Brian was sitting at his desk, sipping on the bitter coffee from the coffee room and wondered whether Cynthia would bring him a latte again. He was actually excited to tell her about the amazing time he and Justin had the previous night.
“Brian?” Cynthia bit her lip as she peeked into the office.
“Come in.” Brian smiled. “Did you bring me latte? Because I sure have stories to tell you.” Brian was in an excellent mood.
“Brian, have you seen the newspaper?” Cynthia looked really nervous.
“No, why? Is there something about Justin in there?” Brian figured that would be the only thing that would cause that reaction from Cynthia.
“Yes.” Cynthia handed him the newspaper. She sat down across from him, she was sure that he would be needing her very soon.
Brian sat back in his chair and opened the folded up newspaper. The color drained from his face when he saw the pictures on the cover. There was one of Justin sitting on top of him with his hands nestled under Brian’s shirt out by the river the previous evening and there was one of them cuddled together as they walked to the Jeep. The headline read “Justin Taylor Finds Love With PA Ad Man.”
“Fuck.” Brian breathed. He rubbed his hand over his face and looked back at the paper. “Gay actor Justin Taylor was spotted having a romantic picnic with his boyfriend, advertising exec Brian Kinney of Pittsburgh. Kinney has been spotted arriving at Justin’s hotel several times since the actor’s arrival last week and Taylor was curiously absent from the hotel over the weekend.” Brian read aloud.
“Brian, I’m so sorry.” Cynthia looked nervous and Brian could tell that his shock and horror were showing on his face.
~Ring, Ring~
“Get that, Cyn. Please.” Brian stared at the pictures in the paper and felt like his heart was going to fall out of his chest.
“Vanguard Advertising, Brian Kinney’s office.” Cynthia answered smoothly. After a moment, she mouthed to Brian, “It’s Deb.” When he nodded, she replied. “One moment.”
“Kinney.” He answered, trying to act like everything was normal.
“What the hell is going on, Brian? I saw the newspaper this morning. Reporters have been coming in here all morning trying to find out things about you.” Debbie sounded frazzled.
“How the hell did they link me there?” Brian rubbed his hand over his face.
“Everyone on Liberty knows you, Brian.” Debbie snapped. “You’ve made sure of that over the years. Reporters know where to look and it wouldn’t be hard at all to link you to Liberty Avenue, to Michael, to the diner. Now, this shit with Justin Taylor. It’s true?”
“I’ve seen him a few times, it’s not a big deal.” Brian wanted to crawl under a rock. He couldn’t believe that everything was falling down around him. That everything that had seemed so perfect the previous night suddenly felt so horrible.
“It says in the paper that you’re his boyfriend.” Debbie countered.
“Well, it’s fucking wrong, okay?” Brian snapped. “Listen, I’m sorry, Deb. I can’t talk right now. I have to go slit my wrists.”
”I know you’re being sarcastic,” Debbie’s voice softens a little, “but you’ve been through worse than this before, and you’ll probably be through worse again. You’ll get through this, Brian. You’re a fighter.”
“Thanks, Deb.” Brian was grateful to have her in his life. He knew for sure that his mother wouldn’t be so supportive and wondered when he was going to be getting a call from her.
“You come by my house later for dinner. I’ll make your favorite.”
“Thanks, Deb, but there’s something I have to take care of tonight.” Brian felt his heart breaking.
“Okay, Sweetie.” Deb sighed. “You know if you ever need to talk, I’m here.”
“Don’t go getting all nice on me, Deb.” Brian chuckled weakly. “It’s a little frightening.”
“Little asshole.” Deb laughed.
“Bye, Deb.” Brian hung up.
“How do you want me to handle your calls?” Cynthia asked, biting her lip. She knew a lot of calls would be coming in over the course of the day.
“Put the people on my family list through, if clients call, figure out what’s going on and don’t put any of them through if they’re concerned about my brand new public persona.” Brian looked down at the picture on the front page of the paper again. He wished that he could look at it and just see himself finally happy which is truly what the picture showed, but he couldn’t get past where he saw the picture.
Twenty minutes later, another call came in. “Kinney.” Brian answered.
“Brian, I saw the paper.” Michael’s concerned voice floated into his ears. “How are you doing?”
“I’m fine.” Brian lied. “I just can’t believe they said I have a boyfriend. Do you even know how many guys I’m going to have to fuck to quash that rumor.”
“Yeah, right.” Michael didn’t believe a word of it. “Have you talked to Justin yet?”
“He had to be on set at 5am.” Brian groaned. “I won’t be able to speak to him until tonight.”
“What are you going to do?” Michael asked. He was worrying like crazy about his best friend, and the mental state he must be in.
“Survive.” Brian tried to sound as casual as he could. He had always been pretty good at fooling Michael into believing he was okay. It was the women in his life that he couldn’t pull that on. Debbie, Lindsay, and Cynthia could always tell when he was upset.
“You have to talk to him, Bri.”
“I will.” Brian nodded to himself. He had to talk to Justin, what he was going to say was what he was still unsure of.
“I’ve never seen you look at anyone like that, Bri. There was a time when I wished it would be me, but that time is gone, but now I’m just happy to see you look at SOMEONE like that.” Michael said with emotion.
“Can you not do this, Mikey?” Brian didn’t want to hear that at the moment.
“I’ll call you later, okay?”
“Bye, Michael.” Brian hung up and rubbed his eyes. His strength was slowly unraveling and he felt like he was going to break down. He knew that Michael wasn’t going to be the last one to call and he wasn’t looking forward to talking to anyone else.
The call he was dreading came in late in the morning. He’d already spoken to Emmett who was very proud of Brian, Ted who had sarcastic comments for Brian about his sex life coming and biting him in the ass, Lindsay with Gus yelling about his Daddy and his Jus being in the paper in the background, Mel who only called as his lawyer, his sister who was embarrassed on behalf of their entire family and everyone they’d ever met, and Gardner Vance who wanted to schedule a meeting to develop a strategy for damage control. He was starting to hope that maybe his mother wasn’t going to call at all.
When Cynthia poked her head into his office, he could tell that his hopes weren’t going to be realized. “A Mrs. Kinney on line one.” Cynthia said, her voice filled with concern.
“Put her through.” Brian replied against his better judgment. When his phone rang, Brian picked it up. “Hello, Mom.”
“Brian, are you aware of what’s on the front page of the paper this morning?” Joan Kinney demanded stiffly.
“All too aware.” Brian answered wearily.
“Are you going to sue? You can’t have the papers slandering you like this.”
“What grounds would you like to see me sue on, mom?” Brian couldn’t believe that his mother still thought that it was untrue.
“On TV I’ve heard them talk about defamation of character.” Joan replied. “They’re making you out to be some kind of faggot whore.”
“I am some kind of faggot whore, Mom.” Brian spat.
“Brian, don’t say that.” Joan sounded desperate. “That boy is making this up for publicity because you’re good looking and successful.”
“How do you explain the pictures, Mom?”
“It’s obvious that he staged those.”
“I’m gay, Mom. And I am seeing Justin Taylor.” Brian prepared himself for her reaction.
“Well, then,” Joan paused. “I’ll pray for your soul because you’re going to hell.” ~Click~
Brian hung up the phone and laid his head on his desk. He’d been prepared for yelling, for preaching, but the calm, cool reaction was something he hadn’t been prepared for.
*~*~*
“Justin, we have to tell you something.” Ethan said carefully while he, Justin, and David sat in the SUV on the way back to the hotel.
“What’s up?” Justin asked. He was in an excellent mood. After his night with Brian, and an amazing day of filming, he felt like he was on top of the world.
“There were some pictures of you in the paper this morning.” Ethan said softly. Justin got a sinking feeling. His picture was in the papers and the magazine’s on a fairly regular basis and Ethan never reacted the way he was.
“What’s wrong?” He asked.
“Here.” Ethan pulled the newspaper out of his bag and handed it to his boss. Justin looked at the pictures and his face fell, the light in his eyes going out.
“Shit.” He breathed. He couldn’t even imagine how Brian was reacting. “Someone fucking followed us.”
“According to Steph,” Justin’s publicist, “the pictures have made their way to the West Coast already. Hollywood is buzzing.”
“Why is this one different?” Justin asked, looking as though he was going to cry. “I mean, there are articles about me in the tabloids all the time, why is this one such a big deal?”
“Because there’s never been pictures of you kissing anyone before.” Ethan shrugged. “And it’s never been with just a regular guy. There’ve been pictures of you with other celebrities, but nothing like this.”
“Fuck. I have to call him.” Justin was shaking as he reached for his phone. “He’s going to freak out. He was so scared of this happening.”
“Justin, wait.” Ethan said softly. “I have a feeling he’ll come find you.”
“You don’t understand, Ethan. I made him go out last night. I practically begged.” Justin looked down at his hands. “It’s over.”
“What?” David finally spoke up.
“He’s going to end it.” Justin felt tears burning his eyes. “The first fucking guy who has made me feel more than a slight burning of lust and it’s all fucked up.”
“You don’t know that.” David said gently. “Maybe he can deal with this.”
“He can’t.” Justin shook his head. “He has a life here, a family, a reputation. To him, I’m not worth losing all that.”
“Just wait until he comes to see you, Justin.” David wrapped an arm around his co-star.
Moments later, they arrived at the hotel. There were crowds of photographers and reporters outside the hotel. Ethan and David sheltered Justin as the three of them hurried into the hotel.
“Justin! Is it true that Brian Kinney is your boyfriend?”
“Justin! Are you concerned about Mr. Kinney’s promiscuous reputation?”
“Is he planning on moving out to LA with you?”
“Is he really your boyfriend.” The reporters called out their questions.
Since he was very little Justin had been dealing with the press, first with his step-father and then in his own career, but this was the only time he’d ever felt suffocated by it. He rushed inside without saying a word. Ethan and David got him up to the room without incident. Once inside the suite, Ethan poured Justin a drink and told him to try and relax, that he was sure Brian would be there soon.
“And that’ll be that.” Justin sighed, downing his drink in one swig.
*~*~*
Brian saw the reporters as soon as he turned onto the street where the hotel was located. He hadn’t been able to escape them all day. They were outside his office building, outside the loft, and now outside Justin’s hotel. Brian figured that there must be paparazzi from all over the country gathered in Pittsburgh. Pulling his Jeep up to the valet, Brian steeled himself for what was sure to be a very painful evening.
“Mr. Kinney, is it true that you’re with Justin because of his fame?”
“Is it true that Justin is just another guy in a long list?”
“Are you trading in your wicked ways for a life with Justin?”
“Is it true that you’ve quit your job so that you can move out to LA with Justin?”
Brian pushed through the reporters with his head down and went into the hotel. The camera flashes were making his stomach churn and at that moment he knew what he had to do. He hurried to the hotel and went up to Justin’s room on the 14th floor. He knocked on the door and was greeted by a frowning Ethan.
“Hi, Brian.” He said softly.
“Ethan.” Brian nodded, but he didn’t look at Ethan. His eyes were fixed on the sight of Justin slumped over on the couch with David’s arm around him and a drink in his hand. “Justin.” He said softly causing Justin to look up.
“Brian…” He was silenced by Brian lifting a hand.
“Can you guys leave us alone?” Brian asked David and Ethan. It took mere moments for David and Ethan to disappear out of the room.
“I guess you saw the paper.” Justin’s voice was raw. Brian nodded. “Are you doing okay?”
“My whole family has seen it.” Brian shrugged. “I’m pretty sure that my mother will never speak to me again, so at least one good thing came out of this.” He tried to laugh, but it came out as a strangled cry.
“She didn’t know?” Justin felt cold. When Brian shook his head, Justin felt even worse about the whole situation. “I’m sorry for making you take me out.”
Brian walked over to Justin and pressed a finger to Justin’s lips. When Justin looked up at him with sad eyes, Brian took his hand and led him to the bedroom.
As soon as the bedroom door was closed, both men moved towards each other as if drawn by a magnet. Their lips touch, hands explored. Brian wrapped his arms around Justin and lifted him so that the blond’s legs were around his waist. Carrying him to the bed, Brian pressed kisses all over his face.
“Brian…” The name came from Justin’s lips soften than a whisper.
“Shhh.” Brian closed his eyes and focused on memorizing everything about the blond. His hands moved beneath Justin’s shirt, lifting it over his head and tossing it to the floor. His hands moved over Justin’s flesh like butterfly’s wings.
Justin slipped his hands under Brian’s shirt, reveling in the feel of the soft skin covering hard muscle that the shirt hid. Pushing the shirt over Brian’s head, Justin moved his mouth down to kiss the brunet’s chest.
When Brian lifted him again, Justin wasn’t prepared and he nearly toppled them both over onto the bed. Instead, Brian steadied himself and gently lowered Justin to the bed, standing for a moment to look at the vision laid out on the bed.
Dropping to his knees, Brian trailed his tongue down the line of muscle on Justin’s tight belly. His fingers made quick work of Justin’s pants and soon they joined his shirt on the floor. Brian ran his hands up and down Justin’s legs before capturing the blond’s cock in his fist. Using long, slow strokes he moved his hand over the hard flesh.
“You’re beautiful.” Justin couldn’t be sure that he really heard Brian call him beautiful, but he smiled anyways.
*~*~*
Brian disentangled himself from Justin’s embrace and turned. He put his feet on the floor and kept his back to the blond. When he felt Justin’s hand on his shoulder, he flinched and stood. Finding his clothes on the floor, he got dressed, avoiding the questioning gaze of the man still in the bed.
“Brian…”
“Don’t.” Brian’s voice came out as a strangled cry. He pulled the key card to Justin’s room out of his pocket and laid it down on top of the dresser.
“Please, Brian…” Justin felt his chest tighten. He knew what Brian was doing.
Tears form behind my eyes
But I do not cry
“Justin, don’t.” Brian’s voice betrayed his own emotions and made him feel weak. He returned to the bed and sat on the edge. Leaning over, Brian pressed his lips to Justin’s but pulled away before he could get lost in it.
“Brian…” Justin’s voice was ragged and he looked as though he was about to fall apart.
“Goodbye, Justin.” Brian stood and hurried from the room, knowing that if he hesitated for even a moment, he would never leave. As he walked through the suite, he heard whimpering from the bedroom and he knew that Justin was crying. He felt a tug at his heart, but refused to turn back.
This will be over soon, he promised himself. The only problem was that he wasn’t sure he wanted it to be anymore. Being someone who was always sure of himself, Brian felt like he was falling apart.
But he kept walking.
It was his only option.
To Be Continued...
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