This story may occasionally include explicit depictions of sexual acts between consenting adult males.  If you are underage or it is illegal to view this for any reason, consider yourself warned.  If you find this material offensive, please leave.

 

This story is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to people, living or dead, is entire a coincidence. Everyone lives in my head. As the author, I retain all rights to this story, and it cannot be reproduced or published without explicit consent from me.  This work is copyright © 2017 by Steven Wells.

 

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Together Forever

Previous Chapter

"What happens if you and I don't make it to the relationship stage?" I asked. "Will the center be left without a scholarship fund?"

"No," Cory replied. "Once this fund opens, it will be available for the center until the end of time. I can't change it. It is not a bribe to get you into my bed. I care for you too much to take the scholarship fund away from the center. I can't take it away. It's the law."

"And you and your family won't miss 10 million dollars?" I asked.

"No," Cory replied. He studied my face for a reaction.

"Your family's money does complicate my position," I explained. "I can't compete with you."

"Connor," Cory began. "I don't want you to compete with me. If we do go forward with a relationship, what's mine will also be yours. You will be an equal partner to me. I don't like competition between friends, lovers, partners, or husbands. Understand?"

"Yes," I began. "But will other people?"

"We don't care what other people think," Cory said emphatically. "The people around us will know. They will see you aren't after me for my money. Besides, the 10 million dollars comes from the Wainwright Family Foundation."

"Thank you, Cory," I said with a smile. "I'll show you how much I appreciate your generosity when we go to bed tonight."

"If we wouldn't get arrested, I'd get you naked and stretched across this table," Cory said with a lust filled grin.

"I'd love to watch," Carlisle said as he brought our orders to the table. "You're both pretty hot! Oh! Here is yours, Mr. Wainwright. This one is yours, Mr. Rodriguez. If you need anything else, please just flag me down. Enjoy!"

"I'll need to be more discrete from now on," Cory said with a smile forming across his face.

"Maybe," I replied. "

Chapter 04: Minor Complication

"We need to stop meeting like this," I said to Cory as I sat naked at the kitchen island. He scurried about making us breakfast.

"You don't like sitting in my kitchen naked waiting for me to finish making you breakfast?" Cory asked with a smile.

"I love sitting in your kitchen watching your naked body move across the room," I replied. "I just haven't slept in my own apartment at all this week."

"Don't you like sleeping with me?" Cory said as he held a spatula in his hand.

"Of course, I like sleeping with you," I exclaimed. "You make me feel warm, wanted, and safe. It's a good feeling."

"Why don't you move in with me?" Cory asked. He paused mid-stream between the fridge and the cooktop. He looked like a puppy dog waiting for me to decide if I was taking him out for a walk.

"You know, Cory, we've discussed the issue of becoming more serious before," I replied. "I'm not ready just yet to make the commitment. My asshole ex-boyfriend has kept me wound up awfully tight. Give me a little more time, okay."

"Okay," Cory replied. "I just wanted to ask."

"Thank you for asking," I replied. "What's on your agenda today?"

"Sorting through the last few boxes I haven't unpacked," Cory replied. "It will be such fun. What are you doing today?"

"I'm meeting Fletcher at two o'clock this afternoon," I replied. "I want to talk to him before I recommend him for the first scholarship and internship."

"Any others in mind?" Cory asked.

"Yes," I replied. "Two in fact. Leo Braaise. He's one of our current, unpaid interns. He's a senior at Emerson. The other is one of our volunteers, Arron Ida. He's been in some of the Center productions. He has a lot of talent, but he needs to learn to use it. I'm hoping to get both into the actors' workshop group. It's sponsored by Actors Guild and run by Emerson University."

"I'm so please you're taking this scholarship idea and moving forward quickly," Cory added. "This sounds like an oxymoron, but you strike me as a Type A who's learned to face the world with cool, collected energy."

Cory slid a plate of breakfast in front of me and one for him.

"My cool, collected energy is an act," I replied with a smile.

"You're an actor," Cory added. "You play the part well."

"Beneath this actor's clothing rests skin crawling at every thought of my ex," I added. "My new therapist wants me to face my demons head on. But, if I were to face my ex, I'd want to kill him. I'd end up in prison. My demons will stay hidden for a while until the thought of him doesn't make me want to commit murder."

Cory removed our empty plates and dropped them into the dishwasher. He returned to the island, but he didn't sit in the stool next to mine. Instead, he stood behind me and put his arms around my shoulders.

"I need to give you something, Connor," Cory said in a soft voice.

"You don't need to give me anything, Cory," I countered.

"Yes, I do," Cory added. "I need to make you feel warm, wanted, and safe."

"I'm assuming this will require a trip to the bedroom," I replied.

"Yup," Cory agreed. He found my hand and led me into his bedroom.

I relaxed to a rag-like state as his lips touched mine. We settled on the bed. Me on my back, and Cory on top of me.

"You did it," I whispered to Cory as our kissing became more passionate.

"What?" Cory asked.

"Made me... feel... warm... wanted... and... safe," I whispered back.

I pulled Cory's chest next to mine. His full body weight pressed into mine.

Cory hesitantly raised his upper body with his muscular arms and sat back on his lower legs. He rolled on the condom and added lube with his eyes locked on mine. Without thinking, I raised my legs onto his shoulders.

"You always took what you wanted when you were my client," I whispered. "Now, you give me what I need."

"What we need, Connor," Cory said as he slipped his big dick into me.

~~~~~

"You're looking all calm and collected these days, Mr. Rodriguez," Fletcher said as he took a seat next to mine in the sitting area of my office. "You and Mr. Wainwright must be getting along rather well."

"It's Connor, not Mr. Rodriguez," I said. "How do you know it's Mr. Wainwright?"

"You're the only two people who come into the restaurant at the hotel at least three times a week," Fletcher said with a smile. "I see how you look at one another. You're hooked, but you just might not know it yet."

"We do know it, Fletcher," I replied. "I just have a lot of baggage following me around, and Cory waits patiently for me to jettison the baggage. I'm lucky... Let's talk about you, Fletcher. How did you become interested in the theater?"

"It just happened," Fletcher replied. "I hated baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and a lot of other sports. I signed up for summer acting class for kids at the local Y when I was an eighth grader. Six weeks later, I knew what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to become an actor. Sounds a little lofty, huh?"

"No, it doesn't sound lofty," I replied. "You know what you want. Have you studied acting anywhere?"

"I went to the Boston Academy of Arts," Fletcher added. "For the first time in my life, I blended with people of my own ilk. I even discovered I wasn't the only one who had feelings for men."

"You must have done really well in the audition to be accepted to the Boston Academy of Arts, Fletcher," I added. "You should be very proud of yourself."

"Suddenly, hundreds of kids surrounded me with similar interests," Fletcher said. "I felt bad I couldn't go on. Emerson accepted me into the theater and performance program, but I couldn't afford it."

"What about your family?" I asked. "Where did you grow up?"

"I grew up in a one-bedroom basement apartment on West Newton Street in the South End of Boston," Fletcher began to explain. "My father died in Iraq when his unit's Humvee hit an IED. I was six. My mother worked two jobs to put food on the table and to keep the gas and electricity on. I am very proud of her."

"As you should be," I replied. "If I were to tell you about the possibility of attending either Emerson as a Theater and Performance major or to participate in an actor's workshop sponsored by the Actors' Guild and run by Emerson, which would you prefer?"

I studied Fletcher's face for his reaction.

"Emerson as a Theater and Performance major, definitely," Fletcher replied. "But, I couldn't afford it."

"Let me think about this some more," I added. "May I be blunt with you, Fletcher?"

"Sure," Fletcher replied. "Just don't ask about my sex life because it doesn't exist."

"How much do you make at the hotel as a bartender?" I asked.

"If I would work at the bar during the after-work hours' crowd, I can make about $300 a night," Fletcher replied. "However, I mostly get the dinner hours. I barely scrape up $50 a night. And I usually work the dinner crowd. I usually take in about $500 a week."

"How would you like to audition for a part?" I asked.

"What kind of part?" Fletcher asked.

"Look at the parts in the four pieces we are doing this season," I explained. "Pick the one role you would really want to play. Audition for it."

"Thank you, Sir," Fletcher replied.

"Sir?" I asked.

"Sorry," Fletcher added. "Thank you, Connor."

"You're welcome," I replied. "I'll call you in a few weeks to discuss some possibilities."

~~~~~

Taylor Gordon and his business partner at GW Venture Capital asked me to meet them for lunch at Stephi's. I stepped into the restaurant as the maître d' instantly greeted me.

"Welcome to Stephi's on Tremont," the tall black-haired guy said to me.

"I'm meeting Taylor Gordon and his business partner for lunch," I said.

"They've been seated," the maître d' replied. "Let me show you to their table."

I followed the maître d' and watched his tight ass undulate with each move. The slim fit slacks worked.

"Gentlemen," the maître d' said to the two seated men. Taylor faced me. The other had his back to me. "Mr. Rodriquez is here."

As he left, I gasped as the business partner turned to face me.

"Hello, Connor," the partner said to me as I stared at him in disbelief. "It's been a long time."

"Garret Wilson!" I stammered.

"Connor," Taylor began. "This is my business partner, Garrett Wilson. I believe you know each other. Please sit, Connor."

"I'm sorry for the ambush, Connor," Garrett began. "I wasn't certain you'd agree to this lunch if you knew I am Taylor's business partner."

"On the contrary, Garrett," I replied. "I certainly can't turn down a corporate sponsorship for the Center without giving all of the partners an opportunity to meet with me, especially one as illustrious as you, Garrett."

Taylor's phone pinged.

"Excuse me, please," Taylor said after he looked quickly at his phone. "I need to take this call. Please continue without me."

I stared Garrett in the eye until he spoke again after Taylor left.

"Let me explain, Connor," Garrett finally said. "I didn't brush you off to the side when I left for college. My father gave me an ultimatum. He told me I couldn't act on my feelings for other men if I wanted him to pay for my college education."

"Was it for other men or just one in particular?" I asked. "I'm certain it didn't help you had professed your admiration on a Puerto Rican boy from the wrong side of the tracks."

"It wasn't like that, Connor," Garrett countered. "He didn't want me to act gay around his social circle. He said it would ruin his and my mother's standing in the community."

"Act gay?" I almost screamed at him. "You can't act gay, Garrett, if you are gay. I should leave before I do or say something I will regret."

"Connor, please don't leave," Garrett begged. "I still feel the same way about you as I did. I felt a strong bond between us then. I meant what I said. I still do."

"Does this mean you're now an out and proud gay man?" I asked.

"My father knows I'm gay, and he knows I have feelings for other men," Garrett proudly said.

"Are you out at work?" I asked.

"Ahem...," Garrett stammered. "No."

"Is Taylor?" I asked.

"Yes," Garrett replied.

"He's the `G' part of GW Venture Capital, right?" I asked.

"Yes," Garrett replied.

"And you're the `W' part of GW Venture Capital, right?" I asked.

"Yes," Garrett replied as he lowered his eyes and looked at the table.

"If Taylor can be an out and proud gay man at work, why can't you?" I asked.

"You don't understand, Connor," Garrett replied as he looked directly into my eyes. I saw sadness.

"I probably never will, Garrett," I angrily said to him. "I need to leave or I might be sick. If you ever grow a pair of balls, give me a call. Otherwise, pretend I don't exist."

I stood and walked away. I never looked back. I pushed the door of the restaurant open and stormed back to the Center.

I slammed the door of my little office closed and nearly broke my desk when I smashed my fist into it.

"Shit!" I said to the air. "That hurt!"

I grabbed my phone and sat in my chair.

"Hey, cuz!" Noel said when he answered the phone. "What's happening?"

"I need to vent, Noel," I quietly said into the phone. "I immediately thought of you."

"I can handle a venting session," Noel replied. "Want to meet at the Starbucks near the Center around 5:30?"

"I'll be there," I replied.

"Does this have anything to do with Cory?" Noel asked.

"No," I replied. "We're good."

"See you soon, cuz," Noel replied as we ended the call.

I hunkered down in my office for fear I might take my anger out on someone at the Center until I left for Starbucks. Five hours after Garrett's ambush, his words not mine, I still wanted to grab Garrett by the throat and... `Shut up, Connor,' I said to myself for fear I might verbalize what I was about to think.

I wanted to scream at the lampposts with every step I took as I walked to Starbucks. I scored a seat in the window and sipped my coffee while I fiddled with my phone.

I jumped when Noel put his briefcase on the table in front of me.

"Jeez, Connor," Noel said to me. "A little jumpy I see. I'll get a double shot and be right back."

"You look good in a suit, Noel," I said as Noel settled at the table after retrieving his drink.

"Thanks," Noel replied. "This is my favorite. So, Connor, tell me all about whatever happened to make you this angry."

"Remember I asked you about Garrett Wilson when I first came back to town?" I asked.

"Your heart throb from high school?" Noel asked.

"Yup," I replied. "Garret Wilson joined Taylor Gordon from GW Venture Capital today at lunch. Garrett and Taylor are the managing partners of GW Venture Capital."

"Oh...," Noel quietly said. "I see the issue here. I take it lunch didn't go well."

"An understatement, Noel," I replied. "Garrett is still hiding his sexual orientation from his business associates. Garrett is still the same outrageously phony asshole he always was. I sense he would lose his silver spoon if he were to publicly come out."

"I see where this would be problematic for you, Connor," Noel said with his best psychologist voice. "Tell me more, please."

"Are you a shrink, now?" I said as I glared at Noel before I began my story. "He told me he still had feelings for me... Shit! What if I've screwed up the corporate sponsorship?"

"GW won't cancel the sponsorship," Noel assured me. "They've gotten too much publicity to cancel."

"Let's hope," I replied. "Just when I think I'm accomplishing something, everything goes bust."

"Oh! Wait!" Noel said. "John wanted me to tell you Bobby will be home in a few days. He went to West Virginia for his mother's funeral."

"I'm surprised he went back," I added. "He had nothing good to say about his family."

"Bobby can explain everything when he returns," Noel said. "He's on his way back with his two youngest brothers. They are sixteen and fourteen."

"Why is he bringing his brothers back with him?" I asked.

"I don't know exactly," Noel replied. "John said Bobby constantly referred to his father as the asshole."

"My troubles seem pretty tame compared to his," I added. "I hope he can maintain his sobriety. Traumatic situations like this sometimes cause lapses."

"He has a support system here," Noel replied. "I think he'll be okay."

"Noel," I said in a whisper. "What would you say if I said I think I still have feelings for Garrett?"

"Are you fucking nuts, Connor?" Noel bellowed across the room. "You're dating a really nice man who cares deeply for you. He didn't stand up to his father before. What makes you think he'll stand up to him now?"

"I know," I replied. "I need to go home and clean my apartment."

~~~~~

"What's the purpose of this family gathering?" Cory asked as we headed across Mass Ave Bridge into Cambridge.

According to my cousin Noel, this gathering is to celebrate our going to second guess him."

"It's not your birthday, is it?" Cory asked.

"No," I replied. "It has either something to do with a new sibling for Eagan, another dog or two, or some other earthshattering event. Do you want kids, Cory?"

"Now you're scaring me, Connor," Cory replied. At least he smiled. After a few moments of silence, Cory jumped back into the conversation. "I'd love to have kids someday. You?"

"I never thought so," I explained. "Then, I saw Noel and John with Eagan. It's like they were born to be fathers."

"Do you want a house on Brattle Street in Cambridge, too?" Cory asked as he turned into the driveway of Noel and John's house.

"We're getting ahead of ourselves, Cory," I added. "Too much too soon. My brain will fry!"

"What about a townhouse on Commonwealth Avenue?" Cory asked with a smile. "Don't answer."

We slipped out of the car and headed to the front door. We rang the doorbell and immediately heard the squeals of a four-year old and the sounds of his ever-present dogs.

Jorge opened the door to greet us. "Welcome! Our hosts are in the kitchen arguing about who put a piece of lint on the floor. I suggested it's probably dog hair! How's my favorite cousin and his boyfriend?"

"We're terrific!" I replied. "Cory told me about a townhouse on Commonwealth Avenue he wants to buy. I told him I'd write a check to cover my half of the down payment."

"You just bought a condo in the South End!" Jorge exclaimed.

"He's not serious," Cory replied.

"Uncle Connor! Uncle Cory!" Eagan exclaimed as he shot into the entry way and lunged into my arms.

"Good catch, cuz," Jorge added.

"Good to see you so happy and excited," I said to Eagan. "How's school?"

"It's okay," Eagan replied. "I'm mad at school."

"How can you be mad at school?" I asked.

"My Daddies said Tiger can't go to school with me," Eagan began. "But Bobby Buttress's dog goes to school with him. Daddy said Bobby Buttress's dog goes to school with him because he can't see. I still want Tiger to go to school with me even though I can see because he'd keep me company while I take a nap."

"If you're taking a nap, you wouldn't know if Tiger kept you company," I added.

"Oh," Eagan replied. He wore a confused look for a moment. "Then I'm not mad at school for not letting Tiger come to school with me."

"Thank you for solving our Tiger dilemma, Connor," Noel said as he and John stepped out of the kitchen. "And, Jorge, you were right. It was dog hair. Isn't it cocktail time somewhere in the world?"

"Four vodkas on the rocks," Jorge said as he headed to the bar. "George and I are giving up vodka for Lent, so I'll just sniff hard."

"Lent is five months away, Jorge," John added.

"Really?" Jorge said as he turned back to face us. "I must've lost my sense of all things religious."

John and Noel led us into the living room while Jorge fixed us drinks. Cory and I sat on a love seat with our view to the back patio. Noel and John faced us.

"How's the Center going?" John asked.

"Terrific," I replied. "Lots going on with the capital improvements as well as working through the scholarship program. It's exciting."

"Libations for everyone!" George added as he and Jorge set the tray of drinks on the coffee table.

Jorge handed Cory and me our drinks.

"Connor," Jorge began. "We have someone here who'd like to say hello to you."

I sat motionless. Staring at the two men who stepped into the living room.

"Welcome home, Connor," one man said.

"Doug?" I asked as I tried to stand, but my legs wouldn't move.

"In the flesh, bro," the guy replied. "It's been a long time."

"Nine years," I said as I managed to put my drink down and stand. I pulled the guy into a bear hug which lasted a while before I was able to speak.

"Cory," I finally said as we pulled apart. "This is my younger brother, Doug. Doug, this is my boyfriend, Cory Wainwright."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Doug," Cory said as he offered his hand.

"I'm pleased to meet you, too," Doug said as they exchanged handshake.

"Ahem...," the second man said to get Doug's attention.

"Oh, shit!" Doug added. "This is my boyfriend Willard Bean. Will, this is my older brother, Connor, and his boyfriend, Cory."

Once we had the formalities out of the way, I tried to let shock wear off so I could move again. "Why? How? When I left you, were a nine-year-old boy cowering in the corner while my mother screamed obscenities at me. And you're here... in front of me..."

"I was still the same nine-year-old boy cowering in the corner. I feared our mother's wrath until I left for college," Doug explained. "I changed. Will helped me to deal with the baggage that kept me in the corner. I feel like a different person. This is the hardest step, though. Meeting my big brother for the first time in nine years. I idolized you for nine years, Connor. I didn't know why because our mother told me over and over and over your perverted and sinful lifestyle made you nonexistent in her and God's eyes. I hope you don't hate me, Connor, for waiting all this time to find you."

I pulled Doug into another hug. Tears streamed down my cheeks. "I could never hate you, Doug. You're my brother. We found each other again. Please don't let go again, Doug."

"I won't, Connor," Doug said as we finally pulled apart. "We have a lot of living to make up for the last nine years."

After lunch with the gang, Doug and I settled on lounge chairs around the pool.

"Tell me about you," I said to my little brother. "Where did you wind up? Where did you and Will meet?"

"I'll get to the current in a moment," Doug suggested. "I need to explain a few things first."

"Okay," I replied.

"I wanted to reach out to you, Connor," Doug began. "I asked my mother many times when I could call you or write you. She always told me she didn't have your phone number or address. She said you didn't want her to have it because she and the rest of our family didn't exist for you anymore."

"I wrote you several times in the beginning," I said. "I guess you didn't get the letters."

"No," Doug replied. "Not until the day I left for college. She handed me a box, and told me not to open it until I had settled into my dorm room. It contained all of your letters to me, Connor. I read every one of them. I tried to write to you once I finished the letters, but it came back to me. I guess you had moved. She pissed me off, Connor, because she had destroyed a chance for me to have someone to talk to."

"I even asked Noel and Jorge's mother about you," Doug added. "She apparently believed the shit my mother told everyone about your sudden disappearance from the surface of the earth. When she found out you came back to Boston, she wrote me a letter. Will and I made plans to come here once I talked with Noel. Noel thought this gathering would be a good place for us to meet. I knew you were in New York because I read about your Tony. I couldn't bring myself to contact you. I would have been really traumatized if you had rejected me."

"Where's school?" I asked.

"Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME," Doug replied.

"Wow!" I replied. "Good school. Scholarship?"

"Yea," Doug replied. "I got lucky. I had decent grades because I didn't have any friends in high school. So, I just stayed home and studied. And I play on their Lacrosse team."

"Congratulations," I replied. "How did you and Will meet?"

"We met at the beginning of my freshman year in school," Doug began. "We literally bumped into one another. Our laptops both went sailing in the air. Luckily, we were outside in the grass."

"He seems like a nice guy," I replied.

"He's become my soulmate, Connor," Doug said. "He's the one who made all the plans for this trip to meet you. He is really excited about us reconnecting. So am I. Tell me about Cory. Is this a serious relationship?"

"I don't know, Doug," I replied. "I like him a lot, but we have one minor complication which might be a bad sign for the relationship."

"What's the complication?" Doug asked.

"Money," I replied. "Cory has gobs. I have none. It strains the relationship because I don't want to be taken care of by anyone."

"It seems God blessed you with some of the Rodriguez stubbornness gene," Doug added with a smile.

"Maybe," I replied. "It's a thing I have about Cory. We met when I was just starting college. He's helped me out of more than one financial scrape over the years. I had an off and on thing with him prior to moving back to Boston. I thought I gave him up until he showed up at the Center one day, and here we are. What have you been doing this summer?"

"Will and I spent time at his family's home on the coast of Maine just north of Brunswick," Doug replied. "His family wanted to do some landscaping on the outside. His parents gave Will and me the job. I haven't worked so hard in a long time. Shoveling dirt and planting trees and bushes is harder than I imagined."

"Have you met his family?" I asked.

"Yes," Doug replied. "They have become my pseudo-parents. He has a younger brother. They've made me feel like family."

"I'm happy you found a family, Doug," I added. "God only knows we didn't have one when we were growing up. How long are you and Will in town?"

"We're here until Tuesday evening," Doug replied. "We're staying at the Fairmont."

"The Fairmont was my home until I found my apartment," I explained. "If you want, you can stay at my apartment. I've been staying with Cory most of the time."

"He must be good in bed, then," Doug added with a smile.

"Only when Connor is in it," Cory added as he stepped beside us. "Your boyfriend and I, Doug, have hatched a plot. The two of you will be our guests at our home for dinner tomorrow night."

Cory looked at me when he noticed I gave him a look of disapproval.

"I think of it as our home, Connor, even if you don't," Cory said as he leaned down to kiss me on the cheek. "We're also driving you back to your hotel whenever you're ready to leave."

"Which should probably be soon because Eagan looks as though he's a little tired," I added.

~~~~~

"Hello, Connor," I heard Bobby's voice before I saw him standing in the open door of my office.

"Bobby!" I exclaimed. "You're back! It's great to see you again."

"It's good to see you again, too, Connor," Bobby added as he stepped into my office with two young men who looked a lot like Bobby. "These two are my brothers, Will and Steph. Guys, this is my friend Connor."

"Nice to meet you," I said to Bobby's brothers as I stepped from behind my desk and shook hands. "Let's sit over here."

We moved to the seating area to the left of my desk. Will and Steph sat on the love seat. Bobby and I sat opposite in two side chairs.

"What's going on, Bobby? I've been worried about you," I finally said.

"I went back to West Virginia for my mother's funeral," Bobby began.

"Your mother passed away? I'm so sorry," I said.

"Thank you, Connor," Bobby replied. "I planned on staying just a few days to attend her funeral. But I couldn't leave these two in my father's hell hole."

I looked at each of them before I returned my attention to Bobby.

"I arrived to find my cheap ass father planned to bury my mother with practically no service with her body dropped into a pine box. He didn't want her body embalmed because it cost money," Bobby began. "I wound up paying for the entire funeral. Otherwise, my mother would have wound up in the back yard of my parents' house serving as food for the vultures."

"You're kidding!" I exclaimed.

"Nope," Bobby continued. "Not only is he a cheap ass drunk, but he is also a sadistic asshole. Two days after my mother passed away, he moved his mistress permanently into the house to keep him company."

"It wasn't the first time the bitch had been in the house," Will added.

I saw the anger in Will's eyes.

"My father made Will drop out of school when he reached his sixteenth birthday," Bobby said. "Got him a job at a quarry doing back breaking work to fund my father's drinking habit. Steph would be in the same position when he turned sixteen next year. I couldn't leave them, Connor. I couldn't leave my brothers with such a moronic man."

"I understand, Bobby," I replied. "What's your plan?"

"Get Will and Steph settled into school," Bobby replied. "Find a bigger place to live. Beyond those two tasks, I have no idea."

I turned my attention to Will and Steph.

"What's your favorite subjects in school?" I asked both brothers.

"English," Will replied. "I wanted to become a writer, but our father crushed that dream."

"Music," Steph answered. "Bobby found a clip of you in the show you won the Tony for. I decided I wanted to do what you did in the clip. You were amazing."

"Thank you, Steph," I replied. "Let me know if you need help finding your brothers the appropriate school, Bobby. I haven't been in Boston long, but I have managed to meet some influential people."

"Thank you, Connor," Bobby said. "I appreciate your concern. We'll be fine, but we'll need time to adjust."

~~~~~

I sat in my office on Thursday late afternoon contemplating the week. I reconnected with my little brother I hadn't seen in nine years. I developed plans to get Fletcher back in college and working at the Center. Bobby is back with his younger brothers. I told myself `Now, if I could only forget Garrett Wilson even walks this earth' I'd be fine.

"Hello, Connor," Cory asked as he appeared outside my doorway.

"What brings you here, Cory?" I asked as I stood to give him a kiss before leading him to the seating area beside my desk.

"I missed your charming face," Cory replied. "I can drop in to see my boyfriend while he's at work, right?"

"Sure," I replied. "Why do I think you have an ulterior motive for dropping in?"

"I thought it might be fun to go to the city and take in a show and attend a black-tie fundraising event," Cory suggested. "New York is always fun this time of year, and we can stay at my place in the Upper East Side."

"What kind of black-tie fundraiser?" I asked.

"LGBT Community Center," Cory replied. "I promise it will be an excellent opportunity for you to network. Hob nob with the theater crowd. Three weeks from now."

"I'll need to send my tux out to be cleaned," I added. "Maybe I should just look for a new one. I bought the one I have now at a secondhand store in the Village."

"I could call my friend at Neiman-Marcus," Cory said.

"As if I can afford a tux from Neiman Marcus," I said as I threw a napkin at him.

"I could buy it for you," Cory calmly said. "They might have one for under one thousand dollars."

"Cory," I explained. "You will not buy me a tux, and I will not spend anywhere near one thousand dollars on one. Case closed."

"Yes, your highness," Cory said with a smile. "Can I at least buy you lunch?"

"Yes," I replied. "You may buy me lunch. Where?"

"Stella," Cory suggested. "It's just down the street."

"Let's go," I replied as I grabbed a sport coat I had deposited on a guest chair in front of my desk.

"You could be lunch," Cory said as we left the Center. "You look smashing today... And sexy... And hot... Where did you get the jacket?"

"Thrift store," I said with a smile. "I believe in recycling. I bought the shirt from the thrift store, too. Most of my clothes come from thrift store backgrounds. They say you are what you wear. So I have a few rough edges, which I'm certain you've noticed by now."

"I like your edges," Cory said as he pulled the restaurant door open for me. "Your edges fill out your jeans and shirt in the best possible manner."

"Sounds to me like you want my body naked and in bed with you," I replied with a smile.

"Always," Cory said as the maître d' led us to our table.

We sat, ordered our drinks, and moved into our banter for a few moments before Cory dropped a bomb.

"How's Garrett Wilson these days? I hear his father has demoted him. He's no longer one of the managing partner at GW Investments."

"How do you know this about Garrett Wilson? And why would you think I knew him?" I asked. I felt as though Cory shoved a knife in my back.

"Anyone in the venture capital business knows the inner workings of our sister companies," Cory explained. "I had a seat across the restaurant when you stormed out leaving Garrett Wilson sitting alone at the table with his mouth agape."

"Why didn't you tell me you were at the restaurant before now?" I asked in disbelief.

"I didn't want to embarrass you," Cory added. "When I heard about Mr. Wilson relieving his son of his corporate duty, I thought you might want to know. We in the business know the senior Mr. Wilson is a raving homophobe. Is there something else I should know?"

"Garrett Wilson and I were close in our last few years of high school," I began. "Until his father found out he was dating a guy, and the guy was Puerto Rican, we were good together. We lost touch with each other because his father didn't want him hanging around with people who weren't like them. White. Rich. Ignorant. I hadn't seen him or heard from him since we graduated from high school until I saw him at the restaurant."

"And you still have feelings for him, right?" Cory asked.

"I thought I did until I met the bastard at Stephi's," I explained. "He's still the selfish person who can't stand up to his father for fear he'll lose all his money."

"Garrett's father fired him for being homosexual," Cory explained. "Garrett lost his job because, according to my sources inside GW Investments, he's gay. So I'll ask again. Do you still have feelings for him since he's lost his job and security?"

"Of course not," I replied. "He's lost everything?"

"I'm not privy to all the financial arrangements of the Wilson family," Cory continued. "Other partners bought Garrett out at the request of the senior Mr. Wilson. I can't make you, but I urge you to contact him. You might change your feelings about him."

"Right now, Cory, you don't sound like my boyfriend," I added. "You're giving advice on how to rekindle a relationship that primarily lived in my mind. Have you changed your mind about us?"

"No," Cory replied. "I'm still madly in love with you, but you have connection issues you might never overcome. I don't want to lead a life with you that might end if your feelings for Garrett resurfaces."

"You think I'm dumping you for a hardheaded, self-centered, gutless asshole?" I exclaimed. "I know now he's not a person I can love. I see that now... One last thing I need to say... I hate to admit this... after all this time fighting you... about us forming... a permanent relationship..., but... I... I... I love you, too."

Cory's smile brightened one hundred percent. "Does this mean you'll move in with me?"

I smiled back at Cory. "We need to agree on how we handle financial matters, but yes."

"Now we have something to celebrate!" Cory exclaimed.

"On one condition," I began. "Do not buy me an Armani tux while I'm not looking. Otherwise, the deal is off!"

"Got it," Cory replied. "And we'll figure out the financial arrangements. Just be patient."

"I'm nothing but patient, sweetie," I said before I put my hand on top of Cory's. "Just think. We have Garrett Wilson to thank for our moving in together."

We paused our conversation. I felt Cory's eyes locked on me.

"Cory," I said finally breaking the silence. My eyes found Cory's. "Garret Wilson hurt me when he chose his father's wealth and social standing over me. So did my asshole ex-boyfriend when he passed along his life-long gift, HIV... I needed time to heal so I could forgive them... And you're my healer, Cory... You made me realize I could love someone again and not be afraid of getting hurt."

To be continued...

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I would enjoy hearing your comments about this story. You can write to me at MaWriterBoy@yahoo.com.

 

Please also see:

 John's Journey Forward found in the Beginnings section

 

Sam and Chris in the College section.

 

We're in This Together found in the Relationships section.

 

Jeffery Comes Home  in the Beginnings section.

 

Taking a Stand in the College section.

 

Life With Tim in the Authoritarian section (Please note, this story is not for everyone because there are several scenes depicting Master/slave and BDSM relationships. So, if you are not interested in this activity, please, please do not read this story.)

 

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