Going Green

 

The fireplace was lit. The guys were in place for another peaceful night sharing each other’s company. They both liked that. They enjoyed just talking about stuff – and there was always something to talk about too.

“OK, Taylor,” Brian began on this occasion, “It’s only a couple of days till St. Patrick’s Day. I know you and Jason and Malcolm have been up at Gino’s getting the decorations ready. So I suppose the planning is all done by now and I guess I have some surprises in store - that everybody else knows about but not me …”

“Nothing very big, Brian,” Justin smiled at him. “And nothing that you should complain about. Maybe just a few little things to make you feel loved – and I know how you really like surprises too – even if you do complain sometimes - but to keep you from getting paranoid, I’ll tell you what they are right now …”

”Maybe no green spaghetti this year - or no green beer?” Brian projected. “I’d be surprised and that would be OK with me …”

“It’s St. Patrick’s Day, Honey,” Justin reasoned with him, “And the other customers love the green spaghetti and the green beer – and we don’t want them to be disappointed. We did give some thought to green corned beef too– but we know how you are so …”

“So maybe you’ve added a few hundred people to our party. Last year it was 28, I think, and this year will be maybe like - 128 …?” Brian tried again.

“The very same crowd as last year, Kinney,” Justin told him. “Roger will be there – and he’s new - but he won’t be eating with us. He’s gonna play the guitar during the dinner hour so he’ll be eating early …”

”Serve you right if he doesn’t leave enough food for you, Sweetheart,” Brian gibed. “Now that would be a neat surprise. Maybe you deserve a surprise too – for once. But what about Eric? Is he still in the picture? Will he be there too?”

“Yeah, he will, “ Justin replied, “He’ll be eating with Roger – but he might sit with us later while Roger’s playing. Things are going pretty good for Eric, I think. Roger is not quite ready to commit yet but Eric feels better about their relationship since we’re kinda like - advising him …”

””I wonder what advice I gave him,” Brian mused. “You know how my memory is.”

“It was really good advice, Bri,” Justin remembered, “You always give good advice. Eric appreciates it too. And Roger knows about it - and he’s all right with it. He knows we only want the best for them both…”

“Well I guess Roger and Eric are not too big a surprise for me to handle, Baby,” Brian decided. “But you did say ‘a few’surprises and I guess you saved the worst ones for last …”

“Gee whiz, Brian,” Justin feigned exasperation, “You always try to make me feel guilty for whatever I do. Well just go ahead - I also bought you a new green tie for the holiday – and I bought myself one too …”

“It better not be some crazy old thing, JT,” Brian warned him. “I don’t wear crazy ties – even on St. Patrick’s Day.”

“I didn’t take Emmett with me, Bri,” Justin laughed. “I picked them out all by myself and I think they reflect our personalities too – but if you like the one I got for myself better, you can have that one …”

“You think maybe I’d like a tie that reflects your personality, Baby,” Brian laughed back. “Nope. I guess I’ll stick with the one you picked for me – and just hope for the best …I guess I can live with the new tie too. Now are you planning to tell me about the box that came in the mail – all done up in green paper – that I suspect came from New York – and that I guess I’m not supposed to know anything about …”

“I never keep secrets from you, Sweetheart, so of course I’m gonna tell you. It did come from the guys in New York. I thought we’d open that together, Bri, it’s for both of us,” Justin informed him, “Like maybe the night of the 16th. I know what’s in it though. It’s a box of Irish candy from that specialty candy shop up by Rockefeller Center. Green chocolate and caramel – mixed with green almonds and pecans. Rick says it’s the best stuff he’s ever eaten. I thought it would be best not to open it too soon. We wouldn’t want it to be gone even before the big day arrives …”

“Righto, Kiddo,” Brian grinned, “And we both know how much candy I eat. If we had opened it when it came a day or so ago, I bet I would have it all eaten by St. Patrick’s Day …But I am really surprised that you didn’t open it yet…so that counts as another surprise …”

“And I think I detect just a hint of sarcasm in that statement, Mr. Kinney,” Justin told him. “And that’s also a surprise because I can’t believe you’d resort to sarcasm …”

Brian squeezed the kid then and pulled him a little closer. It was not sarcasm at all that Brian resorted to at that point – but whatever it was that he resorted to did result in a delay in the conversation – which lasted for a considerable period of time. Not that they were surprised at that – or even noticed particularly.

“OK, JT,” Brian finally returned to the subject at hand. “Do I know all the surprises now?’ Everything else pretty much the same as last year then?”

“Yep.” Justin affirmed. “Brandon will be leading a community sing of Irish sings – like last year - and there will be the karaoke like last year too …”

“Are you gonna participate this year, Sweetheart?” Brian grinned at him. “I don’t think you did last time …”

“Well I didn’t last year because you like – absolutely forbade me from doing it. But if you’d like me to go for it this time around, I guess I could,” Justin conceded. “I’m pretty good at karaoke.”

“I do not remember giving any orders last year about the karaoke, Baby,” Brian told him. “Maybe I did suggest that you might be too busy with other stuff …”

“Yeah,” Justin laughed. “I remember it all now. You just suggested that …”

“Are Johnny and Peter going to be leprechauns again this year, Taylor,” Brian decided to change the subject – which suited Justin better than Brian knew.

“Yeah they are,” Justin confirmed, “But - hey Brian - I think you need to talk to Johnny. I think he thinks he maybe like - has a girl friend.”

“So I know a lot about girl-friends, Baby,” Brian wondered. “What do I know about girl-friends? You’re the one who gives all the advice around here and then when a real problem arises, I have to …”

“Cut it out, Brian,” Justin demanded. “Johnny is like – afraid you’ll be mad at him. You need to talk to him.”

“And why would I be mad, Kiddo?” Brian continued. “He can’t help it if he turns out to be straight. Lots of guys do. Hell, he can even bring the girl-friend to the party if he wants to show off his leprechaun side …”

“Oh so it’s all right if you decide to add to the crowd, eh Kinney?” Justin laughed, “But not me …”

“Now you cut it out, Twink,” Brian commanded. “That’s exactly what you wanted me to do – invite the girl-friend to the party – and you know it too. Justin Taylor – the super conniver…”

“Wrong, Mr. Kinney,” Justin replied. “Dead wrong. I don’t think the girl-friend even knows that she’s the girl-friend yet – but you gotta tell Johnny that it’s OK with you. He loves you and he’s worried …”

“Ya know what I think, Mr. Taylor,” Brian conjectured. “I think you already told the kid that you’d fix everything up with me and so he shouldn’t worry. Don’t bother to deny it either. I know you. So I’ll just advise Johnny the same way I advised Eric. You can let me know what I advised him – if I have to know, that is…”

“Gee whiz, Brian,” Justin slid closer and ran his fingers across Brian’s cheek, “Seems like I have to do all the work around here …”

“Not all of it,” Brian assured him.
 

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