JUSTIN 

Gus agreed to spend the day with his mothers, but Brian got a call from Cynthia when they were about to leave. So I told him I’d take Gus, since they wanted to pick him up at Michael’s shop along with Jenny. 

Michael was sitting on the floor reading a comic while Jenny played with her dolls. I’d never really gotten to know Michael, since it seemed like he didn’t want me around, but watching him play the part of Ken to Jenny’s Barbie was strangely cute, although a bit weird since Ken was Barbie's boyfriend. Gus went to the rack and picked up a superman comic and waited in the chair in the corner. Brian had to promise Gus that when the moms went home that he was still saying. Gus told him he wouldn’t act like a brat, and would try to get along with everyone. So instead of being a moody, pissed off kid, he was busy planning what Brian and I were going to do with him the whole summer. The pool featured big in his plans, and he even told me if I wanted to go look at art, he was in. I told him we could forgo museums, maybe even go to the theme park I liked to go to when I lived here, and somehow I was suddenly cool for an old guy. I didn’t comment on twenty-seven not being old, just decided to take the cool part as a compliment.

“Not a whole lot to see, but it’s mine,” Michael told me.

“As long as it’s your dream, that’s all that should matter,” I told him.

“Do you read comics?” He asked.

“Not really, but I do like the way the art is done in a few of the graphic novels I’ve looked through. I did check out a convention they had in London when I was showing in the same exhibition,” I told him.

“Ben told me you rarely show your work,” Michael said curiously.

“I’m my own worst critic. Plus I tend to like to branch out into other forms, so it takes me longer to get enough pieces to show. I don’t like to paint on command, and I really don’t need the money, so I’m lucky enough to be able to turn down opportunities unless I want to do them,” I told him. 

Lindsay and Mel followed a kid into the store. Michael waved at the kid who grabbed a comic and sat on a bean bag chair in the corner.

“All I know is the minute Ben and Lindsay start talking, it’s all about hidden meanings and what the artist was trying to tell everyone. Jenny, Gus, and I sneak away,” Michael said, laughing when Lindsay rolled her eyes at him.

“It wouldn’t hurt you to at least try absorb more than a comic,” Lindsay told him, smiling at me.

“Justin, how are you?” Mel asked, wary about my reception after last night.

“Brian had to go in to work, so I decided not to make him go out of his way to drop off Gus. Have fun and call when you need one of us to meet you to pick him up,” I tell her, not really answering her.

“Well, are you guys ready?” Lindsay asked Jenny and Gus, getting that right now wasn’t the time to ask how I felt about anything.

Gus made sure to mention that Brian promised he was staying all summer. Mel and Lindsay got his message loud and clear. 

“We can drop him off at the house if you want us to, instead of you having to meet us somewhere,” Lindsay told me.

“Call Brian and see if that’s what he wants. Whatever makes him and Gus happy is fine with me,” I answered.

They left with the kids, and Michael held back his chuckle until the door closed. “I never thought I’d see someone out do Lindsay in the backhanded comments department, but I believe I just did,” Michael told me.

“I’ll eventually stop, since Brian wants us to all get along for Gus’s sake. I actually liked them both when I met them, it’s what they did to Brian that rubbed me the wrong way.” I told him.

“Can I say, I know I acted like a total asshole when you were here the last time, but it was the first time I actually worried about Ben with another guy,” He told me.

“If he hadn’t been my advisor at one time, I might have tried. But all I could think was, ‘does he lecture in bed’?” I joked.

“I think it’s the only time he doesn’t, just grunts a lot,” Michael laughed. “Are you and Brian doing something together, since the girls have Gus?” He asked.

“He needed to work, and I’m still getting used to the idea that we’re doing this relationship thing. We really didn’t spend enough time together before this for either of us to know what the other one was really like. I think we both needed to get away from each other, since the anal avenger is threatening to organize my life so I can find things without spending two hours trying to remember where I put them,” I told him.

“Yeah, that’s why I never even brought up him and I sharing a place when he was looking for an apartment. Brian’s idea of decorating didn’t include comic memorabilia everywhere. Ben and I managed to combine our ideas into something we both liked when we started living together. Only, I was still acting like we were dating and still expecting both of us to spend all our time with the gang, instead of time with each other. I know he didn’t like the way everything that came out of my mouth was about Brian, in case you haven’t heard through heard grapevine. I spent half my life thinking Brian was just sowing his oats before wanting what I do. It took me a while let go of the idea that Brian would eventually want what I wanted, but I got there,” He told me, shrugging.

“Ben told me about it when it was going on,” I told him.

“I think that’s why he was acting like Gus after we all found out about you and Brian. I never realized he didn’t have a lot of friends outside of mine. We’ve made friends with some of our neighbors, but we only do couples things with them. While Ben can talk to Emmett or Ted, you were his go-to guy when he needed to talk to someone; the way Brian was mine for years,” He let me know.

“It was hard on Ben. The friends he had through his ex, stayed with the ex. They stopped talking to Ben, even though he didn’t do anything wrong except to trust the guy who screwed him in more ways than one,” I told him.

“Do you think maybe that’s why he’s friendly but still keeps a distance from my friends?” He asked.

“Wouldn’t he be in the same situation if you and he broke up?” I responded.

“Emmett and Ted don’t let anyone tell them who they can be friends with. And once you’re one of Ma’s ‘boys’, nothing changes that for her. I couldn’t tell you what Brian would do, but then they really aren’t friends. Ben’s always been a bit judgemental about Brian’s life, at least he was until he realized what Mel and Lindsay were doing to him,” He told me.

I almost asked him how he felt about Ben and Brian’s one night stand, but didn’t. I don’t think he knew, judging by the way he was talking. I’d ask Brian about it later, but really didn’t see any reason it would bother Michael, since it was a long time ago. My stomach made enough noise to make the kid who was still sitting on the bean bag jump.

“How about I call over to the diner and order some food. Ma is dying to feed you. You want anything Ray, since we’re ordering?” Michael asked the kid.

“I could eat,” He told Michael, continuing to read.

The door opened and a kid came in, staring at me. “So, this is what Brian knocked up?” He snarked.

“Justin meet my son, the smart ass. Hunter meet Justin. I’ll tell Ma to triple the order since you showed up. Be nice to him,” Michael told him, going to the back.

“He’s really just using you as an excuse to eat a burger,” Hunter told me. “Hey Ray, you staying out of trouble?” Hunter asked, going and sitting next to the kid.

Curious to see what was behind the curtain, I went to find Michael. He was talking... and talking... and talking, to his mother. After telling her I was here, he laughed when the line went dead.

“I should have started with you being here. I think I wanted Ben because he reminds me of my mother and her many lectures on everything I should be doing,” He told me, while I looked at all the framed sketches by comic artists.

“Your a closet Art fan,” I commented, studying the sketches which were incredible, for only being done in pencil.

“No one calls it anything but wasting my money on collectables,” He answered, believing it.

“This one by Cal Jones would go for for more than my paintings. He signed it, and I’ve never seen another one,” I tell him, hoping he insured it.

“He sent it to me when I wrote him a letter saying thanks for giving us heros when sometimes the world seemed devoid of them. I’d been dealing with bullies, and comics were my escape,” He told me.

“Yeah, he’s pretty good with his fans,” I told him.

“You’ve met him?” Michael asked, excited.

“Yes. We talked about his art versus mine; it takes a lot to get the details in the panels. It interested me, so when he was at one of my shows, I made a point of talking to him,” I answered.

“I should have believed Ben when he said I’d like you,” He told me. 

“You’re really not the shithead I thought you were either,” I responded.

Deb yelled for us to get our butts out of the back before we were left with just the crumbs. Michael practically ran over me to get to the cheeseburger. His moan told me it was time to get the tofu out of his life. We were both stuffing our faces while Deb beamed at us. It wasn’t until Ben walked in that Michael looked guilty for his closet meat fetish. 

“Michael was just being polite, since tofu makes me vomit,” I told Ben, while Michael nodded.

BRIAN

I didn’t want Justin to be here when I met with his father and mother. Justin was already dealing with his sister disappointing him, and I didn’t want them making it harder on him. I was honestly curious as to why they thought talking to me would do anything, since Molly knew I wasn’t the easiest person to win over, and most likely described me as the bastard I pretty much was around her. I told her to her face that I didn’t like the way she treated Justin and that batting her eyelashes did nothing for me. I was honestly surprised she never told Justin about that conversation, but then she would have had to admit she tried to get me into bed. Something I’m sure worked on most men, since she was beautiful and knew it. Only, she didn’t get that without a dick, or even with one, she would never have what Justin does.

Cynthia called when Craig showed up and announced he planned to stay until we could talk. Craig Taylor and I needed to understand each other anyway. And even if it pissed off Justin, I was going to protect him from the whole family. On my way, I called Marshall and asked what to expect. I never walk in without knowing as much as possible about the enemy. He told me about a news item that was about to hit the fan, and likely open his daughter’s eyes. I could tell he didn’t want to tell her, but wasn’t willing to let her be kicked in the teeth when it came out. 

Cynthia was willing to have Craig tossed out through the closed glass doors by the time I arrived. It wasn’t hard to understand why when the jackass was leering at her with Justin’s mother standing right there. 

“While I’m sure most men like staring at Cynthia’s tits, she really doesn’t enjoy it,” I told him, watching Justin’s mother act like she didn’t see him eye raping Cynthia.

“Do you see why I’m concerned about who Justin’s living with?” Craig asked her, as if he was innocent.

“When you walked into this building, did you see it was a business? If not, let me clarify why people come here. It’s so that I can turn their product into gold. I don’t play here, and I certainly don’t invite people here for personal issues with me or Justin. In this case, I’m making the exception so both of you understand that I take it personally when Justin is upset or when anyone pisses him off,” I told them, waving them into my office. Craig carried a folder with him, as if it should worry me.

“He opened a business in a bathhouse,” Craig pointed out, gesturing around like the cum was still on the walls.

“Which still has clients coming in droves, so obviously it’s not really an issue for me, or for the people who beg to be clients,” I told him.

“We were hoping Justin would be with you. I’m his mother, Jennifer, and this is my husband Craig Taylor,” Jen said, as if I should be happy to see them.

“If Justin wanted to see you, I’m sure he would have called and told you. So, can we get what you two wanted to say, done?” I asked her.

“I’m sure my son makes it sound like we didn’t welcome him at home, but that’s really just him creating drama where there was none,” Craig informed me.

“Why do you think I care?” I asked.

“You need to understand, Justin tends to not think things through, and we, as his parents, don’t want to see him lose what he has because he jumped into a relationship with you. We are only making sure he’s protected when he gets bored with you,” Craig warned me, opening the folder. “When Molly told us about you and Justin, I made a few discrete inquiries, and felt my son should know who he is involved with. I’m perfectly willing to let him have his fun with you, but in return for not showing him this, we want to know what he’s doing for his grandfather,” He smirked, handing me the folder.

It wasn’t a couple of weeks worth of information, but everything from the minute Molly met me. I let him smirk for a few minutes, before handing back the folder. 

“Nothing in there is anything Justin doesn’t know, so show him. We never promised fidelity, and were pretty open about it,” I told him.

“Let’s hope Marshall thinks the same way you do,” Craig told me, smirking again.

“Hold on and we can ask,” I told him, dialing and putting it on speaker phone. 

“Done dealing with my son-in-law already?” Marshall asked when he answered the phone.

“He’s here and wanted your opinion of how I live my life,” I tell him, watching Craig’s smirk disappear.

“The one before, during, or now with Justin?” Marshall asked.

“I think the file he brought was during and now. Not that now is anything like during,” I answered.

“How is that any different than him sleeping with girls Molly’s age, while saying he’s watching out for Molly? At least Justin knew and agreed to what you two were doing. Unlike my daughter, who still thinks her standing in society means turning a blind eye to Craig’s infidelities,” He responded.

“Dad, I don’t care what Justin made up, Craig wouldn’t do that,” Jennifer said, upset.

“I have a folder, likely like the one Craig has, only I chose not to show it to you. Although I doubt it’s going to matter soon, since the girl is planning to sue Craig for support and loss of income, since he got her pregnant. I’m sorry to have to be the one that tells you, but you need to prepare yourself for what’s coming,” Marshall told his daughter.

“Craig, tell me he’s lying,” Jennifer demanded, as Cynthia brought me the information to give to her.

“He can lie to you, since he’s done it all his life, but Molly’s friend has proof,” Marshall told her. 

“If you need us, your mom and I are here,” Marshall said, hanging up.

“Molly’s friend, the one you invited to the family picnic? The one you said needed a father figure? She’s barely older than Molly. I put up with my friends, and your business partner’s wives…” She said, lost.

“She came onto me,” Craig said, like it made a difference that he knocked up a kid his daughter's age.

“Well, not that Justin was really going to tell you, but I guess congratulations on a kid and a grandkid. Hopefully they won’t share a birthday. Now fight on out of my office,” I told them both.

“He didn’t tell me?” Jennifer said, hurt. Then she turned and punched the shit out of Craig. 

“My attorney will be calling you,” She warned, standing over him. 

“Please tell Justin I’m sorry for my part in the shit Craig wanted, and I’ll understand if he can’t forgive me for it,” She told me, walking out while standing tall.

“So, anything else? Because I sort of want to let Cynthia have her wish to throw your ass through the glass doors,” I told him, smirking, as he got up and ran after Jennifer, telling her he’d straighten it out.

“I don’t know which family is worse, yours or Justin’s,” Cynthia told me.

“Let’s hope mine doesn’t come to visit. But you know, I doubt my mom could handle Justin,” I told her, thinking maybe it would be fun to see.