Brian sat at his desk in the loft waiting for Justin to arrive for their ‘talk’. He felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles and cursed himself for feeling that way. He wasn’t supposed to have feelings for anyone. But, his feelings for Justin had overridden any semblance of control he had ever had. He had just started leafing through a magazine on marketing trends for the 5th time, when there was a knock at the loft door. Brian jumped in spite of himself. Taking a deep breath, he slid the heavy metal door aside to reveal Justin standing there. “Hi.” Justin said. His hair was wind blow and his cheeks a brilliant red from the wind and cold. It took all of Brian’s control not to grab the younger man, push him up against anything and fuck him till he screamed. “Uh, hi.” Brian said motioning for the teen to come in. Justin walked over to the bar and sat his portfolio and book bag on one of the two stools before sitting down on the other. Brian watched Justin intently. Justin ran his hand through his hair moving his bangs out of his face. Brian noticed that the ring that had adorned the teen’s left hand was indeed gone. “So.” Justin said startling Brian. “So.” Brian replied. “You wanted to talk?” “Yeah.” Brian said nodding. “Want something to drink?” “Sure. Water’ll be fine.” Brian moved to the refrigerator and returned with two bottles of water. He handed one to Justin before opening his own. “So, you said that you and Ian are over?” Brian said non-chalantly. “‘Ethan’ and I are over, yes.” Justin said tightly. “He got all weird when you called me to the hospital because I went no questions asked.” “I really didn’t know who else to call. I’m sorry.” Brian began. “No, no, that’s all right.” Justin interrupted. “I understand. Ethan didn’t get it. He couldn’t understand how we could still be friends. He questioned my feelings for him and I just got tired of having to tell him over and over that I wanted to be with him and only him. The stupid fuck.” “But, he gave you what you wanted?” Brian argued. “What I thought I wanted.” Justin corrected. “But, in the end, all he gave me were words. Words and empty promises.” “You said he fucked around on you?” Brian asked still unbelieving. “Yeah.” Justin said sadly. “The day you called, Ethan and I were packing to go to Harrisburg. He got an agent and he’d been called the night before and told that he’d be subbing for some featured violinist. It was his big break and I was supposed to be there for him and I went to the hospital instead.” Justin paused and looked up at Brian the pain he felt evident in his deep blue eyes. “He was only away from you for one night.” “Yeah, I know.” Justin continued. “Anyway, we were celebrating his triumphant debut and this guy shows up at the door of our apartment.” Justin snorted. “I knew. From the minute I opened the door to this kid that he and Ethan had fucked. It was written all over the kid’s face. He asked if I was Ethan’s roommate.” Justin laughed, but there was no humor in it. “Ethan didn’t, couldn’t deny it. I knew. Then the jerk brings up you and me, our relationship.” “Did he think we had fucked that night?” “I don’t know.” Justin said shaking his head. “He said that he couldn’t understand why I couldn’t forgive him just one mistake when I had forgiven you so many times.” “You never had to forgive me anything.” “That’s what I told him.” Justin said as tears welled in his eyes. “I told him that you never promised me you’d be faithful and committed and monogamous. Ethan on the other hand promised me all those things. Forever.” A single tear tracked its way down Justin’s cheek. “And, I should have known. I should have known it was too good to be true, but I wanted it to be true so badly. I was willing to believe just about anything.” Justin looked up at Brian then. “You promised me nothing, but you gave me everything. You never said the words, but I should have known how you felt. I can see in your eyes right fucking now.” Brian looked away knowing what the younger man said was true. “I was so hung up on hearing the words. Christ! I threw it all away. I lost all perspective, all objectivity. Every time you didn’t want to do what I wanted to do, I took it to mean that you didn’t care. I was so God damned blind. What you gave me was a thousand, no a million times more than what Ethan could have ever given me and I couldn’t see it.” Justin stopped suddenly realizing that he probably should have said all he’d just said. “Shit.” He said. “I told myself I wouldn’t do this. Fuck.” “Do what?” “Spill my guts this easy.” Justin said horrified. “I thought I had a little self control left. Shit.” “Justin.” Brian said walking to face the other man gently gripping his chin forcing Justin to look him in the eyes. “Don’t you get it? This is exactly what I liked about you from the beginning. You were so out there, so open, no walls, no ulterior motives. Honest. Brave. Beautiful.” Justin tried to look down, but Brian wouldn’t let go of his chin. “It’s what I –.” Brian paused contemplating what he was about to say. “It’s what I’ve always loved about you.” Justin’s eyes widened. “Brian, I -.” Justin said confused. Before Justin could complete his thought, Brian pulled the young man into a deep passionate kiss. In that kiss Brian tried to convey to the teen all his feelings and love and emotion and how lonely he’d been without Justin. Justin opened his mouth to Brian’s invading tongue allowing the man in. Justin moaned into Brian’s mouth wrapping himself around the taller man. Just before they were beyond the point of no return, someone cleared their throat. Brian and Justin separated quickly looking to see who had interrupted them. “So, does this mean you’re moving in, Justin?” John asked as he dropped his backpack on the floor by the door. Brian and Justin simply looked at each other. “Um.” Brian managed as his eyes shifted from a beet red Justin to his nephew and back. End chapter 8.