"Why the hell didn't Matt just call my phone? Jay and Ren aren't even back yet from the hospital." I said, "Come on! He had to have found out and he was just way too mad to talk to either one of us."

"How would he find out, Jeff?" Adam asked, trying to keep his eyes on the road.

"I don't know. Maybe because neither one of us can take a shit without someone reporting it on social media somewhere...? I told him I was going to stay with a friend out here. I never said it was you, and I know Jay didn't tell him." I retorted. "I mean, think about it, though! Why else would he be around?"

"Well, why didn't you just tell him you were staying with me?" he asked.

"I didn't want to cause any problems until I knew I was going to be staying for sure."

"Why are you so sure he'd have a problem with it?"

"It wasn't him I was worried about. I was worried about the two of us having issues when I got there."

"So, what? You thought we'd end up fighting or something?" he asked, amused.

"No. Well, yes, but... we hadn't really hung out in almost a decade. We might have changed too much, maybe didn't mesh well anymore." I said, "But, no, that's not why I wasn't sure I would be here long."

"Well, what was it then?" he asked.

I sighed, and answered, "I thought you'd realize that two people to take care of constantly is way too much of a burden and want me to leave. That maybe you'd rushed into your offer without fully understanding the ramifications."

He grabbed my hand and said, "Hey, I had an hour long drive on the way to that hospital. I thought of every scenario, everything that might happen... trust me. But I don't think there's anything that would have told me it was a bad idea. Besides, it wasn't about me, Jeff! This was all for you."

That definitely brought a small hint of relief to my thoughts, which were going about ten miles a second. I just didn't understand it... Why was Matt there!? I knew he and Adam had their problems, but they'd both assured me that things were better. But, for all I knew, Matt might absolutely hate me being so close with Adam again... Just because they reached some form of cordiality, didn't mean that it was necessarily friendship again. And it could mean that he wouldn't be thrilled with a friendship between Adam and I again either, let alone a relationship. For all I knew, he could still hate Adam's guts and he was just trying to be professional.

When we reached Adam's place, Matt was sitting on the front porch. I was trying to read his face for any sign of what he was feeling, but I really couldn't tell. Which was weird in itself. I always knew what he was thinking.

He had put the car in park, but neither one of us had made a move to exit the vehicle. I was wondering if he was scared, because I sure was. Matt was hardly ever mad at me.

"So, how do you want to handle this?" he asked, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, nervously.

"Let's just see what this is about, first. Maybe we're freaking out over nothing."

"Yeah, you're probably right. Let's go." he said, exhaling sharply, before adding, "God, I hope the car doesn't smell like a brothel."

I barely got out a greeting, before Matt cut me off. "Go inside, Jeffery. I need to have a chat with Mr. Copeland here."

"What are you...?" I began, but I was quickly cut off.

"Inside, Jeff!"

"Hey, don't talk to him like he's a fucking dog, okay? Now, what's going on, Mr. Hardy?"

I didn't know whether to stay or go inside. If I did either, I'd have one of them irritated at me. Also, I did want to know what all of this was about, but based on Matt's mood right now, I think it'd be pretty safe to say that he knew about Adam and I. How was the question? He and I thought that we'd been safe at the hospital, but maybe one of the staff snapped a picture of us holding hands or something...? It was the only scenario I thought was possible.

Adam gave me a nod to go inside, sensing that Matt wouldn't continue until I did, but as soon as the door closed behind me, I heard yelling. It was hard to make out the words, yet I knew exactly what was being said. I had to be sure though, so I went over to the door and cracked it, slightly.

"After all of that shit with Amy all those years ago... I thought things were finally okay between you and I again." Matt said, "Now, I find out you're with my brother? I mean, do you get some sick high off of torturing me or something? I mean, how... how could you...?"

"Dude, it has nothing to do with you, or whatever conspiracy you think I have plotted against you. What has developed between me and him was not my intention when I asked him to live here. He's going through a lot. He needed some help. And despite what you believe, I do care a lot about him."

"You don't care about him. You like being needed, being relied on. You crave being the center of someone's universe, that's all."

"Hey! I'm not 'Edge' anymore, okay!? That's not me!"

"You better prove that. Not just to me. To him too." Matt started, "Because I know exactly what 'Edge's' intentions would be. So... what are Adam's?"

"Adam wasn't a factor in it. I wanted Jeff to meet my cousin. I thought she could help him." he said.

"What would she help him with?" Matt asked with an exasperated sigh. He obviously wasn't believing anything Adam was saying, although I doubt he would at this point. Matt was going to see him as the enemy no matter what at the moment and anything he did was just some strategic tactic to get into my pants.

That's when I heard her voice coming from behind them. I guess Ren and Jay had just gotten back from the hospital and caught the guys' argument while walking up the driveway. I had opened the door to check and saw them both walking toward Matt, slowly. Jay was holding her hand and guiding her with his other on the small of her back, making sure she was stable as she moved gingerly.

"Because I'm epileptic; I have seizures too. So I know how it feels. How much scarier the first ones are. How your whole life gets turned upside down and now there are all of these restrictions and red tape. How everyone starts treating you like you're fragile... or some kind of obligation." she said, "I'm sorry this has upset you, but Jeff needs someone like me right now, because I'm the only one who understands."

Matt looked like he had relaxed at what she had said. Everyone stood quietly for a few seconds before he spoke, "Okay, I get that. I understand why you brought him here, but it still doesn't mean I have to be okay with your little relationship. But... I also know the one thing that'll never change about Jeff is he's going to do whatever the hell he wants. And apparently, that's being here with you right now. But I swear to god, Adam... if you hurt him..."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You'll kick my ass. I've heard the spiel." he said, "One question though, I have to ask... How did you find out?"

Matt pulled out his phone and handed it over to Adam, "Someone posted that a couple of days ago on the network. You two, leaving the hospital... you're carrying his bags... you can already see it. Plus, I know that look on Jeff's face."

There was something sad in his tone that I noticed and Adam had too. I think Matt was scared that I wouldn't need him anymore, even though that would never happen. He was my best friend... my brother! He knew more about me than anyone. In fact, he was the first person I told about my crush on Adam, twenty some-odd years ago!

Yet, I've been in a bunch of relationships before, so what was different about this one? I guess it was because after every problem I had in the past, I never ran to my boyfriend for help, I ran to Matt. And this time, I didn't have to run to anyone. I was offered help and support without asking for it. But, in retrospect, I never really had to ask Matt either. He always just knew and did it. Fixed the problem before I could even begin to think about how. It's like he always knew what was happening in my life even before I did...

Oh, man! I am a dumbass! That's why he was so mad! Because he found out about our relationship from a picture on the internet, not from me. It had to be pretty upsetting. I know I wasn't exactly thrilled when I found out about his relationship a year ago, a whole three months after it had started. In fact, I'd reacted pretty much the same way he did.

I decided then to step outside and I said, "I should have been the one to tell you. I'm so sorry, Matty. I didn't think it would be public already." I walked closer to Adam, and he smiled and reached out to put his arm around my waist. I placed my hand on his chest and continued, "You have to understand why I didn't, though... when you first got with Shane, did you tell me? No! Neither of you did. You both hid it for months... this has only been a few days! And, apparently, just like you and him, everyone has seen me and Adam happening since forever... except us."

Matt had to get it then. Him and his boyfriend were currently in an intense relationship that had been brewing since they were teenagers. Shane had the misfortune of growing up in a strict religious household that definitively believed that you'd go to hell if you were gay, and that had postponed him coming to terms with his sexuality for a long, long time. Let alone accept his feelings for Matt. But it was over a year later now, and they were going on strong, more in love than I had ever seen any two people.

He walked up to us and put his hand on the back of my head, looking me dead in the eyes, "Do you swear to god that this is what you want?"

I looked to Adam and back to Matt, with a smile, "More than anything."

"Alright. Well... I hope he makes you happy and I don't have to come back here and whoop his ass. 'Cuz you know I love you, brother." Matt said.

"I love you too." I replied, feeling like a weight had fallen off of my shoulders. I knew Matt would take some time to adjust to the idea, but hopefully someday he'd see just how right this was for me. How right Adam is for me.

He hugged me, before he asked, "Well, does someone want to walk me out of here?"

Adam agreed and they started walking down the driveway. Matt said, "You know, when I saw that picture, it wasn't just Jeff that told me what was going on. I could see it all over your face too... You love him."

Adam scoffed, unconvincingly, "I wouldn't go that far yet. Jesus, it's only been a few days!"

"Well, whether or not you realize it yet, you do. That's why I needed to make sure that he was safe. I couldn't just call; I needed to see it for myself."

"Well, he's lucky to have a brother who still loves him so much. Coming all the way down here just to check on his well-being." Adam replied, as they neared Matt's rental car. "But there's something I've been wondering... I meant to ask earlier. Matt, how'd you get my gate code?"