Jam Tonight
Two hours before her alarm was set to go off, Miranda received a call from The Chief. "Mandy, hot tail it to the hospital. There's a damn problem with the damn kidneys. Miranda rolled out of bed band showered quickly. Getting to the hospital, she decided that she would stop at her favorite coffee cart and get some breakfast before finding The Chief. She stopped at the little cart by the front entrance and picked up two large, warm croissants and a bottle of orange juice. "That'll be $5.00," the dreadlocked cashier said.
Miranda gave the woman her ID and waited for her to scan it. "Thanks, Whitney," Miranda said reading the woman's nametag.
"Good morning, Miranda," Maggie Pierce said coming up behind her. "Can I get you a coffee?"
"Good morning, Maggie. No, I'm good," Miranda said holding up her purchases. Miranda waited until Maggie was finished and they walked off together.
"I'm still waiting on your invitation to Joe's," Maggie said trying not to sound like a nuisance.
"Damn, Pierce! I've been so busy with… You know what? Tonight? Are you free?"
"Yes! I mean, yeah, I am," Maggie said quickly.
"Good. I'll let everyone know. Hopefully, everyone can make it. If not… it'll be me and you," Miranda said and they laughed and parted ways. Miranda took a bite of one of her croissants and headed to The Chief's office. She smiled and hummed to herself causing several interns to stop and stare. She ignored them as she knocked on The Chief's door. He was on the phone, but he waved her in.
"Well, I need it and I need it now!" He yelled into the phone and he slammed down the phone. He was fuming as he rubbed his salt and pepper hair. "Mandy!"
"Chief, I'm here. On my day off, might I add. What's the problem?"
"The problem? Oh no, Bailey, several problems." Miranda grabbed her head as he explained. "Julian Jeffers' wife, Suzanne, is backing out because she just found that he's been having an affair with Sia, the girl—"
"Who doesn't have a loved one in the domino," Miranda finished for him.
He nodded. "And, Sia, is backing out because she thinks that last three years, that they've been having the affair, has been a lie."
Miranda nodded and took the last bite of her first croissant. She offered the second croissant to Richard. He declined. "Good Lord! Please, sir, don't tell me there's anything else. That's enough for a lifetime." She started to get up.
"Hold your horses. There's another problem."
"Whyyy?" She whined and they laughed. "What is it?"
"Well, since the Jeffers and their mistress are causing complications, everyone else is doing the same thing seeing as how their loved one won't be able to have a kidney. People are getting impatient, Bailey."
"I cannot!" Miranda said and she opened up the juice and took a long sip and placing the cap on the table.
"Yeah, well, I need you to fix it. I don't care how. The hospital is getting so much publicity. The press is all over this and I want you to be available for interviews, but there won't be interviews if there aren't any effin' surgeries, pardon my English."
"Okay, Chief. Calm down. I will get it under control, sir," she answered gathering her things and walking to the door.
"I know you will. I have faith in you," he called after her.
"Damn people. Damn kidneys. Damn…" she grumbled to herself. Miranda looked down to see her juice bottle uncapped and she turned to go back to The Chief's office only to bump into someone. Juice spilled over her and over the other person and all over the floor. She dropped her sopping wet croissant.
"Dr. Bailey! I'll get a mop," someone yelled.
"Watch where you're going! Now I have to change," she shouted at the person. Miranda looked up to see the grinning face of Ben. Inside she was melting and everything was telling her to smile up at him and to wrap her arms around him. She resisted and kept her stern gaze. Miranda felt the eyes of the people who'd witnessed the spill staring at her. They were waiting for her to blow up and bring The Thunder. She was tired and she didn't want to yell at her very sexy, could be lover.
"Dr. Bailey, I'm so, so, so, so sorry," Ben said making a show of apologizing. "Can I take you out for breakfast? Maybe… tomorrow morning?" She pressed her lips together and didn't answer.
An intern came back with a mop and a janitor who began to clean up the mess. "Thank you. I apologize," Miranda told the janitor who just smiled and said no problem. Miranda walked off and went into the nearest on-call room with Ben right behind her.
"Dr. Bailey, I'm so sorry," Ben said walking into the room and closing the door.
"It's… fine," she said lying on the bottom bunk. He stood next to the bed, looming over her.
He gestured for her to move over and he sat down on the edge. "What's up?"
"What do you mean?" She said putting a forearm on her forehead.
"You didn't even yell at me," he said lying down next to her. Her mind was too jumbled to think about what was happening.
"Well… I like you and I don't have the energy. I'm so tired," she said rolling towards the wall.
Ben did the same thing, putting an arm around her, letting it land on her waist. "Is that my fault?" He asked whispering in her ear.
"No. It's not," she said softly. "This domino surgery is damn near exhausting."
"It'll be fine, Miranda. Believe me."
Her phone was vibrating. "I gotta go." She rolled over him, pausing while on top. "You suck at saying 'good morning'." Miranda leaned down to kiss him. She could feel him getting aroused and it was turning her on by the second. Somewhere between date 8 and date 12… If she could hold out for that long. She started to get off of him, but Ben was holding on tight.
Their legs were tangled together and he ran a hand through her hair. "I'll get better. I promise. Good morning, sweetheart," he said pulling her in for another kiss. Ben's hands traveled on her waist and moved quickly to her butt. She gasped softly and moaned. "You like that?"
"I like… surgery. I have to go," she said kissing him one more time and dashed to the door. She took a deep breath and left the room.
While Miranda hustled to the locker room to change out of her orange-juiced soaked scrubs, she checked her phone. Callie had sent her a text message asking if she wanted to go to Joe's tonight. Miranda messaged her back accepting the invite and telling Callie that Pierce would be joining them as well. After changing, she gathered her residents and told Shane Ross, her favorite young surgeon, to get on the phone and see if UNOS for a matching kidney. "Yes, Dr. Bailey," he said and took off.
Then, she went up to the room that Mrs. and Mr. Jeffers were sharing. She stood outside of the room for a second and listened to the couple's conversation. They argued in hushed tones. "I can't believe you would do this, Suzanne! A lot of people are counting on you! On us!" Julian said to his wife.
"And it's all my fault, right?" She asked him getting out of her bed and walking towards the door. Miranda moved to the side while she stormed past. Miranda watched her walk into a waiting room. Miranda took the chance to talk to her personally without her husband overhearing.
"Mrs. Jeffers? Uh, Suzanne?" Miranda said to her softly. She walked into the room.
"Yes!?" She answered before seeing that it was Miranda. "I'm sorry, Dr. Bailey. Can I help you with something?"
"I think I'm supposed to be asking you that," Miranda said closing the door and sitting down.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Bailey. I know we're making a big mess."
"Well, our domino has a hole in it without you three."
"Dr. Bailey?" The Chief said coming into the room. "I'm sorry. Can I talk to you for a quick second? Hello, Mrs. Jeffers." Suzanne waved as Miranda excused herself.
"Now, Miranda, you know that we can't do anything that's seen as coercion."
"Sir, I know. I know," Miranda said waving him off and sending him on his way. She went back into the room.
"I know you must think that I'm a terrible person, a terrible woman and a-a-a-a terrible wife," Suzanne stammered.
Miranda took a deep breath and answered: "I'm not allowed to have opinions. There are rules. Very clear rules. Concise rules."
"Please understand that I don't mean to hurt anyone. At all. But Julian has taken everything from me. Everything. My love and my dignity. Shit, my time. But the one thing that he hasn't taken is my kidney. He hasn't taken my kidney."
"Suzanne, I know how you feel. Trust me I do," Miranda started. Suzanne started to tear up. Miranda touched her hand and looked into her eyes. "Trust me. I know. But if you donate your kidney, it would not just be for Julian. These surgeries, these procedures are about saving five other people. Five people and their families who you don't know, but who are counting on you." Suzanne sobbed into her hands and Miranda put an arm around her.
"All right, the surgeries are scheduled for tomorrow. I'll see everyone tomorrow morning at 9 A.M.," The Chief said to the domino surgery team. "Dr. Bailey, can I speak to you for a second?"
"Sure thing, sir," Miranda said and she followed him to his office. They sat down. Richard stared at her. Miranda waited for the sermon. Surely he'd heard her conversation with Suzanne. She was going to get reprimanded.
"I'd better watch out," he said suddenly, startling her.
"Watch out for what, Chief?" She asked confused.
"Watch out for you, Mandy. I'm sorry, Bailey. You did well. You did good," he said pointing at her.
She gushed: "Thank you, sir. Thanks for giving me the opportunity."
"You earned it. Now get out of here. Ben's probably waiting for you somewhere."
"Chief. I'm allowed to have male friends."
"Friends? Girl, please. Who are you trying to kid? You two are a thing," he said waving her off.
"We are dating," she answered.
He leaned towards her a little. "Is it, uh, serious?"
She shrugged. "I don't know."
"Baaailey," he said winking at her.
"Sir?"
"Tell me."
"Chief, you want me to gossip with you?" She said laughing.
"Right now, I'm not The Chief. I'm Richard."
"Well, he says he loves me. I don't know if he's serious or if he's just spitting game," she said to her mentor. He put his elbows on his desk and folded his hands.
"Wow. I wasn't expecting that. How do you feel about that?"
"Like, I'd wish we'd met earlier and maybe I'd love him, too," she answered honestly. Richard's assistant, Patricia, knocked on the door.
"Hello, Dr. Bailey. Chief, you have a call on line 2," Patricia told him. Miranda waved.
"Sir, thanks for the talk," Miranda said standing up.
"No problem. Good job today," he said picking up the phone. She nodded and left the room.
Miranda strolled to the locker room and called Tucker. "Hey, Tucker. What's up?"
"Aye, Miranda. I can't talk right now. We're at the movie theater," Tucker said.
"You can't put Tuck on for one second?" She asked.
"He'll call you after, Mandy," Tuck said. She said okay and their conversation ended.
She pulled out her stool and sat down. She was starving. There was nothing in her stomach except a couple sips of orange juice and a croissant. She moved her stool closer to the wall and leaned against it. She was dozing off when she heard: "Don't you have a bed at home?" Miranda woke up to see Ben leaning against some lockers.
She cleaned out the corner of her eyes. "Yeah, I do."
"Dr. Bailey. You look exhausted. Great, but exhausted," he said walking towards her and leaning down to kiss her on the cheek.
"Thanks for that… complisult," Miranda said standing up. "Can you just… turn around? Thanks."
He did as he was aked. "Are you on your way home?"
She pulled off her shirt and pulled off her pants. "Not immediately. I'm going to get something to eat first because I'm starving. I mean, I could cook, but I'm tired. So, that won't work." The two of them laughed. Miranda noticed that even their laughs worked well together. Both hearty, but his was deeper which complimented her slightly higher-pitched one.
"Can I take you to dinner?"
"I think I owe you dinner." Miranda slid on the pants she'd worn into the hospital.
"Fine. I get—"
"You can turn around now."
"Oh. OK," Ben said turning around. Miranda realized that she still hadn't put on a shirt. She slipped one on. "Like I was saying, I get off in half an hour, so can you take me out for a late lunch, semi-early dinner?"
She smiled. "Sure. I'll just go lie down in an on-call room and take a short nap." She stood up and closed her lockers. Ben held the door open for her and as she stepped through, Dr. Pierce was walking in.
"Oh, thanks, Dr. Warren. Dr. Bailey, are you heading over to Joe's now?" Maggie asked checking her watch.
"Um, yeah, mmhmm, I am. Are you off now?" Miranda responded.
"Yep. I am. I was just about to text you. And I just saw Callie talking to Arizona in the lounge; she's on her way in here now."
"Okay, cool. Cool. Cool. I was just about to call her, too," Miranda said lying. "Well, thank you for holding the door open and I guess I will see you around."
"No problem, Dr. Bailey," Ben said. And he just stood there looking at her. Maggie was still standing there as well.
"Welp, I'll just go over to my locker," Maggie said excusing herself.
"You're going to Joe's?" Ben asked closing the door.
"I guess I am," Miranda said and she put a hand on her stomach. "I guess my hunger will have to wait." The two of them laughed.
"Call me when you're leaving, I'll come and get you ladies. I'll be sober," Ben said winking at her.
"Ben, that would be amazing. I don't plan on drowning my sorrows, though."
He took a large step towards her, closing their distance. "You have sorrows?" He asked quietly.
"No. Not really. But if I did, I wouldn't drown them tonight. Not with my domino surgery tomorrow."
"Gotcha. Still… call me. I wanna come over. I owe you," he said looking around quickly. She did the same. As he leaned down, Miranda closed her eyes. She felt his lips on hers and accepted his advance. It was a strong and sensual kiss. She felt shocks everywhere in her body. When she finally opened her eyes, she blinked a couple of times before realizing that he was gone.
"Mandy?" Callie said behind her. "Maggie and I are ready? Are you?"
"Yes, of course," Miranda said pulling her pocketbook onto her arm.
"Well, let's go," Callie said grabbing Miranda by her elbow.
Miranda Bailey, Callie Torres and Maggie Torres walked out of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, through the parking lot and across the street to Joe's. They chitchatted along the way. The bar wasn't crowded, so the three of them sat down at the bar. "Joe… my man!" Callie called out to the six-foot, heavy set bartender. "Do you know my girl, Dr. Maggie Pierce?" Joe shook his head. "But you do remember this character, right?" She said pointing to Miranda.
He started smiling. "She doesn't have time to come in here anymore, but I remember my favorite doctor. Howyadoin', Dr. Bailey?" Joe asked reaching over the bar and pulling Miranda into a hug.
"I'm good, Joe," Miranda told him. "And I'll have my usual."
"Jack and Coke, you got it. And for you lovely ladies?" Joe said looking from Maggie to Callie.
"I'll have tequila," Maggie said pulling off her jacket. "I'll also pay for the first round of drinks."
"Oh! Yay!" Callie said clapping her hands. "And I'll have, um, hmmm, a Seven and Seven." Maggie and Miranda laughed.
"Okay, ladies. I'm not going to get wasted, but you two are free to because my man-friend has offered to take us home." They whooped and high-fived.
"Wait! Who's your man-friend?" Maggie asked taking a sip of her drink.
"Well, that's not really important," Miranda said quickly picking up some bar nuts.
"I'm sorry. Did say he's not important?" Callie said picking up a handful of nuts. "I'm sorry I'm munching on these like a pig, but I'm starving. Joe, can we have a bucket of wings for me and my girls?"
"Sure thing, Torres," Joe responded and left to place the order.
"So, back to the guy," Maggie said.
"It's Ben Warren," Miranda mumbled and she smiled because she knew they couldn't hear her. The music was blaring and the other women were forced to lean in.
"What?" Callie commented.
"You know I'm talking about Ben Warren," Miranda yelled.
Callie smiled and nodded her head. Maggie called out: "Ohhhh, you're dating Dr. Warren?"
Miranda grinned and rolled her eyes as Joe sat down the bucket of wings. "Should we take these and our drinks to a booth, ladies?" The three women gathered their belongings and moved.
"So, Maggie, we hardly know anything about you," Callie started. "Where are you from? What are you doing here? Do you have a special man or a woman in your life?"
"I'm from Boston. And…," Maggie said picking up a chicken wing and taking a bite. "I'm in Seattle to find out some information about my mother, Ellis Grey. I know, I know, Meredith is my half-sister and I haven't told her yet, but I will. I'm just here to learn about my past." Miranda and Callie stared at their new friend with their mouths wide open. The ring from Maggie's phone interrupted the answer to Callie's question. "Excuse me, ladies."
"Damn and I thought this night was going to be ordinary," Callie said turning to Miranda.
"I know that's right, girl," Miranda commented. She picked up another wing and dunked it in bleu cheese dressing. "You and I know that Ellis and The Chief had an affair, do you think...?"
"No!" Callie answered. "Shoot! No, definitely! The Chief has a daughter. Wow. I mean, he already had you and Grey, but he has a biological—"
"She's coming back," Miranda squealed.
"Sorry, ladies," Maggie said sitting back down. "Were were we? Um, a special person in my life? I did have a boyfriend back in Boston, but we broke up." Miranda and Callie told her how terrible that was. "So, Callie, you're married to Arizona and Bailey, you're dating Dr. Warren?" The other two nodded. "I'm glad you two let me come out with you guys. It is so hard making friends at Grey-Sloan. Everybody is already friends and-and-and family."
"Yeah. We've heard that before," Miranda told her and they all laughed.
"But, you getting in good with us will have you making more friends and knowing more about yourself than you've ever known," Callie said with her eyes darting from Maggie to Miranda.
The three women continued to talk and have fun. They even got up and danced a couple of times. Miranda could see Maggie and Callie and herself being great friends. She just wondered how she'd break the news to The Chief and to Maggie about their possible and probable connection. It was about 7:30 when they closed their tab. Miranda called Ben and then they were walking, Callie was stumbling, out of Joe's. They bumped into Eli on their way back into the hospital. "Miranda. Ladies," he said holding the door open for them.
"Hello, Eli," Miranda said.
"You had a great time at Joe's?" He asked. They nodded. "Do you need help getting these ladies home?"
"I'm fine," Maggie told him whisper-yelling. Miranda shook her head.
Eli caught the elevator for them and rode with them up to the closest on-call room. Maggie climbed up to the top bunk and Callie rolled onto the bottom bunk. Miranda thought about lying next to her best friend, but decided that she did not want to be covered in puke if she decided to throw up. Miranda sat in a chair in the corner and put her feet up. Eli leaned against the wall. He looked at Maggie and Callie who were both snoring. "I miss you, Miranda. I really do."
"I miss you, too, but I'm with Ben and I'm happy and you hurt me, Eli," she said.
"I know and I'm sorry, baby, please," he said walking towards her and getting on his knees between her legs. So many times they'd been in this position and even a couple of times in this exact room.
She grabbed his face: "I-I-I can't, Eli. You didn't trust me and in doing so, you created what Ben and I have. You practically forced us together."
"So there's no chance of me getting you back into my arms?" Miranda could feel his eyes peering into her.
"No," a voice said cutting through the darkness and silence. "Because she's mine and I'm never letting her go." The light flickered on. It was Ben. Miranda's heart smiled and her lips followed suit. "Sweetheart, you're ready to go?" Miranda nodded. She kissed Eli's cheek before she stood up and hugged Ben and he kissed her on the lips.
Eli stood up and walked out. "Treat her well," he said to Ben before he walked out.
"Always," Ben responded. "Was he bothering you?"
"No, we were just talking," Miranda told him. "Just talking."
"I understand. I'm not jealous. Because even though you don't know, I know where your heart is." They kissed again while Ben held onto her. "Alright, let's get these ladies home, yeah?" Miranda nodded again.
"I'm going to help Maggie get into her house, I'll be back," Miranda said getting out of Ben's Mercedes. After helping Maggie, she was back into the car and they drove to Callie's house.
"Thanks for tonight, Miranda and Ben, I owe you one. Thanks for taking me home," Callie said slowly and sluggishly. "Also, Bwarren, remember what I said. And, Amanda, I'm glad you love Ben, Eli just wasn't right you for, girl."
Miranda's face was a little flushed and they both nodded at their drunken friend. He looked at Miranda and smiled. He reached for her hand. They pulled up to Callie's apartment. Arizona was waiting on the porch.
"I have your wife," Miranda called out of the window and she helped Callie into the house and onto the sofa. "I am exhausted," Miranda said sinking into the very comfortable car seat.
"You wanna go home or back to my place?" Ben asked wiggling his eyebrows.
"Ben Warren, I am going home," she said. "And I'm good to drive, so you can take me back to Grey Sloan and I'll drive myself thanks."
"Okay, okay, but since you won't come home with me… can I come home with you?"
Miranda didn't answer for the rest of drive back to the hospital. But Getting out of his car and into her own she whispered: "Yes. Only if you make me dinner." Miranda laughed and took off for her house without waiting for his response.
Ben pulled up right behind her in the driveway. "You're funny, Miranda Bailey," he said coming up behind her as she opened her front door.
"Am I now?" She asked. He nodded and closed and locked the door. "I'm hungry, sweetheart."
"Ha! Well, let's go. To the kitchen!"
As Ben pulled food out of the refrigerator and started to cook some chicken, Miranda used a chair to get up on the counter. "So… how's Curtis?" He turned around from turning the stove.
"Miranda. You're quickly becoming one of my best and finest friends, but I don't want to talk about Curt right now if you don't mind?"
Miranda was quiet. "Sure thing, Ben."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't be so touchy about it, but he irks me. I'll tell you about someday. I promise," he said making eye contact. He walked between her legs and kissed her quickly before going back to the cooking.
"I understand," she said nodding.
"So, how much of the conversation between you and Eli I, uh, miss?" He spoke casually as if her answer wouldn't affect him.
"Not much. Eli said that he misses me," she said pouring herself a glass of wine. Ben nodded. "And I told him I missed him, too." She looked at Ben and waited for him to look up. When he did, she smiled at him.
"You miss him?" He asked.
"Yeah, I do," she said seriously. "Of course, I do. We dated for a long time."
"I feel that," he said. He picked up a piece of chicken and brought it to her lips. "It's hot." She blew on it, but he put it in her mouth. His fingertips brushed her bottom lip.
"Tastes good. What are we having?" She asked.
"Chicken fajitas."
"You know you like showing off, Dr. Warren," she said getting down and sitting in a chair. Ben put several bowls and plates on the table.
He sat down. "I try."
They prayed over the food and they began eating ravenously. Miranda commented on how good the fajitas were. "I wish I had some sour cream."
"Yeah. That would have really set it off. Next time though." They continued to eat.
"Ben, thank you for dinner. Seriously. It was great. Although by now I'd expect nothing less," she said to her guest. They chuckled. Watching his eyes dissolve under his glee made her smile.
"Thanks for letting come over. I love your place." Miranda nodded and smiled. She took a sip of wine. The affect from the drinks that she had at Joe's were disappearing. "And I was serious a-about not having seen your bedroom. I didn't even look when I went upstairs to check on LT."
Hearing that reassured Miranda that Ben loved her son and cared for him. Her mouth dropped open a little; she quickly closed it. She stood up and took his hand leading him out of the kitchen. "That was the kitchen. And on the first floor, there's also a living room and a dining room and a bathroom with a coral color scheme. There's also a door that leads to the garage." She pulled him the stairs. "And upstairs there's a room that I want to use as an office, but I don't have the time to decorate and such. And right now, it's used as a makeshift guestroom. Then there's another bathroom that one is blued-out and Tuck's room." Ben was silent. He only nodded. Miranda felt her palms getting sweaty, but he didn't let go and neither did she. Her heart was racing and she was really trying to remain calm. But how could she do that when she was about to walk into her bedroom with Ben Warren in tow? She didn't know, so she kept talking. "And this is my bedroom," said pushing open her door. She turned on the light with her free hand. "And I decorated this myself." She turned to face him and he closed the door by gently kicking it. He put his free hand around her waist. "I, uh, I got a, uh, king-sized bed because although they're not longer, they're wider and I like sleeping crossways in the bed and when Tuck's a wild sleeper, so I need my space when he sleeps with me." Ben smiled. Maybe I should stop talking, she thought. Ben hadn't said a word in nearly 10 minutes. When she thought about that, she stopped talking. She wasn't giving him a chance to talk.
Realizing that she wasn't going to speak again, he said: "No, don't stop. I love listening to you talk, Miranda." When he said her name, he pulled her closer making her shudder.
"Oh. Okay. Did you think we'd end up here, in my bedroom, when you followed me home?" She asked.
Ben laughed loudly. "What do you want me to say?"
"I want you say that you had no idea we'd end up in my bedroom. That you figured at most we'd watch a movie or two on the couch, fall asleep and you'd slip out the door when the time was right." Ben raised an eyebrow. "Or… I want you to say that this was your plan the entire time. You came home with me planning to slip into my bedroom and to possibly continue our interrupted night." Miranda began grinning. "Either way, it's fine with me."
"Miranda, I could listen to you all day and all night," he said. They stopped holding hands and her arms established themselves in their rightful place, around his neck. She swallowed hard. "Can I kiss you now or do you have more to say?"
"I'll let you know, Ben Warren." She closed her eye and he slowly pressed his lips to hers… just once. His lips landed on her neck. Miranda felt them moving towards her bed. Her eyes opened widely. "Ben," she said softly.
He stopped kissing her immediately and looked into her eyes, batting his eyelashes. "Yes, sweetheart?"
"Don't even bat those sexy eyelashes at me," she said smiling up at him.
"Whatever do you mean?" He said kissing the top of her head and batting his eyes again. She rolled her eyes, pretending to be annoyed.
"Just kiss me," she told him.
"My pleasure," he answered leaning down to whisper in her ear. His warm breath tickled her ear and she felt her knees buckle a little. "I got you." Miranda pulled away and walked to the bed. She kicked off her shoes and sat in the middle of the bed. Ben stood at the foot of the bed and watched her.
"Come and join me," she told him patting the space in front of her. Ben took off his shoes and climbed onto the bed. They faced each other without touching. Miranda didn't know about Ben, but she was going crazy inside. She wanted to reach out and touch him and bring his body close to hers. She hoped that he was feeling the same way. They stared at each other, brown eyes into brown eyes. Miranda bit her bottom lip as Ben licked his own. She wanted him, maybe just a touch of his skin. Just as her mind coerced her hand into reaching out for him, his phone began vibrating. He reached into his back pocket and pulled it out. He stared at the screen before tapping out a response. He put the phone back in his pocket. It vibrated two seconds later. He sighed heavily and tapped some more. Miranda lay back on the bed. She grabbed the remote and flicked on her television, muting it. He mouthed that he was sorry and held up one finger that asked her to give him a second. She nodded. She didn't mind waiting for him, he'd waited for her on several occasions. So, she turned on her side and listened. She listened to Ben texting and the white noise from the television and the sound of her own breathing. Those sounds mixed with the drinks from Joe's and the wine lulled her to sleep.