Anything Goes - Part 10:
The Simple Things In Life
“No way,” Justin said, shaking his head. “I’m not going.”
“Justin, please.” Jennifer put down the grocery bag and looked at him. “It’s only for a weekend. What’s the big deal?”
“The big deal is that I have better things to do than spend a weekend in the country,” he replied.
“Like what?” she inquired.
“Like homework. Harrison completely lost his fucking mind. He wants a status report twice a week on the midterm project.”
She looked sternly at him. “Justin, I’ve repeatedly asked you not to use that type of language in front of your sister.”
They both looked in the direction of the living room where Molly was peacefully chewing on an apple and watching the mother and son show going on in the kitchen. She smiled innocently at them.
“Oh, please, she knows more swear words than I do. She taught me most of them,” Justin informed his mother, grinning when his sibling’s smile faded. Besides, anything that was going to take Jennifer’s attention off of him going away for the weekend with her, Molly, and Paul was worth a try. But his good fortune lasted mere seconds, because once again he found himself being the object of his mother’s glare.
“Look, the only reason you want me to go is so I’d baby-sit Molly while you and Paul…”
“Justin!”
Justin smiled as the woman turned a bright shade of red. Apparently she felt even worse about him walking in on her and Paul than he himself did. Which had worked to his advantage more than once. It was nice to reverse tables with the whole guilt trip shit on his mother from time to time.
“You promised you’d give Paul a chance,” she said. “Well, this is your chance to get to know him.”
“Why can’t I get to know him here?” he whined, realizing that he was losing the fight. If he was honest with himself, he would have admitted that he lost it the moment she showed up at his doorstep with groceries in her hands.
She gave him a look that he knew all too well. This motherly look that meant that he had absolutely no choice in this because she was the one in labor for twenty hours to bring him into this world. “Justin, please,” she repeated.
He sighed loudly, pouting. Just because he was giving in, didn’t mean he had to act happy and cheery as well. “Fine.”
“Thank you,” she said, smiling once again, and got back to putting the groceries she brought into the fridge. “Maybe Brian could come as well.”
His eyes shot up at her, trying to figure out whether he heard her correctly. “What?”
“Well, why not?” she turned around, her eyes trained on him once again. “You want me to get to know him, don’t you?”
“Yes,” he replied, still shocked by the fact that his mother mentioned Brian’s name without her usual scowl.
“Well, then…”
Quickly coming down from his brief high of hope that Brian and his mother might actually get along, Justin remembered that he lived in the real world. “I don’t think spending a weekend in the country is Brian’s idea of fun.” More like Brian’s idea of hell.
“Well, couldn’t you ask him?”
Getting comfort from the fact that at least he wasn’t adopted, since he definitely got his sense of optimism from his mother, he nodded. “Sure.”
“You never know. Maybe he’ll say yes.”
~~~***~~~***~~~
“No! Absolutely not.”
The first time Justin asked him, Brian laughed. The second time Justin asked him, he laughed harder. The third time, when it actually sunk in that Justin was not in fact joking about it, Brian said ‘no’ so quickly he wasn’t sure Justin’s brain registered it. Just to make sure Justin got the point, Brian repeated it a few more times.
He knew he probably should have felt bad for putting the look of disappointment on his boyfriend’s face, but if by now Justin didn’t know him well enough to even suggest such a preposterous idea, the teen deserved it.
“Fine. But if I throw myself into the river by the end of the weekend, it’ll be your fault,” Justin said.
The blonde definitely rivaled Emmett in the drama queen competition.
“How is it my fault that you can’t say ‘no’ to your mother?”
“YOU can’t say ‘no’ to my mother,” Justin shot back. “What chance do I have?”
Brian scowled at Justin’s comment, not in the mood to rehash his very shaky ‘relationship’ with Jennifer. They were civil with each other on rare occasions when for some bizarre reason they were stuck in the same room, which wasn’t often. And that was the way he liked it.
“When are you leaving?” he asked, returning attention to his lover.
“Saturday morning.”
Rising from the chair and crossing the distance between them, Brian pulled the teen into his arms. “So, that means no sex for you for two days, huh?”
Licking his lips, Justin nodded.
Moving his hand down Justin’s pants, Brian stared down at the teen. “I guess we’re just going to have to make up for that now,” he said, tongue in cheek.
His offer had the intended effect, causing the blonde to smile.
~~~***~~~***~~~
“Who is it?” Brian barked into the intercom.
“Brian, it’s Paul Bradford. Jennifer’s friend.”
Brian snickered. A friend? Jennifer definitely found someone worthy of her WASPy manners and upbringing. Still surprised to have the man, a virtual stranger, come to his house, Brian pressed the door button, letting Paul into the building. He then opened the door, waiting for Jennifer’s boyfriend in the doorway.
“If you’re looking for Justin, he’s not here,” Brian informed Paul as soon as the elevator pulled up. That was really the only explanation for Paul’s presence at the loft that Brian could come up with on such short notice.
Getting out of the elevator and holding out his hand for Brian, Paul shook his head. “Actually, I’m here to speak with you.” When Brian gave him a puzzled look, he added. “Jennifer gave me the address. I hope you don’t mind.”
Shaking his head, Brian invited the man in, curious as to what exactly brought the good doctor to his doorstep. “A drink?” he asked, wondering when he became such a good host.
“No, thank you. I’ve come to talk to you about this weekend,” not being the one to beat around the bush, Paul jumped right into what he’d come there for.
Arching his eye brow, Brian stared at the other man, caught off guard by the subject of the conversation. The confusion was quickly replaced by anger when he realized why exactly Paul wanted to see him. “Don’t worry. Your little family trip won’t be ruined by two fags sucking dick all weekend long,” he said harshly, getting defensive. “I already told Justin I wasn’t going.”
Turning away, Brian headed to the kitchen, silently dismissing the other man. As far as he was concerned, this conversation was over.
Apparently Paul had other ideas. “I’d like you to reconsider.”
If Brian wasn’t dumbfounded before, he definitely was now. Turning around, he stared at the man. “What?”
“I was hoping you’d reconsider joining us on this trip. It’s obvious Justin wants you to come.”
Brian sneered. “So, you thought you’d be more convincing than a twink with the world’s perfect ass?”
Paul chuckled. “No, I supposed I couldn’t top that.” Ignoring Brian’s snicker, he continued. “I was hoping that a free weekend away would appeal to you.”
Brian took a step closer, carefully studying the other man’s face, trying to figure out what the doctor was after. It didn’t take long before things began to clear up. “So, let me guess, you butter up the kids to get the mommy in your bed. Right? I mean, everybody knows, the best way to a woman’s heart is through her son’s.” He smirked, waiting for Paul’s reaction.
The man just smiled. “Something like that.”
“So, you show her how open-minded you are AND get Justin out of your hair for the weekend.” Brian snickered. “Not bad.”
“It’s not like that, Brian,” Paul argued.
“Really?” He wasn’t born yesterday and he didn’t believe Paul for a second. The man was too perfect. No straight man was that perfect. No MAN was that perfect. That was why he didn’t trust Paul.
“I just want to make Jennifer happy. She’s happy if Justin’s happy. And you seem to be the key to that. It’s really quite simple, if you ask me,” Paul replied.
Brian knew better than anybody – it was never as simple as that. “And what happens after? What happens when you see us kissing?” He himself could have cared less what Paul or any other breeder thought about him. But he’d be damned if he put Justin in that situation again. “Will you be so understanding then? Will you judge us? Him? Call him disgusting? Hate him? Swing baseball bats at his head?” The anger he felt earlier had returned at the memories of what Justin had endured since he came out.
“Why would I hate him?”
“His own father does.” The issue of Craig Taylor was still a sore subject between Justin and him. And unlike he had Justin believing, it wasn’t mainly based on Craig kicking the shit out of him. Craig Taylor caused more emotional pain to Justin than physical to Brian. And the exec wasn’t about to let some stranger cause his lover any more pain just because he happened to be fucking his mother.
“That’s the thing. I’m not his father. I’m not the one with expectations of seeing my son follow in my footsteps. Or see him married. Or whatever else Craig’s reasons were for doing the things he did,” Paul countered. “I like Justin, Brian. I respect him. He’s a very intelligent, talented young man. And he can fuck every man and woman on the face of the earth for all I care.”
In spite of himself, Brian’s lips spread into a lopsided grin at hearing the perfect doctor using the words Brian didn’t think the man knew existed.
“I like Jennifer,” Paul continued. “A lot.”
“That’s nice,” Brian droned.
Paul ignored the ad exec’s comment. “And I want everybody to have a good time over the weekend. INCLUDING Justin. I just thought he might have a better time with you there. That’s all. There’s no underlining agenda. No hidden intentions.”
Before Brian could respond, Paul crossed the loft, heading out the door. “Think about it,” he threw over his shoulder before walking through the open door, leaving Brian alone once again.
~~~***~~~***~~~
Justin carried his duffel bag to the car, not feeling too enthusiastic about the prospect of spending the entire weekend with his sister, mother, and his mother’s boyfriend.
“Well, it’s about time, Justin,” Jennifer said, giving him a peck on the cheek, which completely negated the stern tone in her voice. “At this rate we won’t get there before midnight.”
“Sorry,” he mumbled, putting his bag in the trunk of Paul’s Mercedes, resigning himself to a weekend of hell.
“Oh, no, that doesn’t go there,” Paul said, quickly taking the bag out.
“What do you mean?” Jennifer asked as she and Justin both stared at the doctor, confused.
Turning to Justin, Paul handed him the bag back. “It goes over there.”
Following Paul’s gaze, Justin turned around, his eyes immediately settling on a black Jeep parked down the street and a tall figure that looked suspiciously like his lover making his way toward them.
“What are you doing here?” Justin couldn’t help but grin at the man when Brian neared them.
Leaning down for a quick kiss, Brian gave him a lopsided smile. “I decided that a weekend in the country was just what the doctor ordered.”
Justin’s eyes widened, not quite sure that his imagination wasn’t just playing tricks on him. But from the surprised look on his mother’s face, Justin realized that it really was happening. Brian was, in fact, going with them. With him. “Really?” he couldn’t help but ask. It seemed to be too good to be true.
“Get your bag,” Brian said, avoiding the question.
Justin didn’t need to be told twice. Grabbing the bag that was still in Paul’s hands, he followed Brian back to the Jeep.
~~~***~~~***~~~
He still wasn’t a hundred percent sure he was actually here. Finding himself out in the country with his boyfriend and boyfriend’s family was the thing the nightmares were made of. At least, his nightmares. Yet, here he was, sipping coffee with Paul while the Taylor clan worked on building a snowman.
All the happiness and the feeling of being stuck in a commercial for a family sedan or some other sappy shit like that was getting to Brian. So, he went inside the cottage in search of more coffee and hopefully something a little bit stronger.
“There’s some Bailey’s in the top cabinet.”
He turned in the direction the voice came from, startled to find Jennifer standing in the doorway. “Bailey’s? I guess the Irish thing runs in the family,” he teased.
Surprisingly, she smiled back at him. “I guess so.” Crossing the distance between them, she took the cup from his hands, pouring him more coffee. Then taking out a bottle of the Irish cream, she poured some into the cup.
Brian watched her carefully. It wasn’t the first time he’d seen her turn into the polite hostess. Her manners wouldn’t allow anything else. But something was different this time.
“I’m glad you decided to come,” she said, handing the cup back to him.
He couldn’t help but sneer at that. It wasn’t a secret that he wasn’t her most favorite person in the world.
“I know, I know,” she chuckled as well. “I’m just as surprised as you are.”
He watched as she repeated the process of pouring herself coffee and adding Bailey’s Irish cream to it.
“But I realize now that we want the same things for him.” She motioned to where Justin and Molly were still working on building a snowman. “He told me you loved him, but I didn’t believe him. But I do now.”
Brian looked at her quizzically, wondering what exactly caused such a drastic change of heart.
A smile spread on her face. “If coming here with us doesn’t prove it, I don’t know what would.”
Brian’s lips curved in a smile, as she raised her cup. He mimicked the movement, both of them toasting the blonde twink who was currently doing a miserable job of building a snowman outside.
~~~***~~~***~~~
Trying to be as quiet as possible, Brian walked up behind Justin, wrapping his arms around his lover who was putting finishing touches on the snowman. Or something that was supposed to be a snowman.
Whirling Justin around in his arms, Brian immediately covered the bright red lips with his own.
“You startled me,” Justin said, breathless from the kiss when they broke apart.
“That was the point,” the exec responded, finding that his own mouth curved up at the sides when Justin beamed at him.
“I still can’t believe you’re here.”
“Me neither,” Brian replied honestly before leaning down for another kiss. “Do you think they will realize what’s going on if we disappear for a couple of hours?” Brian asked. He personally didn’t care what the others thought, but he was set on NOT making Justin’s life harder in the parental department.
“You think mom’s so naïve as to believe we wouldn’t fuck for two days?” Justin asked as if it was the most preposterous thought.
Which, when it came to the two of them, really was. Brian didn’t think ANYBODY would be so naïve as to think they would be able to keep their hands off each other for two whole days.
Justin snickered. “Why do you think they gave us the room on the other side of the house?”
Brian watched the blue eyes twinkle, reflecting the bright sun and white snow. That actually hadn’t occurred to him. Looking over his shoulder, he watched Jennifer, Paul, and Molly talk animatedly about something. “I don’t think they’d miss us,” he said, returning his attention to his lover. After one more kiss, he followed Justin inside the cottage and up to their room.
~~~***~~~***~~~
“We should probably go downstairs before they form a search party,” Brian said, running his hand along Justin’s thigh.
“Well, considering that they wouldn’t let Molly come up here, the search party won’t be too big. We can handle them,” Justin replied.
Pushing himself up, Brian moved on top of him, blanketing the teen’s body with his own. “I’d like to handle you.” He attacked the pink mouth with his tongue once again. It must have been all that fresh air. Even after hours of lovemaking, he still couldn’t get enough of Justin.
Just then a loud knock came on the door, causing Brian to groan less than happily. But Justin just snickered. “I guess dinner’s ready.”
Pushing himself off the blonde, Brian sighed. “Well, at least your stomach will stop rumbling.” Always look for a silver lining. Sitting up, Brian picked his pants off the floor, in disbelief that he actually was spending his weekend with Justin and his family. What surprised him even more was that he didn’t mind it. This was where he wanted to be right now…with Justin. Looking over his shoulder, his gaze gliding up the beautiful pale body still sprawled on the bed, he smiled. “We eat and then I show you how to build a REAL snowman.”
“What’s wrong with my snowman?” Justin pouted.
“You’re an artist, for fuck’s sake. How can you even call that monstrosity outside a snowman?”
He ducked just time for a pillow to miss his head.
Go to Part 11