Meretrix
Chapter 5
"Moving?" Justin asked with a smile, as though this were a sick joke. Realization
sunk in; "You're not kidding are you?"
"No."
"But... I don't understand."
Brian sighed and directed Justin to retake his seat, Brian took one opposite
him, "When I signed up with the firm, there was a clause in my contract,
whereby I
could be sent to a new office should one be opened."
"Did you know before hand?"
"No. I didn't know about it, I didn't ask about it, and they didn't volunteer
the information. Though, I did find out today that the owner of the firm
was
scouting candidates with this in mind."
"That's underhanded." Justin seethed.
"Maybe, maybe not, but it's my own fault for not having read the fine
print."
"Where?" Justin asked as shock began to set in.
"
"
"Well," Brian sighed, "A lot of studios
are moving filming up to
the old man thinks we need an office closer to the action."
"When?"
"Uh, they are giving me two weeks to wrap up any business. I report
for work on the 18th."
Justin nodded his head slowly, "Is that what this is then?"
"Our lunch?" Brian asked.
"Tying up loose ends?"
"No."
"But... if you're moving..."
"It's only
Justin laughed, "It might as well be the fucking moon!"
Silence settled over the table.
"You could come with me." Brian suggested quietly.
"What?" Justin shouted.
"Come with me."
"To
"Yes, come with me."
"I can't!"
"Yes, you can."
"How do you figure?"
"It isn't that technical Justin. We'll rent a u-haul, and drive. I was planning
on that anyway, I've not really seen the West Coast, two weeks, should give
me
some time to do that."
"No, I mean what will I do when we get there? Where will I live? Where will
I work?"
"I don't know... I thought... maybe we could share an apartment... maybe..."
Brian trailed off.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, and perhaps you could go to school,
saving up for it anyway, so you must have some money set aside. I'll help
with the rest..."
"No!"
"Why not?"
"Brian," Justin couldn't believe the man, "We have known each other,
less than two months... you... you were a fucking trick for god's sake! And
now you want
me to move to a foreign country with you?"
"It's
feelings.
"Do you think we could live together? Maybe we'd end up killing each
other?"
"I doubt that."
"Yeah, but..."
"If that is a problem we'll get a place with two bedrooms, we can both have
our own space."
"It is another country though... don't we need to fill out papers or...
something?"
Brian laughed lightly, "My company is doing all
that sort of thing, for me and my spouse, or my," Brian coughed slightly
and whispered the rest of the
sentence, "pawtnat."
"Your what?"
"My... partner."
Smiles simultaneously erupted across both men's faces. "You really think
that this can work, Brian?"
"I don't know Justin, I really don't. I do know that I'm willing to give
it a try if you are."
"I'll be leaving all my friends, job security, my apartment," Justin began
to inventory to himself aloud.
"I know this isn't fair of me to ask of you, to uproot everything you have
and come with me. But... I... I don't know... If
there is a chance for us to share
something, then I want to try."
"Ok."
"You are too special to be working as a damn whore at the Quoin, the place
isn't for you. All those perverts," Brian scoffed,
"me included, marching
through there."
"Ok, Brian."
"I mean, seriously, you have such a great talent,
you should put that to use. Go to school, enhance your natural abilities,
then go out into the world and blow
peoples socks off, after all," Brian paused, "Ok?"
"Ok." Justin chuckled.
"Ok?" Brian wasn't sure he was hearing right.
"Yeah, you seem to have everything worked out, oh, I'm sure it isn't going
to be as smooth as you... as we hope, but yes. I'll go with you."
Brian grabbed Justin's hands in his, unsure what if anything he could say.
"I'll talk to Reggie after lunch." Justin said confidently, having decided
upon the path and committing to follow it.
"Ok, I'll talk to the HR lady at work; make sure she knows to make arrangements
for two."
"And then we should probably work on the details tonight, come by my place
after you get off and I'll make dinner." Justin said as he stood.
"Ok, I will, uh... aren't we going to order lunch?" Brian asked in
confusion.
"No, we're going back to your place for the rest of the lunch hour and I'm
going to fuck you senseless." Justin said matter of
factly.
Brian was on his feet and heading towards the door, his right arm around
Justin's waist. "You know,
smiled down at Justin, "they even let queers get married up there."
Justin returned the smile, "Whoa, one thing at a time Brian, one thing at
a time."
The two men left the restaurant, smiling and laughing, content on starting
a new life together.