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BRIAN


I woke up alone, but he left a note saying he needed to check in with Hunter. I got up, glad that he still remembered. I found a note on the refrigerator telling me he left food in the oven for me. Then a third note on the top of the covered platter, telling me to eat or no dessert later. I put the plate in the microwave, thinking about bringing home Gus. The loft door opened and the torpedo that is Beth Kinney came running into my arms.


“I told your father two weeks was too long.” She tells me.


“Honey, it's not like Brian got married and had children, so we didn’t miss that much.” Dad jokes, hugging me when Mom let me go.


“I wanted you and Dad to go on the cruise you talked about doing all the time.” I tell her, really not sure how to tell my dad he's wrong.


“Who’s Hunter and who cooked for you and apparently plans dessert for later?” Mom asks, holding up the notes.


“Hunter is the kid the guy I’m seeing takes care of. His name is Justin Taylor and he owns a publishing business.” I tell her.


“When do I meet him?” She asks, excited.


“Honey, maybe Brian would like to get to know him first before you try to plan their lives.” Dad tells her, shaking his head at my mother being excited.


“You could be more excited that I’m in the process of adopting a son.” I tell her.


“We will never take a vacation again.” Dad laughs, grabbing a cup of coffee and looking at the breakfast Justin hasn’t learned would feed a family, or himself.


“Have at it Dad, when he comes back he’ll give me hell for not being able to eat all that.” I tell him.


“You’ve always been too skinny.” Mom tells me, as we divide up the food and sit down.


“I don’t know what to ask first. A baby and boyfriend; it’s like Christmas.” Mom tells me.


“Gus is three not a baby, and Justin, well you can decide for yourself when you meet him.” I tell her.


“That’s so strange, remember when Brian named his teddy bear Gus?” She asks Dad.


“It’s still in the attic, we should get it and clean it up for our new grandchild.” Dad tells her.


“When did you decide to adopt? You always said you wanted to have one of your own.” Mom quizzes me.


“Mel dragged me with her to see the little girl she and Maryanne plan to adopt. Gus is at the same foster home. The minute I saw him, I knew he belonged with me, I could just feel it. I’m going to pick him up for a visit today, and I’ll bring him over to meet his grandparents.” I tell them, having my mom hug me again.


“Your dad and I need to shop for my new grandson. Make sure you bring Justin too.” Mom tells me, floating on air.


“How did I end up shopping? That’s what you and your mother do.” He tells me, smiling.


The loft door opens and Justin was picking up bags before he walked in. “Brian, I bought food, because I don’t plan on eating rabbit food.” He tells me, then stops when he sees I’m not alone. “Hi, sorry, I didn’t know he had company.” Justin tells my parents.


“Justin, this is Beth and Bill Kinney, my parents. Mom and Dad this is Justin.” I tell everyone.


“I’m thrilled to meet you.” My mom tells him, looking him up and down.


“You’re everything I... Brian told me about you.” Justin stutters.


“My son has been closed mouth about you, how long have you two been seeing each other?” She asks.


“It feels like forever.” Justin tells her, looking at me to answer.


“We've met a few times throughout our lives, but just decided to start seeing each other recently.” I tell her.


I heard Emmett before he made it up the stairs with Ted. “He shouldn’t have blown me if he wasn’t willing to deal with outing himself. “ Emmett shouts, as he and Ted walk in.


“Hi, guess we came at a bad time.” Ted shrugs, then hugs my mom.


“Nonsense, you know I would have gone over to see you next. I have a grandchild to buy for Emmett.” She tells him, squeezing Emmett to death.


“I came to tell you the house was finished, only a few weeks behind. I’m off to work.” Ted tells us, handing me the keys.


“House?” Justin asks.


“I built it on the property, it hadn’t been developed.” I tell him.


“He’s always wanted a house.” Dad tells Justin.


“I can't wait to see it.” Justin tells them.


“Brian plans to bring Gus to meet us, and if you and Emmett aren’t busy then come over with him. I love to meet anyone Brian knows.” She tells Justin. “I'll make sure to have lunch ready for my grandson.” She tells me.


“I'll be there, I have so much to tell you.” Emmett tells her.


Mom and Dad leave, hugging and kissing all of us before most likely putting a dent in their savings for Gus. Emmett looked at Justin for a few moments before saying anything.


“He doesn’t look different.” He tells me.


“He didn’t change.” I tell Emmett.


“Then how do you know when he figures it out?” Emmett asks.


“I’m standing right here Emmett.” Justin tells him.


“I see you, I was asking Brian about something.” He tells Justin.


“Drew’s an actor instead of a football player, now?” Justin asks.


“Baby, you know?” Emmett asks.


“I do, but I think we should keep it quiet, so no one thinks I do.” Justin tells us.


“See, I knew we just needed to talk as if he knew to get him to come out.” Emmett tells us.


“Sorry Honeycutt, once again I managed it.” Brian smirked, waiting for it.


“I don’t even care, my Baby’s here to help us right the wrongs. Did I really just sound like Michael? Anyway. Yes, for some reason everything changes, but somehow Drew and his closet are still here. Michael no longer worships at Brian’s feet, but Ethan’s. Ted ended up dating Benny boy, which I have to say, wasn’t as exciting as I thought it would be. At least I have you back. And what about you, any new and interesting things going on?” Emmett asks, finally shutting up.


“Hunter lives with me and Cynthia works for me. It surprised me, now that I know. I wonder if she prefers surly to nice.” Justin tells him.


“She's always liked you, but then she seemed to like Brian too. Maybe she just likes men she can't have.” Emmett jokes.


“How do we get Blake to meet Ted?” I ask, because it's something we need to get started.


“What is Blake like now?” Emmett asks.


“He never hit the party scene and didn’t have rehab or drugs in his life. He’s more of a loner than anything else. When I attend anything, he comes with me, but never lets on that he’s a published author. In a lot of ways he's still the Blake he was, without all the things that messed up his life. So there isn’t a child that will appear in his life.” Justin tells us, cleaning up the table.


“I never really thought he was a loner.” Emmett tells me.


“He didn’t have a crowd of friends the last time. It was mostly Ted for Blake.” I tell him.


“I’ve never had a lot of friends either, except you guys and Daph.” Justin tells us.


“When did you get Daphne?” Emmett asks.


“She came to me with a book, her genre is horror. I tend to die a lot in her books.” I tell them, thinking it was funny.


“She kills you?” Emmett asks, not really seeing it as funny.


“I’m usually the ghost who haunts the house of people who deserve to be terrorized. She didn’t name the character after me the way Ben did.” I tell them.


“What did Ben write about us? I gave him a general idea when I didn’t realize he knew it all already.” Brian tells me.


“Most of it’s close, but the parts he wouldn’t have seen are changed to make you sound like I didn’t matter to you. He has my character constantly comparing you and him, sounding like he’s the person my character should be with, not you. I thought Ben was over this?” Justin tells me.


“He still has HIV. I think it’s more about that then you.” Emmett tells me.


“It’s Brian’s fault that he didn’t take precautions?” Justin asks.


“He told me once that it should have been me not him, since I was the whore while he led a pristine life, doing everything right.” Brian tells me.


“He really thinks anyone believes a guy who went to the White Party led a pristine life? Nothing about those parties is anything but tricking the weekend away.” Emmett tells us.


“Did he get it the same way?” Justin asks.


“Ted might know, but we really aren’t close to Ben.” Emmett tells him.


“Michael and Ethan are Ben’s friends.” I tell him.


“What about Vic and Deb?” I ask.


“Except that Deb is Michael’s aunt, not his mother; they are still who they were, just not really a big part of my life.” Brian tells me.


“I didn’t realize by giving you Beth and William you would lose Deb and Vic.” Justin tells me.


“I could have gotten to know them, they don’t have a problem with me. They aren’t fans of the novelist, but tolerate him for Michael.” Brian tells me.


“I'm sort of shocked at Michael being here, and that he is no longer chasing you, but at least he's one less problem. Why would Ben hang out with Michael?” Justin asks.


“It's the question of the year. He's free of Michael, but still runs around with him. My theory is he likes that Michael hates Brian.” Emmett tells him.


“Even if that's the reason, he's back in the same boat with Ian. So where is winning anything over Brian in that?” Justin asks.


“I honestly don't give a shit, Ben causes his own pain. He could have walked away on his own, lived his life. Instead, he shows up making friends with the people I know.” I tell them.


“It's just, he can act like we should be together, but I know when someone's interested in me, and Ben really isn't.” Justin tells me.


“You don’t think somewhere along the way, he might have had feelings for you?” Emmett asks.


“None that he made obvious. He really never paid attention to me, unless I was with Michael or Brian. It’s not like we ever sat down and talked to each other. The only time he ever said anything to me was once when Brian and I weren’t together. All he did was ask how everything was going with Ethan. Really, if you’d been with me in my office, he sounded like Michael used to about Brian paying attention to anyone but Michael.” Justin tells Emmett.


“You don’t think… No, that wouldn’t make any sense either.” Emmett says, shaking off what he was thinking.


“It would make sense when you think about it. He and Michael never made sense.” Justin tells him, with me confused at the two.


“What would make sense?” I ask them.


“That all this time he wanted you. Think about it, it’s not like he couldn’t have found out where you were. He could have seen you at Babylon and then who does he see with you all the time? Michael Novotny, the man who can’t get a date, but suddenly can get one with Ben. It would explain why he didn’t look at Baby.” Emmett tells me.


“Why? Because like Lindsay, he was thrilled when I left you, but pissed that instead of Michael inviting him, Michael took off without him to spend time with you.” Justin continues the idiotic thought Emmett started.


“Which only makes sense in your minds.” I argue.


“If I wanted your attention at that time, hitting on Michael would have done it.” Justin tells me.


“Only because I knew you’d be wasted on Michael.” I smirk.


“Maybe Ben didn’t realize that hitting on Michael would only guarantee that you’d never look at him again.” Emmett tells me.


“If Justin had, I would have still hit on Justin.” I tell Emmett.


“I rated breaking the rules.” Justin tells us, smiling.


“Why is that a surprise?” I ask, pulling him into my arms.






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