Justin was slightly disappointed. Brian had managed to find a mostly clean shirt in his gym bag (in the back seat) to replace the cum-soaked one, so his chiseled physique was now fully covered.

Justin sighed softly. Then he busied himself with the radio, trying to find a channel with decent reception. So far he'd found a country station and one playing golden oldies, but Brian had given him a wilt-flowers glare both times. Justin had moved on. Little did Justin know that Brian had something else on his mind. He discovered this when Brian placed his hand over Justin's suddenly and turned the knob all the way to the left, silencing the static Justin had been wading through. Justin looked up in surprise. "Brian?"

Brian cleared his throat and seemed to be purposely keeping his eyes trained straight ahead. He asked, in a calm voice that belied the concern of his words, "What happens if we don't get our hands on this video? Or if somehow we missed one?"

Justin sat back in his seat and unconsciously started massaging one hand with the other. He couldn't keep the discomfort and fear out of his voice. "What?" This possibility was simply inconceivable to him.

Brian swallowed hard and glanced at Justin quickly before returning his eyes to the road ahead. "I don't think it will be an issue, but what if it is? We need a Plan B."

Justin nodded slowly but didn't respond. His eyes lost focus.

Brian gripped the wheel tighter. "Daphne seems to still be in love with you."

That got Justin's attention. He looked at Brian then, his eyes filled with confusion and fear. His response was quick and sharp. "What?"

Brian shrugged. "The way she talked to you … looked at you, especially when you were holding Kayla … it reminded me of how Lindsay was with me."

Justin huffed a laugh. "Was?"

Brian smiled. "Okay … the way Lindsay IS with me. If you told Daphne tomorrow that you were mistaken, that you AREN'T gay, she'd dump Kyle in two seconds."

Justin laughed. "His name is Kenneth."

"What the fuck ever. You get my point."

Justin shook his head incredulously. "I'm not sure I want to get your point. Where are you going with this?"

Brian sighed. "Look, she's put you in a crappy position. Without her approval, even if you were a pillar of the community, you'd still be shit out of luck when it comes to custody. You are the biological father, true, but she gave birth while married to someone else. Presumptive paternity goes to the husband. On top of that, you haven't been in Kayla's life at all."

Justin retorted defensively, "I never got the chance!"

"I know that, but the judge doesn't. Even if the judge DID know, he or she might not care."

Justin was quickly growing frustrated and was genuinely perplexed. "What are you suggesting?"

"Daphne has put you in an impossible situation. Misleading or omitting information isn't lying, NOT if the person makes you lie."

"Lie? About what?"

Brian didn't answer. But he turned his head. His eyes met Justin's. Justin recoiled in horror. "Wait … you're not suggesting that I tell Daphne I'm not gay, are you?"

Brian inclined his head slightly and looked back at the road.

"Brian, I CAN'T! I nearly DIED coming out of the closet. I'm NOT going back in."

"I'm not telling you to do that. I'm telling you to let her believe that what she's desperately hoping is true MIGHT be true. Tell her you're questioning. Give her a reason to tell Keith no."

Justin laughed in spite of himself. "It's Kenneth."

"Whatever."

"So what, I'm supposed to break up a marriage? According to her, she gets me to sign away my rights, or she's out on the street. Sounds like she's been a homemaker all this time. Entering the workforce with only a high school diploma is REALLY hard. I should know. I got lucky. We'd be liable."

Brian scoffed. "Liable?"

"According to the you-break-it-you-buy-it rule, we'd have to take care of both her and Kayla until Daphne got on her feet. BUT if I tell her I'm QUESTIONING, won't she be suspicious if you and I still live together? And what, are we going to put her and Kayla up in the living room?"

Brian's eyes widened. "Not the worst idea in the world. At least you'd get to see Kayla every day."

Justin laughed. Loud. "YOU would want to live under the same roof with a CHILD? AND my EX-GIRLFRIEND, who you're hoping I will lead on so that I can impose my will on her." Justin shook his head in incredulity. "The whole thing is an evil plot." Justin's eyes and tone were suddenly VERY serious, like he was discussing war. "We'd never be able to have sex."

That was the first objection to give Brian pause. But he shrugged it off. "She wouldn't be at the loft all day long every day."

"And how am I supposed to justify sleeping in the same bed with you? In the same apartment?"

"Tell her that Ethan put you in a bad position financially and that you don't have the money to leave right away. And that you're not sure yet you want to."

Justin narrowed his eyes and set his jaw. His pitch climbed with the increasing momentum of his questions. "You want me to tell her that … what? You're my sugar daddy? That I'm incapable of taking care of myself, let alone my daughter?" He abruptly turned away from Brian then, staring out the window, but seeing nothing.

Brian had not thought that particular nuance through. None of that was true, but apparently even pretending would be painful. Brian kicked himself inwardly. He should have known that would be the case. Justin's pride had taken a beating over the years. Brian had no idea what to say, but he knew he had to say something. He started, "Justin …"

Justin interrupted him, wheeling back around quickly and crossing his arms. He hissed, "Is that how you actually see me? As a dependent? As someone who's incapable of supporting myself? Being on my own? Maybe I should take your advice, but ALSO move out of the loft." Justin's eyes flashed in anger. He shrugged in an exaggerated manner. "THEN I wouldn't have to lie as much, RIGHT? And the best lies are the simplest. The closest to the truth."

Brian rolled his lips into his mouth, to prevent himself from reacting (vs. responding). Demanding that Justin stop being stupid or calling him a twat was unlikely to defuse the situation.

Justin prodded icily, "Well?"

"I don't see you as a dependent. I know you could support yourself, and if that's what you want, if you want to move out, I won't stop you."

Justin paled visibly.

Brian glanced at Justin. Noting his expression (horror), Brian cursed softly, "Fuck, Justin." He gripped the steering wheel harder. Brian's voice rose in both volume and pitch. "What the fuck do you want me to say?" Brian's voice suddenly had an edge to it. "Did I ASK you to leave? Did I ever COMPLAIN that you aren't pulling your weight?" He paused. When he continued, his voice was softer, but still full of annoyance. "I always say exactly what I mean. No more, no less. I don't want you to leave. I don't think you're insufficient." The edge returned. "But I'm not going to beg you to stay or kiss your ass to inflate your ego."

Justin stared at Brian with wide eyes for a long moment. Then he buried his face in his hands. When he re-emerged, he was flushed, and his ears tinged with pink. "I'm sorry. I don't want that. I like that you're honest with me, good or bad. It's just … my dad … Ethan." He looked at Brian helplessly. He really didn't want to elaborate. Instead, he reiterated, "I'm sorry."

Brian half-spoke, half-whispered, "Sorry is bullshit."

Justin's eyes widened. They held fear. Abject terror even. "What does that mean? That … the damage is done?"

Brian sighed and then huffed a laugh. He placed his hand on the back of Justin's neck and squeezed. "It means … shit happens. Whatever."

Justin breathed a sigh of relief … but it was half-hearted. He wasn't convinced everything was okay.

"Look, if you hate the idea, fuck it, never mind. It's only a Plan B anyway. You probably don't need one. I just … I saw how she looked at you. One whisper of a maybe and suddenly she'd be your greatest ally."

Justin narrowed his eyes. "What if we used your plan but altered it slightly?"

"How?"

"Get her to leave him, just not for me. For her."

Brian's eyes lost focus for a moment. "It could work, but that's a much harder sell. You'd have to convince her to risk her entire way of life for an unseen benefit down the road, one that may never materialize."

"Huhn." Justin stared at the road ahead for a minute, pondering. Out of nowhere, he asked, "Speaking of selling, what's your plan for getting the tape back from this guy?"

Brian looked genuinely puzzled. "What's MY plan? You were the one who was so determined to come along. I thought YOU had one."

Justin's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "What? ME? I don't have a plan!" He was in full panic mode.

Brian chuckled. "I'm just fucking with you. I have a plan."

Justin's body relaxed visibly. "What is it?"

Brian looked over at Justin and, while holding his eyes, replied – his tone all seriousness – "I'll fuck him." Then he looked back at the road.

"Wait, WHAT?"

Brian shrugged. "How do you think I got the rest back?"

"Brian, YOU DIDN'T!" Justin's eyes lost focus for a second. Then he turned back to Brian with narrowed eyes and suspicion in his voice. "You said you didn't want to tell me what you did to get the tapes back because it might make me complicit in a crime. Besides prostitution, what kind of sex is illegal?"

Brian smirked. In a drawl, he replied, "Wouldn't YOU like to know." He winked for good measure.

Justin burst out laughing. He laughed so hard he could barely breathe, let alone speak. The best he could manage was "YOU ASSHOLE!" When he got himself more under control and caught his breath, he elaborated, "I believed you. For a minute, I actually believed you."

Brian tsked. "That says A LOT about what you think of me."

"What?"

Brian managed to look offended. "You think I'm a liar and possibly also a prostitute. EVEN WORSE, you think I'd fuck trolls." Brian decided he didn't need to count Ethan's troll. So what if he'd contemplated fucking him in exchange for his testimony? He hadn't actually done it. His reputation for taste remained intact, if not his integrity.

Justin frowned. He looked truly repentant. He lay a hand on Brian's leg and squeezed. "I'm sorry. You said you'd be faithful. And you don't lie. I should never have doubted that …"

Brian chuckled. "Wow. Just wow. While we're at it, I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn …"

Justin gaped. Then he pinched Brian's nipple, causing him to laugh harder AND swerve into oncoming traffic. He quickly guided them back to safety. Justin laughed, too. He also exclaimed, "You are SUCH a dick!"

Brian widened his eyes and nodded.

Justin turned the radio back on and found the country station. It was playing Garth Brooks's The Dance. Justin smiled evilly and turned the volume all the way up. He then proceeded to sing along. Every word. And loudly, all the while making comically sad faces at Brian. "Looking back … on the memory of … the dance we shared underneath the stars above … for a moment, all the world was right … How could I have known that you'd ever say goodbye?"

Brian rolled his eyes.