All We Can Do

It was late when the fireplace in the loft finally got lit – but there was no way that it was not going to be lit up either. Not that night. The guys really wanted to talk so there was none of the usual quiet time before the conversation began.

“Well we did all we can do, Bri,” Justin opined.

“Yeah,” Brian smiled, “but if Jason and Brandon didn’t leave when they did, I think I would have thought of something else to do. Yep, I think I would have. I like them, Baby, but….”

“I could see you were getting impatient,” Justin smiled back at him, “but I also know you are too much of a gentleman to throw our guests out on their ear.”

“You think, Sweetheart?” Brian asked. “You might be safer if you didn’t count on me being such a gentleman. I thought they should have left when Oz and Alan took off.”

“Well Oswaldo and Alan didn’t stay long at all,” Justin reminded him. “But I think we got our point across well enough. They both understand what’s going on between them now and what the possibilities are. I think they figured that out tonight – with just a little bit of help from us. That’s as much as we wanted to do – and as much as we should want to do. It’s all up to them now. We did all we can do.”

“They left together, Baby,” Brian reminded Justin, “and my guess is that were not planning to go their separate ways either. I got the impression that they wanted to be alone - together….”

“To discuss the possibilities that we presented to them, I bet,” Justin finished Brian’s sentence for him.

“Whatever,” Brian concluded with a sly laugh. “But I’m betting that Alan won’t be learning how to be mean from Oswaldo tonight. I don’t think that’s what Oswaldo had on his mind anyway – from the look in his eyes - or Alan either for that matter. They couldn’t wait to get out of here – and it wasn’t because of us either – they were enjoying our company but they wanted to be alone.”

“But maybe they wanted to be alone because of us, Bri,” Justin suggested. “Maybe we set them such a good example….”

“Yeah, we did,” Brian was still laughing, “But we weren’t such a good example for Jason and Brandon. They didn’t seem to have any need to be alone. They didn’t leave. They just stayed forever – and maybe I was wanting us to be alone too.”

“Gee whiz, Brian,” Justin reasoned. “They only stayed an hour or so after Al and Oz left. It wasn’t all that late and they didn’t stay all that long. They just wanted to talk for a while. They like us – just like we like them.”

“OK, Baby,” Brian did not radiate any real agreement. “But while we’re on the subject - they seemed to take a really special interest in our fireplace. I guess they know all about the fireplace now and I bet they’ll be getting one of their own pretty soon – like tomorrow – unless they can find a store open on their way home tonight…. Maybe that’s even why they decided to leave… What the hell are you grinning about, Taylor? What did I say that’s so funny?”

“Brian Kinney,” Justin laughed at him. “Sometimes, as smart as you are, you are totally clueless. They already have a fireplace. It’s not exactly like ours though - and that’s what they were interested in – one exactly like ours.”

“They already have a fireplace?” Brian showed disbelief. “But now they want one just like ours? Geez, Baby. Those guys are something else. But hey, ours is an old model. Remember, it isn’t manufactured any more. I tried to get you to move up to the new model but you wouldn’t hear of it…. So they won’t be able to get one just like ours. Serves them right. I hope it doesn’t cause them to have twin nervous breakdowns. But I guess they wouldn’t have any nervous breakdowns unless we had them first.”

“Don’t get paranoid, Kinney,” Justin advised with tongue in cheek. “Not that you’re not especially appealing when you’re paranoid – you are - but I think I did hear Jason mentioning e-Bay on his way out.”

“So you think I’m especially appealing when I’m paranoid and you think I’m paranoid right now?” Brian zeroed in on the significant part of Justin’s statement.

“Yeah,” Justin told him coyly while snuggling up a little closer, “I guess so.”

Now that response would hardly fall under the heading of “famous last words” but they were, in fact, the last words spoken for a considerable period as the guys worked successfully on the ramifications of that bit of discourse – but in ways other than speech.

They were about ready to resume their discussion a while later so the ringing of Justin’s cell phone did not really disturb anything important. And it was a short call too. Justin said “Yep, it’s 310GH,” and “OK” and signed off.

“So,” Brian guessed. “That was Jason and he wanted the model number of our fireplace. Right?”

“You know you’re always right where I’m concerned, Mr. Kinney,” Justin cooed affirmation semi-mockingly.

“Oh what the hell,” Brian gave up. “I like those guys anyhow – even if they do think they are us. Do you think Oswaldo and Alan will be that way too when they get together, Baby? I admit we’re great role models but I’m not sure if I could tolerate two sets like that.”

“Are you so sure that they will get together, Brian?” Justin reminded him. “I’m not. I do think they’re both gonna be different people because of their relationship – but I’m not all that sure they’ll end up together. Maybe they’ll decide they’re not in love….”

“And maybe they’ll decide they are,” Brian countered.

“Gee whiz, Kinney,” Justin told him. “You are sure turning into a real romantic, Brian. It’s not really like you.”

“Well maybe I am,” Brian defended himself. “But if I am, it’s your fault, Sweetheart. Maybe you spoil me so much that I want everybody to have what we have….”

“Like an Ace Fireplace, model 310GH, maybe?” Justin suggested. “Like that?”

Again, these very unlikely “famous last words” led to a prolonged interruption in the conversation, which neither of them seemed in any hurry to resume.

“OK, Kiddo,” Brian informed Justin when the conversation did continue. “You know what I’m gonna do tomorrow. I still have the Ace Fireplace Company as a client. I’m gonna call their rep and see if they have any models 310GH lying around. I’m gonna try to get one for Brandon and Jason – and I’m gonna try to get one for Alan and Ozzie too – for when they get together. And if that doesn't work, I’ll get them Model 310-GP which is the current version. Dave could get the old ones special made but let’s leave Dave out of this. What do you think of that?”

“A very generous gesture indeed, Mr. Kinney,” Justin allowed. “But then you are a very generous guy. I wish you wouldn’t get your hopes up about Oswaldo and Alan though. That’s going to take some time to work out - and it’s out of our hands. There is a limit to how much meddling should be done. It’s their lives and they’ve got to decide for themselves - and they may not decide the way we might want them to – but it’s their decision.”

“Yeah it is,” Brian admitted. “If they’re not meant to be together, they shouldn’t be – and they’ll figure that out for themselves too – but maybe we should have them here to dinner again sometime soon. Not to pressure them or anything. Just to keep in contact….”

“And help out where we can?” Justin grinned.

“Yeah,” Brian admitted. “That too.”

“OK, Kinney, Mr. Great Romantic – and maybe Mr. Match-Maker too,” Justin told him. “As always, your slightest wish is my command. So - do we invite Jason and Brandon to the next event too?”

“Yeah,” Brian replied without much hesitation. “I guess so. OK. Yeah. Why not?”

“Well - like - you were ready to throw them out of here tonight so I’m just a little surprised that you….” Justin was wondering till he got interrupted.

“Yeah, I was ready to throw them out,” Brian told him, “But they finally left on their own – and I really enjoyed this evening – especially after we finally got rid of them. I really did. I guess it made me appreciate just how lucky….”

But Brian didn’t ever get to finish what he was trying to say – but what he had already said turned out to be the evening’s absolutely last “famous last words.”
 

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