I thought it would be a really good day today. I woke up at dawn, like my energy pack had supercharged over night, and my mind and heart were racing. I dreamed about Mike all night, and drove myself to the edge! In my dream Mike was posing for me. He was MY David -- all gorgeous and nude and standing before my very eyes. I have to have him. Somehow, I need to be with him. So I start to draw him. I sketch with my eyes closed, remembering his firm ass beneath my fingers, his back succumbing to the pressure of my hands. I felt his entire body. It was like I was in a zone -- just floating in his anatomy, letting my pencil retrace the patterns my hands had discovered the other night. I'm high and feeling free! I was flying.

And then, all hell breaks lose...

*****
"Greg!" called Fran, spotting me in Mocha Daze like an eagle hunting prey. I never had a chance. "#@##% #@@#@#," she ranted as she sat down.

"He did what?" I asked politely.

"He barged into the bathroom and saw me naked!" she yelled.

"Fran, honey," asked Hugo. "Can you speak up, I don't think the gentleman at the window table heard what you said."

"I'm sure he didn't mean to," I offered.

"%#A-F%#@NG, #@#!!!" she screamed, as if it was my fault that the devil incarnate was living in her house.

I shrugged as she left. Hugo gave me his paternal "I-told-you-so" look. Well, at least Andrew was happy about his move in with Eric.

*****
"He was such an asshole!" he ranted. Who Eric? Mr. Wonderful-love-of-your-life?

"I knew that before you moved in," I kidded. Andrew wasn't amused.

"I couldn't believe it. I was a fucking golf widow!" he whined, staring Hugo down.

"Well, don't look at me," said Hugo innocently. "He wanted to go."

"So what'd you do?" I asked.

"I went to the gym and took a swim."

"Oh really?" I said. I wondered if the "Mark from another life" happened to be swimming as well. "You watch your step, Andy."

"I'm not an idiot, Greg," he said oh so defensively, like it was my fault the ghost from the past showed up to haunt him.

Well, Andy left to tread dangerous waters, and I needed another cup of coffee.

"Hugo...Hugo?" Hugo was busy -- ogling the customer seated at the table by the window: Young. Cute. Reading a paperback. I waved my hand in Hugo's face.

"Whaddaya want?!" he barked. That's okay, my head's been bitten off twice today.

"Never mind." I gave up. Everybody's on another planet! I'm going back to bed, and sketch Mike in my dreams!