Brian had been to Summerhaven Country Club exactly three times previous to attending Daniel Chander's wedding. All three times were to the golf course for work related schmoozing with people who had no idea he was gay. He came, he golfed, he ate lunch in the outdoor café area and he left as soon as he possibly could. He always imagined someday he might be required to dine formally inside the inner sanctuary of the church of Pittsburgh's suburban elite but he certainly never considered he would be here voluntarily, on a date…let alone with a woman. The humor of the situation was not lost on him, so he laughed to himself as Justin opened the door for him, Eric and Daphne but only Justin noticed and understood his amused expression.
To Justin, the evening had already gotten off to a weird start. Daphne hogged the bathroom so he was later than normal at getting ready and, despite what she thought, he didn't just tumble out of bed looking put together add to that the fact Brian was going to be there, and he needed to look better than ever. He had managed to borrow a nicer suit from Liam, who thankfully was about his size, and had a better sense of fashion. The suit wasn't a perfect fit but it was much closer than his interview suit and he felt better in it. He was going to need all the self-confidence he could muster to deal with his trio of companions, a crazed homophobic crowd and if things really went sideways, his parents, who he imagined the Chander's might have invited. His delay in the bathroom meant that Brian arrived before he and Eric had left so Eric and Brian were left unsupervised waiting for them to finish getting ready together. Although most people would fault him for complaining, it was truly a cringe-worthy uncomfortable moment leaving with Eric when it was clear all three wanted to be with him. Thankfully, Daphne had the foresight to suggest they all travel in one car.
Daphne was supposed to walk in and sit with her parents, and since Brian was a last-minute addition, he joined Eric and Justin for the ceremony. Justin was pretty stoic, his body language making it clear that he wasn't interested in holding hands or being touched at all. It only bothered Brian because he wasn't sure if it was out of respect for Eric, their environment, or just because he didn't want Brian to touch him. He hoped it wasn't the latter.
Prior to the ceremony, a number of familiar acquaintances that either knew him as Daphne's roommate or Jennifer and Craig Taylor's son approached Justin. Justin chatted easily, preferring to introduce Eric and Brian just by their first names only when it would seem rude not to introduce them at all. One guest made a comment about him and Eric making a "handsome couple" which Justin didn't correct the first time but he noticed Brian's smile fade considerably so the next time someone asked him when he and Eric were getting married, he politely told them that their relationship had ended and they were still friends.
It took all of Brian's self-control to not wrap his arms possessively around Justin and bark at the next person who approached that he was Justin's boyfriend. A label he never imagined being comfortable with, let alone yearning for someone else to use it while introducing him to strangers. Justin's eyes went wide and his mood went from stoic to brooding upon seeing his father with his new wife, Tricia, enter the hall. If Craig was there, his mother wasn't likely coming; she hated getting the "first wife pity stares" as she called them. His father started to approach him, he was certain only to maintain appearances, but a few steps from speaking distance the music changed signaling the start of the ceremony. Tricia and Craig took seats a few rows in front of them as the grandparents of the bride and groom, Daniel's parent and Michelle's mother were seated by dapper young men in tuxes serving as ushers.
"Ok?" Eric whispered to Justin to which he responded with a barely perceptible smile and nod. Eric leaned back in his chair so he was behind Justin's view and mouthed "his dad" to Brian so he would know what was going on. Brian nodded in acknowledgement, thankful that Justin's mood swing wasn't because of him but irritated that Eric was there and knew Justin so well. It was illogical and he knew it but still it crushed him a little to see Justin upset and to not know how to help. He placed a hand on Justin leg as a reassuring gesture and left it there unacknowledged throughout the ceremony.
Once the formality of the "I do's" were over, the guests were escorted into the reception area and waited for the family pictures to be taken. Seeing the Daphne was going to be occupied for a while and knowing that he for all practical purposes the third wheel, Eric made himself scarce at the bar chatting with one of his former student's parents who happened to be friends with Michelle. Justin sat at his assigned table with Brian and tried to force a smile while they had dinner and witnessed the traditional wedding dances and listened to the speeches. He debated on just saying hello to his father and getting it over with but part of him really just wanted his dad to make the first move.
"Hey, you all right?" Brian asked, growing a bit uncomfortable and bored with Justin's silent contemplation.
Justin looked into Brian's eyes and felt instantly guilty. Here Daphne had dragged Brian along and then basically handed him to Justin only instead of taking the opportunity to enjoy their time together, he was pouting like an immature child. "Grrr….I'm sorry. It's just seeing my dad puts me in a bad place. I've been a lousy date."
"True, but that's more because your actual date left so you could be alone with me."
Justin laughed with a real smile this time. "I hope it's not too weird for you, with Eric here. I'm glad you came but having my ex here is a bit distracting. I keep thinking you're going to start comparing notes on me."
Brian smiled sheepishly and nodded with a telling pause.
"Oh God" Justin huffed, "You were comparing notes?"
"Not exactly, but he did sort of giving me a few pointers when you blew me off." Brian admitted, "Nothing too personal, just a few do's and don'ts. Although…."
"…oh fuck, what did he say? I am so embarrassed."
"No, don't be. Let's say he gave you a strong recommendation."
"Huh? Like as a boyfriend?" Justin asked confused.
"Not exactly, more as a lover. Of course, I didn't need second-hand confirmation on that now did I?" Brian teased, leaning in and kissing Justin's nose.
"Ahemmm" Craig cleared his throat while hovering behind Justin and Brian, "Do you think that sort of thing is appropriate, Justin?" he hushed.
"It's not like we were fuc….." Brian began protesting only to have Justin respond over him, "It was just a kiss Dad."
"Well, don't you think your boyfriend will be upset? We don't need a dramatic scene ruining the wedding."
"Dad, Eric and I broke up not that he would cause a scene regardless. He's by the bar if you want to say hello."
"You broke up? Does that mean you've finally come to your senses?"
"Yes, he has. Now he's dating a much hotter man." Brian interrupted with a spiteful tone. "Brian Kinney, Justin's new lover, pleasure to meet you Mr. Taylor."
"Wha, huh, um, well" Craig stumbled looking at his son for some sign this older man was joking, "You can't be serious?"
Justin smirked at Brian's use of the word lover, knowing it was going to make his dad all kinds of uncomfortable, "Dad, this is my, um, this is Brian. Brian, my dad, Craig Taylor."
"Justin, do you really think he's age appropriate for you?" Craig asked as his new wife approached from behind.
"Brian, Brian Kinney?" Tricia gushed. "What a small world running into you here. Honey, have you met Brian, we went to college together."
Justin looked at Brian and burst into laughter. He had never seen his father so mortified. It turns out Tricia was just a year older than Brian and his dad's "age appropriate" comment revealed just how hypocritical his father was something he always seemed to forget when longing for his approval. The timing couldn't have been more perfect and it lifted his entire mood considerably.
"Justin, do you want to dance?" Brian asked, wishing Craig and Tricia a pleasant evening.
Justin was still giggling when Brian wrapped him in his arms and escorted him to the dance floor as Eric Clapton's The Way You Look Tonight began to play. They swayed to the music, keeping a respectable distance and chatted softly. "By the way, you do look amazing in that suit" Justin whispered.
Brian pulled back so he could look at Justin's face and smiled, "Thanks. You look stunning as well. Daphne would be proud, you're outshining the bride."
The song ended and Brian took Justin's hand to lead them back towards the table. "Do you want to get out of here?" Justin asked, pulling backwards on his hand to slow their movement.
"Sure, but what about Daphne and Eric?" Brian reminded him for God knows what reason, oh yeah, they came in one car.
Justin hunted around for Daphne finding her dancing with Tom. He winked at her and she winked back which met she was fine and he was free to leave. Then he sought out Eric. "Give me a minute."
Brian nodded and Justin went off to find Eric who was still drinking at the bar. "Eric, hey, there you are."
"Hey Jussy" he slurred, his eyes half-lidded and his balance slightly off.
Oh God, Jussy meant Eric was already too drunk to drive. Eric only called him that when he was hammered. "Hey there. Feeling pretty good are we?"
"I leave you two alone so I drink by myself you go be fine" Eric muttered in one breath.
"Fuck" Justin sighed, "Let's get you home, okay? Where are your keys?"
"Inmypocket" he winked, well sort of wink since his eyelids were feeling pretty heavy and uncooperative, it was probably more of a blink with a knowing smile. "you gonna dig him out? Iwannahave a piececake". With that Eric picked up a knife from over the bar and started shuffling precariously close to the still unsliced cake.
"Oh God" Justin sighed, "Daniel is going to kill me if I don't get you out of here". He caught up with Eric in two steps and redirected him back over to Brian, "C'mon buddy, Brian and I will get you some cake on the way home."
Eric stopped walking and looked at Justin like he had something important to say, "Jussy, you really like him don't you, better than me?"
"Eric, we can't talk here. Let's just get you home, okay?"
Justin walked Eric over towards Brian who looked concerned more than mad at the state of him. "I don't know where his keys are. Can you check his pockets while I hold him up?"
"I think maybe we should get him out of the ballroom, Michelle is watching." Brian suggested gesturing to a very unhappy looking bride.
"There's a room upstairs, it should be empty this time a night. Help me get him to the elevator."
Brian and Justin walked a very inebriated Eric out of the view of the bride and into the elevator. "So how do you know this place will be empty?"
"I use to come here all the time as a teen. Daphne and I explored every possible way to avoid cotillion classes. My dad always thought we were sneaking off to make out so he never said anything to my mom. I think it helped him believe I was straight a little longer. By the way, thanks for what you said to my dad earlier. I'm pretty sure he's going to have nightmares imagining all the gay sex I'm having with my new, older lover."
"Goddamnyou'rehot" Eric mumbled in one breath while running his hand over Brian's chest. Brian arched an eyebrow at Jusitn, unsure if it would bother him but he shrugged it off.
"I've never seen him this bad" Justin explained, laughing. Brian briefly entertained a threesome that included Eric but by the time the elevator opened, Eric was practically asleep against Brian's chest.
"C'mon Eric. Let's let you lie down." Justin led the way to the lifeguard staff break room that he knew would be empty this late at night. It had some couches in it and he figured Eric could sleep it off a bit and then they would take him home.
"Is he always like this when he drinks?" Brian laughed, heaving Eric's upper body onto the couch while Justin lifted his legs up, trying not to wake him. They both sank down to the floor in front of the couch.
"He's a bit of a lush when he drinks but I guess we always just fucked so, you know, it was like foreplay. Although now, I think he might want you more than me." Justin sighed in mock exasperation, "Sorry about all this. I feel like this night was kind of a disaster."
"I got to spend it with you, so not a total loss"
Justin smiled nervously now fully aware of how close Brian was sitting to him. His knee's drawn up, with one brushing against his own. If it wasn't for Eric's loud snoring, it would have been romantic.
"Will you please kiss me already?" Justin asked sweetly.
Brian smiled, "for the record, you never have to ask that" he leaned over and brushed their lips together, teasing at first, hovering just a fraction of an inch from full contact until Justin pushed into him and their tongues became reacquainted.
"God" Justin whispered breathlessly as they finally pulled away for air, "you are really fucking good at that."
"Thanks" Brian smiled, running his thumb over Justin's swollen lips and down over his Adam's apple. "I've been wanting to do that all night."
"Why didn't you?" Justin sighed disappointed.
Brian stared a little, a look of longing built over the evening radiating from his hazel eyes. "I wasn't sure you wanted me to, I wasn't sure how you felt about PDA in front of a room full of hetero's including your father."
"Yeah, I guess I am not entirely comfortable here. This place, I was so tormented in this place. I hate being here."
"Tormented?" Brian questioned, imagining the worse.
"Just the usual, called names, bullied, tripped, pushed. All the kids who I went to school with hung out here in the summer. I never wanted to be here but my dad, he would golf and my mom would, well lunch, and they made me come to keep an eye on my sister."
Brian nodded sympathetically. "Yeah, Mikey was always putting up with that kind of shit."
"But not you?" Justin questioned.
"No, I wasn't out in high school and playing soccer kept me mostly out of the crosshairs of the assholes."
Justin nodded, "So no boyfriends then either? Did you and Mikey ever…"
"No, just some innocent exploration. Mikey's like a brother to me, he would have liked more at one time but it was never more for me." Brian explained, with some fondness for his memories of him and Mikey's ill-spent youth, "He's happy now. Ben is perfect for him."
"Do you think he will move back now that Pennsylvania has marriage equality?"
Brian shook his head. The truth was, his best friend was really happy in Canada and without Deb here, he didn't see any reason for him to return. The kids were thriving; they had Linds and Mel nearby, why would he?
Justin was happy to have a real conversation with Brian again but he was starting to worry that his weighty mood was contagious as Brian became a bit too contemplative. Justin stood up and walked over to the CD player sitting on the table thinking that music might lift their spirits and get the evening back on track. Seeing nothing to his taste he pressed play on the CD player only to hear Michael Buble's Save the Last Dance for Me. It was a bit cheesy but it seemed to have the desired effect as Brian came up from behind him and wrapped him up in his arms and kissed his neck. The spot he chose to kiss caused the hairs on the back of his neck to stand up and goosebumps to cover his arms.
"Dance with me" Brian whispered and pulled Justin away from the radio. Alone they could dance like he wanted to, without inhibitions, without judgmental eyes. Justin melted into him and it felt wonderful. Brian had much stronger ballroom skills that Justin anticipated and he quickly adapted to his lead. Their suits were restrictive and Justin removed Brian's jacket and tossed it on the couch and then let Brian remove his. When the song ended, Justin barely noticed, he was still staring into Brian's eyes, held captivated. Brian stopped moving and kissed Justin, trying to capture the perfection of the moment they were living in. Their lips barely grazed before Brian felt consumed with need. He needed more of Justin. He needed all of him. The heat between them spread quickly south and before either of them was cognizant of where they were or what was happening, clothes were being hastily removed. After shedding Justin of his pants and shirt, Brian loosened his tie and started to remove his pants but was unable to finish the job before he felt Justin push him back into the chair.
"Condom" Justin barked, barely able to contain his anticipation to feel Brian inside him as he straddled his lap, resting his ass on Brian's knees. The need between them was palpable.
Brian held Justin around the waist and leaned over to grab his wallet off the floor. Leaning into Justin pushed his erection against Brian and Justin groaned lightly. Brian felt the smear of fluid leaking from Justin spread across his navel. Justin ripped the condom from his hand so abruptly that Brian leaned back and watched Justin take control. Justin rolled the condom over his cock and walked his knees up the side of Brian's thighs so he could position them. Brian mentally willed himself to let Justin work him inside; a process he expected would proceed slowly given that they weren't using extra lube, but Justin clearly had other plans as he sank down on to him.
"Fuck" Brian cried loudly, unprepared for the immediate satisfaction of heat and pressure around his cock.
"Shhh" Justin whispered into his ear, with a wide smile, while raising up and slamming down on him repeatedly, "Eric" he panted.
Brian's brain took a moment to realize that Justin was alluding to a sleeping Eric nearby and not calling him Eric. Once the realization came into focus and he noticed the look of mischievousness on Justin's face, he couldn't help but smile in relief and enjoy all that was happening. This was their first foray into semi-public sex and although Eric was out cold, he couldn't help but wonder if Justin's fucking him was excising some demons from his past connection to Summerhaven.
Brian grunted and stifled his noises the best he could but Justin rode him roughly and the constant grinding into him was building his climax too quickly. A low, long moan ripped from his throat and he pulled Justin close to him with one arm and moved his fist over Justin's pulsing organ with the other. He pumped up into him as he grasped his cock firmly with his hand until he felt Justin convulse, coating his hand with come and collapse onto his chest.
They lay there, recovering, until a light gasp captured their attention and two sets of eyes stared directly at Eric, who was powerless to hide his straining erection. "I'm sorry" Eric cringed, knowing he was caught and still drunk enough to not try to hide it, "I swear I didn't want to watch but that was the hottest thing I've ever seen."
"Fuck Eric!" Justin exclaimed as he began frantically getting up and covering himself with whatever clothes he could. A louder gasp came from the doorway where Daphne now stood, mouth gaping, looking at the scene like she was a traumatized witness to a car accident.
Brian pulled on his pants, moving with a lack of urgency that showed he was not at all concerned at being caught. He was certainly no stranger to being watched while he fucked but Justin's panic was a bit unsettling, he hoped it wouldn't set them back from exploring other places to fuck outside the bedroom.
Justin paced back and forth, wringing his hands in nervous tension, muttering "Oh my God, Oh my God" repeatedly.
"Justin" Brian grabbed his shoulder, "Calm down, it's no big deal."
"Yeah Justin" Eric giggled, trying to ease the tension, "It's not like I have never seen you naked or fucking." Eric laughed louder at his own joke but stopped suddenly seeing Brian's dirty look.
Justin finally stopped pacing and met Daphne's intense look, her eyes were filling with tears and before she could say anything, he was apologizing. It was surreal, him knowing exactly what the look was about and the hurt he had inflicted. He had never hurt her before, not like this.
"Daphne, I'm sorry" he said, pleading for forgiveness with his voice. "I didn't mean for you to see that."
Daphne shook her head back and forth and yet said nothing, prolonging Justin's agony. "Enough" Eric shouted tossing his keys to Brian, "Justin stop apologizing. Brian, take Justin home. Daphne and I are going to have a talk."
Justin and Brian both turned toward Eric in shock. Justin had never heard Eric speak so forcefully, even though he was clearly under the influence. He couldn't leave Daphne the way she looked. Justin started to protest but Eric wouldn't hear of it. "Justin, trust me, I'll take care of her. Go with Brian. I'll get us a cab when she's ready to leave."
"Are you sure?" Justin asked, directly his question to Daphne, more than Eric.
Daphne just nodded, knowing she couldn't talk to Justin anyways, not after what she witnessed. She couldn't formulate the words.
"Okay" Justin sighed, "I'll be at home." He kissed her cheek and picked up his jacket, following Brian out the door.
When they were alone Eric looked at Daphne, "Sit down" he commanded and she obeyed with a snarl. "How long have you known Justin?"
"Since we were five" she answered defiantly, "the first day of Kindergarten."
"And you love him?" Eric confirmed, already knowing the answer.
"Yes" Daphne whispered.
"I do too…" Eric smiled, he liked seeing Daphne vulnerable because he felt like it finally gave them common ground. "…and he loves us both and that's why."
"Why what?" Daphne asked confused and annoyed.
"That's why we know. That's why we both know Justin has never been as happy as he is with Brian. That's why we know that if Justin thinks he's hurting either of us, he won't let himself just be happy. And that why we are both going to let him go...because we love him and because Brian is his soulmate".
"But…" Daphne protested.
"No buts Daphne" Eric argued, "It has to be this way. As far as Justin knows, you are over it and him. You can stay with me tonight or wherever, but you don't go home. You tell him you met a great straight guy, like that one you were dancing with, and as far as he knows you are nothing but happy for him."
Daphne opened her mouth and closed it. She was surprised to find Justin naked and in such a compromising position but as she thought about the look between them and the way Brian held him, she knew Eric was right. "Okay" her voice quivered, "You're right. It has to be this way."