Page 8 of New Neighbor

My god.

“Would you like a c-cup of coffee?”

“Thanks, but I’ve got a pot brewing next door,” Mac said.

“Without any water?”

Mac got an odd look on his face. “I had a gallon of spring water for that. Not enough for a shower, though.”

Benji frowned. “Oh, okay.”

Mac stood at the opposite side of the island, staring at him. “I should finish getting ready for my appointment.”

“Sounds important.”

“I’ve got a meeting with my new boss,” Mac answered. “I’m a little nervous, to be honest.”

Mac reminded him a little of his cousin, a bona fide jarhead. “I’m assuming you were military? Marines?”

“Oorah!”

Benji smiled. “If you had enough courage to risk your life… I’d say everything else that comes afterwards should be pretty easy.”

Mac shrugged. “So one would think. But it’s a huge jump from the military into the real world.” He paused, his smile fading a little. “Abigadjustment.”

“What will you be doing? For work, that is.”

“PE teacher.”

“Really?” Benji smiled. “I teach.”

“Yeah?” Mac asked, his own smile widening.

Benji got lost in that smile. His insides twisted into knots and coherent thought wasn’t quite possible. “Which grade level?”

“Elementary.”

An acrid smell crossed his nose.

Mac frowned, the smile fading. “Umm… Ben?”

“Yeah?” Benji asked.

“You burning something?”

Burning? Yeah… I’m burning. For you.The smell hit him again and he spun, remembering the omelet on the stove. Smoke was rising from the pan. He slid it to the side, accidentally hitting his hand on the edge of the pan. Dragging his hand away, he cried out in pain.

Suddenly, Mac was at his side, forcing him toward the sink.

Mac turned on the water and yanked Benji’s hand into the torrent. The cold immediately soothed him.

“You okay?” Mac asked, looking down.

Benji looked up, dazed. He was up against a wall of muscle and could barely think straight. “Yeah. I just nicked it.”

Mac let go and backed off… and Benji immediately missed the guy’s touch.

“If you’re okay… I should go.”

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