-Adam-

"Gideon?!" Bewildered, I stood at the doorway and looked across at my companion. My voice rose above the din of the stereo as I inquired. "Is everything alright? What brings you to my place?"

"Everything is fine," he said. "Why? Because I am a married man, I can't drop by your place anymore."

"Of course, you can. It's just that you stopped doing so. I was wondering whether you and Margaret got into a fight because you showed up here."

"Nope, we haven't." I looked at him suspiciously as he walked right past me to my living room and dropped on my sofa. He sighs, catching a glimpse of my gaze.

"Okay, yes, we have. I swear that woman needs a hobby. I don't understand why she is now all in on my business. We have been arguing a lot lately. She said I have stopped being romantic-can you believe that?-and that I don't find her attractive anymore."

"That woman still looks good after having two children, and I love her for the effort she puts into looking good. The pilates classes she takes pay off in so many ways. Fuck, she is all I think of. She has no idea how I want to fuck her brains out."

"So why don't you do it?" I inquired.

'Do what?'

"Fuck her brains out."

Sighing, he leans forward as he looks at me intensely and says, "My job can be tiring sometimes. Right after the clinic, I have to stop by the ward to review my patients and also check in on my interns to see if they are on track. By the time I get home, I am tired to the bone. If I try to engage her in sex, I won't give her my best performance. I would rather not have sex with her than not give her my best."

"Isn't there a doctor's resting room on your unit where you can take a short nap? Maybe that would help you recover from a long day at the hospital. Then, when you're ready, you can go home and surprise your wife with some wild, spontaneous sex that will make her smile for days."

"Ben, you amaze me. I never imagined you to be this romantic. Really, I'm open to trying it. Thanks, dude."

"You are welcome," I said as I sat on the sofa across from him.

With a suspicious look from Blackson to me, while I glance through documents, he inquires, "Is that the kind of act you wish to indulge in with Miss Dickson?"

I abruptly lift my gaze to him, as if waking from a bad dream. "Why the hell would you have that kind of idea?"

Shrugging, he said, "I don't know. Maybe from the way you look at her and how she tries as much as possible to avoid you, you don't dare tell me there is no attraction between you two. I could smell it on both of you."

"I am not going to deny my attraction to her, but I cannot say the same of hers to me, and I have no intention of taking her to my bed."

Well, that is a flat lie since all I have been dreaming about these past few weeks is having her in my bed, but Blackson doesn't need to know that. That man doesn't have any filters. If he ever becomes aware of this, only God knows what he will do with that piece of information.

"I think she is attracted to you, Blackson says. She just doesn't want to act on it."

"Maybe you are right," I said as I made my way across the room. "Want a drink?" I offered.

"Okay, why not?" As I make my way to the sidebar, he keeps a tight eye on me. Before pouring the booze, I take two glasses and pour the drink evenly. In each, I place one big ice cube. On the way back to my seat, I set his drink down and watched as he downed half of it in one gulp. I took a sip of mine.

"Ow, Gideon, listen I don't want you to inquire from Miss Dickson about her feelings for me." With Blackson's eyebrow lifted, he paused midway through his drink and asked, "Why not?"

"I don't want her feeling pressured, I responded, and knowing you, you have a way of making people feel really uncomfortable."

'So, please don't.'

"Okay, I will not." I could see he wasn't pleased with my request. "You ruin everything when it involves her. "At the party first, and now this," he alleged.

"Your plan at the party was obvious to me. Did you not realize that asking Miss Dickson that kind of question would make her feel awkward? You've known her for how long?"

"I anticipated that it would undoubtedly annoy her. Tell me why you believe I inquired. That was the one spot where I could obtain a straight answer, and I wanted one badly."

"You should apologize to her," I say. "No matter how much you desired the truth, you shouldn't have asked her that."

"Well, then, who was the one to inquire? You?"

Taking a forward lean, I responded, "It was completely irrelevant to us what Miss Dickson wants from a partner. It's none of our business."

"You don't get it, do you? I made that inquiry for you. It was important for you to know if you are the kind of man she will go in for so that if you are not, you will back out before you get too deep with your feelings for her. Surely you should know I did it for you."

"Of course, I know you did that for me, but I want to be the one to ask her that when the time is right."

"Listen, I understand and love the way you look out for us, but please, just this once, can you leave that to me."

"Well, I am sorry it won't happen again."

It is acceptable, but you are aware that you do not owe an apology to me, correct?

"Yes! Christ, can we change the subject?" he barks, placing his drink on the coffee table.

"Fine, what would you like us to talk about?" I posed this inquiry without averting my gaze from the document I held.

-Blackson POV-

"When are you going to get back to the state? Isn't your time up? I believe you told me that your dad asked for an audience with you. You did tell him you were coming here for Matthew's wedding and that you would get back as soon as it was over."

"It has been two months, and yet you are still here." I watch Ben closely, expecting a response, but instead, he does not say anything. I know he heard me ask the question because of the frown that appeared on his forehead.

"Benjamin?"

'What?'

"I expect an answer to my question."

In Fury he says, "I certainly do not give a damn about what that man wants. For all I care, he can wait until eternity. When I finish what I am doing here, I will return."

"And what exactly are you doing here?" I asked.

"Damn it, Gideon. Since when did you give a shit what my father wanted with me?"

'Damn.' What was I even thinking? Bringing that man up in discussion. The way Ben felt about his dad had been extremely clear to me. At this moment in question, I feel like the worst possible buddy. "You know what? I don't. I think I should get going. It seems I have overstayed my welcome here."

Massaging his temple, he sighs. "You don't have to leave. You know you can stay as long as you want."

I took my coat and looked at my pal, apologising. "I understand, but you have work to get back to. We'll chat later. "Goodnight, Ben."

As I stepped out of the front door, I felt his eyes on me the whole time. Finally, I shut the door behind me.

_

A/N: Is there a backstory to Ben and his dad?🤔