Caribbean Lullaby-6
Author: Elsa Rose
Plot: Judy
Brian wasn’t sure what he was expecting when he walked into the diner for breakfast two days later. Maybe just his usual breakfast with one or two of his old friends, maybe a cup or two of coffee, a piece of toast, or even a simple chat with Debbie. What he found was something else.
“It’s about time you got here.” Molly Taylor stood with her hands on her hips glaring at Brian.
“Hey, Molly, you’re looking good. Love the tan.” Brian kissed her cheek before he sat down at the counter hoping to avoid any of the gang hearing whatever it was that had Molly pissed off. “What’s up?”
“Justin hasn’t gotten up off of the floor in his studio since the night he went to Babylon and stayed out until morning. All he does is say something about ruining everything and singing that gawd awful song he sings, you know Mamba 69. He keeps singing the chorus and it’s driving me nuts.”
“Oh, you live with Justin; I thought you had your own place.” Brian signaled for a coffee.
“I do have my own place, near Dartmouth but here I live with my mom and step dad.”
Well if Justin is driving you crazy, don’t spend time with him. He’ll get over it.” Brian looked at Deb who was standing close and listening. “Coffee Deb and some dry toast, multigrain, oh and a glass of guava juice.” He looked at Molly, “Want some breakfast, Princess?”
“Eggs over medium, bacon, brown toast lightly buttered and coffee,” Molly replied and sat down beside Brian. “Honestly, Brian I don’t know what to do with him. He’s always been kind of uncertain about stuff. I guess because of the hard time our dad gave him. He really likes you. I think he needs to get laid; I really do. It can’t be good for a guy being his age and a virgin. He might explode or something.”
Brian snorted coffee through his nose from laughter. “Fuck Molly, give a guy some warning.”
Everybody in the diner turned and stared at Brian Kinney who was uncharacteristically engulfed in laughter.
“Brian it’s not funny. Jeremy said it could happen.”
“Jeremy is an idiot.” Brian struggled to control himself. “Justin isn’t going to explode and eventually he has to get up off of the floor. It can’t be comfortable.”
“Well his bed hasn’t been delivered yet. He actually hasn’t even bought one. He says it’s too important a decision to make right now.”
“Buying a bed isn’t rocket science,” Brian said grateful for the change in subject.
“It is if you over analyze every damn thing like my brother does.” Molly ticked off on her fingers; “One, a small bed means that he plans on sleeping alone forever. Two, a double bed means that he cautiously thinks he could share it. But it could also mean he might be sharing it with maybe a dog or a cat. Three, a queen size bed is so marriagy, his word not mine. Four, a king size bed is overly optimistic and would make mom think he was having orgies in the loft every night.”
“So rather than make the decision he sleeps on the floor?” Brian asked.
“Yes and no,” she replied.
“Why don’t you explain what you mean.”
“Well right now he’s on the floor in his studio, not his bedroom. He’s on the floor there because he says he can’t paint anymore because his muse thinks he’s a child and doesn’t take him seriously. And also because he got drunk when he promised he wouldn’t and made a fool out of himself at Babylon, which I understand you witnessed, making it even worse. There’s also something about a taxi and a phone call, but by then he was rambling.”
Brian rolled his eyes heavenward. “I am too old for this shit,” he muttered and looked around to make sure than none of the gang had heard his ‘old’ comment. “Molly, Justin needs to give himself a shake,” Brian sighed. “What I mean is, he queens out without even trying to deal with things himself.”
“Oh and you don’t, Mr. don’t answer phone calls from Justin, because you think he’s been using you.”
“Hey, she’s got you on that one,” Michael said sitting down on the other side of Molly. “Molly girl, you’re looking great, gotta love the tan.”
“Thanks Michael.” Molly blushed at the compliment. “It beats the fake and bake tans.”
“You know Molly and Justin?” Brian asked his friend. “And you’ve never told me about either of them?”
“Brian, unless they were a good fuck, you never tell me about half the people you know,” Michael grinned at his friend. “Molly and Justin just didn’t come up in our conversations, what can I say? I do have a life you know.”
“I just never thought about it much,” Brian admitted. “Justin’s hot, you could have told me.”
“Yeah right. Like I’d want a friend of mine to experience the one fuck thrill of the great Brian Kinney. No thanks Brian; Justin is a friend of mine. He’s naïve enough to think that you would actually mean something with your attention. He doesn’t need that. He’s been through enough shit.” Michael turned to Molly, “Tell Justin that the cells he sent me are great. I’ll call him later and we’ll work with a story line I thought of.”
“He’ll like that,” Molly grinned at Michael. “He’s kind of down.”
“On the studio floor again is he?” Michael asked. “Maybe I should stop by. I don’t have his address though. I’m assuming he’s not at your mom’s or his old studio near PIFA.”
“He’s at the new place. You’ll like it. He’s has the most awesome studio. It’s all windows and skylights. He’s even put in a roof garden and a hot tub. He actually had to buy the whole building to do that. But you know Justin, what he wants he usually gets.”
“So he’s a landlord now?” Michael laughed. “I can’t see that.”
“No, he owns the building, but the lofts are owned individually. Though mind you, he plans on buying any that come up for sale. He has an offer in on one of the ground floor places. It’ll probably be accepted.”
Brian listened to this with interest. He had no idea that Justin had that kind of financial backing.
“Where is this Taj Mahal?” Michael asked. “It sounds cool.”
“It’s not too far from here; on the corner of Tremont and Church Street. It’s kind of an old building, or at least it looks like that on the outside. Justin’s loft is on the top floor and he has the back half. He doesn’t have his name on the intercom yet. Push the blank one for Justin.”
“Uh, Molly, are you sure about that address? I mean have you actually been there?” Michael asked; looking at Brian who was sitting on his stool slightly shell shocked.
“Of course, I’m sure. I was just there this morning. Justin never has any food in the place. I’m sure he lives completely on take out. That’s why he’s so thin. He never eats when he’s upset and he never eats when he’s working. There isn’t much time when he does eat,” Molly giggled. “I ordered up a big grocery order from the store down the street. I’m having it delivered. Justin can suck it up and pay for it when it comes. I need food when I visit.”
“Sounds like an interesting place,” Brian drawled, shooting a warning look at his friend. It happened to be the same address as his. Justin must have bought the loft behind his, or rather bought the whole building. So that’s why the front brick was being sandblasted and the window frames painted. The previous building owner had barely touched the place. Justin was doing some improvements. “I’ll have to stop by.”
“Don’t bother, Brian,” Molly said. “Unless you plan on getting him off the studio floor permanently.”
“Brian could get him off on the studio floor,” Michael snickered earning him a dirty look from both Molly and Brian.
“Since Justin is an integral part of my team, I do believe I’ll go have a chat with him.” Brian stood up and threw some money on the counter. “Now, where was that place again?” he asked, ignoring the kick Mikey gave him.
Brian had some time to think on his way back to his loft, and apparently Justin’s loft as well. He never did ask Molly how Justin could afford to buy a damn building. That question would have to be answered another time. He parked his car beside the annoying red Saturn. No wonder it had looked familiar, it was Justin’s.
He took the stairs two at a time but instead of turning to his own loft; he turned at the top of the stairs to a set of heavy oak double doors. Brian studied the doors for a moment; they appeared to be hand carved, not some run of the mill stock doors. Not sure if Justin had an alarm or not, Brian took a chance and pulled out a set of lock picks. He’d had them for years. In fact, both he and Mikey had made them in shop class during their senior year. They’d decided to get into the school offices for some reason that escaped him now. They had spent long hours learning the art of lock picking. He didn’t do it often, but there were times when knowing how to get into something that was locked came in handy. Brian’s mind wandered for a few seconds as he worked the lock pick and wondered if Michael ever used his.
Thirty seconds later, Brian stood just inside Justin’s loft. He looked around what appeared to be a space much larger than his own. One area flowed nicely into another only divided by partial walls of brick or plaster. Light coming from the far end told him that the studio had to be in that direction. Toeing off his shoes, Brian padded silently toward Justin and his destiny. Enough fooling around, today Justin Taylor was going to become a man.
Sure enough, Justin lay on the floor. In fact, he lay in front of the long glass windows staring with fascination at his hands. On the walls around him were bright paintings reflecting his time on the island. Brian smirked at the theme of most of them. He looked damn good naked against a backdrop of greenery.
Walking over to Justin he dropped down beside him. Laying his head next to Justin’s. “What’s up, Sunshine?” Brian asked.
“How did you find me?” Justin asked, not really surprised to see Brian Kinney lying on the floor of his studio.
“Have you got your shit together for the meeting?” Brian asked ignoring Justin’s question.
“Not going to any meeting,” he replied like a petulant child.
“Yes, you are.” Brian sighed and turned so he was up on one elbow staring down at Justin. “I want you there,” he said before claiming Justin’s lips for his own.
At first, Justin was stiff and unyielding, but it didn’t take long and he found himself succumbing to Brian’s embrace. “You’re a good kisser that’s for sure,” Justin whispered to Brian when they broke apart.
“You aren’t bad yourself,” Brian said in a voice filled with lust and leaned down and kissed Justin again. “But than any boyfriend of mine would have to be great in the kissing department.”
“Boyfriend?” Justin asked, his hand cupping the back of Brian’s head. “I’m your boyfriend? I guess I didn’t get the memo.” He pulled Brian back until his lips touched the older man’s.
“Only until I find some other word to describe our relationship, you know how I feel about the word boyfriend.” Brian obliged and kissed Justin again; this time he allowed his tongue to sweep the inner recesses of the blond’s mouth enough to make him squirm and drive him wild.
“What are you doing?” Justin finally gasped.
“Kissing you, surely you could tell that.” Brian began to kiss graceful contours of Justin’s neck, working his way lower and lower, removing clothing as they items became obstacles. His method was slow and methodical, but definitely working. “Now I’m tasting you.” Brian’s tongue and teeth worked their way around Justin’s nipples. “Mmmm and you taste surprisingly good for someone who spends a lot of time on the floor.”
“You taste like coffee,” Justin gasped.
“Only my mouth, want to taste some other parts?” Brian gave him an evil grin as Justin’s hands tore off his shirt.
“Oh, yeah,” Justin said, his own mouth mimicking Brian’s. “Salty”
“Sweet,” Brian answered. He loosened Justin’s pants and with one swift tug he removed them as his cock sprung free, waving franticly in the air. “Look it wants a kiss too,” he said, as he obliged with a ‘French’ kiss.
“Brian, I never….” Justin began only to be silenced by Brian’s own cock appearing before his eyes. “Well, there’s no time like the present,” he said with a grin.
“That’s my boyfriend; decisive. I like that in a man,” Brian murmured before he began to initiate Justin into manhood.
Later, they both lay sweat soaked and naked on the hard wooden floor. Their fingers laced together as they stared up at the skylights above them. “I wouldn’t mind if we did it again. You know just to see if I got it right,” Justin said with a smile.
“You need to buy a bed.” Brian thumped the floor with his free hand. “This is ridiculous.”
“Okay, wanna go shopping?” Justin turned to face Brian. “I mean if you are going to be in it a lot, you should have some say into what it looks like.”
“You coming to the new hires orientation meeting?” Brian countered.
“Did you seduce me to get your own way?” Justin asked and started to sit up. “Cause if you did...”
“Shut up, Sunshine. You were coming anyway and you know it. I seduced you because all this fooling around was getting us no where.” Brian pulled him into his arms. “But we need a couple of ground rules here. At Kinnetik you are Justin Taylor, assistant art director. I have a no fraternization policy since a rather unfortunate incident a few years ago.”
“You mean you don’t want anyone to know I’m your boyfriend?” Justin felt hurt as he asked.
“It’s not that. I don’t mind if anyone knows. I just don’t think that it would be a good idea to let everyone in the office know it. You want to get ahead without everyone thinking it’s only because of me don’t you?”
“Yes,” Justin admitted. “But I kind of want to shout out that you’re my boyfriend.”
“Shout all you want, but keep it in the bedroom. By the way, I have a surprise for you.” Brian stood up and pulled Justin to his feet. It might be a way around the bed problem.”
“Oh?” Justin let himself be led to his main door. “Brian we’re naked,” he said when the other man opened the door.
“No shit,” Brian answered and stepped into the hall. “Do you see anyone around?”
“No, but that’s not the point. We’re naked.”
“And you could use a couple of pounds on you. Don’t you ever eat?” Brian asked as he unlocked the door on the other end of the foyer. “I on the other hand have the perfect figure for a man of my age.”
“I don’t look that bad.” Justin tried to peer at himself from all angles. “My butt is okay, I’m just a bit skinny.”
“You have an ammmmaaaaazzzzzing butt,” Brian agreed pulling open the door to his loft. “Come on in and check out the bedroom. I do have a bed.”
“You live here?” Justin stepped inside and Brian shut the door, locking it in case someone should decide to visit. Not an unlikely happening.
“I do.” Brian pulled Justin across to the bedroom. “Come here. Let’s try out this bed Baby Bear or is that Goldilocks.”
Brian woke to the scratching of a pencil. His arms felt empty and he started to sit up.
“Don’t move,” Justin said. He was sitting cross-legged and naked at the end of the bed. “I want to record you for posterity.”
“I’m glad you don’t have your camera,” Brian laughed, but lay back down.
“I already took a bunch of pictures. You photograph amazingly well when you’re sated with sex.” Justin patted the camera that sat beside him, “I could make a lot of money with these.”
“It isn’t polite to take pictures of your naked boyfriend,” Brian drawled.
“By the way, why would a guy like you want a guy like me for a boyfriend? I mean I’m short, skinny, kind of flaky, I’m nervous in crowds; I’ve been known to drink to excess and until very recently I was a virgin,”
“And those are just the good points,” Brian joked. “I could counter with... I’m twelve years your senior, I’m undergoing a life crises, I’m a bitch to live with, I have issues with relinquishing power; oh and until recently I’ve never loved anyone, not even myself.”
“We kind of make a good pair; two losers,” Justin smiled at Brian almost shyly.
“Speak for yourself.” Brian sat up and lunged at Justin. “I do believe we have some bed shopping to do.”
“I like this one,” Justin said.
“Me too and you can’t have it. But you can share it until you get one of your own.” Brian pulled Justin into his arms, “I’m ready to do the boyfriend thing, but I think we should take the living together part a little bit slower.”
“I guess,” Justin shrugged. “I could have a door put in over there.” He pointed to the wall that separated the two units.”
“Or not,” Brian laughed. “I’ll give you a key, though.”
“I guess I could give you one. I can’t have you risking everything breaking into my loft and getting caught.” Justin leaned into Brian’s embrace, “I’ll go to the orientation and be your dirty little secret.”
“Hardly that,” Brian said. “I won’t lie and neither will you, but we don’t have to volunteer anything either.”
“This is really true.” Justin looked around unable to meet Brian’s eyes. “I mean all that time on the island, and all of our talks, I never thought that it would ever happen. I mean look at me and look at you.”
Brian gently grasped his chin forcing the blond to look at him. “Justin, I don’t know why you have such a self-esteem problem. But there’s no reason for it.” Brian got off of the bed and grabbed his hand, “Come on, join me in the shower.”
Justin had barely slept since he and Brian had made love. When he wasn’t with the older man, he was in his studio painting. He was obsessed with getting his life and feelings down on canvas. His days and most of his nights were filled with images of the two of them together and he couldn’t stop smiling.
Justin awoke and couldn’t understand why he was so nervous on the morning of the great orientation meeting. It wasn’t as if he didn’t already have the job and for that matter he also had the boss as Brian had reminded him about six- thirty this morning.
“Good morning, Justin,” Cynthia greeted the blond when he walked in the door. “You’re the first to arrive, I’m sure Jeremy will be here soon. Would you like some coffee?” she asked.
“No, I don’t think so,” Justin answered and smiled at her. “I don’t like it much.”
“How about a soda?” she offered.
“Nothing, thank you.” Justin smiled as he looked around. “If you don’t mind, I’ll go to the art department until eleven. I want some time to talk to the other guys.”
“Go ahead, Justin. I’ll call on the intercom when Jeremy gets here.” Cynthia smiled as she watched Justin walk toward the art department. He was going to be quite the asset to Kinnetik. His PIFA transcript was amazing and she still couldn’t get over the letters of recommendation from each of his professors. He was quite the catch in the advertising world and Brian was lucky to have him.
When Cynthia’s voice was heard over the intercom half an hour later, Justin had already asserted himself well in the department that he was going to help run. He’d made a few changes to a current campaign’s mock-ups impressing his boss and making the others in the department envious.
“I’ll be back,” Justin said to his fellow workers. He was in his element in the art department and couldn’t believe how much fun working was going to be. He strutted into the conference room full of confidence knowing he’d made the right decision in joining Kinnetik.
“Mr. Taylor,” Brian nodded his hello, eyes dancing. “I’m glad you could make it. You know Jeremy I believe, and this is Daphne Chanders, she’ll be working in legal. “
Justin and Daphne smiled hello to each other. Both knew immediately that they’d found a friend. Justin walked over and sat beside the petite young woman.
“You’re late,” Jeremy hissed at Justin. Not a good thing, Kid if you want to impress the boss.”
“Jeremy, is there something you’d like to share with us?” Brian asked.
“Uh, no Sir, Mr. Kinney.”
“Mr. Taylor?”
“Sorry I’m late Mr. Kinney,” Justin smiled at Brian. “I’ll try to come on time when I work under you,” he grinned.
“See that you do Taylor, “ Brian smirked. “Now, I’m sorry that I wasn’t available for your interviews earlier. But I will try to be available for any questions or concerns you might have in your first few weeks here. Jeremy will be a summer intern and then he’s off to conquer Dartmouth. Miss Chanders will remain as part of our legal department while she continues her studies. She will continue to be employed at Kinnetik in the fall but it will be on a part time only basis. Mr. Taylor’s contract gives us two years of his expertise. I’m sure that you can all learn from him. He comes with excellent credentials.”
“Mr. Kinney, Sir, but isn’t Justin, I mean Mr. Taylor, just an artist. I mean the real talent is you. You’re the one who comes up with the ideas.” Jeremy looked at Brian.
“Mr. Taylor’s art will no doubt be known long after Kinnetik and its campaigns have long turned to dust. I’d suggest that you think about that,” Brian smiled to take the sting out of his words. “The art department and what it presents, is generally what the public will remember. That’s why it’s so important to have the artist in residence be completely in tune with the one who chooses the words for the ads.”
“I’ll do my best to be one with you, Mr. Kinney,” Justin smirked. “Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have a deadline to meet in my department. If I have any questions, I’ll be sure to ask Mr. Kinney. Sorry to be late and then leave early, but time is money as they say.” He stood up, winked at Brian knowing that no one could see him and left the room.
Brian had to bite his lip to keep from laughing out loud at Justin’s arrogance. He sure wasn’t anything like the bundle of nerves he’d left in bed at six-thirty that morning.
Jeremy couldn’t believe Justin’s nerve. He was only a fucking artist while Jeremy was attending Dartmouth, not to mention a hell of a lot better looking than the skinny blond. “Mr. Kinney, what is our first project?” Jeremy asked.
Brian pulled himself back from visions of ravishing Justin on his desk and looked at Jeremy. “Oh Jeremy, after you complete the paper work in payroll, see your sister. I believe she has some mail-outs she wants you to put in envelopes and stamp. It shouldn’t take you too long.” He turned to Daphne, “I’ll walk you to legal Miss Chanders.” He opened the door for Daphne who stood up grateful to get away from Jeremy who was creeping her out. What was with the guy anyway she wondered.
Justin was in a great mood. The day passed in a blur of activity, in fact, he didn’t even know that most of the staff had already left when he looked up to find Brian standing in the door.
“Hey, Sunshine, I didn’t see you in the lunch room.”
“Oh, is it lunch time?” Justin looked up at the clock on the wall. “Shit, it’s seven o’clock.” He stood up and stretched his cramped back. “Come and see what I’ve done with the Robinson campaign.”
“I’m sure it’s great, but we have dinner reservations.” Brian took the pencil from Justin’s hand and put it on the drawing board. “Time to go.”
“But I’ll only be a couple of minutes,” Justin began.
“You’ll come right now.” Brian turned off the light and took Justin’s hand. “All work and no play makes Justin a very bad boy.”
“Oh, am I going to get spanked?” Justin asked with a laugh.
“You never know.”
“Oh, Mr. Kinney.” They both looked to see Jeremy was standing at the end of the hall. “Oh, hi Justin. Mr. Kinney, Cynthia wanted to know if you’d like to join us for dinner at the Italian place down the street.”
“Not tonight, but thanks Jeremy. I have to wash my hair,” Brian smirked. “Come along Mr. Taylor, I’ll give you a lift. I do believe you live near my hairstylist.”
“That’s okay Mr. Kinney. I have my own car,.” Justin smiled.
“In that case you can give me a lift. I walked to work this morning.” Brian turned to Jeremy, “I’ll lock up Jeremy; you go on ahead and tell Cynthia thanks, maybe another time.”
Justin leaned back in his chair. He couldn’t believe he’d eaten everything Brian had ordered. “I don’t think I can move,” he said to the smiling man sitting across from him.
“I think you can move just fine,” Brian grinned. “I’m glad you were able to stop talking long enough to eat.”
“I guess talking shop all through dinner wasn’t probably the best way to relax,” Justin shrugged. “But I can’t believe working in advertising for real is so much different than school.”
“I know, I was like that when I began.” Brian’s smile was indulgent and he took Justin’s hand in his. “I hope that you never lose this kind of enthusiasm. I always said that the day I did, I’d leave the trade and do something else. It’s been a long time and it hasn’t stopped being amazing for me.”
“Isn’t it weird that every idea you had today, I just knew what you wanted and it worked?” Justin sighed. “We make a great team, Brian.”
“That we do, Sunshine.” Brian looked at his watch. “It’s late, but do you want to head to Woody’s before we go home?”
“No, I’m tired, and I have a few things I need to do in my studio. My show is coming up and I want everything perfect.”
Brian signaled for the bill and paid it. “I’ll go to my place and change and then come over. I’m not having you work all day at Kinnetik and then most of the night in your studio.”
Justin laughed, “You think your presence will stop me working all night?”
“Oh, I have a few tricks that might slow you down.” Brian stood up, “Time to go.”
The two men left the restaurant. Justin’s car was parked near the corner and they walked together, neither of them speaking, content just having each other close.
A week later, Justin stood in the entrance of his bedroom finally satisfied with the look he’d achieved. He’d followed Brian’s advice and kept things simple, allowing the breathtaking colors of his framed photos to take over the room. The bed he decided on was a king sized one. Brian was so tall that anything less was uncomfortable for him. He had chosen a plain white velvet down-filled duvet. A dozen or more pillows were scattered along the top in various shades and patterns of white. The headboard was an upholstered piece of antique white brocade trimmed in a soft gold braid.
“Not bad eh?” Brian said coming up behind Justin and wrapping his arms around the blond. “Of course, you are going to have to make sure your hands are cleaned from your studio work, but I think it looks rather nice.”
“No shoes on the bed,” Justin said pretending sternness.
“Yes, Baby Bear.” Brian had decided that despite Justin’s blond hair, he was the baby bear and not Goldilocks.
Justin shook his head and wondered again why Brian had to have a pet name for him. It was so unlike Brian Kinney.
“I’ve had some pretty wonderful reports about you from Bradley,” Brian said, “he’s quite impressed.” Bradley was Justin’s direct boss and the art director of Kinnetik. “I go away to New York and come back to find that you are the favored boy at Kinnetik.”
“Did I mention that I missed you when you were gone?” Justin said. “I had no one to make me eat or tell me to go to bed. It was like being a big boy,” he joked. Brian was forever treating him like a child; it was nice, but occasionally annoying.
“Do I sense sarcasm?” Brian kissed the top of Justin’s ear and then bit it gently.
“Never,” Justin laughed. “Your number one fan also missed you. He sulked all week,” he said referring to Jeremy.
“He needs to get laid,” Brian’s voice was dry.
“I think that’s his plan and you are the object of that plan.” Justin leaned back into Brian. “I’d like to tell him to fuck off, but I’m being a nice little boyfriend of the boss and keeping my mouth shut,” he remarked as he let Brian nuzzle his neck.
“And for that, I’ll reward you,” Brian replied and scooped Justin up in his arms.
“Not on the white duvet,” Justin half-heartedly protested as he felt himself carried into the bedroom.
“That’s what dry cleaning services are for,” Brian smirked as he dropped Justin on the bed and then quickly joined him.
“Molly, are you sure about this, that I can share your condo?” Jeremy asked. He was on a lounge chair beside the pool at Molly’s mother’s house.
“No, I’m not sure, you’re being a jerk about Brian, but I figure you’ll get over it once we’re at Dartmouth,” Molly said. She leaned forward and requested, “Put some sunscreen on me would you?”
Jeremy sat up and found the sunscreen. “I’m not being a jerk. I just think that Brian can do better than your brother. Look at me. I’m just Brian’s type. I’m good looking, I don’t want any kind of commitment and I’m brilliant.”
“You forgot the pompous ass part,” Molly said with a grin. “Give it up Jeremy; go find someone who is interested. Brian clearly isn’t. And for the record, Justin scored more than 1500 on his SAT’s.”
“You’re kidding right?” Jeremy asked.
“No, I’m not kidding.” Molly answered and lay back on the lounge chair. “Thanks. By the way I’m leaving for the apartment next week. I know it’s early but I want to get to know the area before school starts. I also have some shopping I want to do for the apartment. You’d better make sure that you bring anything you want to eat or for that matter to cook with. I’m not going to be doing any cooking that doesn’t involve a microwave and a freezer.”
“Geeze,” Jeremy said and lay back to resume his tanning. “Thanks for the warning. I guess I’ll add cooking to the cleaning part.”
“Good plan. I knew there was a reason I put up with you.” Molly smiled to herself. With luck he’d come with her. It would get him out of Brian’s hair, not to mention out of Justin’s. Her brother was considering murder and considering Jeremy was Cynthia’s brother, that wasn’t a good thing.
Daphne was both pleased and surprised that Brian had entrusted her with the job. She and Justin had become good friends in the short time since they’d known each other. She was the one person at Kinnetik who knew that the boss and the assistant art director were a couple. It was kind of fun knowing and it gave her lots of opportunities for teasing Justin but this was the best. Daphne finished the last of the paperwork making Justin, Brian’s beneficiary for the group life insurance and putting him on together with Brian for medical and dental. She had to giggle to herself as she wrote out the addresses for the two of them. She wondered how long it was going to take for everyone to know that they lived side- by- side or together depending on the day and the temperament of both of them.
“Excuse me?” Jeremy stood inside the door of the legal department. “I need to see one of the lawyers.”
“Oh, is it something I can help you with?” Daphne asked.
“I don’t know... it’s about one of the guys who works here. He… “ Jeremy hesitated. “He keeps harassing me, sexually harassing me. I know it sounds stupid coming from a guy, but you have to understand, I’m gay and so is he.”
Daphne looked at Jeremy closely. This is the guy who was bugging Justin every chance he got. He was always doing his best to undermine her friend or put him down in front of Brian.
“Who?” she asked.
“If I tell you, you have to promise that you won’t let him know I’ve told you.”
“I’m not promising anything. Maybe you should go to Mr. Kinney about this.”
“I can’t, Mr. Kinney, well he means a lot to me. I wouldn’t want him to know that I can’t handle myself. It’s Justin, Mr. Taylor,…. “ Jeremy started. He lowered his eyes and caught sight of Justin’s and Brian’s name together on a piece of paper laying in front of Daphne. It looked like some kind of legal form, but he couldn’t quite read what it said. “Look, forget I said anything,” Jeremy said and quickly backed out of the office. It appeared that Justin and Brian were more than employer and employee. It was quite possible that their relationship meant a lot more. “I have to go.” He turned and bolted.
Outside Daphne’s office, he ran into Justin knocking him sideways. “Sorry,” Jeremy muttered and then realized it was Justin. “Are you and Brian Kinney going out or something?” Jeremy blurted out.
Reminding himself that Brian had said never to lie, Justin answered, “I’m working can’t you see that?”
“I mean are you two a couple?”
“A couple of what, fags? That would be a yes,” Justin laughed.
“You know what I mean.” Jeremy said, frustrated by Justin’s evasive attitude.
“Brian and I live together more or less. We’re a couple more or less. We’re boyfriends more or less.” Justin confirmed Jeremy’s worst fears. “Is that what you wanted to know?”
“Yeah.” Jeremy’s face flamed red as he thought of everything he’d done over the past couple of weeks to try and win Brian over. He turned and left; deciding at that moment to quit Kinnetik earlier than he originally planned.
Justin smiled to himself as he watched the frustrated Jeremy hurriedly leave the office. Hopefully he had gotten the message loud and clear that Brian had no interest in him.
Ever since Justin had discovered Jeremy was working at Kinnetik he had been an annoyance; he was always trying to undermine him whenever the boss was around. Even though he knew he had nothing to worry about, it was still frustrating to always have to defend himself. What annoyed the blond even more was the fact that his boyfriend, more or less, thought it was funny to see the two of them fight over him. Although in the privacy of the bedroom Brian made it very clear who the winner was.
Justin walked into Brian’s office with a bright smile on his face, locked the door behind him and then sat on his lover’s knee. “Hey, Handsome,” he said with a sly gleam in his eyes. “You have been hung at the GLC”
“I know I’m hung, but at the GLC,” Brian grinned and pulled Justin in for a kiss. “So everything is set for the show?”
“Everything is set,” Justin confirmed. “Mom and Molly will be there about seven. I thought maybe you and I could make a grand entrance about seven-thirty.”
“It’s going to take me that long to finish up a couple of interviews. Damned, if I know why Jeremy suddenly decided to go to Molly’s apartment early. It’s fucking inconvenient. Not that he was a lot of help, but it was nice having someone get coffee and my dry-cleaning and stuff. I’ll be interviewing for a replacement.”
The blond couldn’t help the smile that spread over his features. It appeared Jeremy got the message that Brian had no interest in him. He must have finally gotten the hint and decided to leave his internship earlier than planned.
“How about a nice straight girl?” Justin asked, “or better yet, a semi-retired straight guy.”
Brian noticed the look on Justin’s face as he was told that Jeremy had quit. He eyed him suspiciously and asked, “Is there something you want to tell me, Sunshine?”
“No, just making some suggestions.” Justin tried his best to look innocent. “Now about that door you had installed between our apartments. I thought we weren’t going to do that,” he said, wanting to change the topic.
“But think of how much fun it’ll be to play with Mikey’s head. We won’t tell him where you live and I can have some fun with this.” Brian too tried to look innocent.
“You’re evil.’
“You’re sweet.”
The end
September 4, 2005