The Wish - Part 7
“Mmm…that’s good,” Justin said as he licked the spoon. He and Caleb were feeding each other ice cream, oblivious to a completely disgusted look on Kevin’s face. The four of them were sitting in the coffee shop.
“Told you their ice cream was good,” Caleb smiled. “One last spoon,” he offered it to his lover.
Justin leaned in and took the whole spoonful in his mouth. Then leaned in and kissed Caleb.
Kevin grimaced while his boyfriend grinned.
When Justin finally pulled away he flashed Nick a smile. “I’m sticky. I’m gonna go wash up.” He placed another kiss on Caleb’s lips, then stood up and walked towards the bathroom.
Caleb watched Justin disappear from his view, then turned to his two friends. “What?” he asked Kevin who was still frowning.
“What? How can you act as if nothing happened?” Kevin said.
Caleb’s smile disappeared. “Because it had nothing to do with me.”
“Is that the line he fed you?”
“Kevin,” Nick tried to intervene.
But Kevin was on a roll, “Tell me, Caleb, what happens the next time he fucks around? Will you pretend that it had nothing to do with you either?”
“Shut up, Kev,” Caleb said.
“Why? Because I’m right?”
“No. Because you don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”
“Oh, no. I know exactly what the fuck I’m talking about. I’m talking about your little twink playing you like a fucking violin.”
Only then did Kevin notice that Caleb was staring at something or someone behind him. He followed Caleb’s gaze only to see Justin standing only a few feet away. Justin walked around the table, grabbed his jacket and left the café without a word. Caleb started to get up, but Nicholas grabbed his arm. “Let me,” he said, shot a glare to his boyfriend, and followed Justin outside.
Nick found Justin a half a block away, smoking.
“Don’t let him get to you,” Nicholas said.
Justin looked down. “I didn’t mean to hurt him.”
“I know.”
“That’s the last thing I want.”
“I know.”
“But I did. I hurt him. And it’s always going to be there. Always.”
Nicholas looked at him sympathetically. “You can’t change the past.”
“Yeah, but I have this feeling, this horrible feeling that I am going to do it again. Hurt him, I mean.”
Nicholas sighed. “You are. It’s a given. That’s how relationships work.”
“So, what do you do?”
“You forgive and move on.”
“And if you can’t?” Justin asked.
Nicholas shrugged his shoulders, “You still move on. Alone. And you find somebody else to hurt.”
Justin scoffed, “That’s a very cheery outlook on relationships.”
“It’s a realistic one,” Nicholas replied.
“So, then why do it?”
“Because the good parts... the parts where it’s just the two of you together…and all the walls are down…and you can see the other person as clearly as you can see yourself…and you feel like that’s exactly where you’re supposed to be…those are worth all that pain you put each other through again and again.” Nicholas had a faint smile on his face.
~~~
“This is the new campaign we’re starting for Liberty Air,” Brian said to Kip Thomas. “I want you on the team.”
“Oh my God. That’s…that’s fantastic. Wow. How can I ever thank you?” Kip said.
“By doing a good job.”
“You can count on it.”
Brian turned around, his back now to Kip as the other man started to leave. Kip stopped and turned around. “I just want you to know that you can…you can count on me for anything. Day or night.”
Brian straightened up and looked at him. “Well, you really are going for the gold watch.”
“I mean it.” Kip took a step closer. “Cause I think you’re really…” He put his hand on Brian’s dick, “Really amazing.”
Brian was about to ask him what he thought he was doing when suddenly he got a flash of Kip kissing…the same blonde he’d had visions of for months. Brian was so stunned at the image in his head that he pushed Kip away and took a step back.
“Are…are you ok?” Kip asked him.
But Brian didn’t hear him. He heard Ryder’s voice in his head saying, “He’s suing you and the company for sexual harassment.” And then saw the blonde run his hand down Kip’s face saying, “I would never do anything like that. Provided you do something for me.”
“Mr. Kinney…Brian!”
Brian looked up at the man in front of him. It felt like his heart was going to burst out of his chest. “Get out.”
“What?” Kip took a step closer, but Brian stepped back as well.
“I said, get out,” he repeated and pointed at the door.
“I’m…I’m sorry,” Kip said and then walked out of the office.
When the door closed behind him Brian flopped down in his chair with a huge sigh trying to figure out what the hell he just saw.
~~~
“Do you know what time it is?” Justin heard as soon as he closed the door. He looked up to see his father sitting in the living room.
“Uhm…I…” he studdered.
“Where were you?” Craig asked, getting up.
“I…with Daphne,” Justin lied.
“This late?”
“Mom said I could,” Justin said as he saw his mother walk down the stairs.
“Where were you, Justin?” Craig asked again.
“I told you. With Daphne.”
“Don’t lie to me, Justin. WHERE were you?!”
“Lower your voice. You’ll wake up Molly,” Jennifer said.
“Did you know about this?!” Craig demanded of his wife.
Ignoring his question, Jennifer turned to her son, “Why don’t you go upstairs, honey.”
“NO! You answer my question first,” Craig said.
“Justin, go upstairs.” Jennifer said again.
“But…mom.”
“Go upstairs NOW!”
Glancing at his father one last time, Justin ran up the stairs.
“What the hell are you trying to do, Jen?” Craig asked his wife.
“I’m trying to raise our son.”
“By letting him flaunt himself? By letting him see that…that pervert?”
“By loving him. By accepting him.”
“How can you just let him do whatever he wants?”
“I have to,” Jennifer said.
“Why?!”
“Because HE’S MY SON!”
“He’s my son too,” Craig replied.
“Well, I hope you remember that the next time you tell him how disgusting he is.” With that she turned around and went upstairs, not noticing the small crack in the door to Justin’s room.
~~~
“Hey,” Caleb waved when he saw Justin and Daphne walk down the stairs. He was standing across the street from Justin’s school.
“Hey. What are you doing here?” Justin asked as they neared him.
“Hey, Caleb,” Daphne said.
“Hi, Daphne,” he smiled at her.
“So what brings you here?” Justin asked again.
“What do you think brings me here? As I recall it’s somebody’s birthday today.”
“I told you I didn’t want any presents,” Justin frowned.
“That’s what he always says,” Daphne chimed in. “I gotta go,” she said turning to Justin.
“Thanks for the present,” he called after her.
When he looked at Caleb again he still had a frown on his face.
“Don’t worry. No presents,” Caleb said. “I just wanted to take my boyfriend out for a birthday celebration lunch. What do you say?” Caleb did his best impression of a puppy face.
Justin’s features softened and he smiled, “Sounds good to me. I’m starved.”
They both hopped into Caleb’s car.
~~~
“I thought you were taking me out to lunch,” Justin said when Caleb parked in front of his building.
“I am.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“Do you always ask this many questions or only on your birthdays?” Caleb grinned at him.
They got out of the car and walked to Caleb’s apartment. Caleb opened the door and walked in first, wanting to see Justin’s reaction. He loved it. Justin’s eyes widened as soon as he walked in, taking in the transformation Caleb’s apartment had gone through. He had flowers and candles all over the place. There was a table set for two in the middle of the living room.
Justin just looked around, dumbfounded by this gesture. Nobody had ever bought him flowers before. Nobody had ever had a romantic…lunch set up for him.
“Happy Birthday,” Caleb said softly as he pulled Justin closer to him and gave him a soft kiss on the lips.
Justin smiled shyly as he pulled away. It felt like a dream. Caleb found Justin’s reaction absolutely adorable.
“Are you gonna stand around all day? I thought you were starving,” Caleb said, moving to the table.
“I…I am,” Justin finally said. “Did you cook?” For a moment horrified at that thought.
Caleb looked at the expression on Justin’s face. “Relax. I got us take out.”
“Oh, cool,” Justin sighed. When Caleb pretended to be offended, Justin added, “I’m sorry, baby. But you’re such a horrible cook.”
Caleb chuckled, “Hey, I make a mean Kraft Mac-and-cheese.”
“Oh, sorry. I stand corrected,” Justin laughed as well.
He walked over to where Caleb was pulling out boxes with take-out food.
“I can’t believe you did all this for me,” he said.
Caleb looked up at him, “You only turn eighteen once.”
Justin nodded.
“Are you really not having a party?”
“I hate parties. Besides, we are having a family dinner tonight.”
“That sounds like fun,” Caleb said sarcastically. “Well, we still have to celebrate.”
“I thought that’s what we were doing now,” Justin whispered in his ear.
“I mean go out and celebrate with a bang,” Caleb smiled at his lover. “How about this Saturday night? You, me, Nicky, and Kevin.”
Justin pulled away slightly, “Oh, yeah, I’m sure Kevin would like to celebrate my birthday. He probably wishes I was never born.”
“That’s not true, Justin. He can just be a little protective, that’s all. He doesn’t mean anything by it.”
Justin sighed, “Well, maybe he’s right.”
“No, he’s not. He doesn’t know you. Doesn’t know us,” Caleb said, moving closer to Justin again. “He doesn’t see you right now.” He kissed Justin softly.
“Caleb, I…” he really wanted to say the words, but couldn’t get them out. “I love this.”
Caleb smiled, “Happy Birthday.”
“Thank you,” Justin said before kissing his boyfriend again.
Go to Part 8