Page 117 of Ghost

Chapter Forty

Mason and Francis spent a quiet evening at home, watching some of the Olympic events on the TV.Neither of them said anything about what was coming up the next week.They were trying their best not to discuss anything of real importance.Only commenting from time to time about the competition that was unfolding in front of them.

Mason was about to call it a night and go to bed when the phone rang.He looked at his watch.“Who would be calling me at ten o’clock on a Saturday night?”

“Hello?”

“Mason, my man.”It was Mitch.“How’s it hanging?”

“Hey, Mitch.”Mason didn’t really want to talk to anyone, and it sounded as if Mitch had already had a few, or knowing Mitch, more than just a few.“I was about to go to bed.”

“What?It’s Saturday night, man.”

“Yeah, and I’ve had a few really long days.”

“Getting all our new clients lined up?”Mitch burped loudly.

“You’re such a pig.”Mason had to smile slightly.“You just call to chat or was there a purpose for burping in my ear?”

“Yeah, yeah.You love me.”Mitch burped again, this time on purpose.“I just wanted to let you know that I expect you to be here with your truck a week from this coming Monday.Sorry for having to move things up a few days.It’s been totally crazy around here with all the Olympics and shit.You okay with that?”

Mason quickly calculated the schedule in his head.Leave here on Wednesday.Bury Francis on Saturday.Get ready to leave on Sunday and then hit the road early on that Monday.Perfect.Maybe it will get me out of my own head.

“Sure thing.I’ll leave out of here early Monday morning.”

“Why not come up on Sunday, if you get here in the afternoon?We could then pack up and leave Monday afternoon.”

“I’ve got something going on and can’t leave till Monday morning.”Mason rubbed the top of his head, still trying to get used to the bristly feeling.

“You got a main squeeze or sumpthin’?”

Yep, he’d definitely been drinking.“Something like that.Listen, Mitch, I’m really beat, and I need to get to bed.I’ll see you that Monday afternoon.”

“Okay, I know when I’m being blown off,” Mitch grumbled.

“Not blowing you.”Mason couldn’t help but give him a bit of a dig.“I’ll see you then.‘Night.”

He hung up before Mitch could respond with some kind of snide remark.He just wasn’t in the mood.

When Mason got to the bedroom, Francis was laid out naked on the bed, a smirk on his face.Mason stood there looking at him for a moment and smiled.

“It’s not every day I get to see a hunky naked man in my bed.”

Francis winked.“I had hoped that you would appreciate my boldness.”

What Mason wanted to say was‘I’d like you naked in my bed forever’but didn’t.He knew that would open up a can of worms that didn’t need to be opened.

That night, Francis made love to Mason in his special way.Mason was so exhausted, he fell asleep with Francis talking to him.The last thing he remembered was Francis declaring his love for him.

* * * * *

The next morning Mason woke up with his nuts sore, mouth dry and in desperate need of some strong coffee.

It was comfortable.It wastheirroutine.Mason would get out of bed, go to the bathroom.Make coffee and then go and sit with Francis in front of the television that hadn’t been turned off in so many days.He had to smile to himself as he brushed his teeth.Francis is a TV addict.Who’d have thought that a ghost would be such a TV junkie!

“Morning,” Mason said as he entered the room.Francis was completely engrossed in a news segment.He only waved his hand for Mason to be quiet, his focus never leaving the program.