Ryan isn't sure what's going on, but he's going along... for now. He's happy just to be with Ben again, as he continues the house tour. They end up upstairs, where Ben apprises him of the sleeping arrangements. Is anyone really surprised? See what's going on in this week's chapter of In Pieces. Don't forget to check out the other Briefers and see what they're up to. Their links follow my tale. Enjoy!
If the living room was the naughty pleasure room, then the
family room was the comfort room. Plump
pillows were scattered invitingly across the floor. Ryan could just imagine the
members of the band ignoring the more conventional armchair and sofa in order
to lounge on the floor, sprawling over the pillows and doing whatever they did
to relax between gigs. A large screen TV hung on one wall, inbetween a built-in
bookcase and a well-stocked bar. Ryan could see himself writing in this
room. If it wasn’t too noisy, that is. Opening
from the family room was a breakfast area and then the kitchen. Ryan half
expected to see a housekeeper or cook lurking there, but no such person was in
sight. Maybe the band fended for themselves? Or maybe she existed but she was
in another part of the house right now.
She or he. Ryan reminded himself not to be sexist. No reason
a housekeeper couldn’t be a man, was there? “Where to now?”
“I’d like to take you upstairs before we go out back and
join the others,” Ben said. “You can see the veranda then. C’mon, this way.”
“I’m sorry for throwing you off your schedule,” Ryan
apologized as Ben led him through a doorway, back into the foyer, and up the
staircase he’d seen when they first arrived.
“Don’t pay attention to Keanu,” Ben said. “He gets dramatic
sometimes. He also gets over it. We’re fine.”
He shot Ryan a reassuring smile. “There are only four bedrooms, by the
way, so everyone’s doubling up. Except Cameron, since it’s his house.”
It had never occurred to Ryan that he might end up with a
roommate. He hadn’t shared a room since he was a kid, and they’d put Ben into
his room. He’d hated that… at first. “That
brings back old times.” He laughed, maybe a little nervously. Ben didn’t laugh
in return. Maybe he was remembering Ryan’s initial reaction to his arrival. How
he wished he could take back the actions of his younger, more stupid self.
“Cameron’s room’s there”—Ben waved toward a closed
door—“It’s the master bedroom, has its own bath and everything. “Down
there”—Ben gestured along the hall to a room at the far end—“is where Aiden and
Abby sleep. They have their own bath. We decided that would be best, give Abby
a little privacy. Cam said she can use his room when he’s not around.”
“That’s generous of him,” Ryan commented.
“Yeah, he’s like that.” For a moment, Ryan thought he was
going to add something else, but he didn’t.
Ben pushed open a door across the hall from the master
bedroom. “This is where Keanu and Deacon sleep. This room shares a bath, right
through here.” He led Ryan across the room to a small hallway. “Extra towels
over there, and bath here, on the other side. Shower in tub. Only one mirror, I’m afraid. And here”—he
opened a door at the end of the hall—“is the fourth bedroom.”
Ryan entered the room, just behind Ben. Two twin beds, two
dressers, and two windows overlooking the back of the house. On one bed sat his
suitcase. This must be his assigned space. If so, that meant… He glanced at the
other bed, and then at Ben. “Does this mean…. Are you and I…?”
“Roommates? Yes. At
least while we’re staying here. I hope it’s not a problem. I mean, Deacon and
Keanu are a couple, so of course I gave them their own room. And I didn’t think
we should put Abby with anyone but her brother. I hope you don’t mind?”
“Mind? Of course not,” Ryan assured him. What he was saying
made sense. Not like they hadn’t done it before.
“I left you half the closet,” Ben said. “But we each have a
dresser. You can put your toiletries in the bathroom. There’s plenty of room,
at least right now, although it remains
to be seen how that’ll work on show nights if we all try to put on our make-up
at the same time.” He winked at Ryan, who couldn’t help but laugh.
“Don’t worry, I don’t wear any,” he said. “I’ll leave it to
you guys.”
He glanced around the bedroom. It wasn’t quite as large as
the first room they’d gone through, but not by much. The wallpaper was the same
small floral pattern interspersed with stripes which seemed to be repeated all
throughout the second floor. Everything seemed to be well taken care of. A
comfortable enough room for whatever time they would spend here.
Ben had already set a few items on his dresser, including a
couple of worn-looking paperbacks. Ryan frowned. Those covers looked familiar. Maybe
something he’d read before? He stepped toward the dresser, focused on the
books, then stopped in surprise. No wonder he recognized them. They were his books. What in the world was Ben
doing with those?
Ryan’s eyes widened as the full import of what he was seeing
struck him. Ben knew about Brothers.
If the book’s appearance was any indicator, he’d read it, too—more than once.
He should have realized Ben knew about his books. He hired him in his capacity as
an author, right? He just hadn’t expected him to own a copy of any of them. Especially
not the one that had proven to be the most controversial. The one that had all
but ruined his career.
“Maybe you can sign it for me,” Ben said softly. He’d come
up behind Ryan, who’d been too focused on the books to note. He rested his chin
on Ryan’s shoulder and gave a small sigh.
“I’ve been so lost without you, Ryan. I was afraid I’d never
see you again. I found your book, and I knew you felt the same way too. I knew
we’d end up together again, somehow.” He tilted his face toward Ryan, blue eyes
glittering. “Forever, this time,” he whispered.
to be continued
Now go see what the other Briefers are up to!
Why do I get the feeling something creepy's going on. I'm pretty sure Liza left because she found the boys in bed together, so what did she do to Ben?
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