A/N Okay, I think it's funny how so many people are worried about Mark!
Well don't fear, I have plans for him in the up coming chapters. He gets a
girl! But not yet! So you have to wait and see! Anyway , thanks again
for all the reviews I have gotten and thank you all so much for caring what
happens in this story! It means a lot.
Chapter 35
By the time Mark heard a knock at the door, he had started worrying about Benny coming over again. While Mark was definitely amazed at Roger's reaction to Benny's name earlier, he had no intention of taking it as anything more than Roger being in an especially good and possibly brief mood. He wasn't holding out any hope for anything more than that. Not between Benny and Roger. Not after everything that has happened in the past.
What Benny needed was really no big deal. It actually might even be fun. If it was anyone else asking, he would have told Roger right in the beginning. At least asked him if he minded. But had he done that this time, with the favor coming from Benny, Mark knew what Roger's answer would have been.
Mark felt bad about lying to Roger and keeping things from him. At this point they were honest to each other about everything. Even if it hurt. They just knew it was better that way. Mark just thought it would be easier to tell him after. After the girls come over, and see it. That should work. Girls love stuff like that. They'll all tell Roger how cute it is and all and then Roger won't give Mark such a hard time later for helping Benny. But who knows, with Roger's sudden new attitude towards Benny, maybe he wouldn't have anyway? But don't go looking for miracles there he told himself as he answered the door.
"Oh hey Mo. I, uh, thought you were someone else. What's up?"
"Hey sweetie. I brought over a bunch of clothes for Cass. She said you guys were going clubbing and stuff tonight. She needed something to wear." Maureen was confused. She figured Mark would be expecting her. Actually she was surprised he hadn't called earlier to invite her with them. One of the reasons she brought so many choices for Cass was so she had something left to put on if she went with them.
"Uh, actually, it's not a we thing as much as a them thing. An alone, date type thing I guess." Mark closed the door behind her and pulled two sodas from the fridge and handed her one. "But I'm glad you're here. Wanna hang out wit me? It will be fun, eventually."
She laughed and took the diet coke. "What do you mean eventually?"
"Well, after somebody, well, oh, you'll see."
"Sure always up for an adventure and Joanne's gonna be working late anyway." She hopped up on the counter. "So, a date type thing huh? Very interesting." She grinned. "But I'm glad for them. Where are they anyway?" She asked looking around.
"They're laying down. I made them get up early to see Joanne today. And before you ask let's just say it went well, and we shouldn't have anymore problems. And drop it there for now. Okay?"
"Sure. No questions. But you know that little speech won't stop Jen. She'll need more info." Maureen laughed. "God she's nosey. But I love her anyway!" They sat around talking for awhile longer before Cass got up to take a shower. Roger came out and sat down with them, smoking a cigarette.
"So where are you guys going?" Maureen asked him with a huge cheesy grin on her face.
"I don't know, to dinner. Some place other than Life Café." He gave a small laugh thinking aback to their conversation before. "Then I told her I'd take her to a club to go dancing."
"Really? Sounds like fun!" Still with the huge grin.
"Forget it Mo. If you're looking for an invite, you're not getting one. If you're just being a smartass, cut it out. You can keep Marky company. Help protect him from Benny."
"Benny?" Maureen said with a note of alarm. "What's going on with Benny?"
"Nothing. He needs a small favor is all. He may come by tonight. Hopefully I can meet him on the street again." Mark shot Maureen a drop it and I'll tell you later look, and for once she actually took the hint.
Cass came out of the shower in a towel. She walked over to Roger and held out her arm for him to undo the plastic bag taped over her cast. "I don't think I can take two more weeks of this stupid thing." She motioned to her cast as she took Roger's cigarette from between his lips and took a drag. "So what did you bring me to wear?"
"Oh a whole bunch of stuff." Maureen picked up the clothes and followed Cass into the bedroom.
"Marky you gonna be okay here alone?" Roger asked him as he crushed out his cigarette. "I mean honestly? Are you really okay with us going out like this?"
Mark could tell Roger was sincere. That he was still concerned about Mark getting hurt over him seeing Cass. "Yes, for the last time. I'm fine with it. Will you just take her out and have a good time already."
"Okay. I believe you. But what about tonight, with Benny? You sure you don't want me to wait with you? Or maybe it would be better to call Collins." Roger grinned slightly.
"No, it's cool. It's no big deal. Really. Take her out and have fun."
"Okay." Roger grinned. "Hey do you know where some of my half way decent clothes are? Like something a little better then a tee shirt?"
"Oh yeah. They are hanging in," Mimi's closet, "um, the uh, other room, I think, um, I'll see if I can find them for you."
Roger smiled. He knew Mark was about to say all that stuff was hanging in Mimi's closet. And actually he seemed to be okay with that whole idea. But Roger really appreciated Mark still trying so hard to protect him. "Okay. I guess that's one of those cleaning up things, huh?"
"Yeah," Mark laughed. He knew Roger knew what he was gonna say. "But don't start changing now. I'm used to you being a slob at this point."
"Hey, go with your strengths!" They both started laughing when Cass and Maureen walked out of the bedroom carrying Maureen's clothes.
"We're going down to Jen's for some things. We'll be back." Maureen told them.
"I'm gonna go get a new pack of cigarettes. We're out. That was the last one we had." Roger told Cass as he stood up. Anybody want anything?"
"Nope, but here's a thought, if you're out of cigarettes, why don't you guys, I don't know, quit? Again?" Mark told him.
"Well, that's one idea Marky," Cass told him, taking her wallet out of her bag and getting money for Roger. "But maybe not." She grinned at him. "Nice try though." She turned to Roger again. "Just get a carton this time instead of buying a new pack every other day."
"That's like fifty bucks Cass.' He told her.
"Here." She handed him the money. "It costs the exact same by the time you're done whether you buy one carton or a bunch of separate packs. At least then we'll have some for awhile."
"Okay. I'll be back. Then we can go whenever you're ready. I'm getting hungry."
When Roger came back with the cigarettes the girls were still downstairs. Mark had pulled out a number of Roger's clothes that had been hanging in Mimi's closet. Once they made that into Mark's new office and his old office became Cass' room he could hang up stuff in there.
Roger put on his black leather pants and a black and white shirt. He ran some gel through his hair, which needed to be bleached again. Maybe Jen will cut it this weekend for him.
"I'm leaving Mark." Roger told him as he picked up his keys and wallet. "We'll see you later. I got my phone, call me if you need me."
"Have a good time."
Roger paused in the doorway. "Just be careful with Benny okay? I just don't trust him. Especially asking for favors. I'll see you later." Roger closed the door behind him and went down to Jen's.
She opened the door and let him into her apartment. "Hey. Come on in. She's almost ready. Maureen's doing something else to her hair. You want something to drink?"
"No I'm cool." He told her, dropping his cigarettes on the coffee table and sat down on the couch. "I do want you to cut my hair sometime though. It's getting too long again."
"Okay, we'll do it this weekend." She told him sitting on the other end of the couch. They sat around talking for another ten minutes before Jen's bedroom door opened and Cass and Maureen came out. She had on black almost bell bottom type pants that laid low on her hips. The matching black halter- top tied around her neck and back. It was midriff cut and backless so it exposed her tan abdomen and her entire back.
Roger actually remembered Maureen wearing the outfit Cass had on. However he never, ever remembered it looking anything at all on Maureen like it looked on Cass right now. Whoa was all he could think at that moment. All the bruising on her ribs had faded. He couldn't get over how hot she looked. Maureen had blown out her hair and pulled it back off her face, but left the back down and long. He had a feeling his mouth was hanging open and that he needed to say something. "Um, you, um look good." Was the best he could come up with just then.
"Maureen," Jen said to her, "that was the first outfit you made her try on."
"That's what I told her!" Cass laughed.
"Well, I was having fun." Maureen told them. "The sucky thing is that looks better on Cass than me."
"Uh huh." Roger said nodding his head.
"Oh thanks Roger!" Maureen laughed.
Oh shit, didn't mean to say that out loud. But yeah Maureen, way, way better. "Um, are you ready, I'm hungry." He could feel his neck starting to burn.
"Right." Maureen said sarcastically. "Here's the jacket to go with that. I would keep it on. If not, keep the ties double knotted, so some unknown pervert doesn't try to undo your top. That goes for known perverts as well." She smirked at Roger.
"Whatever, we're leaving." He grabbed Cass' hand and pulled her out the door. "Bye."
"Bye you guys!" Cass said grinning, letting Roger lead her out of the apartment. She could hear Jen and Maureen laughing as the door closed behind them.
They made it from Jen's door on the second floor, down the first set of steps to the landing before Roger stopped. He turned to her and grabbed her, pulling her into him and kissing her hungrily. "You look really good." He told her almost breathlessly.
"You said that." She teased, pulling him towards her.
"No. I mean. really good. really, really good." He barely stopped kissing her to get the words out. "Like incredibly.hot. good."
"Thanks." She told him.
Finally they broke apart. Roger gave her a cheesy grin as his hand traveled across her bare back and down her arm, over to her hand. Feeling he could finally move on for awhile he started to lead her down the steps towards dinner.
*****
About five minutes after Roger left, Mark heard the door again. He was grateful Roger had left when he did. Benny and Alison were standing in the hall. Mark had forgotten how pretty Alison was. And she really was a nice person. Mark would have helped her anyway, not necessarily because he was afraid of repercussions from Benny, but just because he actually liked Alison. He had never understood what she had ever seen in Benny in the first place. Why she stayed with him, and put up with all the crap he pulled and the way he treated her, Mark just didn't get.
Alison looked sad and Mark could tell she had been crying. She was holding onto a small, fluffy caramel colored dog. The dog kept reaching it's nose up and trying to lick Alison's chin.
"Hey." Mark said to Benny as he opened the door and let them in. "Hey Alison. "I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother."
"Thanks Mark." She told him, petting the dog.
Benny looked around the loft. "Where's your, um, friend?" He asked hesitantly.
He used to by your friend too you fuck, until you, never mind Mark, don't waste your energy even thinking on that stuff. "He's not here right now."
"Mark are you sure this is okay? Roger's not going to mind?" Alison asked him, setting the dog down on the floor and holding his leash.
"No he doesn't mind at all. It will be kinda fun to have a dog around for a few days." He bent down and started petting the dog.
"Yeah, well, are you sure the dog's gonna be all right? With him?"
"Benny don't be an ass!" Alison glared at him, almost yelling. She was stressed out, upset and mentally exhausted and not in the mood for his crap. "You know perfectly well Roger would never do anything at all to Gerogio. And if you hadn't been so horrible and such an ass to him and everyone else, it wouldn't even be something you would ever have to consider. I'm sorry Mark." She apologized to him.
"It's okay Alison. There's a lot of um, hostile history there, going way, way back to the very beginning." Mark sighed. "So how long do you think you'll be gone?"
Benny started to speak but shut his mouth after Alison gave him an evil look. "At least through next weekend. They only think she's going to make it through maybe one more night, two tops. Then the funeral and such. I may need a few days to help Daddy take care of somethings then too. Is that all right? Do you mind that long?"
"No, really. Like I said, it'll be kind of fun to have a dog around."
"I really appreciate it. He would just need more attention then we would ever be able to give him with everything going on." She looked as if she was about to start crying. "Mark can I use your bathroom?"
"Oh, yeah, sure. You know where it is. It may not look like it, but it really has been cleaned since the last time you actually stayed here. Maybe even three or four whole times." Mark smiled at her while still petting the dog.
"Really?" Alison smiled as she stepped towards the bathroom. "A whole three or four times in all these years. I'm impressed." She left Benny and Mark alone in the room.
"So." Mark said not really looking at him.
"Yeah, so, um thanks for taking the dog. She really didn't want to leave him at a kennel. Him still being a puppy and all. And let's face it," Benny sort of grinned an lowered his voice, "Alison hasn't had the best of luck with dogs."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Mark laughed. "She sure loves those dogs though. Like they're babies or something."
Benny's eyes shot to the closed bathroom door. He looked back at Mark and in a real low voice, "Um, do me a favor and uh, don't bring that up. Okay? Real sore subject is all. Especially right now. Her dad called her about her grandmother like ten minutes after she got home from another bad doctor's appointment."
"Oh." Mark said standing up. "Sorry. I didn't know."
Benny shrugged as the bathroom door started to open. "So what's with all the computer stuff?"
"Oh, ah, it belongs to a friend of mine. She um, had a small accident and a few problems and needed a place to stay for awhile." Mark wanted to give Benny as little info as possible.
"What's she do? That's a lot of system."
"I'm not real sure. Some kind of research I guess."
Alison rejoined them and picked up Georgio. "Benny I can't believe you make them live like this! That bathroom is ancient! Is the rest of this building like this? God you really are a slum lord!"
Mark was happy to get off the Cass subject. "It's not so bad, and the rest of the building is in better shape than up here. So is there anything I need to know?"
"I wrote everything down. The phone number is on there as well." She pulled out a piece of paper from her purse. "The vet's number to. He can sleep in his cage if he needs too, or you can leave him out, whatever you want. You need to remember, he's still a puppy, so you may want to keep your shoes off the floor where he can't get to them."
"Yeah I found that out the hard way." Benny scoffed.
"A, yes, well I packed his chew shoe and toys, and plenty of dog food. Benny give him some money." She told him.
He opened his wallet and looked into it. "All I have is three fifties." Benny told her.
"Well give them to him." She snapped. "Mark we have got to get going. I," she looked at Benny, "we really appreciate it. I just couldn't put him in a kennel and considering you guys don't work regular nine to five hours, I thought of you. Somebody who wouldn't be gone for fifteen hours of the day and who would pay attention and everything to him."
"Well it's no problem Alison. Roger and I are happy to help you out." Mark kept his eyes on Alison. He couldn't look at Benny and make his last statement. "Just call us when you get back."
"Okay, we're leaving. Goodbye sweetie. Be a good boy." She hugged the dog. "Thanks again Mark. And please tell Roger that I really do appreciate this."
"No problem. Good luck." Mark closed the door. "Well Georgio, it's just you and me now. And hopefully we'll live through the week once Roger finds out I did this." He laughed at his own joke as he started to unpack the bag of dog stuff.
******
Roger and Cass walked down 11th street heading towards the subway. He had his arm around her as they talked and walked. Roger started patting at his pockets on his pants and shirt. "Um Cass," he said as he stopped and looked at her, "we need to go back for a minute. I forgot the cigarettes and my lighter at Jen's."
She just laughed at him. "How did you forget your cigarettes?"
"Well, I set them on the coffee table and well," he grinned at her, "I guess I got distracted by something."
"Oh I see, well if that's the case, I guess you're forgiven. This time."
They turned around and headed back toward the building. "Gee thanks." He told her as he hugged her close. "Cut me a break. I managed to remember my wallet, keys and pills. That's pretty impressive in itself, ask Mark."
If I ask Mark he'll say it was your sub conscious telling you to quit smoking."
"Probably." He laughed. "But I did actually remember everything including my cigarettes and lighter when I left the loft. It wasn't until somebody totally blew my concentration that I walked out of Jen's without them."
"So it's my fault?"
"Yep. Completely." He told her as he unlocked and opened the front door to the building. Cass was about to step through the door when she saw the two people coming out. She stepped out of the way, closer to Roger so they could pass.
Roger was still laughing when Cass moved over towards him. Just then he looked up and saw Benny walking out towards them. Instinctively he wrapped an arm around Cass and moved her back some, placing himself between Cass and Benny. He didn't exactly glare at Benny, but he didn't exactly have a friendly look either.
"Roger." Benny said, nodding and acknowledging him.
"Benny." Roger never took his eyes off him. He didn't even see Alison at first.
Alison sighed. She hated this stupid, childish behavior from supposedly grown men. "Hello Roger. How are you?"
"Hi Alison." His eyes moved to Alison as he talked, but they kept going back to Benny. "I'm okay. How are you doing?"
"Okay, considering the circumstances." She sighed again. "Listen, I told Mark before, and I really do mean this, but I really appreciate you guys helping out like this. We really appreciate it, don't we Benny?"
"Yeah, thanks." Benny said sourly.
"It means a lot to me." She gave Benny another evil look.
Roger had no clue what they were apparently helping Alison with, but he wasn't going to let them know that. "Uh, yeah, no problem. Besides, you know Mark."
"Yes, he is a sweetie." She smiled softly at him. "I'm glad you two are doing well, especially after, well everything." Her eyes hardened some for a second as she turned from Roger to Benny. She turned back to Roger. "Well, water under the bridge hopefully."
You could feel the tension between Roger and Benny. Alison couldn't help but notice the protective way Roger was wit the girl he was with. Benny hadn't been that way with her since almost ever. She couldn't blame Roger for being that way around Benny either, not with their history. At the same time it brought up all the old pain Benny had caused her over the years. Why couldn't they just be happy? She got the feeling, oh so briefly before Roger had realized it was Benny, that he seemed happy. She was real glad for him, and had a feeling it had a lot to do with this girl he was trying so hard to shield form her husband, the occasional bastard.
"Hi. I'm Alison." She said to Cass, ignoring Benny.
"This is Cass." Roger told Alison before Cass even had a chance to speak.
"Nice to meet you. Mark and Roger are really great guys. Your lucky to have friends like them." She put some stress on that last part. "Come on Benny, we need to get to Connecticut. Hopefully we can still get into the hospital without too much trouble."
"Yeah, right." Benny said as they started to walk.
"Thanks again Roger. Have a good night. We'll talk to you later. It was nice to meet you Cass."
"Ah, you too." She said.
"Yeah, bye Alison." Roger said. He had shifted as Benny walked past, as if trying to block Cass from Benny.
They watched them get into the Range Rover and drive away. When they were gone she turned to Roger. "What was all that?"
"That was Benny. Oh and Alison. You know, Muffy."
"But what was she talking about?"
"I have no idea, but I'd never tell them that. I guess we'll find out later."
"Are you okay honey?"
"Me? Yeah actually I'm fine. I refuse to let that idiot ruin our night though. Come on, let's get the cigarettes from Jen's and go eat. I'm starved." He grabbed her and started biting at her neck. She started to laugh. The more she laughed, the more he did it.
"Well then let's go Davis! I want to go dancing." She started to run up the steps as he chased her.
Chapter 35
By the time Mark heard a knock at the door, he had started worrying about Benny coming over again. While Mark was definitely amazed at Roger's reaction to Benny's name earlier, he had no intention of taking it as anything more than Roger being in an especially good and possibly brief mood. He wasn't holding out any hope for anything more than that. Not between Benny and Roger. Not after everything that has happened in the past.
What Benny needed was really no big deal. It actually might even be fun. If it was anyone else asking, he would have told Roger right in the beginning. At least asked him if he minded. But had he done that this time, with the favor coming from Benny, Mark knew what Roger's answer would have been.
Mark felt bad about lying to Roger and keeping things from him. At this point they were honest to each other about everything. Even if it hurt. They just knew it was better that way. Mark just thought it would be easier to tell him after. After the girls come over, and see it. That should work. Girls love stuff like that. They'll all tell Roger how cute it is and all and then Roger won't give Mark such a hard time later for helping Benny. But who knows, with Roger's sudden new attitude towards Benny, maybe he wouldn't have anyway? But don't go looking for miracles there he told himself as he answered the door.
"Oh hey Mo. I, uh, thought you were someone else. What's up?"
"Hey sweetie. I brought over a bunch of clothes for Cass. She said you guys were going clubbing and stuff tonight. She needed something to wear." Maureen was confused. She figured Mark would be expecting her. Actually she was surprised he hadn't called earlier to invite her with them. One of the reasons she brought so many choices for Cass was so she had something left to put on if she went with them.
"Uh, actually, it's not a we thing as much as a them thing. An alone, date type thing I guess." Mark closed the door behind her and pulled two sodas from the fridge and handed her one. "But I'm glad you're here. Wanna hang out wit me? It will be fun, eventually."
She laughed and took the diet coke. "What do you mean eventually?"
"Well, after somebody, well, oh, you'll see."
"Sure always up for an adventure and Joanne's gonna be working late anyway." She hopped up on the counter. "So, a date type thing huh? Very interesting." She grinned. "But I'm glad for them. Where are they anyway?" She asked looking around.
"They're laying down. I made them get up early to see Joanne today. And before you ask let's just say it went well, and we shouldn't have anymore problems. And drop it there for now. Okay?"
"Sure. No questions. But you know that little speech won't stop Jen. She'll need more info." Maureen laughed. "God she's nosey. But I love her anyway!" They sat around talking for awhile longer before Cass got up to take a shower. Roger came out and sat down with them, smoking a cigarette.
"So where are you guys going?" Maureen asked him with a huge cheesy grin on her face.
"I don't know, to dinner. Some place other than Life Café." He gave a small laugh thinking aback to their conversation before. "Then I told her I'd take her to a club to go dancing."
"Really? Sounds like fun!" Still with the huge grin.
"Forget it Mo. If you're looking for an invite, you're not getting one. If you're just being a smartass, cut it out. You can keep Marky company. Help protect him from Benny."
"Benny?" Maureen said with a note of alarm. "What's going on with Benny?"
"Nothing. He needs a small favor is all. He may come by tonight. Hopefully I can meet him on the street again." Mark shot Maureen a drop it and I'll tell you later look, and for once she actually took the hint.
Cass came out of the shower in a towel. She walked over to Roger and held out her arm for him to undo the plastic bag taped over her cast. "I don't think I can take two more weeks of this stupid thing." She motioned to her cast as she took Roger's cigarette from between his lips and took a drag. "So what did you bring me to wear?"
"Oh a whole bunch of stuff." Maureen picked up the clothes and followed Cass into the bedroom.
"Marky you gonna be okay here alone?" Roger asked him as he crushed out his cigarette. "I mean honestly? Are you really okay with us going out like this?"
Mark could tell Roger was sincere. That he was still concerned about Mark getting hurt over him seeing Cass. "Yes, for the last time. I'm fine with it. Will you just take her out and have a good time already."
"Okay. I believe you. But what about tonight, with Benny? You sure you don't want me to wait with you? Or maybe it would be better to call Collins." Roger grinned slightly.
"No, it's cool. It's no big deal. Really. Take her out and have fun."
"Okay." Roger grinned. "Hey do you know where some of my half way decent clothes are? Like something a little better then a tee shirt?"
"Oh yeah. They are hanging in," Mimi's closet, "um, the uh, other room, I think, um, I'll see if I can find them for you."
Roger smiled. He knew Mark was about to say all that stuff was hanging in Mimi's closet. And actually he seemed to be okay with that whole idea. But Roger really appreciated Mark still trying so hard to protect him. "Okay. I guess that's one of those cleaning up things, huh?"
"Yeah," Mark laughed. He knew Roger knew what he was gonna say. "But don't start changing now. I'm used to you being a slob at this point."
"Hey, go with your strengths!" They both started laughing when Cass and Maureen walked out of the bedroom carrying Maureen's clothes.
"We're going down to Jen's for some things. We'll be back." Maureen told them.
"I'm gonna go get a new pack of cigarettes. We're out. That was the last one we had." Roger told Cass as he stood up. Anybody want anything?"
"Nope, but here's a thought, if you're out of cigarettes, why don't you guys, I don't know, quit? Again?" Mark told him.
"Well, that's one idea Marky," Cass told him, taking her wallet out of her bag and getting money for Roger. "But maybe not." She grinned at him. "Nice try though." She turned to Roger again. "Just get a carton this time instead of buying a new pack every other day."
"That's like fifty bucks Cass.' He told her.
"Here." She handed him the money. "It costs the exact same by the time you're done whether you buy one carton or a bunch of separate packs. At least then we'll have some for awhile."
"Okay. I'll be back. Then we can go whenever you're ready. I'm getting hungry."
When Roger came back with the cigarettes the girls were still downstairs. Mark had pulled out a number of Roger's clothes that had been hanging in Mimi's closet. Once they made that into Mark's new office and his old office became Cass' room he could hang up stuff in there.
Roger put on his black leather pants and a black and white shirt. He ran some gel through his hair, which needed to be bleached again. Maybe Jen will cut it this weekend for him.
"I'm leaving Mark." Roger told him as he picked up his keys and wallet. "We'll see you later. I got my phone, call me if you need me."
"Have a good time."
Roger paused in the doorway. "Just be careful with Benny okay? I just don't trust him. Especially asking for favors. I'll see you later." Roger closed the door behind him and went down to Jen's.
She opened the door and let him into her apartment. "Hey. Come on in. She's almost ready. Maureen's doing something else to her hair. You want something to drink?"
"No I'm cool." He told her, dropping his cigarettes on the coffee table and sat down on the couch. "I do want you to cut my hair sometime though. It's getting too long again."
"Okay, we'll do it this weekend." She told him sitting on the other end of the couch. They sat around talking for another ten minutes before Jen's bedroom door opened and Cass and Maureen came out. She had on black almost bell bottom type pants that laid low on her hips. The matching black halter- top tied around her neck and back. It was midriff cut and backless so it exposed her tan abdomen and her entire back.
Roger actually remembered Maureen wearing the outfit Cass had on. However he never, ever remembered it looking anything at all on Maureen like it looked on Cass right now. Whoa was all he could think at that moment. All the bruising on her ribs had faded. He couldn't get over how hot she looked. Maureen had blown out her hair and pulled it back off her face, but left the back down and long. He had a feeling his mouth was hanging open and that he needed to say something. "Um, you, um look good." Was the best he could come up with just then.
"Maureen," Jen said to her, "that was the first outfit you made her try on."
"That's what I told her!" Cass laughed.
"Well, I was having fun." Maureen told them. "The sucky thing is that looks better on Cass than me."
"Uh huh." Roger said nodding his head.
"Oh thanks Roger!" Maureen laughed.
Oh shit, didn't mean to say that out loud. But yeah Maureen, way, way better. "Um, are you ready, I'm hungry." He could feel his neck starting to burn.
"Right." Maureen said sarcastically. "Here's the jacket to go with that. I would keep it on. If not, keep the ties double knotted, so some unknown pervert doesn't try to undo your top. That goes for known perverts as well." She smirked at Roger.
"Whatever, we're leaving." He grabbed Cass' hand and pulled her out the door. "Bye."
"Bye you guys!" Cass said grinning, letting Roger lead her out of the apartment. She could hear Jen and Maureen laughing as the door closed behind them.
They made it from Jen's door on the second floor, down the first set of steps to the landing before Roger stopped. He turned to her and grabbed her, pulling her into him and kissing her hungrily. "You look really good." He told her almost breathlessly.
"You said that." She teased, pulling him towards her.
"No. I mean. really good. really, really good." He barely stopped kissing her to get the words out. "Like incredibly.hot. good."
"Thanks." She told him.
Finally they broke apart. Roger gave her a cheesy grin as his hand traveled across her bare back and down her arm, over to her hand. Feeling he could finally move on for awhile he started to lead her down the steps towards dinner.
*****
About five minutes after Roger left, Mark heard the door again. He was grateful Roger had left when he did. Benny and Alison were standing in the hall. Mark had forgotten how pretty Alison was. And she really was a nice person. Mark would have helped her anyway, not necessarily because he was afraid of repercussions from Benny, but just because he actually liked Alison. He had never understood what she had ever seen in Benny in the first place. Why she stayed with him, and put up with all the crap he pulled and the way he treated her, Mark just didn't get.
Alison looked sad and Mark could tell she had been crying. She was holding onto a small, fluffy caramel colored dog. The dog kept reaching it's nose up and trying to lick Alison's chin.
"Hey." Mark said to Benny as he opened the door and let them in. "Hey Alison. "I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother."
"Thanks Mark." She told him, petting the dog.
Benny looked around the loft. "Where's your, um, friend?" He asked hesitantly.
He used to by your friend too you fuck, until you, never mind Mark, don't waste your energy even thinking on that stuff. "He's not here right now."
"Mark are you sure this is okay? Roger's not going to mind?" Alison asked him, setting the dog down on the floor and holding his leash.
"No he doesn't mind at all. It will be kinda fun to have a dog around for a few days." He bent down and started petting the dog.
"Yeah, well, are you sure the dog's gonna be all right? With him?"
"Benny don't be an ass!" Alison glared at him, almost yelling. She was stressed out, upset and mentally exhausted and not in the mood for his crap. "You know perfectly well Roger would never do anything at all to Gerogio. And if you hadn't been so horrible and such an ass to him and everyone else, it wouldn't even be something you would ever have to consider. I'm sorry Mark." She apologized to him.
"It's okay Alison. There's a lot of um, hostile history there, going way, way back to the very beginning." Mark sighed. "So how long do you think you'll be gone?"
Benny started to speak but shut his mouth after Alison gave him an evil look. "At least through next weekend. They only think she's going to make it through maybe one more night, two tops. Then the funeral and such. I may need a few days to help Daddy take care of somethings then too. Is that all right? Do you mind that long?"
"No, really. Like I said, it'll be kind of fun to have a dog around."
"I really appreciate it. He would just need more attention then we would ever be able to give him with everything going on." She looked as if she was about to start crying. "Mark can I use your bathroom?"
"Oh, yeah, sure. You know where it is. It may not look like it, but it really has been cleaned since the last time you actually stayed here. Maybe even three or four whole times." Mark smiled at her while still petting the dog.
"Really?" Alison smiled as she stepped towards the bathroom. "A whole three or four times in all these years. I'm impressed." She left Benny and Mark alone in the room.
"So." Mark said not really looking at him.
"Yeah, so, um thanks for taking the dog. She really didn't want to leave him at a kennel. Him still being a puppy and all. And let's face it," Benny sort of grinned an lowered his voice, "Alison hasn't had the best of luck with dogs."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Mark laughed. "She sure loves those dogs though. Like they're babies or something."
Benny's eyes shot to the closed bathroom door. He looked back at Mark and in a real low voice, "Um, do me a favor and uh, don't bring that up. Okay? Real sore subject is all. Especially right now. Her dad called her about her grandmother like ten minutes after she got home from another bad doctor's appointment."
"Oh." Mark said standing up. "Sorry. I didn't know."
Benny shrugged as the bathroom door started to open. "So what's with all the computer stuff?"
"Oh, ah, it belongs to a friend of mine. She um, had a small accident and a few problems and needed a place to stay for awhile." Mark wanted to give Benny as little info as possible.
"What's she do? That's a lot of system."
"I'm not real sure. Some kind of research I guess."
Alison rejoined them and picked up Georgio. "Benny I can't believe you make them live like this! That bathroom is ancient! Is the rest of this building like this? God you really are a slum lord!"
Mark was happy to get off the Cass subject. "It's not so bad, and the rest of the building is in better shape than up here. So is there anything I need to know?"
"I wrote everything down. The phone number is on there as well." She pulled out a piece of paper from her purse. "The vet's number to. He can sleep in his cage if he needs too, or you can leave him out, whatever you want. You need to remember, he's still a puppy, so you may want to keep your shoes off the floor where he can't get to them."
"Yeah I found that out the hard way." Benny scoffed.
"A, yes, well I packed his chew shoe and toys, and plenty of dog food. Benny give him some money." She told him.
He opened his wallet and looked into it. "All I have is three fifties." Benny told her.
"Well give them to him." She snapped. "Mark we have got to get going. I," she looked at Benny, "we really appreciate it. I just couldn't put him in a kennel and considering you guys don't work regular nine to five hours, I thought of you. Somebody who wouldn't be gone for fifteen hours of the day and who would pay attention and everything to him."
"Well it's no problem Alison. Roger and I are happy to help you out." Mark kept his eyes on Alison. He couldn't look at Benny and make his last statement. "Just call us when you get back."
"Okay, we're leaving. Goodbye sweetie. Be a good boy." She hugged the dog. "Thanks again Mark. And please tell Roger that I really do appreciate this."
"No problem. Good luck." Mark closed the door. "Well Georgio, it's just you and me now. And hopefully we'll live through the week once Roger finds out I did this." He laughed at his own joke as he started to unpack the bag of dog stuff.
******
Roger and Cass walked down 11th street heading towards the subway. He had his arm around her as they talked and walked. Roger started patting at his pockets on his pants and shirt. "Um Cass," he said as he stopped and looked at her, "we need to go back for a minute. I forgot the cigarettes and my lighter at Jen's."
She just laughed at him. "How did you forget your cigarettes?"
"Well, I set them on the coffee table and well," he grinned at her, "I guess I got distracted by something."
"Oh I see, well if that's the case, I guess you're forgiven. This time."
They turned around and headed back toward the building. "Gee thanks." He told her as he hugged her close. "Cut me a break. I managed to remember my wallet, keys and pills. That's pretty impressive in itself, ask Mark."
If I ask Mark he'll say it was your sub conscious telling you to quit smoking."
"Probably." He laughed. "But I did actually remember everything including my cigarettes and lighter when I left the loft. It wasn't until somebody totally blew my concentration that I walked out of Jen's without them."
"So it's my fault?"
"Yep. Completely." He told her as he unlocked and opened the front door to the building. Cass was about to step through the door when she saw the two people coming out. She stepped out of the way, closer to Roger so they could pass.
Roger was still laughing when Cass moved over towards him. Just then he looked up and saw Benny walking out towards them. Instinctively he wrapped an arm around Cass and moved her back some, placing himself between Cass and Benny. He didn't exactly glare at Benny, but he didn't exactly have a friendly look either.
"Roger." Benny said, nodding and acknowledging him.
"Benny." Roger never took his eyes off him. He didn't even see Alison at first.
Alison sighed. She hated this stupid, childish behavior from supposedly grown men. "Hello Roger. How are you?"
"Hi Alison." His eyes moved to Alison as he talked, but they kept going back to Benny. "I'm okay. How are you doing?"
"Okay, considering the circumstances." She sighed again. "Listen, I told Mark before, and I really do mean this, but I really appreciate you guys helping out like this. We really appreciate it, don't we Benny?"
"Yeah, thanks." Benny said sourly.
"It means a lot to me." She gave Benny another evil look.
Roger had no clue what they were apparently helping Alison with, but he wasn't going to let them know that. "Uh, yeah, no problem. Besides, you know Mark."
"Yes, he is a sweetie." She smiled softly at him. "I'm glad you two are doing well, especially after, well everything." Her eyes hardened some for a second as she turned from Roger to Benny. She turned back to Roger. "Well, water under the bridge hopefully."
You could feel the tension between Roger and Benny. Alison couldn't help but notice the protective way Roger was wit the girl he was with. Benny hadn't been that way with her since almost ever. She couldn't blame Roger for being that way around Benny either, not with their history. At the same time it brought up all the old pain Benny had caused her over the years. Why couldn't they just be happy? She got the feeling, oh so briefly before Roger had realized it was Benny, that he seemed happy. She was real glad for him, and had a feeling it had a lot to do with this girl he was trying so hard to shield form her husband, the occasional bastard.
"Hi. I'm Alison." She said to Cass, ignoring Benny.
"This is Cass." Roger told Alison before Cass even had a chance to speak.
"Nice to meet you. Mark and Roger are really great guys. Your lucky to have friends like them." She put some stress on that last part. "Come on Benny, we need to get to Connecticut. Hopefully we can still get into the hospital without too much trouble."
"Yeah, right." Benny said as they started to walk.
"Thanks again Roger. Have a good night. We'll talk to you later. It was nice to meet you Cass."
"Ah, you too." She said.
"Yeah, bye Alison." Roger said. He had shifted as Benny walked past, as if trying to block Cass from Benny.
They watched them get into the Range Rover and drive away. When they were gone she turned to Roger. "What was all that?"
"That was Benny. Oh and Alison. You know, Muffy."
"But what was she talking about?"
"I have no idea, but I'd never tell them that. I guess we'll find out later."
"Are you okay honey?"
"Me? Yeah actually I'm fine. I refuse to let that idiot ruin our night though. Come on, let's get the cigarettes from Jen's and go eat. I'm starved." He grabbed her and started biting at her neck. She started to laugh. The more she laughed, the more he did it.
"Well then let's go Davis! I want to go dancing." She started to run up the steps as he chased her.