season One
Steve smiled after he answered his cellphone. It was Jed.
"Hey, are we still on for tonight?" Jed asked.
"We sure are!"
"Okay, I'm about to drop something on you; it was supposed to be a surprise but I'd rather not corner you with such a big step."
"What are you talking about?"
"Would you like to meet my mother and her husband?"
Steve thought it strange that instead of Jed asking him to meet his parents, he worded the question as meeting his mother and her husband. But who is he to judge the chocie of words his boyfriend is using? Besides, it's kind of exciting...no one ever asked him to meet the parents before. "Yes, I would like to meet your parents."
"Okay. I will pick you up at six-thirty."
Nick walked into Jed's office just as he hung up.
"There's that goofy grin again," Nick said. "I take it that you just finished talking to Steve?"
"Yeah, and, guess what? I'm taking him to meet my mother over dinner tonight."
"Oh, wow, that's is...wow...you know I think Helene is going to love him."
"You don't even know him yourself."
"And who's fault is that?"
"Why don't we all get together for drinks sometime next week?"
"Now you're talking."
"Okay, what can I do for you, Nick?"
"Uh...you know, I forgot why I came to the loft..."
"Talk about goofy."
Damien sat in his cubicle, working on his own fact checking concerning a movie star's sudden leave of abscene from 'the scene' and found that he could not stop thinking of Matt Galveston. Matt was nice enough to give him his phone number when they had a drink, and Damien had been somewhat smitten since then. He hates to admit it, but maybe Ben was right: maybe he did need a little romance in his life. After all, he was trying to change wasn't he? And if he called Matt he could always use the excuse that he wanted to do an interview with him.
Damien picked up the phone and dialed Matt's number.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Matt, this is Damien."
"Who?"
"Damien Chastain, we met the night before at Nexus."
"Oh, yeah, the entertainment guy. How's it going?"
"I'm doing fine. I wanted to know if maybe you'd be interested in having dinner some night. I mean, being new to Port Wayne, I figured you could probably use a guide."
"Hey, not a bad idea. Sure, why not?"
"How about tonight?"
"Sorry, tonight won't work. I'm busy with my new project."
Damien didn't want to sound desparate, but, damn, Matt does something to him.
"How about tomorrow night?" Matt asked him.
"Okay, that will work. How about Caverns?"
"Uh, no can do...too rich for my blood."
"My treat. I know how you documentary filmmakers live on a tight budget."
Matt gigled. "Turn down a free meal? Me, a documentary filmmaker? Never!"
Damien giggled. Then he thought that he couldn't remember the last time he felt so...giddy.
Steve was a bit nervous about meeting Jed's parents. He composed himself by imagining that it was no big deal and that he and Jed had been together for years and it was just another night with the in-laws. They pulled up to the mansion that sat on the outskirts of town and got out of the car. Steve fumbled with himself and Jed assured him that he looked fine. Jed rang the doorbell and when the door opened, a tall, demonically handsome man answered.
"Jed, its good to see you!" the man said.
Jed was non-chalant, almost vacant."Hello, Logan. This is Steve. Steve, this is my mother's husband Logan Marshall."
"Logan Marshall? Of Chilton Estates?"
"The one and the same. Its very nice to meet you, Steve." Logan said, then eyed him suspiciously.
Jed and Steve stepped into the entrance hall.
"Jed!"
Everyone turned around to see a small and elegant woman with a slight southern accent walk into the entry way..
"Mother!" Jed said and took the woman into his arms. "Its so good to see you."
"You too, my son! And who is this?"
"Mother, I would like you to meet my boyfriend, Steve Lassiter. Steve, this is my mother Helene Langton-Marshall."
Steve nervously shook Helene's hand. "Nice to meet you Mrs. Langton-Marshall."
"It's very nice to meet you, Steve. And, please, call me Helene. Come, welcome to my home..."
The thing about trying to come up with a new project when one has a bit of writer's block is that there are a thousand things to write about, but one can never quite get in tune with a starting point. Even using the tried and true exercise of writing about his surroundings sort of drove Nick nearly out of his mind. He sat inside of a coffee shop, the power in his laptop draining while he sat staring at the screen and thought about maybe searching the internet for anything. He was about to give up but thought that maybe he should give it another try. He got up from the table and went to order another coffee.
Walking up to the cashier he looked around at the patrons. His eyes landed on someone who's face was cast downward, his mind seemed focused on the notebook he was writing in. He looked familiar. Wait a minute!!! Nick walked up to the table the guy was working at.
"Matthew Galveston?"
The guy looked up. "Nick? Nick Fuller...aw shit!!"
Matt sprung up from the table and threw his arms around Nick, bring him into a deep bear hug.
"What in the hell are you doing in Port Wayne?" Nick asked.
"Uh...what are you doing here? I heard that you went to write for some magazine."
"Yes, here, for my friend Jed Langton."
"Oh, that's right. I do remember you speaking of Jed Langton. Hey, why don't you join me and we can catch up?"
"Okay. Just let me order another coffee and grab my computer..."
Jed, Steve, Helene and Logan were sitting in the study conversing over pre-dinner cocktails. The atmosphere was light and friendly. Logan appeared to be charmed, Jed thought, but why wouldn't he be? Steve is a beautiful piece of work.
"Would anyone like a refresher?" Logan asked.
"Yes, I would," Jed said. Logan walked over to the bar.
"You have a very beautiful home, Helene," Steve said.
"Thank you dear. How long have you lived in Port Wayne?"
"Only a few months. I came here from Rome."
"Yeah," Jed pitched in. "Steve is going to open up a new restaurant."
"Have you found a location yet?" Logan asked, handing Jed his scotch on the rocks.
"I have a few locations I'm looking at."
"You should allow Logan to help you," Helene said. "he not only has a talent for location but a very nice network of friends. You two talk about it. Jed, can I see you in private for a moment?"
"Sure, mother."
Jed and Helene walked into the ajoining library.
"What is it, mother?"
"Well, you know Theodora Raines?"
"Of course. What's up with her?"
"Well, she asked if I new of a private investigator. I told her that I didn't but I knew that you could provide some information."
"Okay, that should be no problem. I will just call her up and suggest someone."
"Why don't you give the information to me, dear, I mean, she might be a tad embarrassed."
A puzzled look crossed Jed's face for a second. "Sure, mother..."
"So, Steve, how long did you live in Rome?" Logan asked.
"Oh, since I was about eightteen."
"Rome is a truly beautiful city. I've been once or twice myself."
"Oh, really?'
Just then, Jed and Helene returned to the study.
"I do apologize for the interruption," Helene said. "And I think dinner is just about ready..."
"Hey, are we still on for tonight?" Jed asked.
"We sure are!"
"Okay, I'm about to drop something on you; it was supposed to be a surprise but I'd rather not corner you with such a big step."
"What are you talking about?"
"Would you like to meet my mother and her husband?"
Steve thought it strange that instead of Jed asking him to meet his parents, he worded the question as meeting his mother and her husband. But who is he to judge the chocie of words his boyfriend is using? Besides, it's kind of exciting...no one ever asked him to meet the parents before. "Yes, I would like to meet your parents."
"Okay. I will pick you up at six-thirty."
Nick walked into Jed's office just as he hung up.
"There's that goofy grin again," Nick said. "I take it that you just finished talking to Steve?"
"Yeah, and, guess what? I'm taking him to meet my mother over dinner tonight."
"Oh, wow, that's is...wow...you know I think Helene is going to love him."
"You don't even know him yourself."
"And who's fault is that?"
"Why don't we all get together for drinks sometime next week?"
"Now you're talking."
"Okay, what can I do for you, Nick?"
"Uh...you know, I forgot why I came to the loft..."
"Talk about goofy."
Damien sat in his cubicle, working on his own fact checking concerning a movie star's sudden leave of abscene from 'the scene' and found that he could not stop thinking of Matt Galveston. Matt was nice enough to give him his phone number when they had a drink, and Damien had been somewhat smitten since then. He hates to admit it, but maybe Ben was right: maybe he did need a little romance in his life. After all, he was trying to change wasn't he? And if he called Matt he could always use the excuse that he wanted to do an interview with him.
Damien picked up the phone and dialed Matt's number.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Matt, this is Damien."
"Who?"
"Damien Chastain, we met the night before at Nexus."
"Oh, yeah, the entertainment guy. How's it going?"
"I'm doing fine. I wanted to know if maybe you'd be interested in having dinner some night. I mean, being new to Port Wayne, I figured you could probably use a guide."
"Hey, not a bad idea. Sure, why not?"
"How about tonight?"
"Sorry, tonight won't work. I'm busy with my new project."
Damien didn't want to sound desparate, but, damn, Matt does something to him.
"How about tomorrow night?" Matt asked him.
"Okay, that will work. How about Caverns?"
"Uh, no can do...too rich for my blood."
"My treat. I know how you documentary filmmakers live on a tight budget."
Matt gigled. "Turn down a free meal? Me, a documentary filmmaker? Never!"
Damien giggled. Then he thought that he couldn't remember the last time he felt so...giddy.
Steve was a bit nervous about meeting Jed's parents. He composed himself by imagining that it was no big deal and that he and Jed had been together for years and it was just another night with the in-laws. They pulled up to the mansion that sat on the outskirts of town and got out of the car. Steve fumbled with himself and Jed assured him that he looked fine. Jed rang the doorbell and when the door opened, a tall, demonically handsome man answered.
"Jed, its good to see you!" the man said.
Jed was non-chalant, almost vacant."Hello, Logan. This is Steve. Steve, this is my mother's husband Logan Marshall."
"Logan Marshall? Of Chilton Estates?"
"The one and the same. Its very nice to meet you, Steve." Logan said, then eyed him suspiciously.
Jed and Steve stepped into the entrance hall.
"Jed!"
Everyone turned around to see a small and elegant woman with a slight southern accent walk into the entry way..
"Mother!" Jed said and took the woman into his arms. "Its so good to see you."
"You too, my son! And who is this?"
"Mother, I would like you to meet my boyfriend, Steve Lassiter. Steve, this is my mother Helene Langton-Marshall."
Steve nervously shook Helene's hand. "Nice to meet you Mrs. Langton-Marshall."
"It's very nice to meet you, Steve. And, please, call me Helene. Come, welcome to my home..."
The thing about trying to come up with a new project when one has a bit of writer's block is that there are a thousand things to write about, but one can never quite get in tune with a starting point. Even using the tried and true exercise of writing about his surroundings sort of drove Nick nearly out of his mind. He sat inside of a coffee shop, the power in his laptop draining while he sat staring at the screen and thought about maybe searching the internet for anything. He was about to give up but thought that maybe he should give it another try. He got up from the table and went to order another coffee.
Walking up to the cashier he looked around at the patrons. His eyes landed on someone who's face was cast downward, his mind seemed focused on the notebook he was writing in. He looked familiar. Wait a minute!!! Nick walked up to the table the guy was working at.
"Matthew Galveston?"
The guy looked up. "Nick? Nick Fuller...aw shit!!"
Matt sprung up from the table and threw his arms around Nick, bring him into a deep bear hug.
"What in the hell are you doing in Port Wayne?" Nick asked.
"Uh...what are you doing here? I heard that you went to write for some magazine."
"Yes, here, for my friend Jed Langton."
"Oh, that's right. I do remember you speaking of Jed Langton. Hey, why don't you join me and we can catch up?"
"Okay. Just let me order another coffee and grab my computer..."
Jed, Steve, Helene and Logan were sitting in the study conversing over pre-dinner cocktails. The atmosphere was light and friendly. Logan appeared to be charmed, Jed thought, but why wouldn't he be? Steve is a beautiful piece of work.
"Would anyone like a refresher?" Logan asked.
"Yes, I would," Jed said. Logan walked over to the bar.
"You have a very beautiful home, Helene," Steve said.
"Thank you dear. How long have you lived in Port Wayne?"
"Only a few months. I came here from Rome."
"Yeah," Jed pitched in. "Steve is going to open up a new restaurant."
"Have you found a location yet?" Logan asked, handing Jed his scotch on the rocks.
"I have a few locations I'm looking at."
"You should allow Logan to help you," Helene said. "he not only has a talent for location but a very nice network of friends. You two talk about it. Jed, can I see you in private for a moment?"
"Sure, mother."
Jed and Helene walked into the ajoining library.
"What is it, mother?"
"Well, you know Theodora Raines?"
"Of course. What's up with her?"
"Well, she asked if I new of a private investigator. I told her that I didn't but I knew that you could provide some information."
"Okay, that should be no problem. I will just call her up and suggest someone."
"Why don't you give the information to me, dear, I mean, she might be a tad embarrassed."
A puzzled look crossed Jed's face for a second. "Sure, mother..."
"So, Steve, how long did you live in Rome?" Logan asked.
"Oh, since I was about eightteen."
"Rome is a truly beautiful city. I've been once or twice myself."
"Oh, really?'
Just then, Jed and Helene returned to the study.
"I do apologize for the interruption," Helene said. "And I think dinner is just about ready..."
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Episode 004, Season One
Ben sat in his office looking out of the window at the Port Wayne skyline. He couldn't concentrate on work, as his mind was flipping back and forth between Nick and Joey. Nick whom Ben felt he still loved and actually thought the idea of them getting back together is the ideal thing to do. He didn't know if he'd gotten over Nick or not. Leave it to Damien to stir things and throw Joey into the mix. Poor guy. Maybe he should warn Joey about Damien. Ben moved to pick up his phone, but quickly sat back at ease. It was none of his business what Joey was doing or thinking or anything. Maybe Joey was over Ben. He had no idea what Joey had done or where he had gone, all he did know was that when he told Joey to go the poor kid left.
Ben didn't mean to hurt him, but he would have eventually...just as he'd hurt almost everyone he became involved with. Ben knew that he thought with the head of his dick instead of the emotions in his heart and it was something that he couldn't control. Man, there were times that he wanted to, but he couldn't. Does he really want to? Yeah, for the sake of he and Nick getting back together. As a matter of fact, Nick didn't seem to want to talk about his past with Joey at all the other night. Maybe he has moved on; maybe he has changed more than Ben is willing to admit.
Fucking Damien, Ben thought. Joey's back, and, for the first time, Ben felt a little quake in his heart as well as his crotch.
* * *
"What's up with you? I haven't seen you this happy since we were back at school," Nick said, looking across the table at Jed. "Have you been getting laid?"
They were having a late lunch on the patio at Caverns.
Jed almost burst out laughing. "What the fuck, man? I got my magazine and my two best friends are backing me up with this. Can't I be happy?"
"This is something else, Jed. You can't fool me. I mean, I remember...wait a minute! You haven't smiled like this since you met Ken Darger back in college! You have a crush on someone!"
"Keep your voice down."
"Why? Tell me, who is it?"
Jed found that he couldn't help but to smile. "Yes, I've been seeing someone. His name is Steve Lassister and he just moved to Port Wayne from Italy. He's opening up a restaurant and he's the most beautiful man I've..." Jed stopped talking as he thought of Steve.
Nick looked at Jed from across the table. He grabbed his glass of ice water and raised it for a toast. "To you, Jediah Marcus Langton, happily in-crushed and in lust for the first time in, shit, how old are we?"
Jed laughed as he raised his glass and clinked it to Nick's. "Old enough, I guess."
"You look really good, Jed! Goofy, but good. "
"Thanks. I wish I can say the same for you."
"What do you mean?"
"You and Ben? Again? And you don't look one iota as happy as you were when you and he were together."
"We're just taking our time, that's all."
"In case he decides to fuck half of the population of the Northwest District?"
"Don't you mean the other half? Did you know that he and Joey used to, um, go out?"
"You mean my new mailroom guy? That Joey? Fuck, no!"
"Yeah, and I will give you one guess as to who set up the revealing situation."
"Damien. So what does all of this mean?"
"I don't know. It's just weird that Ben went for such a young kid like Joey."
"Maybe there was a real attraction there."
"Yeah, maybe there was..."
"Are you jealous?"
"No, not really. To be honest, I met someone when I was in New York and we sort of had a mild flirtation."
"The filmmaker you wrote me about?"
"Yeah."
"Do you keep in touch with him?"
"Nope. He had to go off to promote his latest movie and I was on the tail end of promoting my book and about to get your offer."
"Look, let's finish up here. I would like to take Steve out to dinner later on I have to review the plans for the launch party..."
* * *
Just as Nick was saying goodbye to Jed outside of the door leading to the loft, Joey walked out of the doors. Jed greeted him before dashing up the stairs.
"Hey Nick," he said.
"How's it going, Joey?"
"Okay. Uh..."
"Yeah, I know. It was pretty uncomfortable the other night."
"Yeah."
"How long have you known Damien?"
"Since I met Ben, about two years ago."
"Listen, Joey, let's just take one step at a time and move forward. I'd like to be your friend."
Joey smiled. "Me too!"
"Good. Where are you headed?"
"I'm going home. I have a roll of film I want to develop."
"You know, I would like to see some of your work."
"Really?"
"Yes. If you don't mind, that is."
"I don't mind at all!"
* * *
Damien entered Nexus with the same thing running through his thoughts that have kept his mind occupied for most of the day: Ben's scratchy words about meddling. Fuck Ben, he thought as he ordered a drink and took a seat on the stool. But how true could Ben's words be? He usually found someone that would catch his attention, and he would usually loose him to someone else. Why? Damien suddenly asked himself. And why am I letting this bother me?
Damien tried to think of all the relationships he'd had in his life. Of all, well, of the few of them which ones did he know he could actually settle down with? There was Denny Parker back in school, but didn't he turn out to be 'just experimenting' and ran off with some psych major? There was Justin Osborne, but didn't he end up confessing his love for Jed? Okay, what about Harry Gillis when he was writing obits for that rag of a paper? There was promise there...that is until Damien found out that Harry only wanted him because he came from a rich family. Didn't he run off and become a porn star?
Damien didn't need a relationship. He was fine all on his own. When the bartender set down his drink, Damien took a sip. A guy had just walked in and sat a couple of stools down from him. Damien did a double-take. The guy was handsome, masculine and looked almost familiar.
The guy looked over and it was then that Damien knew that he was staring.
"Hey," the guy said.
"Hi," Damien said.
"Can I help you with something?"
"Forgive me for saying, but you're absolutely beautiful."
The guy smiled. "Thank you."
"You look familiar."
The guy held out his hand. "Matt Galveston."
"Oh, shit, of course! I should have recognized you. I'm a big fan."
"Thank you. And you are?"
"Damien Chastain."
"Okay, I think I've heard of you...from somewhere."
Damien seemed to be offended for a second. But he left it alone. "Can I buy you a drink?"
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Episode 003 - Season One
"You two know each other?" Ben asked Nick.
"Yes. Jed just hired Joey to work in the mailroom between photo assignments."
Joey looked at Ben, his eyes a bit starry. "Yeah. Damien got me the job."
Ben looked at Damien - an expression of contempt on his face.
"And how do you guys know each other?" Nick asked.
"Ben and Joey used to date," Damien offered.
"I see,"
"Well, Nick, we should get going. I don't want to be late for our reservations." Ben said, trying hard not to look over at Joey and keeping his anger for Damien at bay.
Nick and Ben got out of the booth they were sitting in. Everyone said goodbye quickly, trying to get out of what had come to be an uncomfortable scenario.
"I wonder," Joey said, looking at Nick and Ben as they left Nexus. "how does Ben know Nick Fuller?"
A slight smile crossed Damien's face. "They used to be boyfriends. That is, until Nick moved to New York about two years ago."
"You mean, Nick is the boyfriend Ben was speaking of when we met?"
* * *
Instead of driving or taking a cab, Jed decided to walk Steve back to his apartment, which was only a few blocks from the restaurant where they just finished having dinner. The night air was warm and the streets weren't crowded as usual.
"So why did you choose Port Wayne to settled down and open a restaurant?" Jed asked.
"I had heard about the Northwest District. More classy than West Hollywood, historic like the Castro, homey yet charming like Capitol Hill with a delicate urban sensibility much like Greenwich Village. It sounded like the perfect place."
"Italy will suffer a major loss."
Steve smiled. There was a tingle in the pit of his stomach. He couldn't believe that Jed Langton - the most eligible gay man in the country - held an interest for him. "This is my place."
"Nice. You rent or own?"
"I just bought it. Would you like to come upstairs for a nightcap?"
"I would love to, but I have an early and long day tomorrow. How about a raincheck for tomorrow night?"
"Sounds good to me."
They both stood looking at each other. Slowly, Jed leaned in to kiss Steve. He felt his heart begin to pound hard in his chest. He thought that maybe Steve could hear his heartbeat, but he didn't care as he pulled Steve closer to him and took him into his arms. When they finished with the kiss - a new hunger stirring inside of them - both Jed and Steve smiled.
"I guess this is good night," Steve said, knowing that he did not want the night to end.
Jed seemed out of breath. "Yeah, I guess this is..."
* * *
As they said good night to each other, both Nick and Ben felt a bit awkward. Nick walked into his apartment and found that he held no jealousy toward Joey. He guessed it would have been a bit petty to hold such a dangerous position. After all, he and Ben did break up after Nick caught Ben having sex with Damien and Nick did move to New York to say farewell to a life he had felt somewhat confused about. Dealing with Ben's sex addiction was hard enough, but throw in the fact that his boyfriend fucked his nemesis and Nick found that he could not take anymore of Ben and he certainly had had his fill with Damien. So, Joey posed no threat to Nick even with he and Ben trying to work things out. The only thing that did bother him was that Joey was so not Ben's type at all...
* * *
Damien's phone rang just as he sat at his desk.
"Hello?"
"You want to know the one thing that is not only shitty about your life but as sad as well?" Ben asked.
Damien sighed. "Go ahead tough guy, give it to me."
"You drag an innocent kid like Joey into one of your dramas while pretending to be his friend. Damien, why don't you at least pretend to like yourself so that you can find a relationship of your own and stop fucking with everyone else's."
Before Damien could say anything, Ben hung up.
* * *
As Jed took the time to train him, Joey found that he could not stop thinking of Ben. And just think that the ex-boyfriend Ben talked about on that first night was Joey's favorite writer. Well, as far as the novel went, Joey hadn't read Nick's previous work. Joey wondered if the novel was based on Nick and Ben and who would have been that nasty other guy in the book? Yeah, two and a half years ago Joey had wandered into a bar and found Ben drowning his sorrows. Joey siddled up next to Ben and just started to talk. Joey didn't mind the handsome somewhat older guy talking about his ex-boyfriend. What Joey found exciting was that Ben was sensitive enough to know what he did wrong and actually felt the pain of hurting someone. Joey took a drunk Ben home that night to his bachelor apartment. Ben fucked him but didn't seem to remember it the next morning. When Ben came around later that evening to apologize, Joey found himself falling in love. And he knew that Ben felt something for him also. they lasted a year and a half until Ben discovered that he had not dealt with loosing Nick and, instead, tried to run away from it.
When they broke up, Joey took off to Los Angeles to find photography work. And he did find work taking pictures of naked guys for porn magazines. It was pretty steady work, but he did not want nudes to become his forte. After his roommate, a porn star, was making decisions to leave the industry, Joey decided to rerturn to Port Wayne in hopes that he would one day run into Ben so that he could move on.
However, Joey found that he was still in love with Ben.
"Yes. Jed just hired Joey to work in the mailroom between photo assignments."
Joey looked at Ben, his eyes a bit starry. "Yeah. Damien got me the job."
Ben looked at Damien - an expression of contempt on his face.
"And how do you guys know each other?" Nick asked.
"Ben and Joey used to date," Damien offered.
"I see,"
"Well, Nick, we should get going. I don't want to be late for our reservations." Ben said, trying hard not to look over at Joey and keeping his anger for Damien at bay.
Nick and Ben got out of the booth they were sitting in. Everyone said goodbye quickly, trying to get out of what had come to be an uncomfortable scenario.
"I wonder," Joey said, looking at Nick and Ben as they left Nexus. "how does Ben know Nick Fuller?"
A slight smile crossed Damien's face. "They used to be boyfriends. That is, until Nick moved to New York about two years ago."
"You mean, Nick is the boyfriend Ben was speaking of when we met?"
* * *
Instead of driving or taking a cab, Jed decided to walk Steve back to his apartment, which was only a few blocks from the restaurant where they just finished having dinner. The night air was warm and the streets weren't crowded as usual.
"So why did you choose Port Wayne to settled down and open a restaurant?" Jed asked.
"I had heard about the Northwest District. More classy than West Hollywood, historic like the Castro, homey yet charming like Capitol Hill with a delicate urban sensibility much like Greenwich Village. It sounded like the perfect place."
"Italy will suffer a major loss."
Steve smiled. There was a tingle in the pit of his stomach. He couldn't believe that Jed Langton - the most eligible gay man in the country - held an interest for him. "This is my place."
"Nice. You rent or own?"
"I just bought it. Would you like to come upstairs for a nightcap?"
"I would love to, but I have an early and long day tomorrow. How about a raincheck for tomorrow night?"
"Sounds good to me."
They both stood looking at each other. Slowly, Jed leaned in to kiss Steve. He felt his heart begin to pound hard in his chest. He thought that maybe Steve could hear his heartbeat, but he didn't care as he pulled Steve closer to him and took him into his arms. When they finished with the kiss - a new hunger stirring inside of them - both Jed and Steve smiled.
"I guess this is good night," Steve said, knowing that he did not want the night to end.
Jed seemed out of breath. "Yeah, I guess this is..."
* * *
As they said good night to each other, both Nick and Ben felt a bit awkward. Nick walked into his apartment and found that he held no jealousy toward Joey. He guessed it would have been a bit petty to hold such a dangerous position. After all, he and Ben did break up after Nick caught Ben having sex with Damien and Nick did move to New York to say farewell to a life he had felt somewhat confused about. Dealing with Ben's sex addiction was hard enough, but throw in the fact that his boyfriend fucked his nemesis and Nick found that he could not take anymore of Ben and he certainly had had his fill with Damien. So, Joey posed no threat to Nick even with he and Ben trying to work things out. The only thing that did bother him was that Joey was so not Ben's type at all...
* * *
Damien's phone rang just as he sat at his desk.
"Hello?"
"You want to know the one thing that is not only shitty about your life but as sad as well?" Ben asked.
Damien sighed. "Go ahead tough guy, give it to me."
"You drag an innocent kid like Joey into one of your dramas while pretending to be his friend. Damien, why don't you at least pretend to like yourself so that you can find a relationship of your own and stop fucking with everyone else's."
Before Damien could say anything, Ben hung up.
* * *
As Jed took the time to train him, Joey found that he could not stop thinking of Ben. And just think that the ex-boyfriend Ben talked about on that first night was Joey's favorite writer. Well, as far as the novel went, Joey hadn't read Nick's previous work. Joey wondered if the novel was based on Nick and Ben and who would have been that nasty other guy in the book? Yeah, two and a half years ago Joey had wandered into a bar and found Ben drowning his sorrows. Joey siddled up next to Ben and just started to talk. Joey didn't mind the handsome somewhat older guy talking about his ex-boyfriend. What Joey found exciting was that Ben was sensitive enough to know what he did wrong and actually felt the pain of hurting someone. Joey took a drunk Ben home that night to his bachelor apartment. Ben fucked him but didn't seem to remember it the next morning. When Ben came around later that evening to apologize, Joey found himself falling in love. And he knew that Ben felt something for him also. they lasted a year and a half until Ben discovered that he had not dealt with loosing Nick and, instead, tried to run away from it.
When they broke up, Joey took off to Los Angeles to find photography work. And he did find work taking pictures of naked guys for porn magazines. It was pretty steady work, but he did not want nudes to become his forte. After his roommate, a porn star, was making decisions to leave the industry, Joey decided to rerturn to Port Wayne in hopes that he would one day run into Ben so that he could move on.
However, Joey found that he was still in love with Ben.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Episode 002 - Season One
Joey sat nervously inside of Jed's office as Jed slowly looked through his portfolio. Once he noticed that Jed was finished, Joey nearly jumped out of his seat. Jed looked over at Joey with a business-like expression.
"You have talent," Jed said. "But I'm worried about how much experience you have."
"Oh, um, I know that my work in porn doesn't really make me qualified, but I would really like to get more experience in print work."
"Okay, I will make you an offer: I need someone to work in my mailroom and if you take the position I can promise you will receive more interesting assignments."
"Oh, um, okay. That sounds like a deal."
Jed stood up and reach out to shake Joey's hand. "Welcome to Blade Magazine, Joey."
"Thank you, Mr. Langton."
"And you can call me Jed. Come, let me show you around."
They walked out of Jed's office. "Here you will find the staff's desks and over there is the conference room..."
Jed noticed Nick walking in their direction. "Hey, Nick. What are you doing here? I thought you worked better outside of an office atmosphere."
"You were the one who dared to give me a desk." Nick said.
Jed smiled. "I just thought a bit of professionalism should be in the works. Nick, I'd like you to meet Joey Dials. Joey will be working in the mailroom as well as taking photography assignments from time to time. Nick has been assigned as a columnist here."
Nick and Joey shook hands.
"Welcome, Joey."
"Thanks. I'm a fan of your work. Your first novel was great."
"Thank you. I came in to get something off my desk, so I should be going. It was nice to meet you, Joey."
Jed called after Nick: "Don't forget about the meeting in the morning."
Nick continued to his desk. Just as he sat down, his cellphone rang.
"Hello."
"Hey there!"
"Ben, what's going on?"
"I was wondering if you wanted to have a drink later on?"
Nick felt a familiar tingle in his chest somewhere. "Sure. How about Nexus about five-thrity?"
"Sounds good. I will see you then."
Nick turned off his phone and started to look through his desk for the research notes he left the other day.
"Hey, Nick."
Nick turned around to see Damien standing by his desk."
"Damien. Sneaking around again?"
"When are you going to stop being suspicious of me?"
"What do you want, Damien?"
"Just trying to be nice."
* * *
After Jed finished showing Joey around, he returned to his office where he sat down and dialed Steve's phone number. When Steve answered, Jed felt himself smiling. "Hello, handsome."
"Jed. Hey, how're you doing?"
"Better now. How's your day going?"
"Pretty good. And your's?"
"How about I tell you tonight during dinner?"
"I have an appointment at five, but it shouldn't run over twenty minutes. Where shall we meet?"
Jed wondered if the fluttery feeling in the pit of his stomach was butterflies...
* * *
Joey called Damien when he left the loft to tell him about Jed's offer.
"Joey, that's great news!! We've got to celebrate! How about Nexus, say, um, at six? My treat!"
"Thank you, Damien. I owe you one for this!"
"I told you, your life is about to get more interesting..."
* * *
Later on that afternoon, Nick and Ben met each other inside of Nexus. The bar was somewhat crowded with happy hour attendees drinking and bitching about their jobs. Nick walked to the bar to order drinks as Ben searched for a table for them to sit and chat. He found a booth near the back. He sat down and watched Nick. He felt something. He didn't know exactly what it was, but it made him excited. For awhile back, he had tried not to miss Nick after what happened and Nick left Port Wayne for New York. However, he found that he had to think about him in order to move on. Yet, Ben asked himself if he had really moved on. He looked up just as Nick walked up with their drinks and sat on the other side to face him.
"Thanks," Ben said.
"So, what's the reason for the sudden need to have drinks?"
"Just to see you again."
Nick smiled. "I should have left for New York long ago if I knew that it would bring this much attention my way."
"Stop being sarcastic. I am happy that you're back."
"Thanks. It's good to be back. I heard that you've been working hard at building your business up."
"Yeah, I took a number of risky deals that actually became quite the reputation builder."
"Good for you. You're a great architect, Ben. I've always thought that."
"Yeah, you were my biggest supporter."
"That's because I really believed in you."
Ben looked at Nick. Old feelings - or new ones? - had started to stir inside of him. "How about we work on giving ourselves another chance?" As soon as the question came out of him, he wished he could have taken it back to ask at a later time.
"Give us another try?"
"Yeah. I mean, why wouldn't we?"
"I guess we can leave things in the past. I'm not sure, exactly, Ben. I tell you what: let's just take things slow and see which direction we take ourselves in."
"I'd like that!" Ben said, moving his hand over to take hold of Nick's. Just then he looked up. It seemed as if the color drained from his face. "Damien..."
"Hi Ben. Hello Nick."
"Damien, hey. Oh, hi Joey."
"Hi Nick. Hey, Ben..."
Ben could barely get his words out. "Hi Joey..."
"You have talent," Jed said. "But I'm worried about how much experience you have."
"Oh, um, I know that my work in porn doesn't really make me qualified, but I would really like to get more experience in print work."
"Okay, I will make you an offer: I need someone to work in my mailroom and if you take the position I can promise you will receive more interesting assignments."
"Oh, um, okay. That sounds like a deal."
Jed stood up and reach out to shake Joey's hand. "Welcome to Blade Magazine, Joey."
"Thank you, Mr. Langton."
"And you can call me Jed. Come, let me show you around."
They walked out of Jed's office. "Here you will find the staff's desks and over there is the conference room..."
Jed noticed Nick walking in their direction. "Hey, Nick. What are you doing here? I thought you worked better outside of an office atmosphere."
"You were the one who dared to give me a desk." Nick said.
Jed smiled. "I just thought a bit of professionalism should be in the works. Nick, I'd like you to meet Joey Dials. Joey will be working in the mailroom as well as taking photography assignments from time to time. Nick has been assigned as a columnist here."
Nick and Joey shook hands.
"Welcome, Joey."
"Thanks. I'm a fan of your work. Your first novel was great."
"Thank you. I came in to get something off my desk, so I should be going. It was nice to meet you, Joey."
Jed called after Nick: "Don't forget about the meeting in the morning."
Nick continued to his desk. Just as he sat down, his cellphone rang.
"Hello."
"Hey there!"
"Ben, what's going on?"
"I was wondering if you wanted to have a drink later on?"
Nick felt a familiar tingle in his chest somewhere. "Sure. How about Nexus about five-thrity?"
"Sounds good. I will see you then."
Nick turned off his phone and started to look through his desk for the research notes he left the other day.
"Hey, Nick."
Nick turned around to see Damien standing by his desk."
"Damien. Sneaking around again?"
"When are you going to stop being suspicious of me?"
"What do you want, Damien?"
"Just trying to be nice."
* * *
After Jed finished showing Joey around, he returned to his office where he sat down and dialed Steve's phone number. When Steve answered, Jed felt himself smiling. "Hello, handsome."
"Jed. Hey, how're you doing?"
"Better now. How's your day going?"
"Pretty good. And your's?"
"How about I tell you tonight during dinner?"
"I have an appointment at five, but it shouldn't run over twenty minutes. Where shall we meet?"
Jed wondered if the fluttery feeling in the pit of his stomach was butterflies...
* * *
Joey called Damien when he left the loft to tell him about Jed's offer.
"Joey, that's great news!! We've got to celebrate! How about Nexus, say, um, at six? My treat!"
"Thank you, Damien. I owe you one for this!"
"I told you, your life is about to get more interesting..."
* * *
Later on that afternoon, Nick and Ben met each other inside of Nexus. The bar was somewhat crowded with happy hour attendees drinking and bitching about their jobs. Nick walked to the bar to order drinks as Ben searched for a table for them to sit and chat. He found a booth near the back. He sat down and watched Nick. He felt something. He didn't know exactly what it was, but it made him excited. For awhile back, he had tried not to miss Nick after what happened and Nick left Port Wayne for New York. However, he found that he had to think about him in order to move on. Yet, Ben asked himself if he had really moved on. He looked up just as Nick walked up with their drinks and sat on the other side to face him.
"Thanks," Ben said.
"So, what's the reason for the sudden need to have drinks?"
"Just to see you again."
Nick smiled. "I should have left for New York long ago if I knew that it would bring this much attention my way."
"Stop being sarcastic. I am happy that you're back."
"Thanks. It's good to be back. I heard that you've been working hard at building your business up."
"Yeah, I took a number of risky deals that actually became quite the reputation builder."
"Good for you. You're a great architect, Ben. I've always thought that."
"Yeah, you were my biggest supporter."
"That's because I really believed in you."
Ben looked at Nick. Old feelings - or new ones? - had started to stir inside of him. "How about we work on giving ourselves another chance?" As soon as the question came out of him, he wished he could have taken it back to ask at a later time.
"Give us another try?"
"Yeah. I mean, why wouldn't we?"
"I guess we can leave things in the past. I'm not sure, exactly, Ben. I tell you what: let's just take things slow and see which direction we take ourselves in."
"I'd like that!" Ben said, moving his hand over to take hold of Nick's. Just then he looked up. It seemed as if the color drained from his face. "Damien..."
"Hi Ben. Hello Nick."
"Damien, hey. Oh, hi Joey."
"Hi Nick. Hey, Ben..."
Ben could barely get his words out. "Hi Joey..."
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