Labor of Love

The fireplace was lit and the guys were seated side by side on the floor of the loft. Both of them had something to tell the other. Both were feeling some trepidation, but neither of them expected the conversation to develop as it did.

"Brian," Justin bit the bullet, "You know how sometimes you think Jason and Brandon are a lot like us – or, I guess, that they copy us a lot. Well, I guess I maybe told Jason that sometimes we go out of town over Labor Day. Anyhow, Jason told me yesterday that he thinks Brandon wants them to go out of town this Labor Day. Jason thinks Brandon is up to something. I just thought I better tell you. I don't think they're copying us and I know we didn't talk about going anywhere and I don't want to be pushy or anything but our Labor Day picnic is the Sunday after again and I thought maybe…."

"So now, even if you won't admit it, you do agree with me that Brandon and Jason copy what we do," Brian grinned at him. "That's what I've been telling you for a year or so and you've been calling me paranoid. So now I'm not so paranoid. Or maybe I'm paranoid and so are you."

"I'm still sure it's just coincidence, Bri," Justin replied, "But I see Jason fairly regularly and I have to talk to him about something and I know you're gonna blame me and I don't deserve any blame so I'm making sure you know so that you won't also be blaming me for keeping stuff secret. So I'd appreciate it if you didn't pick on me about it if Brandon and Jason should happen to go out of town for Labor Day."

"OK, Twink," Brian conceded. "I'll think about it." He accompanied his answer with a slight squeeze, which seemed like a good sign to Justin.

A period of silence ensued. It also gave the guys time to do some thinking – which they did.

"Brian," Justin continued after the pause. "We don't need to go anywhere for Labor Day if you don't want to, I wasn't hinting or anything like that. After all, didn't we go to Paris for Valentine's Day and have a great time?"

"Yeah we did," Brian agreed, "And you also helped me land that airline account. That trip was something to remember all right."

"So you think we should stay home for Labor Day then?" Justin surmised.

"I didn't say that at all, Baby," Brian corrected him. "We don't want to ruin Jason and Brandon's plans, do we? You know that if we stay home, they'll have to stay home too."

"Gee whiz, Bri," Justin complained with a smile. "I thought we were finished with that but I can see you're not going to let it go. So I, Justin Taylor, hereby give up. If you want to go somewhere, we go. You pick the place and make the arrangements. I'm just the passenger on any Labor Day trip this year. And that is that."

The short quiet period that followed was primarily for thinking – especially on Brian's part. And it was Brian who reopened the discussion.

"You know, Sweetheart," he announced to the kid. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you and since you've brought up the subject, this might be a good time. I think we should go someplace for Labor Day. We always have a good time going away for Labor Day. OK?"

"Like I have already said, Brian," Justin responded. "It's your call. We go if you want to, and we go wherever you pick, and you won't hear any complaints from me. And we won't tell anybody where we're going so that Brandon and Jason will have to choose their own destination."

"Yeah," Brian agree with a tone that Justin thought was equivocal. "Maybe…."

"You got something or someplace in mind, Mr. Kinney?" Justin grinned. "You got a place picked out already?"

"What would you think about Cleveland?" Brian hesitated.

"Cleveland?" Justin echoed. "Cleveland. The only Cleveland I can think of is the one in Ohio, but there must be a Cleveland in the Greek Isles or maybe in the South Seas, because I don't think Brian Kinney is really thinking about doing a holiday in Cleveland, Ohio."

"I thought we were going wherever I wanted," Brian laughed, "Without any snide comments from you,
Sweetheart. I should have known better."

"My humble apologies," Justin told him. "You don't mean Cleveland, Ohio, though, do you?"

"Actually," Brian admitted, "That's the Cleveland I had in mind. Actually a beach house on the lake about 18 miles west of that fair city."

"OK," Justin answered. "You know the important thing for me is that I'm with you. I guess I'm sort of a masochist but I enjoy being with you, even though you're always picking on me – and I really enjoy being alone with you – even when we're mixing business with pleasure like we did in Paris – but I hope Jason and Brandon don't think they have to go to Cleveland too if they find out – just because we're going there."

"Well, actually there's a little more I need to tell you," Brian told him.

"You know what, Brian," Justin announced. "This whole thing sounds like me trying to tell you something – not you trying to tell me something. Well, I think you should take the advice you're always handing me. Just say what you have to say."

"Good idea, Kiddo," Brian smiled. "You asked for it. We're going to spend this Labor Day weekend in a big beach house near Cleveland – if it's OK with you, of course – with Jason and Brandon."

"Thank God I don't have a bad heart, Brian Kinney," Justin responded with unfeigned surprise. "I could think you were trying to kill me. But whatever you want to do, we do. I'm just surprised that you want to spend the holiday with Brandon and Jason. But you don't have to explain anything to me. I love you and that's enough for me."

"Which sounds like a demand for an explanation to me," Brian laughed. "And I guess you deserve an explanation too. Brandon's legal firm is considering doing some advertising. They haven't ever done any and they want a low-key, dignified campaign so Brandon called me about a month ago and we've been thinking about it but he's been busy and I've been busy. Now the firm wants to move on it and we haven't got a good plan in place yet. One of his clients is lending his big beach house on the lake to Brandon for the week-end and we thought maybe we could do it then. But if it's not OK with you…."

"Of course it's OK with me, you dope," Justin leaned over and kissed the important advertising executive. "We'll go and Jason and me will put a campaign together for you guys up on the banks of Lake Erie."

"Am I getting picked on here, Baby?" Brian mused. "Seems to me like I'm getting picked on."

"Heck no, Mr. Kinney," Justin chortled. "There's nobody ever gets picked on in this loft. No siree."

"Well, I guess you could be some help on the project," Brian returned to the subject, "But I don't see where Jason could help."

"So you think I can help and Jason won't want to help?" Justin was still laughing, "Or that Brandon would dare let me help if Jason wasn't involved? That might not work out too well for Brandon, Bri."

"Yeah, I see what you mean," Brian grasped the point. "Jason is a blond twink too. Yeah, I can see where that might be a problem for Brandon."

"Beautiful blond twink," Justin embellished with a smile. "Beautiful blond twink, Bri."

"OK," Brian grinned. "I just hope you don't think it won't be romantic enough…. I don't want you to think that. I'll try …."

"You'll be there, Brian Kinney," Justin told him. "It will romantic enough for me."




 

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