“UNTITLED MASTERPIECE”

PART ONE: “BODIES”

CHAPTER 8B: “MOVES”

And Tuesday raced into Wednesday; Wednesday into Thursday. The staff doubled in size over night and moved into a bigger suite on a higher floor. Ian took meetings and looked at contracts and weighed options. His staff brought him facts and figures, suggestions and ideas. By the time 5 PM on Thursday rolled around Ian was exhausted, but exhilarated.

He almost didn’t answer his cell when it rang. He didn’t want to talk to anyone else; he just wanted to go home. The little screen flashed a number but no name, so curiosity got the best of him and he flipped the lid open before he started the car.

“Ian? It’s Billy.”

“Hey, bud how’s it going?”

“Uh I hope you meant what you said?”

“Sure I did.” Ian thoughts raced, “What did I say? What did I say?”

“Whew! I thought maybe it was too soon, or I should call first but you said just get away when I could and call to come pick me up at the airport. Well I am at the airport…”

“That’s great! (Interpretation—Oh, shit!), I’m just leaving work; by the time I get there you should have gotten your bags and everything. (Interpretation---maybe I’ll have enough time to get out of this!)”

“Cool! Can’t wait to see you!” Billy sounded so excited.

“Me, too!” He flipped down the phone. “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” He pounded on the steering wheel. All he wanted to do was go home, but now he had to deal with this. He started his car and headed to the airport arguing with himself the whole way, trying to figure out away to get out of what he knew he was doomed to suffer through.

He would just explain to Billy about work and get him a hotel room. He’d take to him a nice dinner, and then check him in and maybe get Tippy to show him around. Billy would be disappointed but that as the best thing to do. Ian felt guilty about his decision, but knew it was the best solution.

By the time he got the airport he was confident of it, Billy would understand. He knew how focused Ian was about his work. He strode in the airport and reassured himself all the way to the gate.

Then he saw Billy there, standing with this happy grin on his face, amongst a pile of bags and in jeans and a flannel shirt that he had to be way too hot in. The first thing that crossed his mind was how hot Billy was. It seemed like years since he had seen him rather than less than a month. Billy’s linebacker silhouette jumped out at him, and he was stunned at how much he had missed his handsome features and the warm heart of friendship he knew beat within.

When Billy grabbed him and hugged him so tight he almost couldn’t breath, all Ian could think about was how he could rearrange his schedule to spend as much time as he could before Billy had to go back home. They chatted like they hadn’t seen each other in years. They laughed as Billy regaled Ian with stories of friends and co-workers on the way to the restaurant.

As they ate