2- In the three months that had passed since Ryder had become Kinnetik, Brian discovered that he was once again pulled into the advertising game the way he had been when he’d first begun. Gone was the serious formality that Ryder had insisted upon and that Brian had taken as normal. Instead, Kinnetik had been infused with life. Young and innovative young men and women brought new ideas filled with originality. Daphne managed to keep things running smoothly, leaving Brian to work his magic. The art department, formally a bane to Brian’s work, now worked effortlessly with the advertising creators. Daphne and Brian had discovered that they truly liked one another and had developed an easy going repartee. Justin stayed in the background, which is where he liked to be. This didn’t mean that he wasn’t learning and watching his best friend and Brian. He was constantly amazed at what Brian could do with seemingly little effort. It certainly wasn’t the Brian Kinney that he presented to the world outside of Kinnetik. But it was more like the Brian Kinney Justin had glimpsed one life altering night five years before. Today, being Saturday, Justin had decided to spend it at the local zoo. He was wrapped in layers of clothing; the day was cool, almost too cold to be wandering around the zoo. But he wanted to sketch and found that the zoo offered him plenty of opportunity between the people and the animals, to catch life on his pages. He could only do so many sketches of a naked Brian Kinney; that was all fantasy rather than fact. It had been five years after all. Justin had learned that if he sat with his back against an old oak tree located near the lion house, no one paid him any attention. He could draw without anyone becoming self conscious. It was one of his favorite spots to sketch. He sat on a cushioned red plaid wool blanket, glad of the insulation from the cold earth. Because of the weather, it was quieter than usual. The lions paced restlessly in their enclosure, occasionally stopping to bat a cluster of leaves around like over grown house cats. They like the cool breezes, it invigorated them, this weather that was so different from their ancestral home. Justin had completed a sketch of the old male, who’d posed for him on an outcropping of rock, content to sit for hours unmoving as his younger pride mates played and paced below him. “What’cha doing mister?” Justin looked up to see a young boy squatted beside him gazing at his sketch book. “Sitting.” Justin smiled as he looked around for the child’s parents. “Are you lost?” “Of course not. I’m at the lion house.” “But are you supposed to be here?” Justin asked, his curiosity aroused. “I’m with my daddy.” “I don’t see him.” “He’s lost, my name is Gus, what’s yours.” “Justin.” Just then a rather frantic and disheveled Brian ran into view. “Is that your dad?” Justin pointed. “Yep, I guess he’s not lost now. Good boy, daddy.” Gus beamed. “We found you.” “For fuck sake Gus, you don’t go wandering off and talking to strangers.” Brian panted, before noticing that the stranger was Justin. “You swore daddy, mamma will be mad.” “Angry.” Brian corrected. “You made me swear.” He looked at Justin. “Hey.” He said with a nod of his head. “Hey.” Justin said back grinning at Brian’s childish reply. “You should hold Gus’ hand, then you won’t get lost.” “Yeah, well, I needed a cigarette.” “Pfft.” Was Justin’s answer. “Daddy smokes, smoking stinks. I don’t like to hold his hand when he’s all stinky.” Gus looked up at his father. “Justin is drawing pictures of Ralph.” “Ralph?” Justin looked at Gus. “I call him Ralph. He kind of looks like a Ralph. King Ralph, king of the zoo.” Gus got up and spun around, his arms outstretched. “King of the whole fuckin’ zoo.” “Gus, it isn’t necessary to swear to make your point.” Justin admonished gently. “You could say, King of the whole wonderful zoo.” “Really?” Gus stopped spinning. “Okay.” He looked at his father. “I’m hungry.” “Thanks for finding him.” Brian began. “I didn’t find him, Gus found me.” Justin looked up at the boy. “Watch your father; don’t let him get lost again. He gets cranky when he’s lost.” “I’ll keep him very, very close.” Gus took Brian’s hand. “He’s not ‘sperienced.” He smiled indulgently at his father before leading him away from an amused Justin. Justin giggled to himself as he watched a baffled and confused Brian being led by his hand toward a concession booth. Apparently the father thing wasn’t something Brian had a lot of practice with. He checked his watch; it was time for him to go. It was almost two in the afternoon and he wanted to develop a couple of his sketches for painting. After he’d bought Gus a hot dog and a bottle of water, Brian turned back to look for Justin. But he’d disappeared, vanished as if he’d only been a dream. Brian wondered what was happening to him, this constant mooning over a blond twink, well maybe not a twink any more, but it was becoming ridiculous, pathetic almost. He was going to have to do something about it. Though he wasn’t sure what. Justin continued to smile as he walked the couple of miles back from the zoo. Walking around the city was one of his favorite things to do. When he became tired, he didn’t mind taking a bus. Today was one of those fall days that was filled with inspiration and excitement for the coming winter days filled with snow and holidays. He was kicking at a pile of leaves on the sidewalk when he noticed a black jeep slowly coming to a stop near where he was walking. “Justin, do you want a ride?” Brian asked. “Yeah Justin, do you want a ride?” Gus piped up from the back seat of the jeep. “I ate hot dogs.” “Thanks for the offer guys, but I actually like walking.” Justin walked over to the jeep. “It gives me time to think about life.” Brian found he was having a difficult time breathing. What the hell color was this man’s eyes. Gone was the sky blue of the office, instead they were infused with the sparkle of the Aegean Sea at dawn. “Gus insisted we stop.” He managed to stammer. “My momma’s having a baby. I get to visit daddy ‘cause she keeps puking.” Gus said with satisfaction. “Oh.” Justin wasn’t sure what to say. “I’m not the father this time. It’s Mikey.” Brian had managed to get his voice under control. “This time it’s Mel who wanted a kid.” “Thanks for sharing.” Justin grinned. “Later Mr. Gus, Brian.” Justin turned to continue his walk. “Justin, we can offer you a latte.” Brian wasn’t sure why he said the words. They just appeared in the air almost as if they were uttered by magic. “Pardon?” Justin turned back. “Gus and I were going back to my place. Cynthia bought me some kind of fancy coffee machine that makes all kinds of shit. Gus likes steamed milk and cocoa. I might be able to figure out how to do lattes if you’re interested.” Those were a lot of words spoken by Brian to secure the company of a man. He looked confused and unsure of himself. Unable to resist the confused puppy dog look on Brian’s face, Justin grinned. “Sure, with that kind of an invitation, how could I resist.” He was surprised when Brian jumped out of the jeep in order to open the passenger door for him. Smiling his thanks to Brian, Justin climbed in. He placed his messenger bag on the floor. Brian’s fingers itched to take the seat belt and secure it around the blond beside him. It was all he could do to stay still while they buckled up. “Daddy makes noisy hot chocolate.” Gus announced. “The milk splashes everywhere in the whole world.” “Hmmm, I’d like to see that.” Justin turned and winked at the boy who sat behind Brian. Gus and Justin spent the ride to the loft chattering about all kinds of things. Things that Brian had never known about his son. He was surprised to find out that the boy had always wanted a dog, that he liked the color green best, the green of the grass in the park, not the green of the big tree at the school. He didn’t know that he liked to watch Japanese cartoons or that he thought most children’s shows were silly. He smiled in wonder as Gus described his room at home and compared it to his room at Brian’s. He was surprised to find that the boy liked having hardwood floors in his room rather than the carpet at home. And that he liked his computer in his room at Brian’s that had been programmed to access websites that would interest the boy, rather than the computer in his room at home that only held educational games that he found stupid. Brian listened in wonder as Gus related the story of the night he was born and how he’d been named and was just as excited as Gus when Justin admitted it was him who had contributed the choice of name for the boy. He told Justin about his leather bear and how it saved him from monsters almost every night. He confided that he was worried that having a new baby in the house would mean that his mothers’ wouldn’t love him anymore. And pleased when Justin related his own childhood memories of the birth of his sister and how the main changes were that he could do more things because the baby took a lot of his mother’s time. Justin wove adventure stories of his childhood with his own bear that was coincidently called Gus, making Gus laugh and giggle more than Brian had ever heard. He was almost sad when they pulled up in front of the loft building. “I’ll park here instead of the garage.” Brian managed to fit in around Justin and Gus’ chatter. Two faces looked at him and grinned, filling Brian with a quiet warmth that he found rather pleasant. “Justin, come and see my room first.” Gus said, taking Justin’s hand. “Daddy painted it all by himself and he didn’t even make a mess.” Brian smiled at his son. “Go ahead; I’ll get the things ready for the latte and hot chocolate.” He unlocked and pulled open the heavy metal door of the loft. A flood of memories flowed into his brain as he remembered a nervous blond seventeen year old. “Oh, you expanded.” Justin said, stepping over the threshold, unconsciously walking around the spot Brian had poured water over his head so long ago. “Yeah, the brat needs more space than most.” Brian ruffled his son’s hair. “Ahhh, a lot like his father, the ultimate consumer.” Justin teased as he was being led by the hand to Gus’ room. Brian stuck his tongue out. He was surprised to hear Justin giggle and realized that the blond had seen him in a reflection from a glass fronted picture. “See, isn’t it cool?” Gus said when he opened the door to his room. Justin was surprised at the almost stark interior. The bed was a platform bed and made with military precision. The desk, neat and tidy, a closed laptop, some books, a basket containing pens and pencils were all lined up in order. One anomaly was a leather covered rocker near the head of the bed. “That’s my daddy’s talking chair. He sits in it and talks to me.” Gus pointed out. He opened a closet door to reveal an array of toys and games neatly placed on shelves, as well as an extensive wardrobe. “Uh, there’s nonot pictures on the walls.” Was all Justin could think to say. “Yeah, daddy wanted me to have pictures, but I want something special. I don’t want just any picture.” Gus looked around his room. “I like this room. It makes me feel good.” “What’s your room like at your moms’ house?” Justin had to ask. “It’s kind of weird. Mom put all these Mickey Mouse stuff on the walls. They make me nervous. I don’t have any shelves, just a toy box. Everything is all on top of the other.” He turned to Justin. “My desk is red and yellow and blue. Yuckyyyyyy” Justin bit the inside of his cheek so he wouldn’t laugh. “You like things minimalist.” He said with a smile. “That’s what daddy said. He let me pick out my bed all by myself.” “And your desk?” “Daddy picked that out. He picked out his talking chair too. He said his ass was too boney to sit on the floor.” Gus giggled. “He said ass.” Justin giggled with the boy. “Hey, maybe I could paint you something for your wall. If you tell me what you like to look at, we can decide how the painting should go.” “Really, I get to say?” Gus opened a drawer and pulled out a piece of paper and then found a pencil for Justin. “Okay, first you need to tell me how big you want the painting.” Justin looked at the four walls. “Which wall do you want it on?” “That one. I want to see it when I wake up.” Gus pointed to the wall opposite the bed. “Okay, I think that wall could easily take a painting three feet wide.” Justin said, writing down the dimensions. “I want a picture of me and my dog.” Gus shut his eyes. “And daddy.” “I thought you didn’t have a dog.” “I don’t, but I want one. Momma is allergic. So I thought daddy could have one and then when I visit, he’d be my dog.” “It sounds like you have it all planned out.” Justin laughed. “What does your dad say about it?” “He said he couldn’t have a dog ‘cause he goes to work all day and the dog would be sad.” “He could take the dog to work.” Justin suggested. “Now what kind of dog do you want?” “A happy dog.” “Okay, what color?” “I don’t know until I find my dog.” Gus looked sad. “See, making a picture is going to be hard.” “We need to talk to your dad about this.” Justin smiled. “Hmmmm, I smell chocolate.” “Yea, daddy made hot chocolate.” Gus grinned and ran out of the room. “Come on Justin, let’s go.” Justin followed Gus from his room at a slower pace. Brian had indeed made the hot chocolate, complete with foamed milk on the top of each large latte cup. “Do you have sprinkles?” Justin asked with a smile. “Cinnamon or chocolate.” Brian said with a smile as he placed two shakers on the table. Gus climbed up on what had to be his chair, a slightly higher version of the other three chairs around the table. “Cinnemen.” He said. “Me too.” Justin said. He reached for the shaker, placing the paper with his notes on it on the table. “You casing the joint?” Brian asked looking at the paper. “No, Gus wants a painting for his room. I was taking notes, but we ran into an impasse.” “Oh?” “Seems one of the models for the painting is a dog that has yet to be purchased by you. A dog for you and Gus to share.” “Gus and I have already discussed this. I can’t look after a dog while I’m working.” Brian looked around his loft. “Does this look like a dog kind of home?” “Yes it does.” Justin said, his face serious. “Oh, I’m sure a large dog wouldn’t fit in and you don’t seem like the mini poodle kind of guy. But I’m sure a medium sized dog would be able to find some kind of comfort in a loft this size.” “You’re a big fucking help.” Brian hissed. “I know, I know, I swore.” He said before Gus could say a word. “Justin said you could take Ralph to work.” Gus looked at his father, a milk mustache gracing his face. “Justin is just a fountain of information.” Brian glared at the blond. “Gus, I’ll start your painting, we’ll leave the place for the dog blank until someday your daddy finds him.” “Ralph will find daddy. Ralph dogs do that you know, they find their own perfect owners.” Gus sighed, drinking his warm drink. “I dreamed it.” “Okay,” Brian laughed. “I’ll have to remember to ask any stray dogs that I see what their names are. As soon as one says Ralph, I’ll bring him home.” “Promise?” Gus asked. “Promise, and I always keep my promises.” Brian stood up to remove their empty cups. He looked at Justin. “Don’t worry about the painting..” he started “A promise is a promise.” Justin said with a grin, also standing up. “I have to get home.” He looked at Gus. “It was nice to meet you again Gus. And don’t worry, I’ll have that painting done for you just the way you want it.” He pulled out his wallet and took out a business card, writing his personal cell number and home number on the back. “This is my card, on the back are my phone numbers. If you need to talk about the painting, you can call me.” “Really, like if I want something else in the picture?” Gus took the card. “Daddy, I need a wallet. You keep cards in a wallet.” “He is your son.” Justin grinned. “Now the two of you can spend a happy two or three hours picking out the perfect wallet.” “Asshole.” Brian mouthed, though he smiled fondly at his son. “Why don’t we drive Justin home and then we’ll go wallet shopping.” “I should have an allowance too. If I have a wallet, I need money to go into it.” Justin snickered, but kept quiet. Brian rolled his eyes, “We’ll talk about that later Sonny Boy.” “Don’t worry about driving me home.” Justin said with a grin. “I prefer to walk.” He turned to Brian. “It’s been nice to see your loft again. It’s changed, but not a lot.” He solemnly shook Gus’ hand. “Thanks for the tour of your room. I’ll have a couple of preliminary sketches to show you in about a week. You give me a call and I’ll set up an appointment.” Gus glowed. He loved being treated like he was older. “Okay Justin, I’ll call you.” Brian and Gus stood waiting for the elevator, listening to Justin as he ran down the stairs. “I like Justin.” Gus said with satisfaction. “I like him too.” ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “Brian, who is this Justin Gus keeps chattering about?” Lindsay always jumped right into their phone conversations. “Hello Lindsay, how are you doing this fine day?” Brian drawled. He was in his office and busy with a new campaign. The secretary Cynthia had found was going to be getting some pointed instructions as to just whom to put through to his office and when. “Answer my question Brian. Melanie and I don’t want Gus to be spending the day with your tricks. It’s enough that he has to be with you. You don’t know the first thing about five year old boys.” Brian’s knuckles grew white as he gripped the phone receiver tightly. “Justin Taylor is the owner of Kinnetik, where I am partner. I was sure the gay tom toms would have gotten that information through to you by now.” “Gus says he’s painting him a picture for his room at your place. He refused to take any of my paintings. What’s going on?” “Mr. Taylor is an accomplished artist. The fact that he has agreed to work with my son to produce a painting for his room is a privilege. The fact that Gus recognizes good work when he sees it, is genes, my genes.” Brian smirked into the phone. “And what’s all this about a dog? You know I can’t have dogs around the house. I’m allergic and for all we know, so is Gus. Melanie wouldn’t even consider having a filthy dirty dog in the house with a new baby.” “Which is it, allergies, or an objection to the mess a dog makes?” Brian asked. His own mother’s tirades about having a dog in the house and his father’s rants about them in the yard filled his mind with screaming fist pounding, door slamming sounds. He hated that sick feeling in his stomach that he used to get. He was going to get his son a dog. It was something every boy should have. And if he had to keep the damn thing during the week, then so be it. But no fucking woman was going to stop him from giving Gus this opportunity. “I need to pick Gus up early on Friday.” “Then pick him up at school. I don’t have time to run around on your schedule. I have one of my own.” “Linds, when did you get to be such a bitch? You used to be all soft spoken, the perfect little WASP. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear to god you were channeling my mother.” “Fuck you Brian.” She said and hung up the phone. “Not a chance Linds.” Brian muttered as he too disconnected. He leaned back in his chair and sighed, his fingers automatically trying to erase the headache that threatened to overwhelm him. Somehow he couldn’t get the nightmare that had been his childhood out of his mind. He couldn’t get the memory of the dog who, like Gus had said, had found him expecting him to look after him, to feed him and love him. He’d never be able to get the look of trust that the dog had shown him or the one of betrayal when Jack Kinney threw rocks at the dog to chase him off, hitting him time after time. “Brian.” Justin walked into Brian’s office and taking one look at the man who was obviously in pain, flicked off the overhead office lights and walked behind him. “You have a headache. Relax, I’ll see what I can do to help.” He began to massage Brian’s temples. “Close your eyes and relax your face muscles.” “Justin….” Brian began, but the magic of Justin’s touch took any words he might have to say. Instead he relaxed into the touch of Justin’s fingers. He could feel his body melting under the warmth of Justin’s breath. “Relax would you.” Justin leaned down and brushed his lips against Brian’s forehead, so lightly that it was almost as if it hadn’t happened. He continued to massage, moving down to Brian’s shoulders and neck and then back up to his forehead. Fifteen minutes went by. When Justin could feel all the tension had disappeared from Brian, he stopped, walking around the desk swiftly in order to stay out of Brian’s reach. “Feeling better?” he asked switching the lights back on. “Much.” Brian sighed. He missed Justin’s touch. “You give great head.” He touched his temples. “So I’ve been told.” Justin smirked. “I wanted to let you know that I’ve got the painting for Gus roughed out. He was going to approve it before I begin.” “Can I see?” Brian asked. “Of course. I have it in my studio at home. If you aren’t busy, you’re welcome to come and see it.” “Thanks, I was about to call it a day.” Brian stood up and stretched. “Do you know where I live?” Justin asked. “I can either drive you or you can follow me.” “I’d better follow you. That way you aren’t stuck with driving me back.” He tilted Justin’s chin up. “And no, I don’t know where you live. I don’t recall getting a housewarming invitation.” Justin pulled away. “There hasn’t been one.” He walked to the door. “I’ll get my stuff and meet you in the parking lot.” Brian watched Justin disappear. It seemed to be something he did often, watching Justin’s back as it faded from view. Brian followed Justin’s BMW out of the main downtown district of Pittsburgh and into a suburb. The road was narrow and not often traveled. Brian was beginning to worry about the undercarriage of his car, when Justin turned into a driveway. He parked behind Justin’s car that had driven into a garage. “I thought we’d never get here.” Brian said getting out of his car. “I can’t believe you managed to find this wilderness in Pittsburgh.” Justin laughed. “Hardly wilderness, the highway is less than a mile away.” He turned and headed for the front door. “Come on Brian. I’ll put my briefcase inside and show you to the studio.” “Justin, this place is amazing.” Brian looked around. “And it’s here in the city. It seems like it’s in a space all of its own.” “I like it. Of course I have a tenant who won’t leave, but she keeps to her own space.” “Fuck you Justin, I heard that.” Daphne bounced down the stairs. “Hey Brian, I wondered when you’d find your way here. I was betting that it would have been a month ago. You don’t work as fast as you used to.” “Hey Daphne.” Brian bent and kissed her cheek. “I left the Anderson files on your desk.” “Cool, I’ll go in early tomorrow.” She turned to Justin, “I’m cooking tonight. Do I cook for two or three?” “Brian, would you like to stay for dinner?” Justin invited. “Daphne’s not a bad cook all the time.” “I heard that.” Daphne shouted from the kitchen. “If you don’t mind, I’ll stay.” Brian said. “I know this probably sounds strange, but your home is very relaxing.” He shrugged off his jacket. Justin took Brian’s jacket and hung it in the hall closet. “Do you want a drink before we head to the studio?” “Water is fine.” Brian followed Justin into the kitchen. “Hey sweetness, I’m staying for dinner.” “I figured.” Daphne laughed. “There’s Perrier in the fridge. Dinner is in an hour, you boys play nice.” “Very funny.” Justin pulled out two of the green glass bottles and handed one to Brian. Brian took his time following Justin to the studio. He wanted to take in everything there was about his home. The paintings on the wall caught his attention as they moved from hallway to room. “You’ve certainly got some talent there Justin.” He said stopping in front of an especially interesting painting. “Thanks, art has been my passion for as long as I remember.” Justin shrugged. “I had a slight Dartmouth diversion, but I’m back on track now.” “With a little help from your Grandfather.” “Actually, all I’ve had from Grandpa was support and advice. The money I used to purchase Kinnetik was all mine, earned by me. My Dartmouth education more than paid for itself in allowing me to develop and build my earnings into what they are today. I did graduate at the top of my class.” He wasn’t boasting, just stating a fact. “I think that’s what pissed off my dad the more than anything. The fact that in four years I’d made more money than he could ever hope to make.” “That in itself is quite the accomplishment.” “And when we publish the first quarter financials, you as partner will see that my abilities haven’t let up despite the fact I spend most of my time in the art department.” “I thank you and my accountant thanks you.” Brian smirked. Justin held open a glass door for him to enter into the studio. “This is my refuge from reality.” He announced. “Gus’ picture is over here.” He walked to a large canvas on an easel. “I’ve blocked in what he wanted, you and him and the mystery dog called Ralph. Ralph hasn’t found you yet, has he?” “Nope, sorry, he hasn’t found me yet.” Brian laughed. “I’ve actually been thinking about it. I may just get him a dog.” “It can’t be any dog. It has to be Ralph. Gus will know if you try to pass off a ringer.” Justin laughed. “That kid is one smart kid.” “He takes after his old man.” Brian bragged. “Let’s hope not with everything.” Justin said. “What do you mean?” Brian put his hand on Justin’s arm. “Brian, look how old you are. You’re still playing the club boy game.” Justin shrugged away from Brian’s touch. “I don’t think it is anything Gus should have to live through; at least not as long as you have.” He looked at Brian. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.” “Sorry is bullshit.” Brian turned away, surprised at how much Justin’s opinion of him hurt. “But I agree, Gus should never have to go through the things that I did growing up. It’s what shaped me into the man I am. He’ll be a different man, I’ll see to that.” “Brian, I really am sorry I said what I did.” Justin touched Brian’s arm. “It doesn’t matter Justin. What you said was the truth as you see it. We really didn’t get off to a good start did we?” “Oh, I thought the night we spent together was a damn good start.” Justin grinned up at Brian. “It kept me from going crazy, the fantasy life I wove around it, for four long boring years at Dartmouth.” “I was part of your fantasy life was I?” Brian laughed. “You did say you’d see me in my dreams.” Justin laughed back. “The paintings I did for my first show, all of them nudes of you in various fantasies, started my little financial empire. So you see Brian, I have you to thank for my success.” “No Justin, you have yourself to thank for your success. All I did was fuck you.” “What you did was take a scared kid home, let him into your life for a few minutes. You treated him with respect and you took his virginity in a way that he’ll never forget, with kindness and love. Yes love, don’t even start Brian. I know what you did. I was there. You made me laugh, you showed me a part of you that I bet no one has ever seen.” Justin paused. “That night could have gone wrong, so very wrong. But you saw that it didn’t. So you see Brian, you are responsible for my success. I wanted to emulate you and I really do think I’ve succeeded in a lot of ways.” “Justin… Justin, I’d like to start over with you. I’d like us to become friends. More than friends, if it works out that way.” “I’d like that too.” Justin smiled. “Want to see some of the pictures I’ve done. I have them all on my computer. The ones I’ve sold.” “Love to.” Brian smiled. “I’ll put them up on the wide screen. Have a seat over there, it’ll be a slide show.” Justin indicated a comfortable looking sofa off to one side. “I sometimes sleep there when I’m painting.” Brian and Justin watched the slide show of Justin’s paintings. Both of them were laughing and joking about some of the poses Justin had put Brian in. The one that cracked him up the most was a fantasy dance scene. “You’ve got to be kidding. Your prom, you have me dancing at your prom?” “It seemed like a good idea at the time. I’ll have you know I got almost five grand for that one.” Justin giggled. “Dinner is ready.” Daphne called out. “Just in time.” Justin jumped up from the sofa. He and Brian had been getting too friendly. If anything was going to happen he wanted to take it slow. Dinner was filled with laughter. Brian found he’d eaten far more than he normally did, including dessert. “I can’t believe I ate that chocolate cake.” He said, sitting back in his chair. “Justin made it.” Daphne admitted. “He bakes when he’s frustrated. Last night’s baking spree was something about a missing dog.” Justin laughed and looked at Brian. “I understand the problem is going to be resolved.” “You never know.” Brian stood up. “It’s getting late. I should go. I wanted to do some more work on Brown Athletics before bed.” Justin walked Brian to the door, handing him his jacket. “Thanks for the great evening.” Brian said. “I enjoyed it.” “I’m glad you found your way here. Maybe you could bring Gus over on Saturday. He can approve his painting. I’ll have more done by then.” He looked shy. “If the weather is nice, I have a pool outside. It’s heated, Gus might like to swim. It’s lots of fun when the weather is cold, almost decadent.” “It sounds fun, should I bring anything?” Brian asked. “Just Gus. I think I can afford a couple of hot dogs to barbque.” He grinned at the look on Brian’s face. “Maybe the adults could have salmon.” “We’ll be there.” Brian touched his fingers to Justin’s lips. “Later.” He whispered as if it was a promise that he meant to fulfill. Justin floated back to his studio. He didn’t want to see Brian’s car drive away. He was tired of seeing him disappear. Brian drove down the unusually dark Pittsburgh street, wondering where in hell the street lights were when suddenly something caught his eye laying on the side of the road, it was moving weakly. He pulled over to investigate. It was an animal, a dog, not too big, and definitely homeless from the state of its coat that showed his ribs. “Hey buddy, were you hit?” Brian asked. His headlights weren’t the best light to see by, but the dog looked more like it was starving to death rather than injured. “What’s your name?” he asked, picking up the mutt. “Ralph.” The dogs said weakly, “Rolf, Rolf.” “It figures.” Brian muttered as he climbed into his car, the dog cradled against his chest.