CHAPTER SEVEN:  AIDEN BLUE SUNSHINE

The Next Morning

(May 13th 2005)

Justin's POV

Morning came a little too soon for me as it usually does these days. I'd been up for hours working on another painting from the dreams I'm having. Some are scary as hell and feature none other than my time in GayHell but the others... well let's just say that no one should see or get a hold of those dreams on canvas. I'd probably end up in jail because they're so scandalous and feature the man currently sleeping in my guestroom....or at least he was until...

.....Hey Baby wake up come and dance with me....Woooowwwwww Yeeeeeaaaaaahhhhh!

"OUCH! WHAT THE FUCK?!?!!!!!" {Thunk} Brian looked up at the ceiling from his place on the floor having been jarred out of a peaceful, comfortable sleep in my guest room and dumped unceremoniously out of bed by his own doing. I can't help but wonder what he had been dreaming about when the hideous song bulldozed its way into his reluctant conscious. Wonder what was that little smile and whimper was all about. Yeah, I'll admit it...I've been watching him for a little bit and sketching. "Justin....JUSTIN! What in the sand blue hell is THAT?"

I turned off the alarm clock unable to control my laughter though I tried hard to. "Morning, Brian. May I introduce you to Rock-N-Roll Chicken. Chicken meet an undoubtedly butt-bruised Brian Aiden Kinney."

"You think this shit is funny, Mr. Blue Sunshine?"

Seeing Brian sitting there on the floor with the most adorable scowl on his face reminded me of what a mutinous five year old would look like. It was so cute, that it should have looked ridiculous on a man his age but it didn't and I dared not tell him for fear he would stop doing it. "As a matter of fact, I do Aiden. Come on and get up. The coffee is already brewing." I extended my hand to help him off the floor.

Brian rolled his eyes at me mumbling something about his inconsiderate, overly chipper blond host with an inappropriate sense of humor. He grabbed his borrowed sweats off the armchair in the spacious room, donned his t-shirt and followed me to the original kitchen on the other side of the loft. I heard my phone ringing blaring "Hey Mama" by Kanye West. I turned so quickly that I almost lost my balance. As if in slow motion Brian grabbed my cell and caught me to him. I felt the familiar sizzle speed through my body. He must have felt it as well from the heated look in his eyes.

"Sugar's calling," he said simply, not making any moved to release. And I didn't want him to but I took the phone from his hand while still captivated.

"Hey Mom," I said.

"So that's who ‘Sugar' is," he said low, burying his nose in my neck.

I resisted the stupidest urge to giggle. Grown men don't giggle do they?

"Hi, Sweetheart, I'm in town for the next few days and wanted to run something by you. Do you have time to meet me for breakfast?"

"I was actually getting ready to cook," I answered. "I- I sort of have...company."

My mom noticed the hesitation. Her hearing was always too damn keen. "Oh, Honey, I-"

"It's okay, Mom. Why don't you stop by?"

"Do you mind? It's just that we have a deadline. Molly said that she was okay with everything if you were."

"Wait! Is this about the company?"

"You got it, Justin. We have a potential buyer but I need to make certain..."

"Yeah, I know. I guess I'll see you in a few minutes then."

She and I disconnected before Brian asked, "Hey. I guess I should get going but at least I know a who a second contact in your coded phone is."

I laughed. "Yeah, I guess you do."

"Why do you call her ‘Sugar' though. Just out of curiosity?"

"She's a sweetheart which she somehow insists upon calling me." I swallowed not sure if I should ask for what I really wanted but what the hell. "I wouldn't mind it particularly if you stuck around."

"You sure? I heard you mention something about a company. From the sounds of it, this is family business."

"It is but being a prominent business man yourself, I could really use your advice."

He smiled at me then and I could swear I could almost feel my heart trying to jump out of my chest. Brian Kinney was a beautiful man in a dark angel sort of way. When he arrived last night, I thought it was going to be super easy to write him off. I wanted to after the way things went down in the office. But when he asked to know me, I couldn't resist allowing him the opportunity because honestly I want to know him too. My experience with men is limited and the little experience I have is tainted with memories I don't want. But there is just something about him that makes me want to give him a chance...more than one really. I can't explain it. I'm still going to be cautious around him- that's just my way- but more importantly, I'm going to enjoy him for as long as whatever this is lasts.

"Hey where'd you go?" he asked softly.

I smiled. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Yeah, I would so that I can go to."

"I- Never mind."

I pressed my lips to his. God they were so soft. I could feel his hands resting on my back gently pressing me closer even as he pressed his lips more fully onto mine. I don't know how long we stood there kissing. Seconds, minutes, I didn't care, I just wanted not to stop but I knew I had to. But not yet. I felt the subtle teasing of his tongue on my bottom lip and opened up to allow him entrance. The exchange was light and easy but no less fulfilling than the one last night or even the night we met. I let him control it and me. For some reason I still didn't understand, I felt safe with him. Maybe that was just the magic of Aiden and Blue, maybe it was the promise that when we were alone I could really be who I am without reprisal or judgment. Whatever it was, I was happy to accept it. He ended the kiss and I felt his loss immediately.

"You better start breakfast. You told your mom she could eat when she got here."

I nodded, still a little dazed. His kisses seemed to have a drugging effect on me and I didn't mind that at all. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Anything special you want?"

"Egg white omelet?"

"Sure. I'll even make special."

He laughed. "Wow. The special treatment already after one night and I haven't even fucked you yet."

I felt the redness fill my cheeks at his implication. Yeah it's inevitable. "Not exactly special treatment but when you do receive special treatment from me, you'll know."

"I'm going to hold you to that Sunshine."

"Why do you call me that?"

"You don't like it?" he asked. "It's just that you kind of remind me of a summer day...all golden and blue skies and the way you smell."

"What about it?" I took a whiff of myself.

He laughed. "It's going to sound cheesy but you kinda smell like one of my favorite places on earth."

"Where is that?" I turned away from him again so he wouldn't see the blush I know was there. I reached inside the fridge grabbing everything I would need to get breakfast going.

"Aruba. If we get the account next week, we'll have to take a trip there and then you'll understand."

"What account? Hey, take care of these for me will you?" I handed him spinach, onion and bell peppers to chop up.

He rinsed off the vegetables and knife while he began speaking again. "The Renaissance hotels are dividing from the Hilton chain. Not really dividing but becoming their own subsidiary so they want to use a different advertising agency for all of their hotels. They have facilities in the States but it's their Caribbean properties they're more concerned with. Without the Hilton name officially attached they are afraid their clientele will go down especially since the Occidental Grande Hotels are also a Hilton subsidiary."

"Wait isn't the Caribbean like taboo for gay men?"

Brian nodded but explained. "In some areas like Jamaica but then there are more enlightened and well-informed countries like Aruba who adopt a more liberal approach."

"Okay. So the Pittsburgh office is taking over the account? I thought New York would be better suited." The frying pan began sizzling so I went ahead and put the bacon on. Meanwhile he started cracking eggs for the omelets. I can't lie. It's sexy as hell watching him in the kitchen with me. It was pretty obvious he knew his way around but then maybe that's because he used to live here.

"Hey you told me yesterday what your big plan is for the Art department of Kinnetik PA is. So why balk now?"

"I'm not balking, I'm just curious."

The intercom buzzed in. I asked Brian to let my mom in while I finished up the food and began to set the table. He walked over to pick up where I left off. I threw him a grateful smile as I moved off toward the door. No telling how my mom would act if I'd seemed to have forgotten my manners. Strangely, Jennifer Taylor always managed the ability to make me feel as though I'm twelve instead of a man of twenty-three. I guess that's every mother's special gift with their offspring. I heard Brian chuckle from behind me.

"It's not like you're wearing a suit, Blue. You're wearing a tee and sweats for fuck's sake."

"Don't tell me you never act like that when your mother comes to visit."

He got very quiet and still before he answered. He had that contemplative look I was coming to know well over the course of the near twenty-four hours we'd spent actually knowing each other by our real names. "She doesn't visit me and even if she did, I wouldn't think it was worth such effort as breakfast and tidying myself."

I wanted to ask him what he meant by that but the elevator was arriving so I let it go, filing his comment in my memory bank for another time. No matter how much I saw my mother she was always well put together and timeless. I was still getting used to the idea that I could actually see her when I wanted and not have to sneak around about it. It felt strange being free. I still catch myself thinking of what would earn me a beating from Connor and Brandon especially when I'm doing what I want to do and not what they instructed me to do.

"Morning, Darling. How are you enjoying your new place?" she asked me.

"It's amazing! Thanks for working out the sale and decorating and all that. I was overwhelmed just picking up the odds and ends. I can't imagine what you went through for me to come home to it."

She hugged me. "Well, I had help. Daphne was a real gem and although you gave her a list and emailed her the blueprint of what you wanted done, she gave the contractors hell on your behalf and oversaw the deliveries. She and that boyfriend of hers are some real taskmasters."

I laughed at her description of the adult Daphne Chanders. The child and teenage Daphne was much different especially in front of our parents. "Well come on, lady, breakfast is served."

We entered the loft and I heard my mom gasp. I forgot it was the first time she saw the place with the finishing touches I'd applied when I got here. My paintings were in place and lit as they would be in a showroom. The antique accessories I found adorned the glass furnishings and picked up the natural light from the bay windows.

"This is just... it's just beautiful, Justin. When did you do the rest of this?"

"Aw, thanks, Sugar. I had help. Remember that taskmaster you just spoke about? Well Daffy was on my ass to finish it all." I couldn't help but beam under the compliment. It's been a long time coming- for all of us. "Before we sit down, there's someone I want you to meet. Mom this is-"

"Brian Kinney," she said in awe.

"Hello, Jennifer. It's been awhile," he said walking over and kissing her cheek.

"How did you... when did you.." I think that was the first time I'd ever heard my mom speak incomplete sentences.

"It's a very interesting story. One, I think Justin will be happy to fill you in on. Right, Blue?"

I gasped a little at him saying it just then. It wasn't that I minded my mother knowing about Brian, it was that she knew Brian at all. "How do you two know each other?"

Brian cleared his throat giving my mom a chance to collect herself. "It's quite simple. Jennifer is the one who listed my loft- well your loft now- found my new place in Squirrel Hill and helped us get and renovate the building where you're employed."

"Mom, it didn't dawn on you to tell me you knew my boss?"

"Well Darling, considering he's here in your home this early in the morning, I would think he's more than your boss." She raised her eyebrow at me, expecting confirmation or denial immediately.

Brian laughed behind his hand while she was completely focused on me.

"Shouldn't we discuss business first?" I tried to get out of what Molly and I termed the hot seat when she focused directly on one or both of her kids.

"Later. First I want to hear about why the CEO of Kinnetik Corp is in your home this early in the morning and not an ounce of work in sight."

Brian pulled out her chair for her as she situated herself and got comfortable. We all served ourselves as I tried to think of the most delicate and easiest way to explain why a man I've known all of four days has spent the night. It didn't matter that I hadn't had sex with him but if this had happened to anyone else, I would have a fit about them living so close to the edge of recklessness.

"We really didn't know each other until yesterday," I blurted out. Wrong move.

"What the hell do you mean you didn't meet until yesterday? Justin-"

Brian slapped me in the back of the head and murmured, "Nice going, twat."

"Jennifer, what Blue means to say is that we met Friday night at a benefit for the GLC. He and I had been getting to know each other even prior to discovering he was the new art director for my company."

"I'm not following, Brian. How the hell didn't you two realize?"

I answered. "It was a masquerade ball. I told him my name was Blue- which isn't inaccurate- and he told me his name was Aiden."

"Which is my middle name," he confirmed.

We took turns filling her in on the events of the last four days including the accidental break-in by Brian's two bumbling friends. I was relieved when she laughed instead of suggesting I sell the building right away which if we were in New York that certainly would have come up. I got up to refill our coffees while she and Brian continued to laugh and get reacquainted between bites of food. I couldn't deny that I was pretty relieved that my mom knew Brian beforehand although I didn't. If she was willing to be at ease around him, he had to be a pretty good person. I laughed out loud at the story of their retelling of their first meeting and Brian's idea to turn the notorious bathhouse into the Pittsburgh office of Kinnetik; to screwing the competition while fully clothed. It was fun to see another side of Brian that I would have never known existed but I had to go to work soon. I had internship interviews later.

"So what was it you needed to see me about, Mom?"

She got right into business mode while Brian sat quiet but attentively. "We have a potential buyer for Taylor Electronics."

"I figured as much. Who and exactly what do they want to do with the company?"

"His name is Jim Stockwell and he owns and operates a conglomerate ranging from clothing stores to international travel."

"Why does that name sound familiar, Mom?"

I watched as she swallowed hard. "You've been out of the circuit for awhile now but Jim married Marcia Hobbs after her husband died."

"Marcia, as in Chris Hobbs mother?" When she nodded, I had made up my mind. "The answer is no. Absolutely not, under no circumstances."

"But Justin-"

"No, mom. I don't trust anyone affiliated with the Hobbs family and it's not because of the underhanded shit Chris did to me back in high school. I'm so over that but getting into bed with them will literally fuck us over."

"How do you know this, Justin?" Brian asked quietly. I could see from the stiffness of his posture he had his own thoughts on the subject.

"Mom, he's also associated with Vanguard who runs his ad campaigns but like others of his ilk, he likes to change the terms and conditions of contracts at the last minute. I'm also willing to bet you that he'll rehire Craig at his former status once the company is in his hands. In addition to that, he- " I had to stop myself from saying more. Jim Stockwell was also associated with Connor and Brandon who have used some of his services before and they run their contracts the same way- with hidden clauses bordering on human trafficking. Suppose it was Molly or Jennifer he wanted this time since he was a known homophobe? There was no way I was going to let us get involved with them. She cannot go into business with the asshole!

"Jennifer, if I may?" Brian asked calmly.

"By all means, Brian. The offer is pretty lucrative and it's a lot of money to turn down."

He nodded. "Blue, I need to use your computer for a moment." I brought the laptop over to him. I would do anything, including stand on my head and sing the national anthem if he could get my mother out of even thinking this was what she wanted to do. He typed a for a few minutes before turning the computer screen where she and I could both look at it. "This is the recent canceled contract with Stockwell Enterprises before they began advertising with Vanguard. My legal team caught what I had missed. Whereas it seems on the up and up, look at the fine print and who they wanted working directly under them."

"Holy shit! Cynthia?" Both my mom and I couldn't believe what we were seeing.

 "Yeah, he wanted Cynthia to be his personal assistant and not in the business way. By signing this contract I would have actually severed ties with her, allowing Stockwell and company to employ her and use her to do God knows what. I knew it wasn't so that he could fire his own personal assistant. Janice Avery has been with him for twice as many years as Cyn has been with me. He'd be a damn fool to let her go.  In addition to that, I never get into bed with people I don't know." At my smirk, he laughed. "At least not with my Armani suits on. I had a background check done and although everything regarding the conglomerate seems on the level, it's the other businesses he's secretly involved in as a silent partner which are not. He's provided funding to several corporations including Taylor Electronics."

 "So basically if we say yes to this deal, we'll be adhering to the same terms as before I received the company in the divorce settlement. And one of those conditions would be Craig back in a position of power." Mom sat back in the chair and huffed out a breath. "Well that settles that. There's no way I'm going to let Craig Taylor have the company back after all he'd done to ruin it."And Justin. She didn't say my name but I knew that's what she meant.

My mom called the attorney while Brian and I cleared away the breakfast dishes. I couldn't help but sneak little peeks at him wondering just how much of my story he would know and if he'd done a background check on me. I couldn't help the abject panic and fear spinning their wheels inside my mind at the thought that he would know about the James brothers and the psychopathic bullshit they'd put me through for the past almost five years. I felt the attack getting ready to reveal itself- my insides shaking like the leaves on a windy day, the horrible waking nightmares trying to crowd my mind as I stood almost paralyzed trying to beat them back into the ugly place within myself where I kept such memories. I balked briefly as I felt the hand on my shoulder. Even knowing who it was I wanted to escape it.

"What's wrong? You don't look so good, Justin."

"I'm...I'm fine."

"No you aren't. What's got you spooked? You were about to fly out of here a second ago." I looked into the concerned eyes of the man I'd just met four days ago. I couldn't tell what he saw or what he thought he saw. "Why don't you go in and lie down, Justin? I'll finish cleaning up and I'll call Cyn to cancel your appointments for the day, alright?"

"I'm really okay," I protested.

"Didn't we say we would be honest from now on, Blue? You're not fine so go lay down for a bit."

I nodded and let him led me up the three wide steps leading up to the bedroom. He watched me settle into the same bed where he once laid his head some years ago. Mom came into the room, sitting at the bottom of the bed as Brian went back down into the dining room area. I saw him pull out his phone and knew he was calling Cynthia.

"Have you told him?" she asked me, her voice low so that only I could hear.

"No."

She nodded. "Are you planning to?"

I shook my head. "Not if I don't have to, Mom. The very idea that he might even suspect my involvement with them sends panic through me. I'm glad you are not going into business with Stockwell, Mom. He's as evil as Connor and Brandon. He was at several events they forced me to go to- the ones where they had to appear to be the straightest of heteros. I knew Stockwell and several others recognized me. The only thing that saved me from the questions and innuendos was that they knew I was an artist."

"Well at least that kept you somewhat safe among them."

"Mom, I'm worried about being able to offload the company before the contract is up."

"So am I, Blue. My company is too small to turn into a conglomerate and most of the money we make goes back into the business to expand."

"As it should. Besides, this is my problem; your name is only attached by association."

"Justin, don't start this conversation again. You can't fix everything."

"I know but I feel like the universe owes me something good for a change."

"And it's come through in a lot of ways. You're in your own place, have a new job; you're creating a new life for yourself. This too will pass, Justin. It doesn't have a choice to do anything else but in the meantime, we're going to fight for our- yes our- independence. Craig and those like him will not win and that includes those in the closet."

She leaned over and kissed my forehead before departing the loft with a promise to call me later. Brian came back into the room then and laid down next to me.

"You know what I missed doing today?" he asked.

"What?"

"Texting you," he said, smiling and winking at me.

My heart skipped a beat but I smiled. "The day isn't over you know." I grabbed his hand and in the process, absorbed a little peace.