Fate Wins Out

Part 6

For the next five days, Brian and Justin managed to ignore their problems and make the most of their time together. They painted, laughed, and made love as if they didn’t have a care in the world. It was a wonderful week and neither one of them wanted it to end. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. On Sunday morning, they were still lingering in bed at 11:00am, wrapped in each other arms when they heard the front door close.

“Justin? I’m home.” Stacy called through the house. She was so homesick that she insisted on having her brother drive her home at the crack of dawn.

“Shit!” Justin exclaimed as he scrambled out of bed and threw on his robe. “What the hell is she doing home?”

“How the hell should I know? Quick, get down the hall before she comes up the stairs!” Brian yelled as quietly as he could. His heart was racing from the fear of getting caught.

Justin grabbed Brian, giving him a quick kiss before running down the hall and into his bedroom. He quickly tossed his robe aside and climbed into bed, pretending to be sleeping. He heard his wife walking up the stairs and tried to get his breathing under control.

“Justin?” Stacy called as she walked into the bedroom only to find Justin still in bed. “Honey? Are you awake?”

“Stacy? Sweetheart, what are you doing here? What time is it?” Justin said as he sat up rubbing his eyes as if he just woke up.

“It’s after eleven. I was homesick, so I had my brother drive me home. Are you alright? You never sleep this late.” She sat down on the bed looking at her husband’s face for signs of illness.

“I’m okay, just tired. We’ve been working all week on the nursery. I guess it wiped me out.” Justin offered, hoping she would buy his excuse.

“Oh, poor baby. I’ll let you go back to sleep. Is Brian awake?” She asked as she rose from the bed.

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him since last night.” Justin replied, hating the fact that he was lying to her. The worst was that he didn’t know how long the lies were going to continue. Every time he and Brian sat down and tried to talk about what they were going to do they always ended up in bed without making any decisions. Now Stacy was home and they were going to have to be more careful around each other.

“Okay. I’ll just go downstairs and plan what I’m going to make for dinner. I’m sorry I woke you.” She said with a touch of disappointment. She was hoping to find her men awake and happy to see her.

“It’s okay Stacy. I should be getting up anyway. Let me take a shower. Then I’ll show you the nursery. As for dinner, how about I take you and Brian out someplace nice? Sort of like a welcome home dinner. How does that sound?” Justin asked, trying to wash away the sadness in her eyes. Apparently, it worked because before Justin knew what was happening Stacy was in his arms.

“That sounds wonderful, Justin. Thank you. I was beginning to think I wasn’t even missed around here!” She exclaimed.

“Of course you were missed.” Brian said from the doorway. His eyes met Justin’s and they looked at each other as if to assure each other that nothing had changed when in reality, everything had. Justin would be spending his nights with Stacy and Brian would be spending his nights alone.

“Brian!” Stacy exclaimed as she ran into his arms.

“Easy, Stacy…you’re not as trim as you used to be.” Brian joked as he hugged her back. He couldn’t help making jokes about her size. She was always so thin when they were young, but at almost seven months pregnant, she looked like she was carrying a beach ball.

“Watch it, Brian. Haven’t you ever heard about a pregnant woman and her hormones? I could rip out your heart and not think twice about it.” She laughed, punching him in the arm for good measure.

“She’s serious, too, Brian. I wouldn’t mess with her if I were you.” Justin warned, happy that there was no tension between them.

“Alright, alright. I take it back. Jeez, I guess pregnant women can’t take jokes either. What’s this I hear about a free dinner? You name the time and the place and I’ll be there.” Brian said, looking at Justin as he spoke.

“Why don’t you two go downstairs and chat while I take a shower. Keep an eye on her, Brian. I don’t want her trying to sneak a peak at the nursery before the unveiling.” Justin told him. He stayed where he was until they left the room. Once he was alone with his thoughts, Justin was once again racked with guilt. He knew he needed to be honest with Stacy. He needed to talk to Brian so they could decide what to do.

An hour later, Brian and Justin stood outside the nursery door with a blindfolded Stacy anxious to see the room.

“Now before we let you in, remember that we did the best we could. We are not professional decorators so don’t be too critical.” Justin explained, even though he knew she was going to love what they did. The room looked great and he couldn’t wait until the baby was born so he could be the father he always wanted to be. The kind that accepted his children no matter what.

“Justin…just let me see it. I am sure I will love it.” Stacy whined, feeling ridiculous standing there with a blindfold on her face.

They led her into the room and pulled off the blindfold, watching her face glow with joy.

“Brian, Justin, it’s beautiful.” She cried, taking in her surroundings. Three of the walls were painted a lovely light green with a border of jungle animals placed around the middle. On the forth wall was a floor to ceiling mural that was obviously painted by Justin. The picture was of a jungle. Trees and vines were everywhere, along with a waterfall and jungle animals that matched the ones on the border. The room may not have been done by professionals, but it was just as good and done with love, which made it all even more special.

“Well? What do you think?” Justin asked, his face beaming with pride at her obvious approval.

“I think I love you.” She said with tears in her eyes, as she hugged Justin quickly then turned to Brian. “And I love you, too.” She took him in her arms and hugged him, too.

“Damn hormones!” She exclaimed as she ran from the room in tears. The two men just watched her leave and laughed.

The three of them went to dinner at a nice Italian restaurant in town. They had a wonderful time laughing and talking about the old days. Stacy and Brian told Justin all about their childhood and Justin told stories of his and Stacy’s life together. It was a very relaxed evening. When they got home it was after eleven and Stacy was exhausted, having been up early to start her journey home. She and Justin said good night and headed upstairs for bed, while Brian stayed down to watch TV. If he was honest with himself, he would admit to not wanting to go to bed alone. Ever since Sunday, he and Justin had spent their nights together in the guest room and without him it seemed so empty. He threw himself on the couch and settled in to what a movie, hoping it would put him to sleep.

Justin was still awake a couple hours later, watching his wife sleep. More then anything he wanted to sneak down to the guest room and join Brian in what he’d come to think of as their bed, but he couldn’t take the chance. He tossed and turned for a little while longer, before getting up and heading downstairs. Maybe a cup of hot chocolate would help him sleep. As he made his way down the stairs he noticed Brian laying on the couch sound asleep. He crept over and knelt down in front of him, looking into his beautiful face, and couldn’t help reaching out to stroke his cheek. Brian woke with a start.

“Hey. What are you doing here? Where’s Stacy?” Brian whispered, trying to focus on the face before him.

“She’s sleeping. I couldn’t fall asleep so I came down to make hot chocolate. I’m sorry I woke you. When I saw you over here I couldn’t seem to help myself from touching you. I’ve missed you today.” Justin admitted.

“I’ve missed you, too. It’s strange. We’ve been together all day, yet it’s not the same if I can’t touch you.” Brian said, as he placed a light kiss on Justin’s mouth.

“I feel the same way. Oh, Brian. What are we going to do? I…I think I’m falling in love with you.” Justin admitted, unable to meet Brian’s eyes as he said it. He felt Brian bring his hand to his chin and lift his head so they were looking in each other’s eyes.

“That’s good to know, Justin. I think I’m falling for you, too. We need to figure out what to do about us. I don’t want Stacy being hurt and I know that you don’t want that either. We need to find some way to be together without hurting her.” Brian said, brushing away a stray tear that was running down Justin’s cheek.

“We’ll think of something. As long as I knew you feel the same way, everything will be okay.” Justin said, kissing Brian deeply. After a moment he pulled away. “I better get back upstairs before she wakes up. I’ll see you in the morning. Sweet dreams.” He said as he rose up and headed back upstairs, the hot chocolate forgotten.

“I hope your right, Justin. I hope to God you are right.” Brian said to himself as he drifted back off to sleep.

The next morning Justin woke up alone. He could smell breakfast cooking and knew that he would find Stacy down in the kitchen. He hopped in the shower and headed downstairs, his stomach rumbling all the way. As soon as he walked into the kitchen his eyes met Brian’s and he smiled his hello.

“Hi, Honey. Have a seat. Breakfast is almost ready. Kathy called this morning and asked me to meet her for lunch. She has some ideas for the Christmas party and she wants my opinion on them. You don’t mind, do you?” She asked as she bustled around the kitchen, filling their plates with food.

Justin looked Brian in the eyes as he answered. “No. You go ahead. I’m sure Brian and I can find something to keep ourselves busy while you are gone.”

“Okay. I should only be gone for a few hours. When I get back I’m going to make my famous lasagna so you boys better be hungry.” She said as she sat down to eat.

“Yes, ma’am!” They said in unison and laughed at their joke. Stacy rolled her eyes and joined in with their laughter.

After they finished eating, the three of them cleaned up the kitchen together, and then sat outside to drink their coffee. They talked again about names for the baby and couldn’t believe that they still hadn’t decided on a name. Stacy liked Marissa or Blake. Justin preferred Cynthia or Kevin. Brian threw in his ideas, requesting Brianna or Brian and they all laughed at his choices. When 11:00 came they went inside. Stacy had to leave and Brian and Justin agreed that they would veg out in front of the TV, anxiously awaiting her return. Stacy gave them each a kiss and headed out the door, wishing she didn’t have anywhere to be.

“Well, I guess we’re all alone.” Brian said with a smirk.

“I guess so. I wonder what’s on TV.” Justin said, hiding his amusement at the look that crossed Brian’s face. They hadn’t really been alone for twenty four hours and TV was the last thing on his mind.

“Justin? Fuck TV!” Brian exclaimed as he pulled the man into his arms for a much needed kiss.

Stacy was a few blocks away when she realized that she forgot her palm pilot. Wondering if she really needed it, she decided to turn around and go back for it, just in case. Ever since she got pregnant her mind turned to mush and the only way to remember things was to log them in her palm. She walked in the door, ready to call out to the guys when she heard a soft moan coming from the living room. She tiptoed in quietly and was shocked by what she saw. There on the couch, locked in a passionate kiss, were Brian and Justin. They were so lost in each other that neither one of then knew she was there. She stood there in shock for a moment before quietly sneaking out of the house, a mixture of emotions running through her head. She didn’t know what to think, but she knew she couldn’t have lunch with Kathy under the circumstances. She called her friend, claiming to have a headache and cancelled her plans, then drove to the park. She needed time to sort out her feelings about what was happening between her husband and her cousin.

Justin pulled away from Brian suddenly. He thought he heard a noise but when he looked around he saw that they were all alone.

“What’s the matter, Justin? Is something wrong?” Brian asked with concern.

“No. I thought I heard something. Maybe we better go upstairs, just in case.” He suggested. He had an uneasy feeling come over him, but chalked it up to the fact that Stacy was in town and they needed to be more careful.

“Last one there is the bottom!” Brian exclaimed as he jumped off the couch and raced upstairs. Justin took his time. Being Brian’s bottom sounded like winning to him.
 

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