Leroy drug himself home, too tired to even think. He'd been on surveillance for the last four nights. So far, no bite from the green slime trailing ghost that had been seen in the mall, supposedly.  Leroy thought it was a total waste of resources, not to mention his time. It was barely dawn.  Billie was sound asleep still.  She'd wake up, he knew, if it wasn't him stumbling into the apartment. As it was, at some level she knew she was safe even if there was a grungy, unshaved, bleary eyed guy standing in the doorway staring at her. He yawned, and swore his jaw broke. He was beat.  He didn't want to wake her so he curled up on the couch in the living room and was asleep instantly.

Billie woke three minutes before the alarm and turned it off before it went on.  She stretched and felt for Leroy in the same motion, frowning when she found nothing but sheets.  Twenty minutes later, showered, half dressed and half made up she headed for the kitchen to get a cup of coffee.  She missed him on her way onto the kitchen but saw him plain as day on her way back to the bedroom.  Shaking her head over the foolishness of men she got a blanket from the closet and put it over him, covering his feet.  Then she gathered up his dirty clothes and went back to getting ready for work.

He smiled in his sleep and rolled over reaching out for her, which ended with him slamming into the floor since the couch wasn't wide enough to roll over on.  "Shit!" he muttered, rubbing an elbow.

"Coffee's ready if you want some," she called from the bathroom and went on with the delicate task of lining her lower lids.

He rubbed his face and groaned. "Sorry. I was trying not to wake you."

"I wouldn't have minded," she said.  "Are you okay?"

"No. I hate my job."

"The current assignment or the job?" she asked, wielding the mascara wand like a conductor's baton.

"I dunno. I'm too tired to think."

She frowned and set the wand down.   Then, still in just her bra, panties and a slip, she wiped her hands on a towel, checking the clock automatically.  She slipped the panties off, pulled the plug on the curling iron and headed back to the kitchen where she poured more coffee and went out into the living room where Leroy was sitting with his head in his hands.  She poked him gently on the shoulder with one finger and when he looked up at her she swooped in and captured his mouth, letting her weight lean him back against the couch.  When he was securely propped she straddled him and lifted her mouth from his.  "If you'd woken me, I wouldn't be behind on my kisses and you'd be sleeping.  Still, it means you can give me some advice."

"Oh yeah. I'm great at advice. Shoot."

"You think I should wear panties today or not?"

"What?"  He was suddenly wide awake.

"Do you think I should wear panties to work today or not?"

He frowned. "Is this a trick question? One you gals use to confuse us poor guys with?"

She sat up on her knees and hiked up her half slip, only incidentally putting her breasts in their half cups square in front of his nose.  "Is it better with or without?"

"Much better without."

"So you think I shouldn't wear them to work today?" she asked, wriggling and trying to get a look behind her, moving the half cups from his nose to a half inch from his mouth.  "I really need some help here, honey.  This is serious."

He grabbed her and got a mouthful of boob too  He didn't mind one bit.  Neither did she.  A bit later, draped limply over him, she sighed with content.  "I knew you wouldn't let me down, honey.  I'll leave 'em home today."

"Man, you're gonna kill me, you know?  But I'll die with a smile on my face."

"Glad I could help, sugar.  I know you helped me."

"What are you up to today?"

She shifted and reached the coffee cup.  "The usual, except I talked to Bobbie and Betty last night and we want to put an ad in today to rent the apartment.  If you're okay with that."

"I dunno. Should I be?"

She looked at him and then took a more usual seat on the couch than one she'd been using.  "Well, basically I'm asking are you happy living together or do you want to keep the apartment downstairs in case you decide you aren't and need to bolt?"

"Oh. I thought maybe you were asking me if I wanted it for when you throw me and my dirty socks out."

She finished the coffee and set the mug aside.  "Well, I'm a bit dumbfounded that your sister let you get away with dropping the clothes or the towels or whatever else where ever you happen to be standing confident that someone else will clean up after you.  And I promise you one of these days I'm gonna stop doing it or doing your laundry when it doesn't make it to the hamper.  Instead the clothes will go in the trash and they'll never be a towel when you want one.  But I'm not going to throw you out over it.  That's too easy."

"Oh. Okay, then I'm okay with renting the apartment, but I reserve first right of refusal." At her look he added, "Hey, I'm the brother around here. I'm gonna check any renter out top to bottom."

She narrowed her eyes at him, her expression making it plain she wasn't getting ready to crack a joke.  "It better be a man then, sugar."

"Are you jealous?"

She lifted her chin and made a sound like an annoyed kitten. 

"You wanna translate that for a tired guy who's trying to imagine what that means?"

"And if I am?" she said. 

"Oh. Well, I... Uhm... I've never had anybody I was in a relationship with get jealous. It's kinda .. I dunno."  He frowned. "Okay, well, I haven't been in a lot of relationships, exactly. I mean, you know, I dated. But ... uhm.. Are you?"


"Not yet," she said.  "And I don't want to be, if you wouldn't mind arranging things that way."

"Honey, you've got no worries. Who else would put up with me? I can't believe you do.  How'd I get so lucky anyway?"  When that didn't seem to go over too well he hurriedly added,  "I'm not lookin' elsewhere, honest."

She sighed and snuggled into him.  "You make me crazy, you know that don't you.  I never even thought about getting jealous of anyone else and I know it's silly but all of a sudden I had this flash of you and someone else and I didn't like it at all."

"Billie.." he said and kissed her head. "You better get to work. My date'll be here soon so..  Hey, don't hit me!" he laughed as she punched him lightly in the chest.