Chapter Seven
Wes stood awkwardly outside as he waited for the two to finish their reunion, knowing there was no way he and Jeff could look at each other the same way again. Wes was one of the few people Jeff had told about his crush on Nick in high school. Wes had never told Nick about it because... Well, because it wasn't his business to. Jeff asked Wes not to tell back then, and Wes surely wasn't going to tell him just because they hadn't talked in six years... Besides, Wes wondered if Jeff was even strong enough to be with Nick now. Nick didn't just need a boyfriend—he needed someone to take care of him. For the most part, Nick was getting better, but Wes had seen from experience that Nick was very easily pulled back into his memories, and it hurt him deeply... Nick needed someone who would wake up in the middle of the night just to hold him, someone who would drop everything they were doing just to cheer him up... Was Jeff capable of that?
The former council member turned his head quickly as he heard the door open, and Jeff stepped out. "Hey... Uh, thanks, Wes... For not saying anything," he said, smiling a little. "I don't know how I would have handled seeing him with you if he knew how I felt." Wes swallowed hard and bit his lip. "Jeff, I—"
"Wes, you had no idea I was coming here... Hell, I didn't. And besides... Nick really likes you, and he needs you. We're cool." The blond held his hand out to Wes, who very slowly nodded and shook it. "Alright, Jeff... We'll see you again, won't we?" Wes asked, looking up into Jeff's eyes. Jeff let himself smile, nodding. "Yeah... I, uh... I guess all three of us are having dinner tomorrow before I leave the next day. I live in LA," he explained, turning away to walk off.
"Wait!" Wes called after him, stepping forward. "... I... Jeff, Nick's not well, and—" he began, but Jeff cut him off. "I know what he's been through. He told me... I still love him. Nothing could change how I feel about Nick," he said, turning to face Wes. "Nick is and always has been my everything, Wes... I'd do anything to make him better." With that, he turned and walked out of the theater, leaving Wes staring after him to think about what he'd said. When Wes turned to go into the dressing room and he saw Nick standing in the barely open door, his heart stopped. "N-Nick, did..?"
"I heard everything..."