Sluggishly, I felt something penetrated my comfort. Unease, I realized. Inside the splendor of the Moon and stars where I hovered, I remembered the Sun. My breath caught.Brent.
My head snapped to where I had last seen him. He still stood there, next to a straight-faced Mr. Fresby.Brent.My chest compressed, heart twisting. His expression was more than blank. It was as if the real Brent had vanished to the neverafter, and only a shell remained in his place. He was just…gone.
A scream of pure terror echoed inside my mind.What had I done?
Amazingly, it was Cole that spoke first, his voice deep and faltering, “Brent, don’t…don’t do that.”
At the sound of Cole’s voice, Brent came to with such a start that he literally took a bracing step. Mr. Fresby reached to help, but Brent shook his head, stopping him. He ran his hands through his hair, blond curls rebelling and bouncing back. With time, he glanced around at everyone, stating unemotionally, “We’ll be with you momentarily, if everyone will go ahead to the conference room.” He hesitated. “We need a moment.”
Everyone left with the insistent urging of Mr. Fresby. Even the soundlessly furious Miranda.
We were silent, standing in the sunrays that filtered through the skylights. My whole body was tortured with conflicting emotions. Fear. Joy. Shock. Excitement. I was a mess as Cole released me, oblivious to my inner turmoil. He walked cautiously to Brent. I had no idea what was about to happen.
The one thing I did know for certain was that I was seriously screwed. I had always loved Brent – yes, I was still getting to know the adult him, but that didn’t change anything. I had loved him when I thought him peaceful and carefree. And I still loved him now that I knew that wasn’t the case and I was very confused with the inner makings of Brent.
But…I was now certain that I was falling in love with Cole. I think I might have started falling for him the first night we met. I had felt a kindred spirit in the way he had so obviously bottled up his painful emotions. That was what had drawn me to him initially. Curiosity was screwing the cat big time.
Brent held up a stopping hand in Cole’s direction. Cole halted – uncertain - and Brent dropped his hand and stared out the door where a dripping Stash hailed a cab. I don’t think he really saw the world outside. Instead, his eyes were quietly distant.
Brent spoke, not looking at either of us, “That kiss was different.”
We didn’t say anything. There was nothing to say.
Silence extended and darkness threatened my newfound light.Was he going to stop trying?
Softly, Brent asked, “So you’ve chosen?”
“No.” My answer was immediate and harsh. “No, I haven’t chosen.”
He did glance at me then. His face was calm, but his eyes were sharp. “Are you sure?”
I didn’t blink. “Yes.”
Something blatantly snapped inside him. “Good, because the only way I’m ever walkin’ away from you again is if I know for a fact that you’ll be happier that way. And even though Cole’s,” he sighed and rubbed his face in irritation, “a great man for any woman to have, I just don’t believe you would be better off without me by your side. So, if you do decide you don’t want me around anymore, be prepared for a fight, darlin’.” Green eyes pierced me. “You stole my heart the first time you knocked my clock winding on that playground. And I still love you, even when you knock my heart winding with another man.” He paused. “I meant with Cole. Don’t even think about trying thatlittle stunt with someone else. The only reason I haven’t killedhimyet, is because I love the bastard, too.”
I was trying not to cry happy tears at Brent’s determined tirade, knowing he wasn’t going to leave me, and almost missed Cole’s eyes widening. Brent didn’t. He shrugged, stating, “What? I’m a southern man. When it’s time for fessing up, we tell it how it is. Unlike you damn Yankees.” Large blue saucers still stared and Brent sighed. “We went to war together, Cole. And if you need another reason beyond that, add in your sappy confession from last night and of course I love your sorry ass.”
Cole stared, blinking, and then…shuffled on his feet. Something I never thought I would see the stoic man do. He added to my shock by blushing bright pink, and tiny bead of sweat appeared on his forehead. I gaped as he stuttered, “Well…I…I love you, too.”
Brent’s mouth fell open and he choked on a laugh. Cole’s eyes turned deadly, even as he flushed brighter. Brent held up his hands, saying, “You don’t have to say it because I did. Christ, you look like you’re going to pass out.” His body shook. “Besides, I already knew that. Other than the reasons I already said, you of all people wouldn’t have been caught dead in the same bed as another man if you didn’t care. Even for the perfect woman. You were bred that way.” He laughed outright, earning another scowl from Cole. “Your face is as red as Ember’s gets.”
“Shut. It.” Cole’s teeth clenched.
Brent snorted, trying to stop laughing and be kind in the face of Cole’s clear discomfort. I bit my cheek to keepfromlaughing. They were doing their male bonding thing now that the lovefest was over. I just got to sit back and watch the show. Pretty entertaining.
Cole froze. His eyes snapped wide, again. In a rush he stated, “I don’t love you,” he flicked a finger, pointing at Cole’s crotch, “that much.”
All of Brent’s hard work flew right out the window. He threw his head back, curls bouncing, and let his riotous laughter fill the open space. Choking, he joked, “Thank God. Otherwise, we were going to have some serious issues.”
“Fuck you.” Cole simmered.
“No thanks. I’m straight.” Brent’s cheeks puffed out as he tried to stop his chortling.
Cole muttered something under his breath, which I was guessing wasn’t very flattering to Brent, and he started straightening his suit and tie that I had rumpled. He ran a hand through his black spikes, ignoring the tickled man he had just had a touching moment with. He grunted deeply, allmanagain, “We had better get into the conference room before we’re fired. I’m not sure how far Mr. Fresby will let these antics continue. He’s seen too much into our personal lives, as it is, than a client should see. Perhaps, we should show some professionalism from here on out.”
Brent nodded and straightened to his full height. He stared at the ceiling for a few seconds, commanding control of himself. It was an amazing thing to watch. It was like seeing the real Cole turning to ice, but instead, it was the real Brent turning to quietude. Moments passed, and then he nodded once curtly when he was finished, all business calm.
As we made our way to the room where everyone waited, it all clicked in my mind with Brent. I – finally – realized that the calm façade that Brent had normally taken in the past when times were tough, was just that. A façade. I hated to think it, but his “mommy issues”, which was in a nutshell, repressed anger, had caused him to seek an opposite reaction. Tranquility. That was how he dealt, and to some extent, hid.
