Justin was at Torso working. Standing in the window display, redressing Rex and Spike. When he finished, he moved Spike, the tall brunet mannequin, to the left corner by the glass and faced him outward so that his back was to Rex, the shorter mannequin with blond hair. He seemed to be looking out at the passersby. Then Justin moved Rex to the opposite corner and turned him so that he seemed to be looking at Spike's back.

"Baby, whatcha doing?"

"Changing Rex's and Spike's ensemble, like you asked."

"I know but why did you put them so far apart?"

Justin shrugged. "It's more realistic this way."

"What do you mean?"

Well…Rex is in love with Spike and only has eyes for him, but Spike…he definitely likes Rex and maybe even loves him, but…"

"But?"

"But he's attracted to lots of guys. So Rex is gazing at Spike, and Spike is checking out the 'local talent.'"

"Local talent? Where did you hear that phrase?"

"In a dream. Brian said it. He and I were at a dance club. He was leaning up against the bar, 'scoping out the local talent,' he said…"

"And where were you?"

"Next to him. Until Brian went to dance with some brunet, a tall guy, real built."

"Then what did you do?"

"I watched them dance."

A cold lump formed in Emmett's belly. He couldn't bring himself to ask "And then?" As it turns out, he didn't need to say a word.

Still staring out at the street, Justin continued, his voice dull and lifeless, "Then Brian took the guy to the back of the club. And fucked him. Right there in front of a bunch of other guys. Right in front of me."

"Oh." Emmett was at a loss. He approached Justin slowly, and when he reached him, he squeezed his shoulder gently.

Justin's voice cracked. "Brian said he fell in love with me before the…incident. Yet he still…And right in front of me, too."

Emmett sighed.

"I think it was a memory." Justin wheeled around then, looking at Emmett with wide, hopeful eyes. "But…maybe I'm wrong. What do you think?"

Emmett hedged, "What did Brian say when you asked?"

Justin shook his head. "He's out of town. He left yesterday. But even if he were here, I'm not sure I would ask."

"Why?"

"I'm afraid of what he'll say. I don't want it to be true. We said weren't going to talk about the past. You know, just the present and the future. We decided that we'd let fate decide what I remembered, so, per our agreement, I could ask him about specific memories that come back, but…maybe I should just pretend that they're dreams. Nightmares. Try to forget. What's important is what we have now, right?"

Emmett stepped back, crossed his arms, and shook his head. "I…I'm in no position to give advice. Your situation is unique, and I'm not a psychologist."

Justin laughed, but it wasn't the warm laughter that usually bubbled up through his voice. "I promise I won't sue if you give me what ends up being bad advice."

Emmett uncrossed his arms and start fidgeting with Rex's shirt. The thin silvery material sparkled in the sunshine. He cleared his throat. "I think hurts from the past are like boils. They'll fester and then burst, spewing pus all over the present, your happiness." Emmett drew a shuddery breath. He didn't want to be having this conversation. "Maybe wrecking everything. Or preventing you from ever really being able to enjoy the present. Cause even if you pretend they aren't there, they are. And anytime you or someone else goes near 'em, you'll feel pain."

Justin looked away, back at the passersby, and shook his head. "How do I ask?"

"What do you mean?"

"How do I ask Brian how he could love me and yet choose someone else right in front of me? And then fuck that someone else where I could see? Who knows how many times…I mean…" Justin's voice broke again. "Who does that? And what's to stop him from doing it again? If I wasn't enough for him before…how can I be enough for him now?"

Emmett tread even more carefully now. "Have you talked about last year at all?"

"A little. The other night, when I ran out of Boitoi, it was because I remembered something."

"Oh?" Emmett was pretty sure he didn't want to know what Justin had remembered. In fact, Emmett didn't want to have been witness to the many, many times the old Brian had broken Justin's heart. He'd been happy for Justin when he saw Justin with the new Brian, with no bad memories to sully their simple joy.

"I remembered fucking that guy who hit on me. In an alley. I was so stupid." Justin was shaking his head. He laughed, a bitter laugh that sliced through the air, through Emmett. "I thought I'd cheated on Brian."

Emmett tried to even out his breathing. Tried to play dumb. "What did Brian say when you told him?"

"That we…we weren't monogamous at the time. That I…I hadn't done anything wrong."

"Did you talk about that?"

"What?"

Emmett slowed his breathing even more. Started rubbing his hands together. "Why you weren't monogamous…"

"Yeah. A little. I asked Brian why I would want anyone else…you know…" Emmett could hear unshed tears in Justin's voice now. "…because he's so beautiful and I'm in love with him. Then and now. He said…he said that it wasn't me who…" Justin's voice didn't just crack or break then. It shattered. "…wanted other men."

Emmett nodded slowly and looked down. But miraculously, he managed to keep his voice light, surprised. "Oh."

"I asked him whether he was all mine now."

A glimmer of hope. "What did he say?"

"Yes. He said yes. I thought that was all that mattered. I mean, we're together. It's just him and me. So I should be happy and secure…" Justin drew in a shuddery breath. "It's one thing to fuck other people, but in front of the person you love? That seems cruel. Brian told me that I wasn't the one who wanted us to have an open relationship…so he must have known that it would kill me…that just knowing he was fucking other people would kill me…but to see it." Justin shook his head, his voice desperate now. "That can't be right. I must've dreamed it wrong. Brian…he's been so sweet to me. I mean…he rented a French movie and made me dinner for our first date…and we danced. He holds my hand all the time in public…He worries about me. So much. And he…God this is going to sound dumb…but he…we…well, the sex isn't just sex. I know, I know, with every fiber of my being that he loves me. I know he loves me."

With that, Justin walked back into the shop proper. Emmett moved Spike back to where he'd been before. Only now, he turned him so that he was facing Rex. So that they were facing each other. He smiled a little. "Much better." Then he followed Justin out and shut the display case door.

Suddenly the phone rang. "Torso, Emmett speaking. How may I help you?" Emmett stiffened. "Oh. Hi." Emmett touched Justin's shoulder and mouthed, "Brian."

Justin looked down and bit his lip. Then he looked back up and smiled a little shyly, taking the phone. No matter what he'd dreamed, he still missed Brian like crazy. "Hello." Yesterday had been a beautiful day, but Justin'd ended up spending most of it in bed. He didn't understand. He'd been fine the last time Brian was away. He'd been full of energy. Finding a place and a job. Moving out of his parents' house. But all he'd done since Brian had left yesterday morning was think about him. Wonder what he was doing. Wonder whether Brian missed him. Fantasized about what they'd do when he got back.

"Afternoon, Kitten."

"I thought you were going to be in meetings all day."

"Turns out, I had a little time."

TBC…