Bad as New
Chapter 6
"Michael, it's
Emmett."
"Hey, Emm,
what's up?"
"Have you talked to Justin
lately?"
"No, not since the
party. Why?"
"Um, do you think everything's okay
between Brian and Justin?"
"You noticed it too, didn't
you?" Michael asked relishing the likelihood that Emmett would prove his
concerns about Brian tricking to be true.
"There seemed to be some funny
business going on," Emmett admitted thinking about seeing Justin with John
and Bobby with Brian.
"Exactly. Brian will never change," Michael said proudly
remembering what he had seen of Brian and the young hustler.
"Maybe not," Emmett said sadly.
He didn't want to believe that Brian and Justin would cheat on each other,
especially with John and Bobby.
"I knew that so called marriage would
never last," Michael said triumphantly. Justin would leave Brian before
much longer. The whole sordid mess was bound to come out. If Emmett had noticed
so would everyone else.
"I better go," Emmett said
feeling like a big hole had just opened up in his world.
"Who were you talking to?" Drew
asked as he came into their apartment.
"Michael."
"Oh, what did he want?"
"I called him."
"Just catching up on old times?"
Drew asked with a smile.
"I wanted to ask him about Brian and
Justin."
"What about Brian and Justin?"
"I think there's big trouble ahead
for them."
Drew frowned. "What kind of
trouble?"
"We think they're cheating on each
other," Emmett said softly.
"Cheating? Not that nonsense you
brought up at the party?"
"You saw them with John and Bobby
that day."
"Yeah, so?"
Emmett stared at his boyfriend like he was
a blind idiot. "You know."
"You mean…? No, that can't be true. I
don't believe it."
"You saw them. Don't try to wish it
away."
"But…"
"Our not so little family is going to
be ripped apart."
"I can't believe…"
"Believe. Give me a kiss and big old
hug. I need you, baby."
Drew pulled Emmett close and kissed him
slowly. All the time he was thinking about the imminent break-up of Justin and
Brian, and wondering how he could have been so wrong. How could he have missed
all the warning signs?
As Michael hung up the phone at his house,
Ben came into the living room from the kitchen. "Who were you talking
to?" he asked.
"Emmett."
"And how's our dear Emmett these
days."
"Worried."
"Worried? About
what?"
"Justin and
Brian."
"What on earth is he worrying about
them for?" Ben asked in bewilderment.
"He thinks Brian's cheating on Justin
and they're going to break up over it."
"What would make him think such a
thing?" Ben demanded.
"We both saw some things,"
Michael said significantly.
"What things?"
"Let's just say it involves a
hustler."
"A hustler?" Michael nodded solemnly. "Michael, you have to
be wrong about this."
"I wish I was." Michael shook
his head dramatically.
"You have to be."
"I bet other people have noticed it
too. It couldn't just be me and Emm. It was so
blatant."
"Maybe I should talk to Brian."
"Do you actually think he would admit
anything to you … or to anyone? He's going to screw up his life because he
can't keep his dick in his pants."
"But Brian hasn't done that for a
long time."
"Maybe he has and we just didn't know
before."
"Michael, I…"
"Don't get involved, Ben. The shit is
going to hit the fan and I don't want to get coated with it."
"But they're our friends. Brian
is…"
"Don't bother finishing that
statement. I think Brian is going to be persona non grata
very soon."
Michael pulled Ben's head down for a long
kiss. Ben wondered what he could do to help this situation. Maybe he should
speak to Brian, or maybe he shouldn't.
*****
"Jennifer!"
"Hello," Jennifer said coldly as
she turned to face her son's husband. "What are you doing in this part of
town?"
"I had some business down the
street," Brian replied. "How about you?"
"I just finished showing a property
in that building," she said pointing across the street.
"Want to grab some lunch?"
Jennifer studied Brian for a minute.
"I don't think so," she said straightening her back. If Brian was
fucking around on her son, she wouldn't demean herself by eating with him and
pretending nothing was happening.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, I have to go," she said
rushing away before she called him a bastard or ripped his one remaining ball
off or cried like a fucking baby.
"Well, that was special," Brian
said shaking his head. He'd have to ask Justin what was eating his mother's
ass, and he was sure it wasn't some young buck.
*****
Allen walked into the diner for lunch. He
saw Debbie talking to some young kid. He heard the last bit of the
conversation.
"So you're sure you've never seen
Brian with any of the hustlers you hang around with?" Debbie was asking.
"No," the kid replied.
"Keep your eyes open, and if you see
anything let me know."
"Okay, thanks Deb," the kid said
taking the bag of food she handed him in exchange for the ten dollars he
offered her.
"You're a good kid, Frank. Thanks for
doing this for me. Hey. Allen, how are you?"
"Can I get a burger and fries,
Deb?"
"Sure thing. In the mood for junk food today?" she laughed.
"Yeah, it just takes over every once
in a while."
"That's what keeps us in
business."
"Deb, who was that kid you were
talking to?"
"He's … he's a hustler but he's
trying to turn his life around."
"I heard Brian's name mentioned.
What's going on?"
"Don't spread this around, but
Michael thinks Brian is tricking again," Debbie said confidentially.
"I'm trying to get some verification of that or else prove
him wrong."
"Somebody else said the same
thing."
"Really?"
"I said it couldn't be true,"
Allen replied. "But maybe it is."
"Does Ted know anything?"
"He hasn't said."
"Maybe you should ask him."
"Or maybe it's none of our
business."
"I guess you have to make that
call," she said as she put in his order.
*****
Brian walked towards the bathhouse. He
wanted to check on Frank and discuss a couple of things with Terry. As he
walked down the street he was joined by Frank who appeared carrying a bag of
food.
"Lunch?" Brian asked with a smirk. Frank nodded. "How
does it feel to have money to pay for your meals?" Brian asked wanting
some feedback as to whether his efforts were really making a difference.
"Not bad," Frank smiled. "Except for when it is your last ten bills."
"Ah, time for your monthly
stipend," Brian said tongue in cheek.
"Yeah."
They stopped in front of the bathhouse.
Brian took out his wallet and handed Frank a handful of bills. Frank smiled.
"I need to see Terry," Brian
said.
"Terry's not in today. He wasn't
feeling well."
"Shit!"
"He'll be in tomorrow, I think."
"Okay, behave yourself."
"I won't do anything you wouldn't
do," Frank said as he watched Brian walk away. He looked at the money in
his hand and stuffed it in his pocket before entering the bathhouse.
Carl Horvath watched the transaction
between Brian and his trick from the spot where he had just parked his car. He
was on the way to the diner to have lunch with Debbie. It looked like
everything Michael had said about Brian was true.
Since Terry wasn't around, Brian went back
to Kinnetik. It was lunchtime and the whole agency
took the time to eat lunch together in the conference room. It was Brian and
Cynthia's way of fostering a family feeling. For about an hour the men and
women that made up Kinnetik could relax, catch up on
gossip and hash out any concerns. Brian and Cynthia found it a good way to stay
abreast of any ideas that the staff may have and the staff felt appreciated.
Brian was about to tackle his usual dry turkey sandwich on whole wheat when Gus
came running into the office.
"Gus!" Brian looked at the
clock. It was the middle of the afternoon and Gus should have been in school.
Gus had cut class and run all the way to Kinnetik.
"Dad, please I have to talk to
you!" Gus was breathing hard; his heavy backpack was cutting into his
chest.
"Okay, come on, into my office."
Brian snatched up his sandwich, gave Cynthia a
strained look then herded the younger Kinney into his private office.
Brian wrestled the backpack off his son
and led the boy to the sofa.
"Hungry?" Brian asked as he
offered half of his sandwich to the boy. Gus nodded and took a small bite. Gus
gave his dad a scrunched up look as he slowly chewed the dry bland sandwich. Brian
shrugged then went to the wet bar for a couple of bottles of water.
They ate in silence for a while then Brian
asked the question.
"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of
your company, in the middle of the afternoon, when you should be in
school?" Brian's tone was very parental.
"Dad, I need to ask you something and
I need you to give me an honest answer. No bullshit, okay?" Brian was
about to admonish the lad for language but the anguish on Gus' face told him
that there would be another time for that. Brian nodded. "Is everything
okay between you and Justin?" Gus asked with tears welling up in his eyes.
Even though he was very young when his mother and Melanie had problems, he
remembered his family had broken up for a while.
"What makes you think something's
wrong between me and Justin?"
"Just answer me first then I'll tell
you." The tears were now slipping down the boy's face.
"Gus," Brian drew the boy into
his arms. "Gus, I swear, on the top of your head, Justin and I are fine.
Never better. You want to speak with him?" Gus nodded as he sobbed. Brian
took out his cell phone, hit one on the speed dial and
set the phone on speaker. Justin answered on one ring.
"Hey," Justin said on the other
end.
"Hey. Justin, I have a very upset
young man here who thinks something's wrong with our relationship."
"Who, Bri?"
Brian nudged Gus and he spoke up.
"Hi Justin, it's me, Gus," Gus
said meekly.
"Gus, what's wrong, buddy?"
"I heard Uncle Mikey
and momma talking. Uncle Mikey said he saw dad
tricking and paying a hustler. I don't understand all of it but they think
you're cheating on each other and with Uncle John and Bobby. I had to come
here. Please, I don't know who to ask. Dad?" The
tears were flowing freely now. Brian and Justin started talking all at once as
Brian hugged his son. Finally, Justin's voice cut through.
"Brian, I think you need to tell Gus
what's going on. I know you wanted to keep things quiet but he has the right to
know."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. You know I'll support
whatever you decide. Gus?"
"Yes," Gus barely squeaked out.
"Your dad is a wonderful man and I
love him more than anything in the world. Remember that. Now, you listen
carefully to him and you call me anytime you want. Okay, buddy?"
"Okay."
"Bri, I'm
hanging up. I love you."
"Love you too, Sunshine. Later."
"Later." Brian cut the
connection and handed Gus some tissues. "Gus, this is a long and difficult
story but you're a smart kid, so listen up. And you're sworn to secrecy until
Justin or I tell you it's okay to share. And for
further proof..." Brian went to his desk and hit the button for the
intercom. "Schmidt! Get your ass in here." Scrambling footsteps were
heard outside Brian's office. Brian winked at Gus who almost broke into giggles
as Ted came running to do his master's bidding.
"What can I do for you, Bri?" Ted was breathing heavily. He had sprinted in
from the other end of the office.
"Theodore, Gus here, has heard some
nasty rumors from some of the family. I think it's time we shared our scheme
with him and he has already taken the oath of silence."
"Um, sure, Bri.
What scheme?" Brian snarled at Ted. "Oooh! That scheme. And
who's spreading rumors?" Brian growled. "Ah. Well, we knew sooner or
later this would happen. Okay, how can I help?"
Between Brian and Ted, the whole concept
for the clinic, theater and bowling alley was explained to Gus. Brian didn't go
into detail of his reasons how this all came about but Gus got the picture of
the social importance of the venture.
"We studied about Stockwell
in our poly-sci class. I didn't know you had anything
to do with it. The teacher said it was the Committee of Concerned
Citizens."
Ted pointed at Brian. "Gus, meet the
committee. It was all your dad. He took all his money,
made the TV ad and bought air time." Gus gaped at his dad in wonderment
and awe. Brian blushed.
"Look, the point is," Brian
quickly tried to change the subject, "that we're trying to do something
good for this part of our city. And I didn't really want anyone to know my
involvement. Hence your oath. Ted knows, for obvious
reasons since he's the one who's going to make sure I don't lose my shirt.
Justin knows because I can't keep any secrets from him. John and Bobby know
because John's construction company will head up the renovations. Bobby's my
lawyer so we all needed him. Hunter is going to run the damn thing and Bill
from the Farm is coming down here to help. So that means Claire and Steve know
and we can't forget Nick cause he and Hunter are, well you know. Fuck! The
whole damned family will know sooner or later." Brian nervously paced;
this was getting out of hand.
"Dad! No queen outs, okay? I get it and I think it's a
great idea. You really think you can get it all done by the time Rage is
released?"
"We're hoping. Justin got a call from
Brett. Most of the filming is done. It's the editing that's going to take the
most time; at least six to nine months. John says that if the basic structures
of the buildings are sound, the renovations will go quicker. So we should have
it timed right." Brian took a few sips of water before continuing.
"Gus, I'm sorry you had to hear about this through the gay grapevine but
just try to hang on and don't listen. Sometimes Uncle Mikey
says things before he puts his brain in gear. And you know Mel and me don't
always get along. If it gets real bad then ask your mommy to call me. I'll
explain things to her and she can be your ally against the masses."
"Okay, pop. I can hang tough. We
Kinney men have to stick together." Gus got up to give his dad a hug. Ted
quietly backed out of the office to give the Kinney men some privacy. Rage
saved the day, again.
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As New