Ben is showing Ryan around the vacation home which will be the base for Salvation's tour, and shows Ryan some of Cameron's naughty knickknacks.Ryan feels that something is wrong with Ben but when he tries to find out, they are interrupted. See what's happening in this week's chapter of In Pieces. And don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what they've been up to!
“We’ve been waiting for
you, Ben. We need to quit screwing around, we need to practice, dude.”
Despite his words, Ryan had the impression
that he wasn’t upset, just impatient. He gave off definite energy vibes, as if
he was overly caffeinated or something. Before Ben had a chance to make any
sort of reply, the newcomer had diverted his attention to Ryan. Changing
course, he circled him, eyeing him curiously.
“Well, well, what do we
have here? Or should I say who? Don’t
tell me. You must be that fabulous writer Ben’s been raving about so much.
I was beginning to wonder if such a perfect creature even existed.”
Ryan felt his cheeks
warm. He couldn’t help but wonder what Ben had been saying about him, but it
must be good, right?
“Guilty as charged,” he
confessed. “Writer. Not sure about fabulous, and definitely not perfect.”
“Keanu, don’t harass Ryan
before you even get to know him,” Ben said. “Give him a chance to get used to
everyone without scaring him off, if you don’t mind.” He rose from the couch,
all signs of his previous despair having disappeared, and put a protective arm
about Ryan. “We just got in from the airport. I was giving him the tour of the
house. So cool your jets, please, if you don’t mind.”
Never missing a beat, Keanu
turned gracefully toward Ryan and held out his hand. “Then I’ll just introduce
myself and play nice. Keanu Nakamura. Aka Bishop. I play bass.”
Ryan took the hand that
was being offered and gave it a shake. Keanu’s hand was warm and firm. His dark
eyes were slightly uptilted at the edges, giving him an exotic look which
matched his golden skin fairly glowed. Was this band filled with nothing but
beauties?
“Ryan Fremont,” he said
in return. “Writer. Oh wait, you just said that. Sorry.”
“No worries, it’s all
good.” Keanu dropped Ryan’s hand and turned back to Ben. “I can see why you
took your time getting back,” he said with a wink. “I would too, if it meant
getting to spend time with such a cutie.”
“I wouldn’t let Deacon
hear you say that,” Ben retorted, a slight edge to his voice. “He might not
understand.”
Keanu laughed. “Deacon is
the least jealous person I know. He knows he’s the only one for me. But he also
knows I’m not blind. And neither is he. I think we’ll both enjoy spending time with you, Mr. Writer.”
Ryan felt Ben’s arm
tighten just a fraction. Surely that wasn’t in response to anything Keanu said?
Than again, Ben had always been somewhat possessive when it came to Ryan. Once
they overcame their initial antipathy, that is. Ryan found himself leaning in
to Ben just a little bit, even if by doing so, he was reinforcing his behavior.
He found Keanu to be just a little… overwhelming.
“Where’s Deacon now?” Ben
asked.
“Out back, with Aiden and
Abby. Rehearsing. We’d sound better
if you joined us. Naturally.”
Ben’s grip tightened a
little more. Tension seemed to flow through him, sending an unexpected shock
through Ryan, which left him speechless. What was really going on here? Other
than some strange kind of pissing contest?
Without warning, Ben removed
his arm and stepped away from Ryan, toward the bass player. He drew himself up
to his full height, standing toe to toe with Keanu. The other man was slightly
taller, but something about Ben seemed to create the illusion of height, as if
they were actually eye to eye.
A long moment passed as
they stared one another down. Then Keanu shifted his gaze to the floor, as if
something very interesting there had just caught his attention.
“I’m going to finish
giving Ryan the tour of the house and help him get situated. Then we’ll both be
out. Tell the others. Are we clear?”
Keanu nodded. “Perfectly,”
he said in a quiet voice, a far cry from his earlier cheeky tone. Ryan glanced
between the two men in confusion. What had just happened?
Keanu spun on his heel
and exited the room as quickly as he had entered, but without any of the
bluster. Ryan glanced at Ben. He was all smiles and sunshine. Probably because
he’d just gotten his own way.
“Let’s continue with the
tour,” he said, taking Ryan’s hand in his.
to be continued
Now go see what the other Briefers are up to!
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