The Time of His Life - Max Griffin

Jeff works for a rapacious corporation selling suspended animation contracts. His ex-lover had an affair with his brother, leaving him alone. When a mysterious stranger named Cal appears, things start to turn around. But then Jeff learns the truth about Cal and he must make the decision of a lifetime.

Jeff spends his days hawking suspended animation contracts to greedy trust fund heirs who hope to cash in on the stock market and to patients with terminal diagnoses who hope for a cure in the future. Jeff spends his nights alone. His former lover had an affair with his brother and his only friend is away on her honeymoon. When a mysterious stranger named Cal appears from nowhere, things start to turn around for him. But then Jeff loses his job and he learns the frightening truth about his new love. Now he must decide whether Cal is his future or something more sinister.

* * * *

Jeff pulled his battered coupe up to the gate into Elysium Arms and swiped Kathy's card across the reader. The ornate, wrought iron barrier swayed open, and he drove into the secured community. He followed the lazy curves of the shaded lane to the happy couple's condo, where he hid his vehicle in their carport. Most of the other tenants drove the latest in luxury, electric sedans, while Jeff's old clunker spewed foul-smelling, blue exhaust.

He trudged from his car to the covered entry of their condo, not looking forward to a frozen dinner and a night of mindless TV. He blinked as a momentary flash of light lit the shadows and a gust of hot air washed across his face. The faintest rumble of something, not quite thunder, pulsed through him. He cast his gaze about, but the skies were clear. His eyes passed over a man standing across the street wearing blue slacks and a light blue shirt, almost like a uniform. The guy's head pivoted about as though he were lost and looking for landmarks. He brushed his heavy black hair back from his eyes and it fell into perfect bangs, parting in the middle over his forehead. Jeff raised his hand in a tentative wave, but the other guy looked away. He shrugged, and plodded on to the front door. Fuckin' snooty rich people, anyway. Too bad, though. He was kinda hot. Mark Phillips was the only neighbor who had deigned to speak to him in the last week.

Sam woofed at him before the door was open. The dog's clawed feet scrabbled on the tiles in the entry way, running to greet him. Jeff grinned at seeing the Irish Setter, his soulful brown eyes staring at him and the leash already in his jaws. "Hey, Sam. Good to see you, boy! You need to go for a walk, don’t you?" He ruffled the animal's ears and hooked the leash to his collar. "Let's go, boy. Come on!" Sam ran ahead through the open door, jerking on Jeff's hand. He paused to activate the alarm and latch the door before they raced down the sidewalk to the brick pathway next to the street. The strange guy was nowhere in sight.

Thirty minutes later Sam and Jeff strolled back up the walkway to the condo's entrance, where the door stood wide open. A black hole of guilt collapsed inside him and sent tremors out of his fingers. "Fuck me, I could have sworn I closed that door." He raced into the house, unleashed Sam, and locked the door. Someone's disarmed the alarm, too. It's too soon for Kathy and Aaron to be back, though. Sam sniffed at the tiles on the floor, tail wagging, and took off up the stairs.

Jeff's eyes scanned the apartment. The portraits of Aaron and Kathy still stood on the mantle in their silver frame. Next to them another silver frame held the portrait of Aaron's brother Caleb embracing his now-deceased lover Ben, both in Air Force uniforms. The frame that had held the portrait of Jeff and Craig was empty. The crystal still glittered in the hutch and the electronics still stood ready to provide entertainment. Doesn't look like anything's missing. God knows this place has enough rent-a-cops and security. Who else would have a key and know the code? Aaron's brother has a key to this place, but I thought he's still off in Syria. He trotted upstairs to see what captured Sam's attention.

His unease grew when he reached the second floor and heard a voice murmuring from the bedroom. He paused for a moment and recognized the tones of a man making friends with a dog.

He hid in the hallway and gazed into the bedroom. The late afternoon sun streamed through the windows and cast long shadows on the bed, the dresser, and the two figures inside. Sam squatted on his haunches, his tail sweeping out red semi-circles of joy on the plush, green carpet. His tongue slathered sloppy doggie kisses onto one hand of the man, while the man's free hand ruffled at Sam's ears. His voice cooed canine nonsense, but Jeff wasn't listening. His eyes focused on the man's face, and relief pulsed through him. Even if he hadn't just seen the photo downstairs, Jeff would have at once known this guy was related to Aaron. This had to be Aaron's brother, Caleb!

"You're a good fella, aren't you? Yeah?" His voice was deep and full of warmth, a voice that touched Jeff's psyche and made him want to know the man who owned it.

From his attire, Jeff recognized that this was also the man he'd seen earlier, across the street. On closer inspection, his clothing looked like an Air Force uniform, from the gleaming shoes to the crisp seams of the shirt and trousers. Certainly, his broad shoulders and narrow hips revealed a soldier's athletic physique. But it was his face that held Jeff's attention. His cobalt eyes glowed under long lashes, and his ebony hair fell in perfect locks across his smooth brow. His aquiline nose gave his face a lean accent, while his tanned cheeks held a tinge of shadow that no razor could obscure. A tuft of coarse, black hair emerged from the open collar beneath his cleft chin. Even in the shadowed room, his teeth gleamed from the smile that graced his wide mouth and spare lips. He was the sexiest, most riveting man Jeff had ever seen. Jeff glanced down at his own lean form and felt incomplete in comparison.

He was like Aaron, but with a mysterious allure that tingled Jeff's loins and arrested his soul. Strange that he's here now, after he couldn't get leave for the wedding.

Jeff coughed. "Excuse me, you must be Caleb?"

The man raised startled eyes in his direction and frowned, as if he had to think about it. "Yes. My name's Caleb." He paused, and then repeated, "Caleb Cole," as if trying out the sound of it on his ears. “I'm here to visit Aaron and Kathy."

Jeff stuck out his hand. "I'm Jeff Railsback, Kathy's friend. I'm watching the place while they're away on their honeymoon in Japan. I see you know Sam."

Caleb jumped to his feet and grabbed his hand. His grip was firm without being challenging; his palm was warm and felt roughened from hard labor as he pressed it against Jeff's smooth skin. "Pleased I am to meet you, sir. Call me Cal."

"Nice to meet you, Cal."

He held Jeff's hand for just a beat too long before releasing it. His eyes cast about the room before landing on the hologram of Kathy and Aaron on the dresser. He beamed as if enchanted and hesitant steps drew him to it. He ran his fingers over the surface and murmured, "They look so happy."

"They are. I wish you'd seen them at the wedding!" He paused. "I know that Aaron thinks the world of you." Well, at least I'd think the world of you if you were my brother.

Cal's gaze fell again on Jeff's face, and those arresting eyes quickened his heart. A smile toyed with his lips, as if he knew a special secret and couldn't share it. "I think the world of him, too."

Jeff shook his head and the spell between them broke. "Well, then, you must be on leave, or something? I'm sure that Aaron and Kathy would want you to stay here."

He blinked and his expression blanked for a moment before his smile chased the shadows from the room. "I would like to stay here, yes. With your permission, of course."

"Well, we sure don't want to bother the newlyweds by asking them. And I know it'll be fine." He hesitated for a moment. "I hope you don't mind. I'm kind of between apartments at the moment. My new place won't be ready for another week, so I have to stay here too."

"I'm sure we can work something out." He touched Jeff's hand and a spark of static electricity flashed between them. Both men flinched backwards. "Kuso! I'm sorry. I must have brushed across the carpet!"

Jeff grinned, rubbing his finger. "S'all right." I wouldn't mind if more sparks flew between us, he mused.

* * * *

Author Bio:

Max Griffin is the pen name of a professional mathematician and academic. Under his professional name, he is the author of a graduate textbook in real analysis and numerous research articles. When he is not writing fiction, his days are filled with teaching mathematics and statistics, research, and administrative work at a major comprehensive university in the southwest. He is the proud parent of a daughter who is a librarian. He is blessed to be in a long-term relationship with his life partner, Mr. Gene, who is an expert knitter.
The two humans in Max's household are the pets of an Abyssinian cat named Mr. Dinger, short for Erwin Schrodinger the Cat. Mr. Dinger graciously lets them live in his home in return for food and occasional petting.
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