Just Us - Part 4

“Here, try this cake.  It’s amazing,” Andrew said as he fed Justin a piece of his cake.  They were sitting in one of the booths, across from each other. 

“Ok, that’s enough,” Justin said as he swallowed.  “I can’t breathe, I’m so full.”

Andrew smiled.  “You still haven’t told me what you want for your birthday.”

“I’m perfectly happy with cake,” Justin said.  Andrew put his hand on top of Justin’s.

“Then how about a weekend fuck-fest?”  They both laughed.

“That sounds amazing…except…I can’t.”

When Andrew’s smile turned into a frown, Justin explained.  “Tomorrow night the guys wanted to go to Babylon to celebrate, then Saturday I’ve got mom-sponsored shopping spree then birthday dinner, and then Sunday night we’re going over to Deb’s for another birthday dinner.”

Andrew was still disappointed. 

“You probably won’t even recognize me on Monday, I’ll be so fat,” Justin joked.  It worked.  Andrew’s good mood seemed to return.

“You two are so cute,” they heard Emmett behind them. 

Both looked up to see Emmett, Michael, and Brian.  Justin immediately snatched his hand from under Andrew’s. 

“Hey, guys,” he said, avoiding the look Andrew gave him from across the table.

“So, how long has it been now?” Emmett asked, sliding next to Andrew.

“Uhm…five weeks now,” Andrew answered.

“Wow, that’s so amazing,” Emmett was tearing up.

Michael saw Brian roll his eyes, not sure whether it was at Emmett or Andrew’s statement, so he decided to change the subject.  

“We’re still on for tomorrow night?” he asked Justin.

“Of course.  You think I’d pass up you buying me drinks?” Justin smiled at him.  Michael grimaced at him. 

~~~

“So, how does it feel to be 20?” Ted asked.

“It’s been so long, you don’t remember?” Brian asked sarcastically.

“Oh, Brian…aren’t you getting tired of the age jokes?” Ted tried to get back at him. 

Brian pretended to think about it, then shook his head.  “No,” he simply said, sending everybody around him in a fit of laughter. 

“Another round?” Michael asked everybody.  It was his turn to pay.  “Brian?” Michael asked him since he was the only one who didn’t reply.

“No…I wanna dance with the birthday boy,” he said, putting down his drink and pulling Justin behind him onto the dance floor. 

They all looked at Andrew who looked like somebody just punched him in the stomach.  Feeling their gaze on him, he put on a brave face and smiled at them. 

“I’m gonna go get another drink,” he said moving towards the bar.

“Is it me or does it look awfully familiar?” Emmett asked, watching Andrew leave and then turning his attention to Justin and Brian on the dance floor.

“It’s not you,” Michael said, his voice somber.  They all looked at him.  “There’s one difference…Brian wants him.”

~~~

Finally, exhausted of trying to keep up with Justin, Brian made his way over to the bar to cool off. 

“Enjoying the view?” He asked Andrew who was sipping on his beer and watching the crowd.

“Yeah.  Justin’s having a great time.”

Brian looked over to where Justin was dancing with Emmett and Michael, smiled. 

“Well, he deserves it.  He’s been through a lot in the last couple of years,” Brian said with sadness, but also pride in his voice. 

“So…is this where you tell me that if I hurt him, you’ll kick my ass?”

Brian laughed.  “You’ve seen too many WB shows.”

“So, then what was that all about,” he motioned to the dance floor.  “To show me that he still belongs to you?  Well, sorry to tell you this, Brian, but it’s too late.  You lost him.  You couldn’t give him what he wanted, couldn’t make him happy.  Now it’s my turn.”

Brian smirked, turned around to face him.  He was pissed.  “You don’t know shit about him…or me…or us.” 

“There is no ‘YOU’, in case you forgot.”

Brian gave him an evil smile, “I’ll be in his life for a long…LONG time.  And you can either deal with it or make him miserable and fuck it up…And when you do, I’ll still be here.”  He raised his eyebrow. 

Andrew wasn’t intimidated.  “I just want Justin happy,” he said.

Brian searched his face for a sign that said that he really meant it.  He did.  “Good.  Then we don’t have a problem.”  He put his beer down and started to walk away. 

“Oh, and one more thing,” he said turning around, “If you hurt him…I WILL kick your ass.”  He turned to leave once again and made his way through the dance floor. 

“You’re leaving?” Justin asked him when he passed by them.

“Yeah, I’ve got an early meeting tomorrow,” he knew the excuse was lame.

“On Saturday?”

‘Shit.  Nice going,’ Brian thought.  “Yeah, a client wanted to go over some documents before he leaves town,” he tried to cover up. 

“Oh, ok,” Justin was disappointed. 

Brian leaned in and gave him a peck on the cheek.  “Happy Birthday.”

Justin narrowed his eyes.  Something about the way Brian said it was strange.  “Thanks.”

“Later,” Brian said softly.

Justin smiled.  He always smiled when they said it.  “Later.”  He watched Brian walk towards the exit and disappear in the crowd. 

~~~

“Good morning,” Andrew said as he kissed Justin.  He hadn’t seen him since Friday night. 

“Morning,” Justin replied when they pulled apart. 

“How was the weekend?” Andrew asked. 

”Well, I’m never eating again,” they laughed.  “Other than that, great…Oh, you remember Lindsay and Melanie,” Justin asked him when they made their way over to the booth. 

“Yes, hi,” Andrew said. 

“And that’s Gus,” Justin said, pointing to the baby in the high chair. 

“So, are you ready to go?” Andrew asked.  They didn’t have any morning classes on Mondays, so they planned to spend it together.

“Oh, uh…I’m sort of babysitting,” Justin said, “Sorry.”

“Well, we should get going,” Lindsay said as they got up.  “Thank you again for doing this.”

“No problem,” Justin smiled at them.  “Bye.”

“I thought we had plans,” Andrew asked after they left.

“I know, I’m sorry.  Their babysitter got sick.”

Andrew nodded, disappointed look on his face.  He sat down.  “You never told me they had a baby.”

“I didn’t?”

“No.”

“Sorry, I thought I did,” Justin shrugged, not seeing what the big deal was.

“Gus is an interesting name,” Andrew said, looking at the baby.  There was something familiar about the baby’s features.

“I helped to name him,” Justin said proudly.

“They let you name their baby?”

“Well, Brian did,” Justin smiled, the memories of that night still fresh in his mind. 

Andrew looked confused.  “Brian?”

Justin realized why Andrew was confused.  “Gus is Brian’s son,” he explained. 

“Brian has a son?” Andrew couldn’t believe it.

Justin laughed, “That’s what everybody says when they first find out.  You should see him with Gus.  He’s like a totally different person.  It’s amazing.”

Andrew saw the love in Justin’s eyes, and he knew that it wasn’t meant for him. 

And thus it began…Brian pulling Justin away from him at Babylon, messing up their plans because he was too drunk and Justin had to drive him home, choosing Justin to be his pool partner at Woody’s, even Brian’s son was messing up their plans…Brian was everywhere…Babylon, Woody’s, the diner, Justin’s apartment…everywhere…coming between them. 

Andrew was getting tired of it.  He knew Brian’s little speech that night was a challenge and he tried to rise up to it, but this was getting ridiculous. 

~~~

They were finally alone in Andrew’s apartment after a dinner and a movie.  Andrew was in the process of pulling Justin’s sweater off when his cell-phone rang.  Justin pulled away from him and took the phone out of his jacket. 

 

“Hello…oh, hey…yeah…great…I’ll pick it up on my way home…yeah…ok…later.”

Andrew listened to the conversation.  When Justin finally hung up, he asked, “Who was it?”

“Brian,” Justin answered, putting the phone back in the pocket.

“Unbelievable,” Andrew shook his head.

“He got the stuff he promised for my advertising class,” Justin tried to explain.

“Right…I thought you were staying here tonight,” he said, fuming. 

“Well, I need it for tomorrow…”

“Why couldn’t he call you earlier?”

“Maybe because he was working?” Justin was getting defensive.  “What is the matter with you?”

“Oh, nothing…absolutely nothing…except that somehow he always finds a way to fuck everything up!”

“Whatta hell are you talking about?!”

“I’m talking about you putting Brian ahead of me, ahead of us.”

“That’s not true.”

“Really?  So, if I told you… to choose…right now…him or me…”

“Is that what you’re doing?” Justin cut him off, his heart beating hard.

Andrew stared at him, “No,” he finally answered, “I wouldn’t put you in that position.”

“Good,” Justin said angrily.

“I just wish…”

“What?  That I stopped caring about him?!  I can’t do that!  He’s a part of my life.  I can’t change that.”

“Can’t or won’t?” 

Justin looked away.

“I can’t believe we’re having this conversation,” Andrew was at the end of his rope. 

“No, you’re having this conversation,” Justin said, “I’m leaving.”  He picked up his jacket and moved towards the door.

“Where are you going?”

“OUT!” He slammed the door. 

~~~

 “Remember my 30^th birthday?” Michael asked out of nowhere. 

They were in his store.  Michael was doing inventory, while Brian was making fun of the yet another comic book hero.

Brian looked at him questioningly.

“Man, was I pissed you,” Michael continued, “Then Justin came to see me.”

“I know.”

“He said that you did it because you loved me.  That you had to let me go so I could be happy.”

Brian looked away. 

“Is there a point to this?” he asked, trying to sound annoyed.

“You need to do the same for him…I know you love him…but he deserves to be happy.”

“Whatta fuck do you want me to do?” Brian exploded.

“Give Andrew a chance,” Michael said, “to make him happy.”

Brian took a deep breath in, “And if he can’t?”

“Then you’ll be there…to pick up the pieces.”

~~~

With Michael’s words still echoing in his head, Brian headed for Babylon.  He needed to take his mind off things and that was the best way to do it.  As he entered the backroom looking for a quick fuck, he froze.  Justin was fucking some guy who obviously wasn’t Andrew.  Brian shook his head and sighed.  Less than an hour ago he made a promise that he’d walk away, he’d give Andrew a chance…on one condition…Justin had to be happy.  Well, that condition wasn’t met.

~~~

When Justin finally came out of the club he saw Brian leaning on the jeep, smoking a cigarette.

“Trouble in paradise?” Brian asked sarcastically as Justin strolled over to him.

“Fuck you,” was Justin’s reply.  He started to walk away.

“Come on, I’ll give you a ride,” Brian called after him.

Justin looked at him.  Brian motioned to the jeep.  Without a word Justin turned around and got in.  As Brian was about to close the door on his side Justin looked at him and said, “Let’s go to your place.”

Brian turned to look at him.  He was about to say something sarcastic, but something in Justin’s eyes stopped him.  So, he turned the key in the ignition and pulled out on the street.

~~~

“Do you want something?” Brian asked Justin as he shut the door behind them and headed for the kitchen.  Justin just shook his head.

Brian opened the fridge and took a bottle of water out.  When he closed the fridge door Justin was standing in front of him.  Without a word Justin grabbed him and pulled him into a passionate kiss.  Pulling away slightly after a moment, breathless, Justin said, “I need you…now.” 

~~~

Even before he opened his eyes he stretched his hand to the other side of the bed.  It was something he’s done every morning since Justin moved out.  He knew he wouldn’t be there and yet every morning he did the same thing.  Today he actually expected his hand to make contact with Justin’s warm flesh.  But all he felt was cold sheets.  Brian opened his eyes.  Indeed, Justin wasn’t there.  He raised himself on an elbow and looked around the loft.  “Justin,” he called out.  No answer.  He was alone.

Go to Part 5

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