Three dishes, two on the table, one on the counter.

Steak, chicken and a fish, all in a row.

heath made a point not to look at the white marble counter tops. Or the assorted furniture. Or the still scuffed grand piano in the sitting room.

Nor the pool table in the game room, any of the seats in the home movie theater...

In fact he couldn't name one place in this huge house they hadn't fooled around.

'Cat Barrett.' he said thoughtfully.

'I'm impressed you've figured it out, YOU, while everyone else is still guessing.'

'the name makes the most sense.'

'Unlike you who has no sense.' Wade plunged the steak knife down, sawed away.

'She really likes that salmon, huh?'

'Not a she.'

'He?'

'Not as such.'

'Uh yeah, hey it's a living animal, it's gotta be one or the other.' Half the chicken vanished in consumption. 'Or both.'

'I've never checked. It's rude.'

'Spay or neuter?'

Wade shrugged. 'i told the vet to do what was needed.'

'You are a work and a half! Don't even know if yer cat's a chickie or a dude.'

'Don't talk. Eat.'

'I'm stuffed.'

'Put SOMETHING in your mouth to stop the flow of stupidity falling from it.'

'you oughta return to work. you should be there. Forget what I said earlier, I'd like to have you back.'

'Marvelous!'

'At work.'

'You're not giving up on this trial seperation nonsense, are you?'

'Not anytime soon.'

'Blame the so-called creative instaed of me. I want to go back but I'm waiting.'

'For hell to freeze over?'

'Close. They want me repackaged.'

'You already have a great package!'

'And you make it difficult to not confuse love and sex.'

'Thanks. Whenever you stop...'

'I KNOW the difference!'

'Yeah when you DO figure it out, I'll gladly take you back.'

'I've been with Cody.'

A glob of chewed meat spat out flew out of hanging open mouth. 'You DID?!'

'And i felt nothing. So I know the difference. Cody I can get physical pleasure from, but I don't feel the same as when I'm with you.'

'attempted charm and seduction won't work this time.'

'Next time?'

'I'll think about it.'

Another sarcastic teasing insult of a joke held beneath the tongue.

Carrot kept eating.

the two human males left the food to ponder the future.

And the present.

Derrick tied the final stick of dynamite to the post.

the arena was decorated indoors with red sticks, dangerous decor.

The enemy was no longer a problem. He'd heard the news, as backstage male wrestlers gossiped worse than women did. His Perfect husband had left that fool and Derrick could claim his wonderful flawless lover after all.

But first he had to rid the world of the rest of the competition.

One roster member after the next.

He disguised his voice to sound like Vince and made several phone calls.

Time to play.