Now, Brian needed to produce his 'fiancé.' Problem was, he didn't have one. Not even a pretend fiancé. Thankfully, he'd been very vague about him when speaking with the writer for Out. He hadn't even had anyone in mind. Well, he'd been thinking about Justin. So he described someone who wasn't much different. An artist of sorts. Wise beyond his years. Kind and beautiful. Passionate. He hadn't given a name or a description. He'd promised to give the writer more information after he'd asked his fiancé if it was alright.

Brian had no shortage of admirers. But he couldn't ask anyone who frequented the clubs. He couldn't risk picking someone Emmett, Ted, Michael, Ben, or Justin had fucked. The solution ended up falling right into his lap. Brian was walking a client out of Kinnetik, when his eyes lighted on a very hot red head with blue-grey eyes. His hair was medium length, almost reaching his shoulders. When the client nodded at the young man, Brian asked who he was. Turns out, that was the client's gay son. He had been away at film school, but, having graduated, he was now back home. So the client introduced him.

"Brian, this is my son, Timothy."

Timothy just nodded in Brian's direction, but his eyes had widened a bit, and he looked slightly ruffled. Brian knew he'd found his man.

*****

Justin caught Brian's eye the moment the door opened. As much as he wanted to scrutinize the fiancé, he couldn't break eye contact with Brian. In that look, Justin tried to convey all his love and desire. He felt certain that he had succeeded, for Brian dropped his guard momentarily. In that moment, Justin perceived Brian's own love and desire. That inadvertent display solidified his resolve. When he saw Brian's companion, he felt sure that he would need all the strength that that look had granted him. The young man was beautiful.

Brian's eyes widened in shock. Only for a moment. But Timothy, ever the observer, noticed and followed the direction of his gaze. Brian was staring at a beautiful blond boy. Justin. Timothy recognized him from the picture on Brian's desk at the loft. Timothy thought, "Well, this is the person were putting on the show for" and grabbed Brian's face gently with both hands. Then, he kissed him.

Brian was so stunned that, at first, he kissed the young man back, but, then, he pulled away abruptly. At the thought that Justin had seen the kiss, he felt uncomfortable (fearing that Justin might think Brian was in love with Timothy) and angry (at the thought that Justin might feel, most likely felt, hurt). He wanted desperately to push Timothy away and explain to Justin, but he knew that he could not. Brian felt like laughing. Once upon a time, his reticence would have been the product of pride. Just one of the many reasons he wasn't good enough for Justin. Brian wanted to be angry with Timothy, was angry with him, but he knew he should not be. Since Brian had had no clue that Justin would be at dinner, Brian had not prepared Timothy as well as he would have had he known. Timothy's mistake had been just that. He had no idea of the betrayal contained in a simple kiss.

Brian laughed as light-heartedly as he could manage and took Timothy by the hand, pulling him further inside Deb's house.

*****

Brian was standing on Deb's back porch smoking. He heard a noise and without even looking, he knew it was Justin.

Justin said, "Hi Brian."

Brian turned slowly, but didn't reply.

Justin continued softly, "Congratulations."

Brian quirked an eyebrow. "Congratulations?" he asked.

Justin laughed, that beautiful laugh. "Uh, on your engagement."

Brian nodded and looked down. "Of course. The engagement. Thanks."

Justin smiled brightly. "He's hot. Must be an amazing fuck."

Brian didn't reply. He couldn't meet Justin's eyes. He turned toward the back yard.

Then, more softly, Justin said, "He's beautiful. I'm really happy for you."

By the time Brian turned to look back at Justin, Justin was gone. Brian followed.

When Brian and Justin rejoined the others, they heard Daphne say to Timothy, "You and Brian should double date with Justin. I've been planning to set him up with someone from school. He's a couple of years ahead of me in the medical program. He's going to be a surgeon someday soon."

"That sounds great. Just let us know when."

Justin smiled brightly at Brian and Timothy. Brian smiled weakly in return (causing Justin to smile even brighter). Brian groaned inwardly. A double date of any kind topped his list of things never to do, but double dating with Justin, when they weren't together, would be absolute torture.

*****

Brian had never been so relieved to be home before. He took off his jacket and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.

Then he turned to face Timothy. He asked quietly, "The kiss. Why did you do that? That wasn't in our agreement."

Timothy asked incredulously, "So…you're just going to send him on his merry way, while you remain alone pining for him."

Brian stated emphatically, "Brian Kinney does NOT pine."

Timothy laughed and replied, a hint of amusement remaining in his voice, "You said yourself that you don't go out anymore."

Brian explained somewhat defensively, "Well, I've already had most of the gay men in Pittsburgh, and some of the straight ones, too."

Timothy stated boldly, "I want to throw my hat in the ring."

Brian raised an eyebrow. "Throw your hat in the ring?"

Timothy smiled, "I like you, and I think you like me. Who knows? In time, our feelings may deepen. I'm not stupid or cruel. I know that you've only ever been in love with Justin and that he's the only person you've ever considered committing to. But you've decided that he's better off with someone else. I can't even imagine how much it must hurt to push him away…"

Brian swallowed hard and turned away.

Timothy paused for a moment, but then continued, "You deserve a happy ending, too. I could be that for you. Even if I'm not, it doesn't matter. My competing for your affections would only make 'our engagement' appear more real. That's what you want, isn't it? To fool Justin into thinking that you've moved on?"

Brian's voice broke as he answered, "Yes."

Timothy approached Brian and responded brightly, "Well, then, it's a win-win situation for you."

Brian turned around. He replied, "Okay. But no more kissing. Maybe when Justin has found someone new, but now, it just feels wrong."

Timothy nodded. He said softly, "Fair enough."

****

About an hour after Timothy left, Brian heard a knock at the door. Brian was shocked to discover that it was Justin. He was soaking wet. Brian hadn't even realized that it was raining. He couldn't help but stare at Justin's nipples, which were erect from the cold and jutting out quite obviously through his white shirt.

Justin laughed when he saw what Brian was looking at. He asked, "So can I trouble you for a towel and dry clothes?"

Brian muttered, "Uh sure."

Justin just blinked as he stared at the man.

Brian shook his head and laughed. "I guess it would help if I moved so you could come in."

As Brian was sliding the loft door closed, he wondered how he should feel, what he should do. Obsessed with guiding, or pushing, Justin in the right direction, he hadn't really thought too much about how Justin would react to the engagement announcement. He'd hoped that Justin would stay in New York. Had he hoped that? Or had he just assumed that he would? Justin of their later years would have. He was so used to being disappointed, by Brian, by life, that he rarely fought for what he wanted anymore. In his personal life anyway. It was as though he'd turned all his energy, all his persistence, into fighting injustice. But personally, he just accepted things as they were, allowing himself to be tossed around like a small boat on rough seas. After Justin and Ethan had broken up, it took Justin a month to work up the nerve to fight for what he wanted. Even then, at the crucial moment, he had hesitated. When Brian had tossed Justin out after he learned that Justin knew about the cancer, it'd taken Mikey's prodding to get him to come back. When Brian had lied about the race, Justin had dutifully gone to California instead of calling him on his manipulation. When Brian had started to revert back to his year one behavior, Justin had simply left. When Brian had declared his love, Justin had expected nothing to change. When Brian had pushed Justin to go to New York, he had put up little resistance. And when he'd broken up with Justin two months ago, Justin had sighed in resignation and said nothing.

What Brian actually hoped, deep, deep down, was that Justin would come home to reclaim him. Had he? Just like when Brian pushed Justin to go to California and New York, when he'd broken up with him, he was now doing what he felt he should do, but what he really wanted was Justin to tell him that he was wrong. That all he really needed was a place with good lighting and Brian.

Brian's eyes nearly popped out of his head when he turned around and caught sight of Justin standing in the middle of the living room. Naked. Raindrops rolled gently down his arms, his chest, his legs, making his skin glisten. Despite the cold, Justin's cock was starting to harden.

Brian ran the fingers of his right hand through his chestnut hair, which was now damp with sweat. Resisting the urge to rim Justin into a puddle and fuck him into next week would take the self-control of a saint. This was going to be a long night.