A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

 

The visitors to the loft had just left and the resident guys were in the process of lighting their fake fireplace and getting themselves into position on the loft floor - to sit quietly and watch the shooting flames.

“That was a nice surprise, Bri,” Justin was telling his other half as they settled in. “But we didn’t need to stay home. There was no reason why I couldn’t have gone out tonight…”

“Well there’s about six inches of snow on the ground, Baby,” Brian enumerated. “And there’s a cold rain falling now – and you’ve got the flu – and Dr. Marshall told you specifically not to go out till you saw him day after tomorrow…”

“So what’s your point?” Justin grinned at him, resting his head on the big guy’s shoulder.

“You didn’t let me finish, Sweetheart,” Brian continued. “And I, who am the supreme authority around here, forbade you to go out – because I love you and I want you to get better – with no crazy relapses – caused by crazy immature behavior on your part. – like going out in this miserable weather – which you would have done if I hadn’t commanded you to stay home.”

“Oh,” Justin replied, leading them into a period of quiet reverie where they just stared at the flames jumping about in the fireplace.

“You know what, Brian,” Justin eventually broke the silence. “This was like - our first Valentine’s Day where we didn’t go out someplace special…”

“Well, maybe that’s what happens when you stick with the same guy as long as we’ve been together,” Brian grinned. “Ya just stay home all the time. But you know how we always have our own private Thanksgiving dinner some other day, cause we have to be with the gang on the holiday. Well maybe this year we can do the same thing with Valentine’s Day – like maybe the week end after next – and maybe in New York City…”

“Sounds good to me, Kinney,” Justin grinned back at him. “But maybe you’ve forgotten Ricky and Shawn. They’re in New York. Like we’re going up to New York and not see Ricky and Shawn? Robert’s still in Toronto though, I think but…”

“Actually it’s already arranged, Baby,” Brian informed him. “We’re spending Saturday with Rickshaw – and Robert too if he can get there from Toronto. He gets home every couple of weekends and he’s gonna try. And we’re having dinner with them on Saturday at some new restaurant they like – and where they can eat in peace without the usual thundering hordes of weirdos.”

“Sounds like a great dinner for two, Brian,” Justin laughed. “Just the four of us – or maybe five. Good planning, Bri – really good….”

“You are not the only guy around who can plan stuff, JT,” Brian informed him archly. “They all think we’re flying in Saturday morning – but we are flying in on Friday afternoon - and proper arrangements – for two – have already been confirmed for Friday – so maybe you’d like to apologize for your lack of confidence.”

“Yeah, I guess I would,” Justin conceded. “Later. So whose idea was it for Brandon and Jason to come over here tonight and surprise me?”

“That would have been me again, Baby,” Brian admitted. “I was planning to have a sumptuous meal delivered - for just us two – not regular take-out either – really good stuff – but the restaurants are all so busy on Valentine’s Day – and I was afraid it’d get fouled up – and you’d be crowing about how Brian Kinney can’t do anything right – so after the New York stuff got all arranged…”

“I know who planned the menu though,” Justin cuddled in a little closer. “That could not have been coincidence…”

“Nope,” Brian agreed, “That was not coincidence. I made Brandon send Jason over to the office and I gave him the exact list – and I warned him that we had to have everything on that list – absolutely everything - and nothing except what was on the list – no additions.”

“And Jason didn’t wonder why?” Justin asked him.

“Nope,” Brian responded. “He just took the list and said he’d do it. Jason must be descended from a different line of blond twinks than you are. You tell Jason to do something and he does it.”

“And you’d rather...?” Justin began.

“I did not say a single word about rathering,” Brian interrupted as he tightened his grasp on the twink.

And there was yet another pause in the discussion at that point – for a relatively long period of time too.

But when the discussion finally resumed, it picked up pretty much exactly where it had left off.

“And they didn’t figure out there was something special going on, Brian?” Justin wondered.

“I think Brandon figured there was something, Baby,” Brian opined. “But he never asked – and I never told. Like – a picnic – on the floor – with special candles – and a particular tablecloth on the floor – and a certain wine. Brandon isn’t dumb – but he never asked – and I didn’t tell him …”

“I couldn’t believe that you remembered it all, BK,” Justin told him. “I don’t think you missed anything at all.”

“You might be surprised at all the stuff I remember, Sweetheart,” Brian smiled at him, “at my advancing age too.”

“Well you know what I remember?” Justin recalled. “You said you ordered me to stay in tonight because you loved me so…”

“And you know what I remember, Babe. I remember that you said you were gonna apologize to me – later,” Brian also recalled. “And I think it is later now. So maybe it’s time to start the apologizing…”

“Yeah,” Justin agreed. “I’m afraid it is, Brian. Yeah, it is time to apologize. You know, I thought we were just going to spend the whole evening around here doing nothing – and that was all my fault for having the dumb flu – so I think I invited Mikey and Ben and Malcolm and Hunter to stop here after their dinner at the Hilton – for like - hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows. I thought you’d like that. They’re bringing the marshmallows and they’re due in about half an hour.”

Brian’s reaction surprised Justin. He just started to laugh.

“I’m sorry, Brian,” Justin continued. “I didn’t know – but I do want to tell you, Honey. I love you and this was the best Valentine’s Day we ever had.”

“Maybe we should do it again next year, Baby,” Brian was still laughing.

“Well if we do, Sweetheart,” Justin started laughing too, “It’ll be your turn to have the flu.”

“So maybe we should try something else next year, Sunshine,” Brian suggested. “But I’ll tell you this – for sure. Tonight has been a night to remember.”

And then, as if on cue, the buzzer from downstairs signaled the beginning of the next act. The night to remember wasn’t over yet.
 

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