Hormonal Shift

Chapter 6

Emmett glanced at his phone as he heard it hum indicating an incoming call. With a big sigh he let it go to voicemail.

"Not answering your calls these days?" a familiar voice asked.

"Shit!" Emmett squealed. "Are you trying to give me a fucking heart attack?" He had almost overturned the table at his personal booth in the bistro, when he jumped at the sound of the voice.

"I do have that effect on men," Brian said in his best evil voice.

"To what do I owe the dubious pleasure of two visits in one week?" Emmett said beginning to recover from his fright.

"Dubious? Wherever did you learn such a big, big word, Honeycutt?"

"Probably from you, you big asshole, and don't call me Honeycutt," Emmett retorted.

Brian laughed as he slid into the booth next to his friend. "Was that call from Drew?"

Emmett nodded, willing the tears to stay behind his eyes. He swallowed hard. "I'll get you a coffee and a popover," he said sliding to the edge of the booth.

"That can wait," Brian said sternly as he grasped Emmett's wrist. "You can't keep doing this."

"Doing what?" Emmett asked feigning ignorance of what Brian meant, but he didn't struggle to escape. As he settled back into the booth Brian released his grip.

"This is getting old," Brian sneered. "We've had this discussion before."

"I ... I don't know what to do," Emmett said shaking his head. He looked so forlorn.

"Yes you do."

"I do?" Emmett raised his head and looked into the concerned hazel eyes.

"Of course you do. You are one of the bravest people I know. Face up to your fears. Talk to Drew."

"I ... I don't think ... I don't think I can. What if it's true?"

"So what if it's true?"

"I don't think I can stand it if it is," Emmett whimpered.

"If it's true, if Drew is screwing around, isn't it better to know than to worry yourself to death?" Brian asked staring into Emmett's eyes.

"I ... I don't know. I don't want to be alone," Emmett moaned.

"You will never be alone. We're all here for you."

"But that's not the same."

"I know it's not, but you will not be alone," Brian stated. "I know you'll do what you have to do. Not only are you brave, but you're a survivor."

Emmett stared at Brian. It was rare for Brian to say anything like this, rare that he complimented anyone in such a manner. "You really think so?"

"I know so. Now get me that coffee and popover. A man could die of thirst and/or hunger in this so-called dining establishment."

Emmett chuckled and shook his head as he slid out of the booth. Brian didn't try to stop him this time. As he made his way to the coffee machine, Emmett decided that maybe Brian was right. It was time to confront his wayward husband.
 

*****
 

JR came down the stairs to the living room. She was wearing a pale blue sweater over some black tights. She looked lovely, as Michael and Ben watched her approach.

"I should be back before midnight," JR told them.

"Do you need a ride?" Ben asked.

"I'll take the bus. We're meeting at the movie theater."

"Are you sure about this?" Michael had to ask.

"Dad!" JR said severely. "This is not open for discussion."

"But, honeybun..." Michael whined.

"Don't try to honeybun me!" JR ordered. "I'm going! And that's all there is to it." JR turned on her heel, grabbed her coat and purse and was out the door.

"I don't think she should be going," Michael said standing up. "I'm going after her."

Ben grabbed Michael's arm. "Our daughter is a grown up young lady. She makes her own decisions. If you try to interfere she won't forgive you," Ben said trying to sound reasonable but forceful.

"But this girl, this woman, she's ... she's..."

"I know, she's older, more worldly, but that's not something we have any control over."

"We can stop JR from going," Michael insisted.

"How? Hog tie her and lock her in her room? What's that going to accomplish?"

"It will stop her from making a big mistake."

"Our daughter is one smart young lady. If she's making a mistake, and that's a big 'if', I'm sure she will handle it just fine," Ben stated.

"She's still a child," Michael retorted.

"No, she's not. She hasn't been a child for quite a while now."

"But this Jacqueline is older. She has a reputation for..."

"Maybe that's part of why JR likes her. We all had to start somewhere."

Michael heaved a sigh. "I hope she'll be okay," he whispered.

"She has her phone. If she needs help, she knows we're here for her."

"I guess so," Michael said collapsing back onto the sofa.

Ben sat down beside his husband. "She'll be fine," he said as he placed his arm around Michael's shoulders.

 

*****
 

"Time for bed, girls," Susanna said.

"Do we hafta?" Bree asked batting her violet eyes.

Susanna chuckled. "Does that work on your fathers?"

"Sometimes," Bree admitted.

"Well it's not working here."

"My mom is very smart," Ashley whispered to her friend. Bree could tell Ashley was very proud of her mother.

"My dads are very smart too," Bree declared, "but sometimes it works on them."

"Only when they want it to," Susanna interjected.

"Huh?" Bree asked.

"Your dads love you very much, and they let you do the things you want to, when they think those things are okay. If they thought it would harm you, they would never let you do it, batted eyelashes or not."

"Going to bed later won't harm me," Bree said logically.

Susanna laughed at the precocious little lady. "It might not harm you immediately, but you need your sleep, so off to bed."

"Your mom is tough," Bree said as the girls headed to Ashley's bedroom.

Susanna shook her head as the girls left the room. Bree was a handful. She wondered how two men had managed to handle her so well. She was a lovely child in every way, but she did love to test limits. Susanna sighed. She was glad Bree and Ashley seemed to be back to their usual friendship. There had been a couple of days of silence and tension. Susanna wondered if there were more problems to come before Justin and Brian returned home.

 

*****
 

"Hey," Jacqueline said as she walked up to JR outside of the movie theater.

"Hi," JR replied. "I'm glad you're here."

"I'll get the tickets," Jacqueline offered.

"Already got them," JR told her. "I wanted to be sure we could get in."

"Oh!" Jacqueline said, surprised that JR would buy the tickets. "I thought this would be my treat."

"You can buy the popcorn. It costs almost as much as the tickets," JR laughed.

They proceeded into the theater, got their popcorn and found some seats. The theater was almost full so there certainly wasn't much privacy, but that was fine with JR. They watched a silly rom-com, laughed a little bit and ate their popcorn.

When the movie was over, Jacqueline asked JR if she would like a coffee. They decided to go to a local coffee shop just up the street. Over a latte and a cinnamon bun, Jacqueline decided she wanted to know more about this young girl whom she found so intriguing. She had asked herself many times in the last few days why she was so interested, but there was no easy answer. She just was.

"So, you work in a comic book shop. How did that happen?" she asked.

JR frowned. She wasn't sure she liked that question. It sounded a bit condescending. "My father owns the shop, and I work for him."

"Oh."

"Just 'oh'? Don't you mean why would you want to work for your father? Why aren't you in college? Don't you have bigger ambitions? Why are you wasting your life?" JR asked sarcastically. She could feel her anger growing with each question she rhymed off.

"O-kaaaaaay," Jacqueline said. "I can see I pissed you off, and unlike most of the time, I wasn't even trying. I just wanted to know more about you. I might like to hear the answers to all those questions, but I certainly wouldn't have asked them like that."

JR felt her anger melt away as she listened to Jacqueline. Obviously she had jumped to the wrong conclusion. "Sorry," she said. "It's just that my parents wanted me to go to college and it's a very contentious issue. It always sets me off."

"So I see. Want to answer those questions without biting my head off?"

JR smiled prettily and started to tell Jacqueline all about her family, about her decision not to go to college right after high school, about her father's medical problems and so many other things. As she rode the bus back home, JR realized that she had shared a lot, but she hadn't learned much more about Jacqueline. Maybe next time, because Jacqueline had asked her out again, and she intended to go.

 

*****
 

“So are you up for it?”

“I’m always up,” came the smug replied.

“Ha! That wasn’t what you said last night.”

“You caught me by surprise. You must admit, I’m a fast learner.”

“True. Last round?”

“Agreed; last round. I’m getting hungry.”

“You’re always hungry.”

“I’m a growing boy,” he smirked.

“No more growing, please, I’m getting a complex,” Ray said as he stretched up on his toes to give Gus a kiss.

The boys were at a local miniature golf course having fun hitting balls around weird bends, under pink flamingos and through the huge clown at the end of the course. It was their last night in Florida and they wanted to make the most of it.

“What do you want to do after dinner? Do you want to go back to that club?” Gus asked. They had found a gay friendly club and had danced their booties several times.

“No, I think I’d like to have a quiet night, have dinner then spend a little time with Shamus before spending time with you. I don’t want to share you.”

“I don’t share,” Gus began to protest.

“That’s not what I mean.”

“Explain,” Gus gently requested as they made it past a bevy of whacky gnomes that threatened to steer their golf balls off course.

“You don’t realize just how good looking you are.” Gus was about to reply but Ray stopped him. “I know you know you’re good looking but you don’t see the looks you get when you walk into a room. Just like your dad and your uncle for that matter, people stop to stare. Your dad ignores it and plays it up when it’s to his advantage. Your uncle is astounded by it then just goes about his business. But you, it’s like you’re oblivious. Sometimes I don’t want to share you with the rest of the world,” Ray honestly confessed.

“I don’t know what to say,” Gus murmured as he leaned down to steal a sweet kiss. “For most of my life I kept hearing how much I look like my dad. I mean look at him and Uncle John! What guy in his right mind doesn’t want to look like them? If I wasn’t related I’d do them.” Ray gave Gus a cross-eyed look.

“You know what I mean,” Gus groused.

“Yeah I do,” Ray laughed.

“But I do get tired of hearing it sometimes. I’m not my dad but it’s like the world expects me to be.” Gus stared at the club in his hand.

“It’s not easy being the son of a legend, is it?”

“Not in Pittsburgh, it isn’t. Half the time they think I’m him.”

“And the other half?”

“The other half want to do me because of him.”

“Well, that just sucks.”

“Yeah. I guess that’s another reason why I want to go to New York. No one knows me there…”

“What?” Ray asked when Gus got this strange look on his face.

“Now I understand why Justin went to New York, not only to hone his craft but to be Justin Taylor, not just the other half of Brian and Justin,” Gus said when the revelation hit him.

The boys finished their game then went to find dinner.

“You’re very quiet,” Ray remarked as they walked back to the B & B.

“Just some things finally making sense.”

“About us?”

“Us. My parents. My life. Don’t get me wrong, I am so proud to be my father’s son. My Grandma Joan was honest with me. My dad had a horrible childhood. He and my moms made sure I had good memories to fall back on. Yeah, my moms had problems but they tried not to let it affect us kids. It wasn’t easy but no matter what went on, I never felt like no one loved me. I was never abused like dad.”

“Your parents are good people.”

“Yes they are. And I want them to be proud of me.”

“Look,” Ray said as they paused. They were standing in front of the love tree. Two different species of tree that somehow wound up growing together, intertwined and supporting each other. “Reminds me of my dads.”

Gus studied the trees and nodded. It was the same for him. Two totally different men that had found each then had grown together in love and support. Gus couldn’t conceive of his father ever being without Justin. And he knew it was the same for Justin.

Gus grabbed Ray around his waist, pulling the shorter man closer. He studied the dark eyes that shined up with love. Gus prayed that their life together would be just as successful as his dads and Ray’s dads. Simon and Ken were also an odd couple proving once again that opposites do attract. Ray’s parents had been together for over twenty years as well and still going strong.

“Love you,” Gus whispered as he kissed Ray.

“Love you,” Ray murmured back.

 

*****
 

“The things I do for you,” Brian grumbled as he tucked in his shirt then checked himself out in the mirror.

“Shut up, you’re perfect,” Justin declared as he tied his sneaker laces.

“So says the blond bombshell who still looks seventeen,” Brian mumbled as he checked out Justin too. Justin’s ass was still just as bubbly as the first night Brian fucked him. Brian readjusted himself in his jeans.

“One dance, two tops. I just want to be surrounded by music again; feel it thumping through me.”

“With my luck, I’ll have a coronary.”

“No you won’t. I happen to know your heart is perfect too.”

“Aren’t there laws against doctors blabbing?!”

“Yes, but you gave him permission to blab to me. Someone’s got to look after you.” Justin ignored the Kinney grumbling and glare. “Besides, I wanted to get his okay for tonight.”

“You what?”

“I wanted to make sure that if I got you to take me to Babylon that I wasn’t going to hurt something vital. After all you are so much o….” Before Justin could say the ‘o’ word, Brian threw Justin onto the bed then covered Justin’s lips with his own.

“You were saying?” Brian asked with a smug smirk when they finally came up for air.

“Nothing,” Justin whispered as he threw his arms around Brian’s neck and pulled him down for another toe curling kiss.

“We should go. We have time for one round of pool at Woody’s before throwing my back out at Babylon,” Brian smiled.

“You can use it as an excuse not to shovel after our next snowstorm.”

Brian snorted. “If I don’t do it, who will? Not you, with the way your hand has been acting up,” Brian said firmly as he gazed down into astonished blue eyes.

“How...?”

“I know everything. Besides you gave your doctor permission to blab too.” Brian arched his brow.

“I just need to rest it a little more and restart my exercises,” Justin replied, blushing as he did. “You want to help me with my therapy?” Justin asked with a coy smile. Brian nodded then kissed the smile. He rolled off his lover and got to his feet pulling Justin up.

“Are you sure I won’t be making a fool of myself tonight?” Brian snuck one last peek at himself in the mirror. Those words Mikey had said to him years ago had stuck.

“I would have never suggested it if I thought that was even a remote possibility. You’ll always be the hottest man anywhere we go.” Justin looked up into the hazel eyes that rarely showed doubt. “I promise,” Justin vowed.

Brian nodded, trusting that Justin would never lead him astray.

The boys bundled themselves up for the bitterly cold night then headed out.

 

*****
 

“Are you ready to go home?

“Yeah, I think I am. This has been fun and I have to admit that I really needed the break, but it’s time to get back to real life.”

“What time’s our flight?” Ray asked.

Gus pulled out their itinerary to check. “Two. We start boarding around one fifteen. I’d like to get to the airport by noon the latest. Does that work for you?”

“Sounds good to me. At least we don’t have to be up at the crack of dawn. And Shamus promised us one of his special breakfasts,” Ray said with a smile.

“We won’t have to eat for a week the way he cooks,” said Gus.

“He thinks we’re too skinny.”

“I’m fine the way I am,” Gus growled like his father, making Ray laugh. He heard several of the ladies in Gus’ family complain about the skinniness of the Kinney men.

“I will miss this place. It’s so beautiful,” Gus said after a while. They were enjoying the B & B’s backyard garden. The boys were stretched out on two adjacent lounge chairs.

“I’m sure we’ll come back someday. Shamus and Albert are almost part of the family,” Ray commented. His own fathers had come down for a vacation several times.

Gus reached out to find Ray’s hand. They held hands as the sounds of the evening filled them with peace.

 

*****
 

“Are you ready to go home?” Brian asked into the shell of Justin’s ear. He took the liberty of nibbling said ear as he did. Brian got the result he was hoping for.

“Yes, I am,” Justin replied as he reached up onto his toes to wrap his arms around Brian’s neck.

All night long the staff kept Brian amused with comments from the patrons of Pittsburgh’s hottest dance club, gay, straight or otherwise. They all wanted to know who the hot old dudes were who were dancing together. And were they interested in going home with anyone because they could have their pick of the club.

At a signal from Brian the DJ played a few of the songs Brian and Justin remembered from the bad old days. Brian scrunched down, his body remembering how it was when it was the Brian and Justin show at Babylon. Brian allowed himself not to think, to let the music take over and let Justin set the pace. He smirked as the confetti was released and it rained down upon them. They both smiled as they looked up and remembered the good times they once had when the boys were twenty years younger, beautiful, hot, and on fire. This was their world and no one could ever invade it.

As the last of Brian’s selections was winding down, Brian pulled Justin in tight. He kissed Justin with a passion that he seldom showed in public, leaving Justin breathless. Declaring to all of Babylon that this hot beauty belonged to Brian fucking Kinney and to no one else. Brian then led his prize, his lover, his mate for life off the dance floor to head for home.  

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