Outtake 4
It was ridiculous, James thought as he parked in the small lot next to Bruno's Bistro, to be as nervous as he felt in that moment. If his sweet Bella could be brave enough to stand up to the likes of Sam Uley, he could beg Laurent Masters to love him again. Closing his eyes, he inhaled a slow, sharp breath through his nose and exhaled through his mouth. Be brave for her, he told himself. Be strong for her.
James opened his eyes and pushed open the driver's side door, climbing out of the car. He closed it and smoothed down the front of his shirt as he headed around to the front and stepped inside. The little girl standing at the podium smiled and started to greet him, but James waved her off and hurried inside, having already seen the tall, dark haired man of his dreams sitting at a small table in the back of the Bistro.
Laurent stood up as James approached the table, the smile that pulled at the corners of his lips was breathtaking. James loved his smile, how genuine it always was.
"Hey," Laurent murmured, reaching for his hand.
"Hey." James took hold of his hand and pulled the man into his arms, pressing his face against the side of his neck and inhaling deeply. "I've missed you."
"I've missed you, too."
James leaned back and brought his hands up to his face, leaning his forehead against his. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"Hey, don't be sorry. Let's just sit down and talk, okay?"
James nodded and released his hold on the man before they both settled in their chairs, their server stopping by their table and taking their drink and dinner order. Once the young man was gone, Laurent leaned forward, stretching his hand out for James'.
"How's she doing?"
"She's . . ." James smiled and shook his head. "She's amazing. Stronger than I had ever imagined a person could be, you know? The hell she went through . . . I don't know how she survived, but she did. Somehow, she did."
Laurent nodded. "And Rosalie? How is she doing with everything?"
"It's been hard. She's . . . Well, she's a lot like me, I guess. Too much like me. She wants more than Bella can give us, and it's hard to be patient, I guess. She's missed her so much. I've missed her so much."
"I can't even imagine how hard this must have been for her, for both of you. Knowing the hell Bella went through."
James frowned. "He brutalized her, Laurent. He took everything from her."
"He took everything from you, too." Laurent lifted their hands, pressing their palms against one another. "When I saw the report of his attack on you, I wanted to come to you."
"Why didn't you?"
"Because I wasn't sure you wanted me, too," he confessed. "Just an hour before hand you had sat across from me and told me we were over."
"I thought . . ." James shook his head and looked around the room before turning his attention back to the man sitting across from him. "I thought I was protecting her."
"Protecting her? Or protecting yourself?"
"Maybe both," he admitted. "She's had so much thrown at her over the last a couple months, and I didn't want to add my bullshit to her shoulders, I guess. She had to be my priority."
"Not like I would have expected you to put me first," he argued, releasing his hand. "I've never asked you to put me before Rosalie, have I?"
"No, but it's different with Bella. She's . . . she needs me."
"Of course she does," he agreed. "But that doesn't mean you didn't need me."
"I did. I . . . I do need you, Laurent." James shook his head. "I was afraid she would push me away if she knew I was gay. I know how stupid that sounds, but she was only eight years old when she disappeared, and I was careful, you know? With the girls, I mean. I didn't hide who I was, but they were just little girls and I didn't flaunt my sexuality around them."
"Are you still worried about her accepting that you're gay?"
James smiled. "No. She and I . . . Court was really hard today, and you know how I tend to pull back into myself when I'm angry."
Laurent laughed. "I do."
"Well, she thought I was mad at her. Like I could ever be mad at her," he whispered, shaking his head. "Anyway, she and I talked and I told her about . . . well, about you, and me, and us."
"And what'd she say?"
"She told me said maybe you could be . . . you could be my person, someone who would always love me and hold me when . . . when I get scared," he whimpered, reaching for Laurent's hand, who placed his fingers on his palm. "I'm sorry I pushed you away. I'm sorry I hurt you, babe. I never . . . I never meant to hurt you."
"You silly man," Laurent murmured, sliding out of his chair and settling into the one next to him. He brought his other hand up, cradling the side of his face, using his thumb to wipe away his tears. "I love you, James. I've loved you from the moment I saw you sitting across the table from me in that boring, ass meeting. I'm willing to take it as slow as you want. I won't push myself on your girls, but I will be here every single day for you, for them. I will support you and love you with every breath I take, babe."
"I love you, too," he cried, leaning over and pressing his lips against Laurent's.
For the first time in a long time, long before his sweet Bella was found, James felt a glimmer of hope.
Thank you for all the AMAZING reviews! Three more outtakes to go!
