Brian sat down in the booth, not looking too happy. Matthew and Michael looked at each other and then at the brunet. “So.” Matthew said. “What’s wrong?” “Nothing.” Brian murmured. Michael sighed. Brian looked miserable. “Tell us what's wrong, Brian.” Michael said. “Justin is seeing someone else.” Brian told them. Matthew started laughing like a maniac thinking Brian had lost his mind. Michael frowned as he looked at the blond and then looked at Brian. “What the fuck are you talking about?” Michael asked. “He is always going out with this guy…Val.” Brian frowned. Michael couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He knew that Val was Justin’s cousin but he didn’t know why Justin hadn’t introduced Val to Brian as his cousin. “Oh.” Matthew said. “That’s…” “That’s nonsense.” Michael said giving Matthew a look to shut up. “Justin wouldn’t cheat on you.” Matthew frowned and wondered what Michael was doing. He knew that Val was Justin's cousin. “Uh, yeah.” Matthew said. “Why do you think Justin is cheating on you?” Michael asked. “Because…” Brian said but nothing else came out. “Oh, well then. That explains it.” Matthew told him. “You are so right.” Michael rolled his eyes while Brian glared at his friend. “You don’t understand.” Brian said. “What?” Michael asked. “He is always with him and talking about him and…I don’t know.” Brian hissed. “You are afraid that he is going to leave you?” Michael asked trying to hide his smile. Brian nodded. “I don’t want to lose him.” Brian told them. “You aren’t. At least not to Val.” Matthew said. “Are you going to think Justin is fucking every guy he is with? Can’t he have male friends?” Michael asked. “It’s not that.” Brian told them. “You have a problem in your head.” Matthew said to his friend with a little smile in place. “It makes you crazy.” “Justin loves you, Brian.” Michael said. Brian sighed. “Or maybe he wants a real man.” Matthew said. “He could have gotten tired of you. Man, you could be right. After all, who knows Justin better than you.” Michael glared at Matthew. He mouthed ‘shut up’ to the blond and then looked at Brian. “I’m a real man.” Brian protested. “You are still a kid, Brian.” Michael told him. “In some ways.” “Yeah.” Matthew agreed. “You the same age as me.” Brian spat out as he looked at Matthew. “What the fuck are you talking about?” “I know. But I am not in a relationship with an older man.” Matthew spat back. “Fuck off.” Brian told him getting up. “I’m going to go.” Michael looked at Matthew and shook his head. “What?” Matthew asked. “Why are you putting things in his head?” Michael asked shaking his head. “Me? You are the one that didn’t let me tell him that Val is Justin’s cousin.” Matthew said. “Because Brian needs to grow up. He has to see that Justin really loves him and would never do anything to hurt him.” Michael pointed out. “He needs to trust Justin.” “Yeah.” Matthew said. “He is going to be pissed when he finds out who Val is though.” Michael smirked and nodded. “Yeah, he is.” Michael agreed and laughed with Matthew. *** “How many days are you staying?” Brian asked. “Three days.” Justin told him. Brian nodded. “I’ll miss you.” Brian told him. “I know, baby.” Justin told him. “I'll be okay. Val is coming with me.” “He is?” Brian asked surprised. “Yeah.” Justin told him. “Why?” Brian asked swallowing hard. Brian was trying to be nice about the whole thing. He didn’t want to come off as a jealous boyfriend. That would mean he didn’t trust Justin and he did. “He wants to.” Justin said. “Doesn’t he have like a job?” Brian asked. “Yeah.” Justin told him. “He has some kind of computer job. I don’t know. He works from anywhere with his laptop.” Brian just nodded. “Wish me luck.” Justin told him. Brian smiled and kissed him hard. “You are going to do a great job.” Brian assured him. Justin grabbed his things and left. Brian thought about Val and Justin and shook his head. He slowly walked to the sofa and sat down. He gripped one of the cushions and started to cry. He didn’t want to lose Justin. He would just die. He wasn’t going to let Val get his blond. He was going to be the best boyfriend out there. *** “Hey.” Matthew said. Val smiled at Matthew. “Buy you a beer.” Val told him. Matthew nodded. “I thought you were on a trip with Justin.” Matthew said. “We were. We got back today. I came here for a drink, among other things.” Val told him. Matthew nodded and looked around Woody’s. The place was just staring to fill. “Did you guys have a good time?” Matthew asked. “Oh yeah.” Val said. “That’s good.” Matthew said. “Do you have a boyfriend?” Val asked. “What?” Matthew asked. “Me, no.” Val smiled and handed Matthew his beer. “Thanks.” Matthew told him. Matthew looked at Val and wanted to devour him. He needed help, or at least he thought so. He needed to get away from the Taylors for good, pretty soon he was going to go through the whole family. He though it was hilarious and yet, not. “You are welcome.” Val told him. “I should leave you then.” Matthew said. “You have better things to do than talk to me.” “No, wait.” Val told him. “Come back here. I want to ask you something.” Matthew walked back towards the bar and looked up at Val. “Do you want to go out?” Val asked. “Out where?” Matthew asked. “To do what?” “To have dinner with me.” Val told him. Matthew choked on his beer. Val quickly hit Matthew on the back. “Are you okay?” Val asked. “Yeah, sorry.” Matthew said. Matthew looked at his beer and frowned. He looked back at Val and smiled. “I have to go.” Matthew told him. “Thanks for the beer.” “Whoa.” Val said grabbing Matthew’s arm. “What about our date?” “No, I can’t. I’m very busy.” Matthew said. “Look, I have to go.” Val watched him go and frowned. He smiled and took a sip of his drink. He would just have to try harder. *** Justin entered his apartment and dropped his bags. He looked around and found a few extra things that hadn’t been there when he'd left for New York. There was a new lamp, a vase, a new chair. He looked around and decided that he liked them. “Brian!” Justin called as he walked to the kitchen. “I’m up here.” Brian yelled back. “What are you doing?” Justin asked. “Balancing my check book.” Brian shouted. Justin frowned and took a beer from the fridge. He closed the door and went up the stairs to see why Brian hadn’t practically jumped him when he got home. “You’ve been spending some money?” Justin asked leaning in the door way. Justin smiled when he saw that Brian was sitting naked in the bed. Brian looked up and nodded. “Here.” Brian said. Justin walked over to him and took the two checks. He frowned and looked at Brian. “What is this?” Justin asked. “To pay for things around here.” Brian told him. “I don’t need this.” Justin told him giving them back to Brian. “But I thought this was our place.” Brian protested getting on his knees. “It is.” Justin said as he licked his lips, watching Brian’s body. “No.” Brian said. “You pay for everything here.” Justin sighed. “Brian, I don’t want to argue.” Justin told him. “I had a long flight.” Brian just nodded. He knew when to step back and pretend like the subject was done for. “Come here.” Justin told him. Brian smiled and moved closer to the blond. “Did you miss me?” Brian asked. “Of course I did, baby.” Justin told him. Brian smiled and kissed Justin. He moaned when he felt Justin’s hands roaming his body. He gasped when Justin pushed him back in the bed. Brian smiled and watched as Justin took off his clothes. Justin got in the bed and started to kiss Brian everywhere. He had missed his baby so much. He licked Brian’s neck while he pinched the brunet’s nipples. “I want to fuck you.” Brian said. Justin smirked and reached for the condom and the lube. He put them next to Brian and then kissed the brunet. He moved downward on Brian’s body until he reached Brian’s thighs. He pushed the legs open and started to lick Brian’s left thigh, moving up until he reached the younger man’s sac. “Justin!” Brian yelled in frustration when Justin moved to do the same thing to his other thigh. Justin chuckled and then started sucking Brian’s balls. He tortured Brian, taking things very slowly. Finally after what seemed like an eternity to Brian, Justin took his cock in his mouth. “Yes.” Brian moaned. Justin ran his tongue from the base of Brian’s cock to the tip, sucking Brian’s pre cum. The brunet’s scent was driving Justin nuts. He pulled away and took the condom. He quickly put it on Brian’s cock and grabbed the lube. He coated Brian’s shaft then straddled the younger man. “Jus.” Brian hissed as he felt himself breaching Justin’s hole. Justin closed his eyes and pushed down. Brian grabbed Justin’s hips and pushed up, entering Justin completely. “Fuck!” Justin yelled. Justin was taking deep breaths trying to control the pain. Brian caressed Justin’s thigh and smiled when Justin opened his eyes to look at him. “Are you ready?” Brian asked. Justin nodded and lifted up. He was surprised when Brian turned them around and entered him hard. Brian grabbed Justin’s legs and put them on his shoulders. Then he started hammering inside Justin. “Jesus.” Justin moaned. Justin arched against Brian. He was surprised to say the least on how hard Brian was fucking him. He smiled and enjoyed the ride. Brian fucked Justin like it was the end of the world. He couldn’t get enough of the blond. He was also pissed that Justin hadn’t wanted to accept his help. “Brian.” Justin gasped. Brian kissed him hard and grabbed Justin’s cock. He started jerking the blond off hard and fast just like he was fucking him. Justin’s body shook and his orgasm took over. Brian kept thrusting for a few more times and then he spilled his cum inside the blond. He dropped his weight on top of Justin and they lay there together all sweaty and covered in cum. “Am I squashing you?” Brian asked and moved away. Justin sat up in the bed with a smile. “That was great.” Justin said smirking and kissed Brian on the cheek. Brian got rid of the condom and just stared at Justin. “What?” Justin asked. Brian shook his head. “I’m going to take a shower.” Brian told him. “What was that?” Justin asked suddenly when he heard the crying of a baby. “That’s Melissa.” Brian told the blond. “I've been taking care of her these last couple of days. Daphne is coming for her tomorrow.” “Why didn’t you tell me?” Justin asked. Brian shrugged. “I’ll go see what she wants.” Justin told him. Brian got up from the bed and walked to the bathroom. He got in the shower, turned the knobs and closed the door. He took a deep breath and felt his chest tightening; Justin could be so frustrating sometimes to deal with. He wanted Justin to treat him like an equal. He wanted to show Justin that he was the right man for him. He made up his mind. He wasn’t going to rest until Justin accepted his help. *** Justin rubbed his temples. He knew that Brian could be very tenacious when he wanted something and he loved that about the brunet. But at that particular moment it was driving him crazy. “What is wrong with the way that things are now?” Justin asked. “I want to help you, Justin.” Brian told him. “You don’t have to, baby.” Justin told him smiling. “I’m okay.” “That’s not the point, Justin. I want to be your equal.” Brian told him. “I want to be your partner.” Justin smiled and put his arms around Brian’s waist. “You are my partner.” Justin told him. Brian sighed and shook his head. “You pay for everything.” Brian told him. “We agreed that once you had a job and…” Justin said but Brian didn’t let him finished. “You said that once I got a job, I could start helping out.” Brian told him. “I have a job.” “You are still in school and that is a part-time job.” Justin pointed out. Brian looked away from the blond. Justin saw that they were going in circles. “Okay.” Justin said. Brian looked up with a raised brow. “Okay, what?” Brian asked. “You can help me.” Justin told him. “Just a few things.” Brian smiled and walked over to the blond. “You are fantastic.” Brian told him. Justin smiled and nodded. Brian grabbed Justin’s crotch and smirked. “We can cele…” Brian said but his words just hung in the air as they were drowned by Melissa’s cries. “We can go see your niece?” Justin asked. “That’s not what I have in mind.” Brian told him. Justin kissed him and smiled. “Later.” Justin said sexily. “Later.” Brian agreed with a smile from side to side. Justin went up the stairs to go get Melissa. He couldn’t believe she was so big already. He picked her up and went back to Brian. “I think she's hungry.” Justin told him. “I’ll go get her a bottle, daddy.” Brian teased. Justin just ignored him and started playing with the girl. “She is getting really big.” Justin told him. “She is going to be tall.” Brian smiled as he listened to Justin. “It runs in the family.” Brian told him. A few seconds later Brian was walking with the bottle towards Justin. “I can take her.” Brian told him. “That’s okay. I’ll do it.” Justin told him. Brian nodded and handed the blond the bottle. He kissed his niece on the cheek and the girl smiled. He went and sat on the couch and stared at Justin. “You are really good.” Brian said. Justin once again ignored Brian. Brian smiled knowing that Justin had heard him. “What?” Justin asked. “I think you are just great.” Brian told him. Justin rolled his eyes. “I know what you are thinking. So, don’t even think about it.” Justin told him. Brian laughed and shook his head. He smiled and knew he wanted to have kids with Justin someday. He really wanted a couple of kids running around. *** Matthew closed the door to his place and turned to look at Brian. He could see that the brunet was dying to tell him something. “What’s with you?” Matthew asked. “This.” Brian said taking out a letter and showing it to his friend. Matthew frowned and took the letter. He walked to his desk and put his glasses on. “You look hot in them.” Brian said smirking. Matthew smiled and started reading the letter. He looked up at Brian and smiled. “Wow.” Matthew said. “This is great, Brian.” Brian just nodded. “Isn’t it?” Matthew asked seeing his friend’s expression. Brian moved away to the window. “Keep on reading?” Brian told him. Matthew read the rest of the information and ended up frowning. He didn’t like it one bit. “It would pay for all my studies and books and board and food and what not.” Brian told him. “Don’t you have a scholarship now?” Matthew asked. “Yeah.” Brian said. “But it doesn’t pay for everything.” “What are you going to do?” Matthew asked. “I know.” Brian told him. “It would be so much easier.” Matthew nodded knowing it was true. “I wouldn’t have to work so hard. I would have more money for me.” Brian told him. “Yeah.” Matthew agreed. “Why are they even sending you this? Jesus fuck! All the way in California.” Matthew spat out not liking it one bit. “I applied for it when I was still with Memphis.” Brian said. “Oh.” Matthew muttered. “So what are you going to do?” Brian took a deep breath and walked back to Matthew. He grabbed the letter and tore it in two. He took a deep breath and then threw it on the trash can. “I’ve worked hard all this time.” Brian told him. “Plus, I have Justin and I won’t have him if I take this.” Matthew smiled and put his arm around Brian’s shoulders. “This is everything you ever wanted.” Matthew pointed out. “Yeah.” Brian said. “But I would sacrifice it to be with Justin. Who is who I want and need and love.” Matthew smiled. “Don’t tell him anything, please.” Brian told him. Matthew nodded. “Let’s go get drunk.” Matthew told him. “On me.” Brian laughed and nodded. He knew that if Justin ever found out the blond would be pissed but he knew he had made the right decision.