Zack knocked on the door to Douglas's office. Douglas was having a conversation with Susan and he was trying desperately not to give her "the look" even though the scent of her perfume had his head spinning. You're married, Douglas.
"Am I interrupting?"
Yes, but thank God.
"Not at all. Thanks for the tip, Douglas," Susan said.
Please don't out your hand on my shoulder. Susan put her hand on Douglas's shoulder and he fell apart. It took every ounce of his will power not to stare at her like a love struck schoolboy. "The look" was inevitable.
She left and Zack shut the door. He sat on the edge of Douglas's desk and flexed the muscles in his strong arms.
"How did your lunch with TJ go?"
"Pretty good. He's cute."
"So you like him?"
Zack was smiling.
"Yeah, I like him. But–ok–don't get mad–but I kind of have a crush on you too."
Douglas had not expected that and he could tell by the way Zack said it that he didn't expect it either. He looked both ashamed and guilty.
"I'm sorry."
Zack leaned in as close as Douglas would allow. Douglas patted him on the shoulder to show his sympathy.
"I get it."
"I saw. Have you two done anything?"
Douglas stayed quiet. Zack smirked.
"Please don't tell TJ."
"Cross my heart. I do like him. What did this Sean person break his heart?"
"I told you already. He's a conservative republican and won't allow himself to love a man."
Zack shakes his head. He puts a hand on Douglas's knee.
"TJ likes you."
That was true. TJ thought Zack was hot and didn't shut up about him leading up to their lunch date.
"He does?" Zack asked.
Douglas liked the spark of interest on Zack's handsome face. But it changed when Zack leaned in a bit too closely to ask, "Do you like me?"
Elaine Parrish entered her office and Douglas immediately got out of her desk chair and pulled his hand off Zack's shoulders in the process. Impeccable timing.
"We need to talk about a memorial for Garcetti," she said. She finally noticed the stranger in the room. "Who are you? How did you get in here?"
"I'm Zack. I'm trying to date your son, Madam Secretary."
Douglas's heart lodged in his throat. He wasn't sure if Zack was talking about himself or TJ and that made him sick to his stomach.
"Oh. You're gorgeous," she said turning red. Zack turned even redder. "TJ is going to really like you."
"Anyone is better than Sean Reeves," said Douglas.
"Well, Zack, you have my blessing to pursue my son. My rules are simple: no drugs, no night clubs and home by one every night or else."
Zack smiled. He ran a hand through his brown hair and showed off part of the Power Puff girls tattoo on his left bicep. Powerpuff Girls, are you twelve?
Douglas decided to walk Zack out and it occurred to him he had no idea how Zack got in the building in the first place.
"I told them I was TJ's boyfriend," Zack said as he stared at Douglas with dark eyes. He stroked Douglas's cheek for a long time. "I might have a crush on you, but I really like TJ. Don't give up on me."
"Alright," Douglas said. "I couldn't pick someone else now that my mom approves of you.
Zack grinned. He got a text from TJ and had to leave.
Douglas went back to his mother's office where she was just as puzzled about TJ's new suitor as she was about whatever problem was happening in the world.
"Where did you find him?"
"I did good, right?"
"Very good."
Anne stopped mid sex. She climbed off Douglas. "Ok. You have said Zack's name more times than you've said mine. We're done here."
"Sorry," said Douglas.
He had a tendency to shout out the name of the person who was on his mind last and by some blessed miracle he never once shouted out Susan.
"Do you want him to be TJ's boyfriend or yours?"
"TJ's obviously."
"What's going on between you two?"
"I'm helping him woo my brother."
Anne was skeptical. TJ has come first in their marriage so far and it was getting on her nerves.
Douglas knew he needed to help his brother, but not at the expense of losing his wife.
"I won't spend time with him anymore," Douglas said.
"Zack or TJ?"
"Zack. TJ is my brother. Don't force me to choose between you." You won't like my choice.
Anne shoved a pair of pants and his pillow at him and told him to get out for the night. He knew there was no arguing with her on this.
Douglas ended up at his mom's. Only TJ and Zack were awake, in their underwear and one of them was wearing a cape and a mask. Douglas didn't want to know.
"Dougie," said TJ reaching out to hug his brother.
"Anne and I had a fight can I crash here?"
"Yeah," TJ said. "Mom and grandma are sleeping but you can stay."
"Is there any alcohol?"
TJ shook his head. The house was as sober as TJ and their grandmother. There was not a drop in the house. Damn I should have brought some.
"Hey, should I go?" said Zack pecking TJ on the lips. There was chemistry there, Douglas could tell.
"Um. You can't leave it's your turn!"
"What the fuck are you doing?"
"I'm a Superhero and TJ is the naughty teacher whose life I just saved and he wants to thank me with his body."
"Sorry I asked."
And Zack hoisted TJ over his shoulders and carried him off to TJ's bedroom. Both men were laughing.
Douglas shook his head and made up a place for himself on the couch.
The morning rolled around and Zack was the first person saw when he woke up. The attractive mechanic was making pancakes in the kitchen.
"Your brother is wonderful," said Zack with stars in his eyes. "He's so much more fun than you."
"So you don't want to fuck me anymore?"
"No. I still want to fuck you."
Zack was straddling Douglas on the couch before he could think. He smelled like TJ.
"You're cute in the morning," said Zack as he pressed his forehead to Douglas's. "I noticed you never fight me off."
"It's too early for this."
Zack ran his fingers through Douglas's hair before he climbed off him.
"Please don't hurt my brother. If he falls for you while you're still crushed on me it will break his heart."
And the flirty playfulness was gone replaced with a more serious note.
"I have never cheated on anyone. The day TJ decides we're boyfriends then everything else is off the table. Do I have a crush on you? Yes. Is it gonna stop me from being what TJ needs? No. If he wants me he has me."
