(Untitled)

[benjamin_carey]

I'm just popping in to say that running in the middle of the night is a crazy idea, even from two guys who are about to go into the resturaunt business with no experience whatso ever. It would be worse if they made me go, but I seem to get out of it a lot more than I should. Pft, shut up, I know I could use it for toning and stuff, but you know

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[the_nut_house]

"Isn't he beautiful?" Linds whispered, looking down in awe at Ben fast asleep in nothing but his pj's and with Hey Dog curled up with him.

"Guess Ben won the fight this time," I said.

He giggled. "Maybe you should get Hey Dog his own pair?"

"Wouldn't be the same, probably. No fun."

Linds bent down and kissed Ben. "Love you. Sleep well." Ben didn't wake up, but maybe since they weren't in the bedroom that was a good thing. Linds smiled at me, his face tinted . "Sorry."

I just smirked, punched Linds lightly on the shoulder. "You guys are nutters," I said, then turned and headed for the kitchen.

Linds followed me. "Why do you say that?"

"I thought you guys were going to take it slow?"

"We are," he insisted.

I pointed him to a chair and he sat. Then I got out some orange juice and poured us both a glass and then sat down, too. "Define 'slow' to me, Linds." I looked at him expectantly.

We were both still hot and sweaty from our run. I know Ben and Lee think we're nuts to go running every morning, especially so early, but heck, surely they've figured out that they are the ones who really benefit? Running builds stamina and perfect butts and even though I'm quite a few years older than Linds, my butt's just as hot. It's my best feature. Think Lee will agree with that.

Linds shifted in his chair, drank some of his orange juice. Didn't look at me. His face and neck had flushed. "Well, I guess we're not really living together or anything."

I smiled to myself. Sometimes, Linds was more like a seventeen-year-old. Naïve like one. "You're not exactly not living together either, Linds."

"He's not coming with us to the new house tomorrow."

"Where's he sleeping?"

He hesitated, then stood. "Dammit Karl, don't trick me like that. With me, of course. I'm going to go take a shower."

Now I did smile. "Okay, sorry kid. It's just that Lee and I think you two are the most committed non-committed guys we've ever seen."

Linds grinned and shrugged. "I see your point. I guess we're fooling ourselves."

"You definitely are being cautious and that isn't a bad thing."

I hesitated. There was something that had been bugging me the last few days, as I'd watched Ben and Linds together. They were close, very close--all of us saw it. Ben's attentiveness to Linds, the way he watched him and especially watched over him, couldn't be mistaken for anything but this--Ben's in love with Linds. And Linds, the way he stays close to Ben if they're in the same room--the connection is almost tangible. When Linds is with me and away from Ben--like now--there's an anxiousness to him. He can hardly wait to get back to Ben. I understood that very well. It's how I feel about Lee.

So no, despite themselves, Lee and I think the idiots are in denial. They'd formed a strong bond that I couldn't help, as a friend, to be happy about. But I also felt a certain responsibility to Linds. I didn't want him hurt, knew that Ben wouldn't do that to him intentionally but Ben's life is so up in the air right now that I couldn't help but worry. I knew Lee would likely shoot me for asking Linds this, but I did it anyway.

"Linds, I know this isn't any of my business, but I was just wondering. Has Ben told his band mates about all that's going on? Has he told them about you?"

Linds shrugged, but I could tell he was surprised by my question. But Linds doesn't like to make waves so he just smiled at me and shrugged again. "I don't know. I think I'm going to go take a shower, okay? Before Lee gets up and uses all the hot water."

I nodded, sighing as he left the kitchen. In other words, Karl, no it isn't any of your business.

I finished my orange juice, then cleaned up our glasses. I needed to get us some groceries so made a list to take with me later. After awhile I decided to find Lee. Not that I didn't know right where he was--still in bed, more than likely. As I passed through the living room I glanced at the couch--Hey Dog was gone, but a freshly-showered Linds had taken the dog's place, literally stretched on top of the bigger man. Both Ben and Linds appeared to have fallen asleep--Ben's hand tucked inside Linds' shorts. Possessively.

Definitely the most committed non-committed couple I knew.

Karl