One Year

Prologue

 

Justin quietly slipped from the bed as the morning’s first light rose over the horizon. He knew Brian wouldn’t try to stop him even if he was awake, but walking away from the man was hard enough, he didn’t want to see the hazel eyes watching him leave.

The younger man quickly dressed, carefully averting his eyes from the nude man on the bed. He didn’t need to look. He picked up his sketchpad and quickly flipped through the drawings he’d made of Brian over the last few days. The young artist tore out a page and left it on the bed next to the other man. Fighting the urge to touch Brian one last time, Justin let himself out of the room.

He leaned against the closed door, summoning the strength necessary to cross the hallway and get on the elevator that would take him to the lobby and the cab outside. One foot in front of the other he slowly made his way, fighting back the tears that threatened to overwhelm him with each step. He couldn’t believe he’d fallen so hard for a man he’d only known for two weeks.

Two weeks ago he’d just made a commitment to someone else and they were on their ‘honeymoon’ cruise. He laughed bitterly at the memory of his former partner. Who knew catching Ethan cheating on him would’ve led to this? Two days later he’d jumped ship and was on a beach with Brian.

It was unfuckingbelievable. But now, he had to return home and decide what to do with his future. A future he hoped would include Brian someday. But not today.

"The airport, please," Justin instructed the cab driver. He leaned back into the seat and stared through watery eyes at the cowry shell bracelet on his wrist.

 

***
 

Brian’s eyes opened when he heard the door click shut behind the blonde. He’d been awake since Justin had pulled away from him, but he knew he couldn’t let him know. The younger man snuck out to avoid saying good-bye, just as Brian knew he would. They had said everything they needed to with the last kiss before drifting to sleep a few hours before.

Brian reached over for the drawing, knowing which one it was before he even looked at it. Placing it safely on the nightstand, he sat up and reached for his cigarettes. He’d promised Justin he’d quit within the next year, but not today.

He had promised.

Unlike when they agreed to meet back at the hotel in one year. He hadn’t allowed either one of them to make a promise they might not want to keep in the coming months. If anything changed, they’d just remember their time together, no apologies, no regrets.

Justin was so much younger, and so naïve. At least that’s what Brian had thought. All the while the older man had been pushing the artist away, urging him to take the year to sort out his life, Justin had seen right through him. The blonde knew Brian needed the time as well. The older man had never developed any feelings for a trick before and he had to decide if he was willing to change his lifestyle for another man.

He walked over to the window and saw the blonde head disappear into a cab before it pulled away.

"Happy New Year, baby," he whispered, "have a good one."

Brian watched the car until it was out of sight, absently rubbing his wrist. He was still unaccustomed to the bare skin that had been adorned for so long.

 

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