Chapter 41 D Minus

• Clay took the side of the hall where the camera didn’t point correctly at the walkway. He juggled the containers of food he’d picked up from the chow hall as he got Brice’s key out of his cargo pocket.
• Silently, Clay let himself into Brice’s place like he’d been doing for weeks. Today Brice was nowhere around the room. That was a first. Generally, the grader was home before him. Sometimes the man waited naked to jump him. Other times Brice did a slow seduction of music, food, and then sex. Being the first one to the apartment was a new experience.
• Setting the food on the table, Clay walked to the bed and stripped out of his uniform. Past evenings had taught him that Brice hated seeing the outfit for H.S.P.C. training. He had the feeling that the logo reminded Brice that they were breaking the rules. That was the one thing Clay didn’t want either of them to think about when they were together. He didn’t want anything to change Brice’s mind about them being together.