Still Has Thorns



 

On the way back to Justin’s, Melanie and Lindsay decided to do a little shopping for the afternoon before picking up Gus. Melanie pulled out her cell phone to call the sitter. “Shit. I forgot to charge it. Sweetie, do you mind if I come up and use your phone? Justin?”
 

“Huh? Sure,” the teen responded absently as he thought about dark brown pools of chocolate. He felt butterflies in his stomach when he remembered those eyes gazing at him so intently.

When they pulled up to Justin’s building, Lindsay got out as well. “I need to use the bathroom,” she said apologetically. “Too much punch.”

They followed Justin up the stairs to his apartment. He unlocked the door and led the way in. When he flipped the light switch, he was flabbergasted at the transformation. His little apartment was a tropical paradise. There were palm trees and tiki torches lining the wall, calypso music playing in the background, and streamers and bottles hanging from the ceiling. Bottles?

“Surprise!” his friends and family shouted.

The teen beamed as he was smothered with hugs and kisses. As he was passed around the little group, he admired their various ‘costumes’. Everyone was wearing Hawaiian shirts, Mardi Gras beads, seashell necklaces, or straw hats. Of course, Emmett was wearing an elaborate headdress of multi-colored layers of crepe paper that flowed down his back like faux hair. Justin also didn’t fail to notice one person was conspicuously absent, but he pushed the pang of regret away.

“Happy birthday, sweetheart,” his mom said as he was manhandled between Emmett and Debbie.

“Thanks, mom. This is great,” he tried to breath as Ted slapped him on the back and George shook his hand.

“Okay, everyone give him some air,” Michael ordered as he pulled the teen to safety.

“My hero,” Justin smirked.

“I just didn’t want you killed before we eat. I’m starving,” Michael retorted with an easy grin.

Justin looked at the breakfast nook and gasped at the sand and shells on the floor and benches. The table was overflowing with a Bahamian feast and was beautifully decorated with exotic flowers.

“Do you like it? We had to improvise a little, not enough time for proper costumes,” Emmett explained excitedly, smoothing his rumpled crepe creation.

“I can’t believe you did this,” Justin replied in awe, although he knew Emmett was the only one with the flair to pull it off.

“I helped,” Molly added petulantly. “It’s a Junkanoo party! Emmett said it’s a big Bahama celebration, like Mardi Gras.”

Emmett nodded and gave her a squeeze. “I just thought since you couldn’t go to the Bahamas, we’d bring the Bahamas to you!”

“I didn’t know you wanted to go to the Bahamas,” Jennifer interjected. “I thought we were just chasing the winter blues away.”

Emmett’s eyes widened at his blunder but Justin smoothly covered it. “Doesn’t everyone? Think of all the crab and lobster and conch.”

Jennifer laughed. Only her son would equate travel with food.

Emmett placed a straw hat on his head and covered him with beads. “Gus would love this,” Justin thought out loud.

Lindsay and Melanie exchanged looks. “Yeah, before he started eating the sand. We wanted to have adult party time without the tot,” Melanie lied. She kissed her wife passionately. “So bring on those Bahama Mamas!”

Lindsay frowned slightly at Justin’s disappointed face, but kissed her wife again in appreciation for taking the heat.

Justin fixed on a smile. “Yes, let’s party!” he encouraged as he moved back to the table to sample the food. His eyes lit up at the array of lobster spring rolls, okra salad, stuffed spare ribs, johnnycake, and peas and rice. He now understood why Emmett had been so taken with the theme. There was a distinct crossover in cultural influence from where he grew up. “Em, what’s with the bottles,” he asked, suddenly suspicious.

“That’s my special contribution. The Obeah, think Bahamian voodoo, hang bottles in their yards to ward off evil spirits.”

Justin turned a bottle nervously. “There’s no chicken’s blood, is there?”

Emmett emoted pain. “See if I try to help next time,” he pouted as he turned his back and inadvertently lashed Justin with his crepe streamers.

As everyone filled their plates, Jennifer stood next to Justin. “Honey, where’s the baker’s rack?”

Daphne stifled a giggle and nudged him, pointing to the living area. Justin laughed and pointed to the living room as well. The large box was balanced on two crates and piled high with festively wrapped presents. “Looks like it’s the gift table.”

Before Jennifer could comment, Melanie handed Justin a Rum Runner with a paper umbrella. At Jennifer’s raised eyebrows she quickly added, “It’s virgin.” Justin scowled as everyone laughed. When his mother was out of earshot Melanie whispered, “It’s not really, but behave.” She kissed his cheek. “Happy birthday to my favorite country club bartender,” she toasted as they clinked glasses, and laughed quietly at their private joke.

Everyone was sitting around the small living room enjoying their food and light banter when Ted asked about the recital. Justin suddenly blushed and remembered Ethan was going to be over shortly. “It was great. The violinist we saw was amazing.”

“And hot,” Melanie added with a chuckle, causing Justin’s blush to deepen.

“Really!” Emmett was suddenly all ears.

Justin wished he could disappear into the futon. “Yeah. Actually, he’s coming over later to take me out for my birthday,” he added reluctantly, avoiding eye contact with Michael who was giving him a strange look. “Obviously I didn’t know about the party, so I accepted when he asked if he could take me out after dinner.”

Everyone’s shocked expressions were worth the ribbing he decided. He suddenly laughed at the spot he put Lindsay and Melanie in. “You two were pretty cool,” he praised.

Melanie shrugged. “I figured the more the merrier. And if he doesn’t run screaming from this bunch he may be worth a second date.”

The mention of the word date made Justin realize the significance of what was about to happen. He was having his first real date, and it was going to be a circus with all these clowns. How poetic, his love life had been a cruel joke since his first night on Liberty Avenue. Would he ever get it right? He was suddenly glad Brian hadn’t shown up. Justin didn’t need any more complications. Brian was history, and he thought he could really like Ethan. The teen forced any negative thoughts from his mind. This was his birthday, the beginning of a new year and new opportunities. He was going to savor it.

“Who’s ready for cake?” he asked, standing to lead the way.

Vic eagerly cut his masterpiece, coconut cake, and waited for Justin’s critique. Of course he need not have worried. Despite being a human garbage can, Justin loved Vic’s desserts best. As Debbie served the plates, there was a knock at the door.

“It’s the strolling violinist,” Emmett said in a stage whisper.

Justin gave them a stern glance to stay put as he headed down the hall. He opened the door with a nervous smile and was accosted by a flying toddler. “Gus!” he managed to croak as the boy grabbed him in a chokehold. A stunned Brian stood in the doorway with empty outstretched arms that Gus had just used as a springboard.

Hearing their son’s excited babbling, his mother’s joined them at the door. Brian screwed up his face at Lindsay’s smug smile. “Which one of you stuck a quarter in him before you left? He destroyed the loft and I haven’t gotten any work done,” he complained.

His irritation was only rankled more by the sight of Gus and Justin happily snuggling each other. He envied Gus as the baby slobbered kisses all over Justin's face. “Jus Jus Jus Jus,” the boy chanted.

“Gus, Gus, Gus, Gus,” the teen mimicked and the baby giggled delightedly.

Jennifer joined them as well. “Brian--”

He reluctantly tore his eyes away from his babies. “I can’t stay,” the man said before she could ask him to leave. He knew he wasn’t welcome, but he had to come.

As hard as he tried to put the party out of his mind, Gus kept distracting him with hide and seek. No matter how many times Brian told him Justin wasn’t in the loft, the toddler continued to look for him thinking it was a game.

Now that he had done his good deed for the day, Brian could go back home and finish his presentation in peace. Despite the appearance of having given in to everyone who wanted him to show up, it was a small price to pay to avoid their continued visits to berate him for not showing at all. He could get his work done and enjoy the rest of his weekend alone. But ‘alone’ suddenly seemed so…lonely when a pair of sky blue eyes locked on his.

“You’re just in time for cake,” Justin said, finally finding his voice. He couldn’t believe Brian had actually come, although he suspected Lindsay had something to do with it. He willed his heartbeat to return to normal. It was just Brian. They would always be friends. Or friendly, since they shared the same friends.

Just as he had composed himself, Justin heard the door downstairs slam shut and his heart skipped a beat again. He waited to hear feet ascending the stairs but the footsteps echoed along the floor beneath them. The teen let out the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. It would be a fucking mess if Ethan showed up now. He silently wished Brian would just go back to whatever threesome he probably had planned for the night. No wonder he brought Gus over, he wouldn’t want to babysit when he could be out fucking.

Brian noticed the underlying tension in Justin’s demeanor. Obviously, the kid still didn’t want him around and that was fine with him, he didn’t want to be there anyway. “I have to get back to work,” he said, trying to keep his voice neutral.

“Surely you can stay for a bit,” Jennifer interjected. Brian looked at her and she forced a smile. She may not want him in a relationship with her son, but she couldn’t deny he would always be a part of his life. She resigned herself to being gracious about it.

Brian gave her marks for being ever cool under fire, he learned early on that Justin’s strength came from her. But he also knew her son’s telltale signs of discomfort and the teen’s hackles were raised. “I really can’t. I just came to deliver Sonny Boy for the party.”

Gus turned his attention back to his father at the sound of his name. “Dada,” Gus said as he patted Brian’s face.

Justin tried to disentangle himself from the toddler as the baby reached for Brian but still hung onto the beads around Justin’s neck. Since his neck was craned towards Brian he didn’t see Ethan come up the back stairs. “Justin.”

All eyes turned to the dark-haired man approaching. “Hi, Ethan,” Justin greeted him, struggling to remain unflustered.

“I forgot you said the second floor,” Ethan told him, explaining his surprise entrance from the back hall. He nodded to the four strangers. “Am I interrupting? I’m sorry, I should’ve called first.”

“No, it’s fine. The small family dinner turned out to be a surprise party. Welcome to the Bahamas,” he invited, ignoring any reaction Brian might’ve had to the theme. The King of Babylon contest was always a sore subject with the older man. One more thing they never talked about.

Ethan laughed, and Justin was charmed by its soft melody. “I wondered how my recital was the highlight of your day. I knew it was too good to be true that you would be free this evening.” He peered into the apartment and his eyes widened at the decorations. “That’s amazing. Is the limo downstairs for you too?”

“Limo?!?” Justin exclaimed.

“Yeah, one just pulled up as I was coming in.”

Justin sighed. “I wish.”

“That’s what birthday’s are for, baby,” Melanie said, cutting her eyes at Brian.

Justin suddenly remembered his manners. “Mom, this is Ethan Gold. Ethan, this is my mom, Jennifer Taylor, you remember Lindsay and Melanie from this afternoon, and…my friend, Brian.”

Ethan greeted each as they were introduced, and turned back to Justin. “And who is this little guy,” he asked, tickling the baby who shyly hid his face in Justin’s neck.

“This is my buddy, Gus.”

“Please come in, Ethan,” Jennifer offered. “You’re just in time for cake.”

“I don’t want to intrude,” he deferred politely.

“Not at all.” She stood aside and ushered him in.

Lindsay took Gus as she and Melanie followed, leaving Justin and Brian at the door. Justin shifted uncomfortably. “Are you sure you can’t stay?” he asked before he could stop himself. But what should he say? “You should see Emmett’s costume, and Vic made this great coconut cake, and there’s still plenty of food,” he babbled nervously. Jesus, that wasn’t helping.

Brian shook his head. He needed to get as far away from this freak show as fast as he could. He was barely holding it together as it was. Justin had a date with another man. Someone he had just met, but was obviously interested in enough to spend his birthday with.

Brian thought of the thick stack of travel brochures locked in his desk at the office. A month ago he had planned to surprise Justin with a summer trip to Italy for his birthday. The kid would be through his first year of college and deserved a long break after the shit he went through last summer. Brian anticipated being partner by then so he didn’t have any reservations about taking a decadent vacation himself. But that was a month ago. He made a mental note to have Cynthia throw all that shit out on Monday.

“Thanks for coming,” Justin said half-heartedly as Brian turned to leave. The teen watched for a moment as the man swaggered down the hall before closing the door. “Asshole,” he muttered.

Brian heard the door close behind him and the knot in his gut tightened a little more. Justin was on the other side of the door with someone else. What the fuck did he care for? He didn’t. Brian Kinney was not jealous of a fiddle-playing twink.

He offered Justin the best situation possible and the teen decided it wasn’t good enough. Ungrateful little fuck. Brian tried to protect the kid, but he’d just have to figure it out for himself. Eventually Justin would realize real life wasn’t a fairy tale and love was just another four-letter word. But Brian didn’t care anymore. He spent two years trying to teach the kid about life and Justin hadn’t learned a damned thing. When would he get it? After he’d been hit in the head a couple more times?

Brian wearily got into the jeep and headed towards Babylon. Fuck the party, fuck the fiddler and fuck work. He needed a drink, a bump, and a fuck, not necessarily in that order.