With a ding the microwave finished, and James wasted no time wolfing down the meat. He quickly ran his hands under the tap, drying them on his pants. ...s he did so, he noticed how tight in the hips his pants seemed to be getting. He groaned inwardly, knowing exactly what it meant.When he returned to the living room, it appeared that the other three were wrapping up their conversation. James quickly returned to his seat near the unlighted fireplace."James, honey, I think we really need to talk. They found me in a melancholy mood, a few beers the worse for wear, but I really wanted to be alone, on this the first night without Yen after our wonderful almost-two weeks together. Mae cut off any discussion of loneliness, and told me Yen had flown off stoically, promising she would be back next long holidays mid-year, and asked when I was going to ‘your other home’ to collect clothes to come back here ‘to your real home’. Mae was referring to the new job offer I had received to stay here. Like you say, it’s for science.”“That’s right,” agreed Olivia. “And you’re an ideal candidate, based on our guidelines.”“Good. Even better!” said Grant, fiddling with his empty glass.Olivia and Lucy exchanged slightly nervous glances, and both looked at Grant.“When would you be able to begin with the next stage?” They said in unison.“Oh… ummm… whenever.”“Would now be good?” asked Olivia.Grant looked at the girls with a slightly furtive expression.“No time like the present,” he replied, shifting. Though one-sided.Then Mr. Jackson moved into the apartment right across from Reagan's. The second floor bedrooms facing each other with a slim balcony off the bedroom French doors. Reagan had been working from home that week and had his laptop out on the balcony with a chair to enjoy the brief winter sunshine.With the drapes back and the French doors opened, Reagan could see right through his new neighbor's bedroom and part of his hallway. Of course, he realized with a start the same view of.