by Sky McCoy
I dropped my keys on the counter, walked to the butler’s sink, and reached in the cabinet to get a drink. I’d finally completed those proposals for Max, which was a weight off my mind. I didn’t like to drink unless I’d completed my work. I considered this a celebratory drink and now I could concentrate on our new home waiting for us to move in.
When pouring my liquor of choice, Scotch, I realized that I didn’t need a drink to relax me so I placed it to the side. I had Dorian to help me relax. I thought about that fabulous blowjob I had recently. However, it had been a while since Dorian wanted me inside his body. I didn’t want to think that maybe he’d become tired of me.
If he had, what the fuck was I to do? I knew it wouldn’t be easy to get over him, nor did I want to. I’d probably pine over him for the rest of my life, and one day throw myself over this balcony. What the fuck was I thinking about? I chuckled. I’d have to think of another way to kill myself. Maybe a gun, but I hated guns. I knew that fucking river in the back of my new house should be good for something. But then what would happen to Jacqueline? I couldn’t leave her for Thomas or Jack to raise, she’d really grow up screwed.
That did it. No more thinking about Dorian leaving me because I was not letting him go, and I needed to stop thinking about stupid shit like that. I had too much to live for, and if Dorian didn’t want me, I was good looking. Someone would want me.
I was tired and needed to be inside Dorian. Next best thing alcohol. There was nothing like a good drink to put things into perspective. I picked up the bottle of Scotch I’d recently set down.
I poured an extra-large drink, more than usual, and headed through the kitchen to spend some time on my balcony which had an expensive view of the Seattle skyline. I wanted to take advantage of it now before I’d have to give it up.
When I opened the door and went to the rail and looked out, it was a nice day if you called drizzly with a slight chance of rain a nice day in Seattle. With the air caressing my face, I realized that I had some of the most relaxing times of my life here thinking, when I could think.
Now I didn’t have time for anything except wondering what I’d do if Dorian changed his mind about me. He hadn’t said that he’d marry me yet which had me all bent out of shape, and was causing me to lose my mind for a second.
My hand went to my chin. I had a bad habit of stroking it when I was worried, and fuck if I wasn’t worried about Dorian now. He appeared to be thinking more than talking lately. He was a talker, I was a listener and something was bothering him which he didn’t want to confide in me.
I’d opened a new chapter in my life. One with Dorian, I thought. I turned, found the nearest chair and plopped down, then took a sip of Scotch, no water, no ice.
I’d been happy it wasn’t raining or too cold. Just right for thinking. I wished Dorian was here to share my day. It was because of him that I took off early. I’d wanted us to go to the park with Jacqueline and give Parker time off, then take Dorian out to dinner and dance. I hoped he knew a place where we could dance and drink because I didn’t know much about the gay scene in Seattle.
I heard the door open and when I looked over to the terrace door, Parker stood with a curious look as he stared at me. He was biting his bottom lip. I’d seen him do that when he wanted to say something and wondered if he should. However, like clockwork a few minutes later, he’d gotten what was bothering him off his chest. It wasn’t in his nature to hide how he felt or what he thought.
It had been laughable things he’d tried not to tell me. For example, when it was my time to change the baby’s diapers especially when I’d tried to hide away to avoid it, but Parker had found me. I’d said that I would do my part and he’d held me to my word.
Now, his expression didn’t warrant changing of a diaper. There was a seriousness to his eyes.
“Where’s Jacqueline?” I questioned, holding my breath, expecting the worse, standing, ready to bolt. After what I’d experienced with her mother, Lindsey, everything alarmed me. I didn’t want to lose my baby, and I didn’t want to lose Dorian.
If anything happened to Jacqueline or Dorian, I didn’t know what I’d do. I had no plans for the future without them. To make plans of that sort would mean that I had to accept that something could or would happen to them. Something always happened in life and lately I’d gotten more than my share of unforeseen events. I needed a break, therefore I didn’t think about the worst things that could or would occur in life.
Those two people were my family. I didn’t want to start over again. I realized that I’d been too protective of her, she was my baby girl, and Dorian the love of my life. I waited for the bad news with clenched fists.
“We were out most of the day and she fell asleep and I just put her in her bassinet.” I blew out the breath I’d been holding. “She’ll need a bed soon, she’s growing so fast so the bassinet will have to be stored away. Maybe for the next baby?” I saw how Parker’s face lit up when he said maybe the next baby.
“Have a seat. There isn’t going to be another baby. Do you want something to drink?”
“I never drink on the job.”
“You’re not on the job. You’re like family now. You’ve done great by helping me and Dorian take care of Jacqueline.”
“That’s what I wanted to discuss with you.” Parker sat near.
“Do you want a raise, Parker? Well I’d planned on giving you one. You should take off some time and go out to dinner. Get yourself a girl and take her to a fancy restaurant.”
He smiled and admitted as much. “I’ve found someone. That’s what I wanted to tell you. That and other things.”
“How could you?” I smiled, but I knew the answer to that. Of course he’d found a woman since that was his choice. There were, after all, more women on earth than men. A straight man always had a choice. I’d had more than my share, however, I knew a woman wasn’t what made my heart skip and my cock throb.
I aimed a smile at Parker and made a statement to drag out the specifics of how I’d never known him to ask for time off, and yet he was able to find someone. “You work all the time. I’ve never seen you go anywhere without Jacqueline.”
“I met a girl at the park. She’s one of those au-pairs. She’s from Denmark. She takes care of children just like me. She doesn’t speak much English.” Parker smiled. “I’m teaching her how to speak English, and on her days off she goes to night school. Today she had a day off and I took her with me and Jacqueline to a restaurant. She’s great with children.” Parker glanced up at me. “You know that expensive restaurant in the Millennium Hotel, the one you brought me to—”
“She must have been impressed.”
“I’d say she was. I haven’t been able to go on a date where I could afford a meal in years.”
“Then the raise I’m going to give you will allow you more time to yourself and to be with her and take her to nice places. Whenever you need time off, Parker, I will be happy to accommodate you.”
Parker looked down and then met my eyes. “That’s what I wanted to discuss with you. It’s about Dorian.”
I’d been defensive of Dorian and my voice may have been harsh when I said, “What about Dorian? I know you two aren’t getting along. I hope you know I’ve asked Dorian to marry me.”
“That’s why I thought it necessary to tell you about me seeing him. I thought about not telling you this, but I came to the conclusion that you should know about that meeting.”
“He didn’t say that he saw you when he arrived home last night. He said that he had someplace to go earlier today, and he left home with me this morning. I expected him back by now. He’s not home and he should have been here an hour ago.”
The thought of what Parker would say had my heart hammering in my chest. I knew I shouldn’t have expected Dorian to be here every minute, I couldn’t assume that he would do just that, but it would have been nice to have him home when I got home. Or have him call me or text me which he hadn’t.
I guessed
it was this new relationship thing I had to get used to. It felt good for once, knowing that he and Jacqueline were here whenever I got home. I enjoyed when we went into her room and played on the floor just Dorian and me and Jacqueline. I didn’t think I’d ever been this happy. Should I be this happy? I had to ask myself. Is all this just a dream and I’ll wake tomorrow and all will be gone?
“I just thought you should know that I took my girl the au-pair to that fancy restaurant in the hotel where Jack has his suite.”
I didn’t know if I wanted to hear this or not, but then I never was one to hide from the truth or the facts. I was a lawyer for God’s sake and I had to deal in facts so I steeled myself and listened to what Parker had been bent on telling me.
“Dorian was there looking for Jack. He’d punched the floor to his suite and was on his way to his room when I saw him and told him that Jack was in the restaurant. I thought he didn’t like Jack.”
“It’s not that he doesn’t like Jack, it’s that he doesn’t trust Jack.”
“Well I could be wrong, so please don’t tell Dorian that I mentioned that to you.”
“I promise you, I won’t.”
Parker, who thought that he was protecting me by telling me about Dorian, had me upset. I didn’t want Dorian to think that Parker would spy on him. I didn’t know whether I should mention that to Dorian, but came to the conclusion that I should just let it go. I’d been too happy to allow anyone or anything spoil how I felt today, and about Dorian.
My phone began to vibrate. I reached for it on the table, and almost didn’t answer it. When I spotted who’d been calling and I knew if I didn’t answer, he would call over and over until I did. He didn’t like texts so that was out. Before I answered, I’d have to polish off my drink, and I hit the button.
“Jeremy have you seen the news,” Thomas bellowed. I closed my eyes. What the fuck now? Carter was in the hospital, Jacqueline was in bed, and it was only Dorian not accounted for. I doubted that Thomas would be calling me about my fiancé.
“I haven’t had time to drink my afternoon—”
“Turn on the fucking news.” I sauntered into the kitchen and hit the remote to see a news headline scrolled across the screen Breaking News. A reporter stood outside a local precinct surrounded by policeman coming and going, and he’d tried to shove the mic in their face. When no one would respond to him, he turned to the camera and announced, “Jarrett Westbrook, a well-known and respected United States congressman from his home state of Washington State had been caught soliciting a policeman for sex.”
“What the fuck, Jeremy? Is everyone in the family a fucking—?”
“Don’t say it, Thomas. You’ll regret it later.”
“What the fuck am I going to do?” Thomas’s voice sank.
“How many times have I said it’s not about you? Think about what it’s going to do to Jarrett’s career and his wife.”
“Not a fucking thing. He’ll probably win his seat for another term, and I heard from a good source that his wife doesn’t care what he does, she’s not going to leave him. She’ll probably buy an extra-large dildo to keep him out of those gay bars he frequents. It’s all on me to... fuck it. I don’t know how to spin this. That’s why I called you, Jeremy. You have to help me because I have to explain something—”
“So you knew about Jarrett being gay, Thomas? Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I thought as long as he was discreet and it was only Jack that I had to apologize for, I could handle this shitstorm waiting to happen, but then you came out and... what do I do now? I need you to get him bail right away, and drive him home. I can’t go near that right now. I have to tell Alice about this if she doesn’t already know.”
“Don’t you mean you have to tell Jarrett’s wife?” Thomas acted as if he didn’t hear me and kept talking as if I wasn’t there on the phone with him.
“Alice told me this was going to happen. Tell him to plead not guilty. He was framed. That’s what I want you to say. If Jarrett wants to come out of the closet, then you tell him I’m not going to get him out of this mess, and he’s on his own, and he won’t get another dime from me.”
I’d been wondering when I would get a break. Well not today, that was for fucking sure. Now I had to go out when I was tired, when I needed to see Dorian, just to bail my once-respectable brother out of jail.
What the fuck next?
Chapter 10
Dorian
Jack had been true to his word. He’d gone to the oncologist with me, sat in on the consultation where the doctors said to my relief that the tissue was non-cancerous. The specialists had said that they would need more tests to definitively rule it out completely. I needed monitoring and a 3D scan.
When we walked to the valet, I had to hold on to Jack. “Thank you, Jack. I didn’t think I could have gotten through this without you.”
“All you had to do was tell Jeremy, and he would have been with you instead of me. I shouldn’t be with you. I have a husband who thinks that I’m still in love with Max. I should have been with him. I don’t know if he believed me when I said that I no longer wanted or loved Max. I still love Max, but more like a friend. I explained that to Jami. Jami understood and he knew that it was over and had been over for years. Now you have to tell Jeremy about your cancer scare. I kept up my part and you need to do yours.”
“I’ll tell him, but can’t we celebrate first. I’m hungry.”
After getting the car from the valet, we drove back to the Millennium Hotel where I could get something to eat and drink. I’d been too happy to express how I felt about everything and especially about Jack. But now I needed a well-deserved drink.
“I’M GOING TO CALL AUSTIN to meet us here, unless you don’t want me to leave you.”
By that time I’d had too much to eat and more than enough to drink.
I tried standing up and swayed just when Jack was ready to leave.
“Wait, Dorian. You can’t drive home like that.”
I’d forgotten that I’d picked up Jack and that his husband had to use Jack’s car.
Jack reached for his phone and I heard Jack say, “Austin, I’m in the restaurant of the hotel with Dorian. Meet me down here. I think we should put him in a cab and have him leave his car here. I can drive it back in the morning. He drank too much, yeah, two sheets to the wind. He had a lot to celebrate.”
WHEN I OPENED MY EYES, I spotted Austin carrying me into Jack’s suite. I’d missed walking into the elevator, and everything in between. I heard Austin’s voice. “He’s heavy. When I came here I had planned on having a threesome. I guess that’s out. What do you say, you put your cock in his mouth and I’ll fuck him,” Austin chuckled.
“There isn’t going to be anyone fucking me—” I slurred. Then I heard Jack.
“Dorian’s my brother’s fiancé,” Jack said, defending me and clearly understanding the joke Austin had just made. Austin and Jack hauled me along to the large L sofa and dropped me.
Looking up at the two men wondering what to do with me, I said, “Just let me close my eyes for a few seconds, and I’ll be able to go home.”
“You’re going to need more than that,” Jack admitted, staring down at me as if I’d been a dead body that had washed up on the beach.
I glared up at them, sweating, and then stood. “Where’s the restroom?” They pointed to the nearest one, and I hurried for it. Once inside, I went to my knees, raised the lid to the toilet, and emptied all my dinner and not enough liquor out of my stomach.”
“I warned you, Dorian, that you shouldn’t have had that much to drink, and the fish of the day.”
I didn’t want to hear anymore until my stomach had been completely emptied. And that took a few more minutes of throwing-up everything I’d eaten today and yesterday.
Finally, Jack and Austin left me to my misery. When they returned, I’d cleaned up, but I was weak. Jack helped me to the couch. “Sleep here. And here’s something to keep you warm.” He tossed a pillow
and reached for my hair raised my head and placed it down like you would a pumpkin ready to carve for Halloween.
Jack glanced down at me and shook his head. He must have pitied me because he placed a small comforter over me, leaned in and pulled it to my chin, then reminded me. “Call Jeremy.” I pulled my knees to my chest, happy to be alive, and wishing they’d let me die. I guessed I’d feel better the next day.
Looking up at Jack, I murmured, “I’ll call him when I wake up. Go and be with your husband.”
I heard Jack say, “Yeah. Yeah. I will.” Then he strolled away after stopping and looking back at me. He met Austin at the bedroom door. They kissed and vanished behind the door. I heard the locks click and I fell asleep.
When I woke, it was the next morning and Jack was answering the door. A waiter had wheeled in a large table with food and I smelled coffee. The waiter moved around the room and set up the long table behind the sofa that faced the large flat-screen television.
When I tried lifting my head, it ached and throbbed. I felt as if I’d been beaten and I wanted to be put out of my misery. All I could do was turn and get a smell of the breakfast and the coffee. I needed coffee, but I was still too sick to enjoy it.
Austin had on his personal robe and Jack wore a robe from the hotel. “Take a shower and there’s a robe in the closet,” Jack said to me as he sat down with a paper the waiter handed to him. “Then come out and eat with us.”
I managed to crawl from the sofa and straighten up, then dragged myself to the shower. I stayed under the water long enough where I could get my head clear. It dawned on me that I hadn’t texted or contacted Jeremy. I knew he must be pissed and angry with me. I imagined what he would say. He must have been worried.
Sitting down and eating just a piece of toast and drinking a half cup of coffee, my stomach was still irritated and queasy from the night before, and it rumbled in protest from how I’d abused it. I’d pride myself in knowing my limitations, but I’d been happy when I received the news that everything would be fine. I didn’t have to do anything but get a scan to verify what the doctors already knew, that I was healthy as horse.