Two weeks flew by after Theo's birthday. He and Liam hadn't really talked much since. It wasn't intentional, but they were both so busy, it being summer and all. Liam was working more shifts and longer at the hotel and Theo was having to work more at the bar. Of course there was his other priorities taking up his time as well.

Liam had seen Theo in passing a few times and they'd speak when Theo and his partner would check in and out, but it was brief. Not long enough to catch up. It kind of bummed Liam out, but he understood. Tonight, however...

Tonight Theo was with Josh again. It had become more frequent. Almost to the point that Liam had even joked about Josh being his exclusive bunny and asked if he was getting frequent buyer discounts. Theo laughed at it but Liam could tell it was something he'd thought about.

Liam didn't want to think too much about it but he hoped that maybe he and Theo had something budding until Josh came into the picture. He couldn't really be hurt. It was never really talked about or established.

"Oh no. Why so gloomy?" Erika, Liam's manager asked.

"I'm not gloomy. Why would you think I'm gloomy?"

"You are a dark storm cloud raining on a bucket of puppies, Liam. What's going on?"

"Nothing. Just- personal stuff." Erika was someone who had genuine concern for people, but at the same, she knew how to be a real psycho if anyone pissed her off. Liam would rather not let her know anything about him that he didn't absolutely have to. It was, in Liam's mind, a conflict of interest to be friends with your boss.

"Well, you know where I'm at" she said with a half-smile and sauntered toward the other areas to check housekeeping. It's busier during the summer, so she's been having to not only help with the cleaning and cooking and all things in general, but she's been having to order more supplies. Some people vacation and overindulge. Some people vacation and literally take things from the hotels they stay at. It's ridiculous, but that's the way of the world.

"Well hello there new bestie" Brett strolled up to Liam with a wide smirk.

"I wouldn't exactly say we were besties" Liam started, "I did what you wanted and listened to your side. In which, you admit to being a sexual predator. That doesn't exactly lay groundwork for a healthy friendship."

"Damn you're touchy today. Let me guess. Theo has his favorite boy toy today and he was

parading him in front of you like the narcissist that he is."

"Brett, please-"

"You deserve better than that. He doesn't understand how good he could really have it."

"Brett. You don't even know me. There are things that Theo knows. Things he's done for me that-"

"Yes, and you can feel grateful for that. It doesn't mean you should be all Stockholm over it."

"It's not like that."

"Not yet. But you are pining. You've known him all of five minutes and you're letting him be everything to you. Liam, this is a big world. He's not the only person who will do those things and could get to know you in the obviously very serious and intimate way he has-"

"NO! IT-... it's not like- intimate... just- personal."

"You do know that's what intimate means? Right?"

Liam just looked down at the ground. He was used to Brett being a pervert and yes, he knew, but it didn't mean that Brett wasn't going to twist it.

"Brett. Just drop it. Please."

"Alright" he said, hands up in surrender. "So long as you promise to see your self-worth."

Liam snapped his head up to look at Brett. Who was this man all of a sudden? The Brett he had initially met seemed to be gone, at least for now. This new Brett, Liam liked. More than he probably should. He's treating him with respect and caring and understanding.

"Brett. Why are you being like this?"

"What are you talking about?"

"From the moment we first met you were-"

"A dick."

"Well" Liam laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. He wasn't going to say that, but he wasn't going to disagree. It would be a lie.

"I'm sorry for that. I just didn't believe there was any way you could be straight. I came on too strong, and for that, I'm sorry-"

"Thank you-"

"BUT- I'm not gonna apologize for being attracted to you, because I'm not sorry."

Liam's stomach turned in knots. He'd never really had this conversation with a man before. Not one calling him attractive. Mason would be his... flight attendant? Wingman? Whatever... When Liam needed a confidence boost, Mason would reassure him that he was 'hot' and that anyone would be lucky to have him. Then Liam got with Hayden. It never really stopped though. In fact, Liam needed more reassurance than before. How did he not see?

"I think you're... very-" Liam tried, but it was weird for him. He didn't know how to compliment

men. He didn't know how he felt about Brett either, in general, but he tried.

"Liam it's ok. Don't hurt yourself. I'm a big boy. I've been rejected before" Brett chuckled like it was nothing. There was something in his eyes though, behind his smile. His hurt. It was there. No matter what kind of mask he wanted to put on, Brett hurt too...

Just like Theo...

"Hey. Can you drive me home again tonight? No ride."

"Yeah" Brett laughed, "I'm starting to question your friendships though" he said with a wink.

"Yeah I clearly got in with the wrong crowd. Literally the worst sorts" Liam chuckled back.

He didn't know why he did it.

It didn't make logical sense.

It was too late, though.

Hey Mase! Don't worry about getting me from work

Catching a ride with Theo -L

He could have said anything else.

Alright dude! -M

Silently, they drove to Liam's house. Again. It wasn't on purpose. He just couldn't figure out the words to say to Brett. He did have questions, but none that he wanted to ask out loud. Not really any that were necessarily for Brett. Some were for himself. For Theo. Mason.

Brett kept looking over at Liam while Liam kept looking at his phone. He kept getting texts from Mason about him having a safe trip and let him know when he gets there and a bunch of things he didn't read.

"You ok?"

"Yeah."

"Do your friends know that?"

"What?"

"Your phone has been blowing up since we got in the car. They must not know I'm with you..." Liam's phone buzzes again and he ignores it again, "and I'm guessing you're not wanting to tell them." Brett laughed as he looked ahead at the road.

"Well can you blame me?" Liam was sharp, but also melancholy. He felt like he was lying.

Actually. He was lying.

He told Mason he was with Theo.

"Look I get it, but you don't have to-"

"I'm sorry! But you still have the villain edit in the reality show of my mind. You don't get to automatically be washed away from your literal crimes just because you told me about something that I already knew about!"

"Then why did you want me to take you home tonight?" Brett had now pulled into Liam's neighborhood. He was pulling into Liam's driveway when he asked this.

"I told you. I didn't have a ri-"

"Don't lie to me. Why didn't you want your friends to take you home?"

Liam didn't have an answer. There was no reason. He didn't even like Brett...

But...

"I feel guilty..."

Brett looked at Liam with intense curiosity. "What?"

"I feel guilty... for hating you... for being around you... for Theo..."

Brett rolled his eyes at this. "You do not have to feel guilty for feeling anything towards me. You know I'm a convicted criminal. You don't really know me. As for Theo... you like him. He's clearly your first boy-crush" Brett looked at Liam and half-smirked and half-laughed, "you can absolutely hate his man-friend."

There was a small smile and an even smaller giggle from Liam. He felt somewhat reassured. Then he realized that their gaze was lingering. Liam couldn't bring himself to look away from Brett's eyes... then glanced to his lips... his breath hitched and he felt flushed.

When he looked back at Brett, Brett had already started leaning toward Liam. Liam let him close the distance and kissed him back.

What am I doing?

What is happening?

Am I really kissing a guy?

Am I really kissing Brett?!

All of these thoughts didn't make Liam stop himself from kissing Brett. Letting Brett kiss him. Brett cupped his cheek so soft and gentle. It was even softer than Hayden. It was almost hard to believe this was the same Brett that Theo had described.

This thought was what scared Liam and made him break the kiss. Liam shoved the door open and ran out of the car, slamming the doors behind him, both the car door and the door to his house.