Q is for Quintessential
A Sunshine Files snippet set sometime in the future.
They had nothing to prove. Brian Kinney and Justin Taylor were important
assets to the city of Pittsburgh for many reasons and each in his own way. Their
families too had become important since Anderson Construction had a division of
the company in Pittsburgh.
But today was Justin’s day. Brian made sure they arrived in style because that’s
what Brian did best.
The classic Corvette Stingray roared into town. He and Justin were attending the
gala opening of a Justin Taylor art show at the Sidney Bloom gallery run by
Lindsay since Sidney had long retired. Everyone who was anyone was planning to
attend. Invitations to the gala were highly prized and sought after. As the star
of the show, Justin was dressed to the nines. Brian was also impeccably dressed
in a sleek Armani suit as classic as his car.
As the couple entered the gallery, the level of noise suddenly became subdued.
The eyes turned toward the artist still had the power to make Justin blush. He
had learned long ago the lesson of humility.
Brian subtly separated himself from his younger partner, gradually fading into
the background. “You do that well,” Lindsay murmured into Brian’s ear as she
handed him a glass of champagne.
Brian shrugged his shoulders as he took a sip. “I have no clue what you’re
talking about.”
“Sure you don’t. You know, I think I owe you an apology.”
“No apologies, no regrets.”
“Bullcrap,” Lindsay whispered. “We both have plenty of regrets but I'm not
prepared for that walk down memory lane. It just became clear to me how you
always know when to step back, to give Justin space.”
“I’m not as egotistical as my reputation reports me to be.”
“I see that now. That’s why I owe you the apology. You’ve always done that,
stepped back to let one of us shine. I just don’t understand what took me so
long to realize it.”
“You probably had other things going on in your pretty blond head,” Brian
snarked with a smirk and an arched brow.
“Asshole,” Lindsay griped with a smile. And left it at that. She had blown
Brian’s cover and that was enough for her. She wouldn’t bring up the subject
again, she didn’t have to; the point was made.
“Mrs. Peele, you’re needed,” Brian said as he pointed his glass toward a rather
wealthy art maven who was currently drooling over a JT masterpiece. “Go reel him
in,” he said to her with a gentle nudge. Lindsay rolled her eyes but left
Brian’s side to do just that.
Hours later when all the guests had left, it was Brian, Justin, Lindsay and
Charles, who had flown in for the occasion, celebrating another successful
opening in Lindsay’s office.
“So did we make millions? I’m retired now. I’m beginning to enjoy being a kept
man,” Brian gleefully asked as he rubbed his hands together.
“Asshole,” Justin grumbled as he ribbed his partner with an elbow. Brian ‘oofed’
in mock pain making Lindsay and Charles laugh.
“We did well. I’ll have the numbers for you tomorrow, Justin,” Lindsay said.
Justin nodded. The money was nice but living his dream was more important to
him.
They discussed business. Charles wanted to bring the exhibition to London so
they spoke of potential dates. There were several self-portraits, portraits of
Brian and of the couple, that Charles was trying to convince Justin to include
in the London show.
“I’ll think about it,” Justin promised.
“Come on, Sunshine, it’s time to go home. I need my beauty sleep,” Brian teased
as he tossed the Corvette keys to his partner. Justin snatched the keys out of
the air with an all knowing smile. At sixty plus, Brian was still one of the
sexiest men on the planet.
“Let’s go, old man,” Justin teased back as he took Brian’s hand to lead the man
out.
While Lindsay started locking up and setting the alarms, Charles took a moment
to stand in front the portrait of Brian and Justin in which they assumed the
pose of JABKinney and Patrick.
“Striking couple, aren’t they,” Lindsay stated.
“Yes they are and something more that I can’t quite put my finger on,” Charles
commented.
“Perhaps the word you’re looking for is quintessential?”
“Yes, yes! That’s the word. Quintessential. Brian and Justin are the
quintessential couple,” Charles agreed.
That being said, Lindsay and Charles left the gallery.
-end-
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