Plan Fast

Copyright November 7-16, 2005 by Matthew Haldeman-Time

Rating: R

Pairings: assume JC/Justin, Drew/Nick/Brian, Nick/Jeff, Howie/Chris, AJ/Kevin, Lance/Joey

Disclaimer: The young men who comprise the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, and 98 Degrees are their own people.  The author has not met anyone here described, nor does the author mean to suggest that these people act this way in real life. This writing is a work of fiction. I make no money from this venture.

July 27^th, 2:51 p.m.

            Nick hung up the phone and jogged downstairs.  “Drew!” he shouted as he reached the first floor.  No answer.  “Andrew!”

            “He’s in the den,” Jeff said, coming from the kitchen and continuing down the hallway, a plate in each hand, a six-pack tucked under one arm.  “What’s up?”

            “It’s almost August,” Nick said.

            “Yeah.”  Entering the den, Jeff set the plates on the coffee table, tossing a beer to Nick Timmons-Lachey and another to Drew.  Cracking one open for himself, he asked, “What’s in August?”

            “Drew’s birthday,” Nick said.

            “Oh.”  Taking a sip, Jeff licked his lips, glancing at the TV screen and asking, “What’s the score?”

            “Twenty-one to six,” Nick Timmons-Lachey said, intent on the game.  “Shit!”

            “If Dederman doesn’t get his ass in gear, Comiskey needs to go back to Johnson,” Drew said.

            “Nick,” Nick said.

            “Hold on,” Nick said, still watching the game.  “Come on,” he urged softly, “come on, come - - oh!  Shit!  Oh, damn it, what was that?”

            “They traded Greene for this clown?” Drew demanded.

            Sighing, Nick sat back, taking a drink and propping one foot on the coffee table as Jeff sat on his other side.  “What’d you want?” he asked Nick.

            Drew kicked Nick’s calf.  He lowered his foot.

            “What are you getting Drew for his birthday?” Nick asked.

            “Isn’t that weeks away?” Nick asked Drew.

            “Yeah,” Drew said, paying more attention to the game than to conversation.

            “It’s not even two weeks from today,” Nick said.  “What are you getting him?”

            “The same thing I always get him,” Nick said.  “Nothing.”

            Nick stared at him.

            Nick’s gaze drifted back to the TV.

            Nick stared at Drew.

            “Nice,” Drew said approvingly, nodding at the screen.

            “Not bad,” Jeff agreed.

            “It shouldn’t have been that close,” Nick Timmons-Lachey said.

            “You’re not getting him anything?” Nick asked.

            “I never do,” Nick said.

            “He never does,” Drew said, completely unconcerned.

            “What’s the point?” Nick Timmons-Lachey asked.  “He has money.  If he wants something, he can get it himself.”

            “It’s his birthday!” Nick protested.  “He’s your brother!”

            “I’ll probably call him up and tell him happy birthday or something,” Nick said.  “Maybe not - - usually we see each other that day, anyway.”

            Nick couldn’t take it.  “What are you getting him?” he asked Jeff.

            Nick nudged Jeff, eyes on the game.

            “What?” Jeff asked, elbowing Nick back.

            “What are you getting Drew for his birthday?” Nick Carter asked.

            “I don’t know,” Jeff said, and took a long swallow of beer.  “Maybe I’ll pick up a card or something.”

            What the hell?!  “Are you playing a joke on me?” Nick demanded.  “What’s wrong with you?”

            “What?” Nick asked, glancing at him.

            “Drew,” Nick said, to get his attention.  “Are they serious?  Nick says ‘happy birthday’ and Jeff gets you a card?”

            “Yeah,” Drew said, apparently not seeing what the big deal was.  “It’s just my birthday, I have one every year.  If you want to celebrate, you and Brian can take me out to dinner or something.”

            “What the hell’s wrong with you?” Nick demanded.  “Can you give a shit about your own birthday?  I thought that you guys were supposed to care about him!  Am I the only person here who gives a fuck?”

            “No.”  Nick reached for the bowl of chips.  “Brian probably cares.”

            Nick glared at the three of them, mentally cursed them out, and stormed away.

            Drew stole a few chips, watched the next play, and said, “Let me know if one of these guys learns how to round bases.”  Nick and Jeff grunted affirmatively; he licked salt from his fingers and got up, going to find Nick.

            Nick was in the kitchen, calling Brian, when Drew came in and picked up a bag of pretzels.  “You don’t have to call me back,” Nick said, “but we’re talking about Drew’s birthday when you get home.  Love you.  Bye.”  He hung up and looked at Drew.

            Drew looked back, resting a hip against the counter, opening the bag.  “We’ve known each other for years.  I’ve had a birthday before.”

            “We weren’t married then.”

            Drew nodded.  “Okay.  That doesn’t put more pressure on it.”

            “You don’t give me a lot of opportunities to do big things for you,” Nick said.  “You’re not that kind of guy.  This is a chance for me to do something for you, that’s all about you.”

            “I don’t care about big things,” Drew said.  “I care about you and Brian.”

            “Drew!” his brother shouted.

            Drew glanced in that direction, momentarily distracted, then said to Nick, “You don’t have to prove anything to me.  I know how much you love me.  You’ve always been good to me and generous with me.”  Stepping forward, Drew leaned up, kissing Nick gently.  “I love you,” he whispered, gazing into Nick’s eyes.

            Nick’s phone rang.

            “Get your ass in here before you miss the replay!” his brother yelled.

            Another ring.

            “I don’t need anything for my birthday, as long as I have you and Brian,” Drew said.  He kissed Nick again, unable to resist the temptation of Nick’s mouth.  God, he loved Nick.  “You should probably get that,” he said, sliding his hand to the back of Nick’s neck, drawn to Nick’s warmth, breathing in Nick’s heat.

            “It’s just Brian,” Nick said, urging him even closer, kissing him until he moaned.

            “Brian isn’t just anything,” Drew said, his voice coming out unsteadily as Nick pressed him back to the table.

            “Brian’s just going to be pissed that he missed this,” Nick said, kissing him again.

July 28^th, 7:18 a.m.

            Nick wasn’t exactly asleep anymore, but he didn’t want to get up yet, so he stayed there with his eyes closed.  He could’ve sworn that he’d fallen asleep in the middle last night, but now he was on the outer edge, facing away, with Drew plastered to his back.

            Drew.  Drew’s birthday.  Not even two weeks away.  He had to come up with something.  Something good.  Something that would make Drew happy.  Something that would make Drew light up inside and grin outside.

            He could try something mushy that would make Drew get all emotional around the eyes, that would make Drew touch him and whisper all sorts of sappy-romantic things.

            He could try something flashy that would get Drew excited and active.

            He wanted to roll over and look at Drew for inspiration, but Drew had too firm of a hold on him.

            Maybe he’d try something sexy that would make Drew totally jump him.  That’d be fun.

            “Mmn,” Drew said against his shoulder.

            “Morning,” Nick said.

            “Nnm,” Drew said in an irritated voice of denial.

Not ready to wake up yet.  Okay.  Nick went back to thinking.  He could throw Drew a party.  What kind of party?  Where?

Drew grumbled something without real words in it, and pushed Nick away, crawling over Brian and leaving the bed.

Nick rolled over, taking Drew’s warm spot and Drew’s Brian.  Mmm, pretty.  He kissed Brian’s cheek and smiled when Brian moved easily into his embrace.

Drew left the bathroom, yawned, put on workout clothes, rubbed at his eyes, and went downstairs.

Nick wasn’t about to work out every damned day, but considering what Drew’s body looked like - - and felt like - - he wasn’t at all sorry that Drew did it.

Brian’s hand stroked his chest.  Pretty blue eyes opened.  Brian smiled at him.

Being completely in love with Brian the way Nick was, it was impossible to resist that smile.  Nick kissed all over his face, adoring him, while he whispered a few poetic things about how it felt to wake up in Nick’s arms.  Nick kissed some more, and Brian whispered love some more, starting to get turned on, and Nick was seconds away from making a move when he suddenly remembered.

“What are you getting Drew for his birthday?”

Brian blinked, taken by surprise.  Coming back to focus, he ran gentle fingertips over Nick’s mouth.  “I’m going to give Drew what he wants most in all of the world.”

“Okay.”  Nick waited to hear what that item was.

Brian just smiled.

Oh.  He should have known.  “You can’t just give me to Drew for his birthday.  I meant, what are you buying him?  We have to do something, take him somewhere, throw him a party.”

“Drew doesn’t want all of that,” Brian said, running the back of his fingers up and down Nick’s neck.  “He doesn’t care about his birthday.”

“I care about it,” Nick said.  “We have to do something.”

“I already picked out my present,” Brian said, kissing the corner of Nick’s mouth.  “If you want to do something for Drew, ask him what he wants.”

“I should know what he wants,” Nick said.  “I should know Drew better than anyone.”

“You do,” Brian said.  “Trust that and go with whatever your instincts tell you.”

“My instincts tell me that I love him and I should celebrate him, and doing something special for his birthday would be a great way to do that.”

“Okay.”  Brian kissed him.  “Let me know what you decide to do, and I’ll help you.”

Nick frowned.  “You’re not going to help me decide?”

“Nope.”  Brian stroked his hair.  “You know what Drew wants.  I trust you to make the right decision.”

July 31^st, 8:24 p.m.

            Drew’s birthday was just over a week away, and Nick was screwed.

            He slumped on the sofa and scowled at the TV.

            “At least turn it on,” Drew said, coming in and picking up the remote, coming to sit beside him.

            Drew channel-surfed.

            Nick ran his fingers through Drew’s hair.

            Drew sank against him comfortably.

            Nick kissed Drew’s temple.

            Drew watched TV.

            Nick thought.  There had been a few years when he and Aaron hadn’t been able to celebrate each other’s birthdays, and that had been hell.  He knew that Drew and Nick loved each other, and it didn’t make sense to him that they wouldn’t do more to acknowledge that.

            Then again…  Drew and Nick’s relationship was a little…different.  Maybe they’d spent too many years repressing expressions of love and affection, in case it was taken the wrong way, and now they were stuck there.

              “It doesn’t bother you that Nick and Jeff ignore your birthday?”

            “They don’t ignore it,” Drew said.  “Saying ‘happy birthday’ and giving me a card counts as acknowledging it.  They just don’t make a huge deal out of it.  Neither does Justin.”

            That wasn’t good enough.  “You-”

            “I don’t care about big flashy parties,” Drew said, shifting around some to look at him.  “I usually think of birthday parties as mom things.  Kid things.  You know, your mom makes a cake and gives you presents, and weird family members give you things you don’t want, and you get your picture taken blowing out the candles, and it’s over.  Once you’re older…”  He shrugged, a motion that Nick felt.  “The guys and I, we take each other out for our birthdays, to restaurants or clubs.  I know that going out for the night with my brother and our friends probably doesn’t sound like a lot, but it’s actually been a good tradition.  We always have a great time.  It’s just the four of us hanging out, but it’s fun, and it’s actually kind of important to us.  Just don’t tell them that I admitted it.  We usually act like it’s a spontaneous night out that just happens to fall on somebody’s birthday.”

            If it was important to Drew, and it mattered to Drew, and Drew got something out of it, then Nick supported it.  And it made sense to him, especially when it was in terms where Nick could picture a similar situation between himself and the fellas.  “I get that,” he said.  “It sounds like you guys, too, going out together for your birthdays four times a year every year and acting like it’s just a coincidence every time.”  But that was about Drew and the guys; Nick wanted to do something for Drew, too, himself.

            “Sometimes we used to go to,” Drew grinned, “strip bars.”

            “You and Nick and Jeff and Justin used to take each other to nudie bars for your birthdays?” Nick asked.  His sweet, innocent little Drew.

            “Not for my birthday,” Drew said.  “We were never that lecherous, anyway.  We’d just stare and get drunk and go back to the hotel.”

            “Half of you were gay,” Nick said.  “More than half of you.  What were you doing in a strip club?”

            “Being really confused and uncomfortable,” Drew said.  “You’ve been to strip clubs.”

            “Yeah.”  Nick shrugged; Drew tucked in closer, comfortable and familiar against him.  “They never have any hot guys up there.  Just naked chicks.”  He grinned, struck by inspiration.  “I’ll take you to a male strip club for your birthday.”

            “No, you won’t.”

            “Why not?  It’ll be fun.”  Nick tightened the arm around Drew’s waist.  “Sexy guys with super-cut bodies, taking off their clothes.  Ass-shaking, muscle-popping, dick-swinging - - it’ll be great.”

            “Mmm.”  Drew rested a hand on Nick’s thigh.  “I bet Brian will love it.”

            Shit.  “He doesn’t have to go.”

            “You’re going to take me away from Brian for my birthday treat?” Drew asked.

            Shit, again.  Brian loved Drew too much to be happy with that.  “It won’t be all night.  You can see Brian before and after.”  Or, hey, “We could hire them to come here!”

            “You’re going to pay men to come over to our home and undress while gyrating in front of me?” Drew asked.  “And Brian’s going to like that any better?”

            Damn it.  “He wasn’t always such a tight-ass.”

            “He’s always been very principled,” Drew said.

            “And such a nasty freak in bed,” Nick said.  “But you’re right, he’d never let me hire strippers.”  Sighing, Nick petted Drew for a while, pondering.  “What the hell am I going to do for your birthday?”

            “You could strip for me,” Drew suggested.

            Nick snorted.

            Drew made a curious kind of humming noise.  “I wonder if we could get Brian to do it.”

            Nick grinned.

August 1^st, 12:39 p.m.

            “I am not stripping down to my skivvies so you and Drew can whistle and stick money down my shorts!”

            “Why not?” Nick asked.

            “You could at least try it,” Drew said.  “It looks like fun.”

            “No,” Brian said firmly.

            “I knew he wouldn’t do it,” Nick said.

            “It’d be easier to talk him into it if you’d do it first,” Drew said.

            “Hey!” Nick protested.

            “Why not?” Drew asked.  “You’re not shy.  It’s just us.”

            “Pervert,” Nick said.  “You do it, if it’s that damned easy.”

            Drew rolled his eyes.  “And how would that be a good birthday present?”

            “Well…”  Nick grinned.  “The present part is what comes after your clothes are off.”

August 2^nd, 11:58 p.m.

            While Drew slept, Nick watched, sitting beside him on the bed.

            Drew murmured Nick’s name and rolled over, fast asleep.

            Footsteps on the stairs.  Brian came into the room, passing his fingers through Nick’s hair and leaning down to press soft kisses to Nick’s cheek.  “Sorry I’m late.”

            “How’d it go?” Nick asked.

            “It was great.  The promotional campaign Lance set up is amazing.”  Crouching by the bed, Brian skimmed his fingers over Drew’s cheekbone, giving him a gentle kiss.  “Good night, sweetheart.”

            Drew said Brian’s name and subsided back into sleep.

            One more kiss, and then Brian rose, taking Nick’s hand and walking to the bathroom.  Attached to that hand, curious, Nick followed.  When Brian closed the bathroom door, Nick sat on the sink.  It was kind of cold, since he was naked.

            “Is this something we’re keeping from Drew, or do you just not want to wake him up?” Nick asked.

            “I was talking to JC today.”

            “Okay,” Nick said.  Since Brian had just spent all evening at a meeting with JC at JC’s house, he’d kind of assumed that Brian and JC would talk at some point.

            “He said that - - god, I just have to,” and Brian kissed him, both hands sliding up his neck to cup his face, tongue slicking forth as Brian pressed in close between his thighs.

            Perfectly willing to go with this, Nick returned Brian’s deep kiss, sliding his hand down-

            “Wait,” Brian said breathlessly, pushing away Nick’s hand.  “Not yet.”

            Getting another taste of Brian’s mouth, Nick wrapped his legs around Brian’s waist, trapping Brian against his body.  “What did you bring me in here to talk about?”

            With a slow sigh, Brian stroked Nick’s shoulders.  “It doesn’t seem quite as important now as it did when I was in the car.”

            Giving Brian a quick grin, Nick kissed him again.  “Say it anyway.”

            Brian took a moment to pull himself together, but made no attempt to move away from Nick.  He looked into Nick’s eyes.  “JC said that Justin’s been strange all week.”

            “Justin’s always strange.”

            “He won’t tell JC what it’s about, but JC thinks that Justin’s planning something.”

            Without replying to that, Nick lowered his legs, giving Brian room.

            Brian didn’t move.  “JC’s birthday is this week.”

            “Yeah.  It’s the same day as Drew’s.”

            Brian looked at Nick.

            Nick looked right back, refusing to break.

            Finally, Brian spoke.  “This had better not be all about you competing with Justin to prove who loves his husband more.”

            Nick didn’t smile.  “If it were, I’d win.”

            Brian didn’t smile, either.  “Tell me-”

            “I’m not trying to prove anything,” Nick interrupted.  “But I talked to Justin and he’s making all kinds of big plans for JC’s birthday, and Drew’s birthday is the same damned day, and I’m not going to let Justin make the whole fucking day all about how far he’s willing to go for JC.  It’s like, screw Drew, it’s Justin Loves JC Day!  Fuck that.  I love Drew, you love Drew, he should get at least half of the attention.”

            Brian gathered up Nick’s hands, looking deeply into Nick’s eyes to center him so he’d listen.  “Drew has more than half.  He has all of our attention, he’ll have one hundred percent of it.  That’s all of the attention he wants.  Drew doesn’t care about who does what for JC’s birthday.  If Justin does something huge and extravagant, Drew will hear about it, and wonder how much it cost, and not give a thought to why we didn’t do that for him.  Drew doesn’t want huge displays like that.  Drew wants time with you and me and Nick and Jeff and Justin.  If you want to do something great for Drew’s birthday that’ll really make him happy, show up.”

            Nick frowned at Brian.

            “I promise,” Brian said.  “You know me, sweetheart, you know that if Drew wanted a party and a parade and a statue in his honor, I’d have it all ready just for him.  But he doesn’t.”

            “He’d like those things if he got them,” Nick said.  “The point isn’t doing what he wants, the point is doing what he’d never do for himself.  A party and a parade and a statue, he’d like that.  It’d make him happy.  He’d have a good time.”

            “I just want to make sure that you’re not doing this to outdo Justin.  This isn’t a competition.  JC and Drew would never want it that way.”

            Nick sighed.

            “Concentrate on Drew,” Brian said.  “Do whatever you want to do, but do it for him.  Not to prove anything to anyone.”

            “Okay.”  Nick plucked at Brian’s shirt.  “I’ll think about it.”  He plucked some more, thinking.  “You don’t know what Justin’s planning?”

            “I have no idea.”  Brian poked his chest.  “And don’t ask him.”

August 3^rd, 10:42 a.m.

            “He said something about an art museum,” Chris said.

            Nick frowned.  “He’s taking JC to a museum?”

            “Not taking him to one,” Chris said.  “Buying him one.”

August 4^th, 8:19 a.m.

            “A what?” Brian asked, pausing with the spoon halfway to his mouth.

            “A sports team,” Nick said.  “A football team, if we can get one.”

            “Nick, you can’t just buy a football team.”

            “Why not?  Drew loves sports.”

            “We’re not going to buy Drew a football team for his birthday.  Do you know how much that would cost?”

            “We have money.”

            Suspicion crossed Brian’s face.  “Is this about Justin?”

            “No, this is about Drew.”

            Brian’s eyes narrowed.

            “He’s buying JC an art museum!” Nick exclaimed.  “A fucking museum!”

            “Good for him,” Brian said.  “We’re not buying a football team.”

August 5^th, 3:39 p.m.

            Toward the end of the call, Howie said, “Chris told me you might be interested to know that the art museum deal is old news.”

            “What is it instead?” Nick asked quickly.

            “He said to tell you that now it’s a private island.”

            “Shit!”

August 6^th, 9:21 p.m.

            Brian found Nick stretched along the length of the sofa, glaring at the ceiling.  Climbing onto Nick to sit on him, Brian ran loving fingers over his forehead.  “What is it?”

            “I can’t compete with Timberlake.  If we bought Drew his own star, Justin would buy JC a constellation.”  Nick sighed, looking away.  “I give up.”

            “Give up on competing with Justin,” Brian said.  “Don’t give up on giving Drew a good birthday.”

            Nick turned his gaze on Brian with suspicion.  “You kept saying that all I had to do was show up.”

            “That’s true,” Brian said.  “But I’ve thought a lot about what you said the other day, and I think that you’re right.  Drew wouldn’t make big plans for himself, but if we did something for him, he’d really enjoy it.”

            “I’ve been laying here thinking about what you said, too,” Nick said.  “I was competing, but that wasn’t right.  It’s not about that.  It’s…”  He scratched his eyebrow.  “Drew’s special and really important to me.  His birthday isn’t just any other day, and we shouldn’t let it roll on past like it’s any day of the year.  August eighth is the one day of the year that should be about Drew, and we can’t just let that pass without celebrating it.”  Nick absently rubbed his hand over Brian’s thigh.  “I love Drew, and I want to do something for him.  It would make me feel good.  And he’d like it.”

            “You’re right,” Brian said.  “You’re right about all of that, and I’m one hundred percent on board.”

            “Good.”  Reaching up and pulling Brian in closer, Nick asked, “So what are we doing for Drew’s birthday?”

            “I don’t know,” Brian said.  “But we’d better plan fast.”

August 7^th, 11:04 a.m.

            Nick hurried down the hallway from the kitchen.  “Brian, did you - - Drew!  What time is it?  What are you doing here?”  Hastily whipping a handful of papers behind his back, he called, “Brian!  Drew’s home!”

            “Now?” Brian demanded.

            Keys still in one hand, Drew asked, “Do you want me to leave again?”

            “Yes,” Nick said.  “Yes, that’d be great.”  Shoving his papers under the nearest throw pillow, Nick came forward, guiding Drew back to the front door.  “Maybe you should go and spend some good quality time with Justin J.  You can-”

            “No, not Justin,” Brian said quickly, joining them in the foyer.

            “Oh, shit, right,” Nick said.  “Um…”  He looked at Brian, lost.

            “I…”  Brian shrugged helplessly.

            “I could go hang out with Nick,” Drew suggested.

            “No!” they protested.

            Drew hesitated.  “Jeff?”

            “No,” Brian said.

            “No way,” Nick said.  “He’s, um…  Busy.”

            “Busy with Nick,” Brian said.

            “And Justin,” Nick said.  “They’re all busy.  Together.  Very busy.  You shouldn’t bother them.”

            “Okay.”  Drew studied them.  “Is there anyone else who might be busy with them, who I shouldn’t go see right now?”

            “No,” Brian said.

            “That’s it,” Nick said.  “Just them.  And us.  We’re very busy, too.  So you should go.  So we can get this done.”

            “Yes,” Brian said.  “That would be a big help.”

            “Okay.”  Drew jingled his keys.  “I’ll go find something to do.”

            “Great.”  Brian smiled.

            “Love you, angel,” Nick said, opening the front door.  “Now go away.”

August 8^th, 7:45 p.m.

            “Hey,” Drew said, opening the front door.

            “Hey,” his brother said, entering the foyer.

            “Happy birthday,” Jeff said, handing him a card.  “We’re going out to meet Justin for dinner.  You want to come?”

            “I don’t know,” Drew said, glancing over his shoulder.

            “You have to ask for permission?” Nick asked skeptically.

            “Nick and Brian might have something planned.”  They hadn’t acknowledged his birthday all day, but maybe they were going to spring something on him.  Judging from yesterday’s behavior, they had to be.  Although if they were, they probably would’ve told Nick and Jeff about it.  Maybe this was part of that.  Drew studied Nick with suspicion.

            “So go ask them,” Jeff said.

            “Okay.”  Wondering what the plan was, Drew went to the den.  Nick was sprawled on the couch, on the phone with Howie; Brian was kissing Nick’s ankles and massaging Nick’s feet.

            “Who’s here?” Brian asked, glancing over at him.

            “Nick and Jeff.”

            Nick wiggled his toes at Brian; Brian laughed, squeezing Nick’s heel and kissing his toes.  Since Nick had shorts on, his legs were bare, and when he slowly pulled his knee in, Brian came closer, too, following his foot, kissing up his shin.

            Laughing, Nick put his foot on Brian’s shoulder, pushing Brian back, and went back to his call.

             Landing on his ass with a chuckle, Brian went back to massaging, rubbing Nick’s arches.  He looked at Drew again.  “Did you leave them outside?”

“No, they’re - - they’re meeting Justin for dinner, and they wanted me to go with them.”

            “Oh.  Okay,” Brian said.  “Have a good time.”

            That was it?  “Okay.”  Drew hesitated.  “If you had other plans for tonight-”

            “No,” Brian said.  “Go ahead.  We’ll probably just hang out here.”

            This had to be part of a plan.  Brian and Nick would never just ignore his entire birthday.  They couldn’t have forgotten; Nick had been talking about it for weeks.

            “Bye, sweetheart,” Brian said.

            “Bye,” Drew said.  When Brian’s face lifted for a kiss, he automatically responded, bending down and kissing Brian’s mouth.

            “Hold on, Howie.  Where’s he going?” Nick asked Brian.

            “To dinner with Nick, Jeff, and Justin,” Brian said.

            “Oh.  Okay.”  Reaching out, Nick pulled on the front of Drew’s shirt to tug him closer, sitting up straighter and kissing him.  “Bye, angel.  Eat good stuff.”

            As Nick sat back, Drew studied Brian.  He knew Brian.  He’d be able to tell if Brian were hiding something.  Wouldn’t he?

            Brian licked Nick’s arch and Nick laughed.

            Nick was always up to something, and out of self-preservation, Drew had learned the signs.  There weren’t any tonight.  Brian and Nick had no plans, nothing up their sleeves.  They’d settled in for a quiet evening at home.

            He didn’t want anything wildly exciting for his birthday; he didn’t expect anything terrifically special.  But he would have liked a simple acknowledgement, at least.

            Something had to be going on.  Brian and Nick, of all people, would at least say “happy birthday.”  They’d do something.  Give him something.  Mark the day in some way.

            What were they up to?

            “Sweetheart?” Brian asked, looking up at him.  “Do you need something?”

            “No.”  Maybe Nick and Jeff weren’t taking him to a simple dinner with Justin.  Maybe they were setting him up.  Drew could play along.  “See you later.”

            “Bye,” Brian said with a warm smile.

            Suspicious, speculating, Drew went back to the foyer.

            “Did the wives say you can come?” Nick asked.

            “Yeah.”  Drew waited to see a flicker of knowledge, of smugness, of anything on Nick’s face.  There wasn’t one.

“Great,” Jeff said.  “Let’s go.”

Nick drove.  Drew expected to be taken somewhere special, but instead, they just went to one of their regular restaurants.  Once there, he expected to be surprised with a party, but there was just Justin.

It was a regular dinner.  Normal.  Typical.  As ordinary and casual as any other night.

Drew decided that dinner had been a set-up, designed to lull him into a false sense of security before they sprang the real birthday treat on him.  When the guys suggested going to a club after dinner, he agreed, already anticipating what was in store.

They went to a club.  A regular old club.  Brian and Nick weren’t there.  The guys ordered too many drinks for him and made the waitresses sing “happy birthday.”  It was the same birthday he had every year.  And he ended up loving it, the same way he always did.

He had a good time.  He loved the guys, he loved spending time with them, he really had a great time.  He said so, as they left the club.

“That’s the alcohol talking,” Justin said.  “Happy birthday.”

When Justin hugged him, he hugged back.  “Thank you.  I’m sorry that I thought you were a decoy.  This was a great birthday party.”  Justin gave his shoulder an extra squeeze and said good-bye, and Nick herded him into the truck.  Flopping into a seat, Drew sighed.  He’d had too much to drink, and when he got home Brian and Nick would either pretend to be disapproving or take advantage of him.

Not that he minded being taken advantage of.  Smiling, Drew slouched down in his seat, wondering how to make that happen.  It was late; they must have gone to bed already.  Which meant they’d already made love, while he was out.  Had it been sweet, simple lovemaking?  Maybe it had started off as quick and dirty getting off, and had grown into-

“How many drinks did you give him?” Nick asked.  “I don’t like the look on his face.”

Jeff glanced back at him from the passenger seat.  “That’s just his ‘I want to fuck Brian’ look.  Don’t worry about it.”

Streetlights and headlights shimmered as Nick drove.  “If he’s too intoxicated and they get pissed, this is not my fault.”

“He’s not that drunk,” Jeff said.  “Drew.  Drew!”

“This was a good birthday,” Drew said.  “I’m going to make Nick and Brian say ‘happy birthday’ to me when I get home.”

“Great,” Jeff said.  “When they ask you how many drinks you had tonight, tell them four, okay?  Four.  And if they ask you who gave them to you, tell them that it was Justin.”

“No one’s going to believe that,” Nick said.

“It’s worth a shot,” Jeff said.  “Drew, how many drinks did you have tonight?”

“Four,” Drew said.  “Thanks for taking me to dinner.  And thanks for the card.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Nick and Brian ignored my birthday,” Drew said.  “I tried to get mad at them, but I’m okay.  They probably had a good reason.  I know how much they care about me.  Sometimes it feels like every day’s my birthday.”

“Are you listening to this?” Jeff asked Nick.

“I heard it,” Nick said.  “Trust me, if you ignore my birthday, I’ll be pissed.”

“Don’t think I don’t know that.  Drew, are you sure you’re not mad?”

“I love them,” Drew said.  “I trust them.  They had a good reason.”

“Oh, my god,” Jeff said.

“That’s just sick,” Nick said.

“Do you think it’s a cult thing?” Jeff asked.  “Do you think he’s been brainwashed?”

“I told you Nick was a bad influence,” Nick said.

“I think it was Brian,” Jeff said.  “All of that purity and light is a cover for something, I just know it.”

“Screw you,” Drew said.  Brian was very pure.  And Nick was a terrific influence.  A very positive, very thorough influence.  He’d never seen life in quite the same way since he’d met Nick.

Maybe that was a sign of brainwashing.

But it was the best kind of brainwashing.  He was more open to new experiences now.  More open to new emotions.  He took more risks.  He felt much more free.  He’d trapped himself in a box and Nick had broken right through it, bringing him into a world of so much brilliance, so much light and color and sound.  He felt so happy, so alive, so complete…  He could love now, without being afraid.  Loving openly was a miracle all by itself.

“You might want to help him get inside,” Jeff said.  “He’s smiling too much.  I think those four drinks got to him.”

He was home.  “I love you,” Drew said, sitting forward as Nick parked and got out.  “I love you, Jeff.  You’re not just my brother-in-law or my best friend or-”

“I love you, too, Drew,” Jeff said, turning in his seat and kissing Drew’s cheek.  “Now take your drunk ass inside.”

He didn’t feel drunk.  He felt enlightened.  “I’m not drunk,” he said, as Nick tugged him out of the truck.  “I’m in love.”

“Sometimes being in love can feel like being drunk,” Nick said, guiding him to the front door.  “Sometimes it feels like being hung over.”

Drew wanted to get inside.  Nick and Brian were in there.  Asleep, probably.  “They’re so beautiful when they’re asleep.”  He sighed wistfully, falling in love.  “They’re always beautiful.”

“I know.”  Nick opened the door for him.  “Have a good night.”

“I already have.”  Drew couldn’t go in yet.  He put his hand on Nick’s wrist to keep Nick from leaving, and looked into Nick’s eyes.  “I love you.”

“You’re so drunk,” Nick said, and kissed his cheek.  “I love you, too, Drew.  Happy birthday.”

Happy birthday.  Good birthday.  Drew went inside, closing the door.  He’d had a great year, and he had a lot of terrific years ahead of him.  He was so much more than lucky to have Justin and Jeff and Nick in his life, and when it came to Nick and Brian…

With a happy sigh, Drew climbed the stairs.  Nearing the bed, he tried to see in the dark.  But it looked like - -  Drew switched on the lamp.

No Nick.  No Brian.

Puzzled, he went back downstairs.  No one was in the kitchen.  He walked back through the house.

And then he heard a soft snatch of Brian’s happy laughter.  Immediately captured by the sound, he followed it to the den.  There, on the floor in the glow of candlelight, sat Nick and Brian amid a spread of photographs.

The sight fascinated him, and he wanted to watch some more, but as he stepped to the doorway, they both looked up and smiled right at him.

“Hey, Drew,” Nick said, and held out a hand to him.  “C’mere.”

“How was your birthday dinner?” Brian asked, moving a wine glass out of the way to make room for him.

Taking Nick’s hand, Drew sat in the cozy space between Nick and Brian.  “I had a great time.”

“Yeah?” Nick asked with a knowing smile.  Nick’s fingers tipped Drew’s chin back as Nick scrutinized him.  “How much did you have to drink?”

“Four glasses,” Drew said.

“Of what?”

Oh.  “I don’t have that lie ready,” Drew said.  “I’ll ask Jeff tomorrow and get back to you.”

“You do that,” Nick said with a grin, dropping a few kisses at the corner of his mouth.  “I’m glad you had a good time with the guys.”

The feel of Brian’s hand stroking his back made Drew’s spine melt, and having Nick this close, looking right at him, kissing on him, made Drew’s brain woozy.  “I love you.”

Nick’s smile was amused.  “We love you, too, angel.”

“I keep thinking about how much I love you.  I’m so happy and I’m so in love with you.”  Drew kissed Nick, moaning, intoxicated by the heat of it.  “I don’t think I’m drunk, but Jeff’s right, I really do want to fuck Brian.”  Mmm, yes, oh, “You kiss so well, you always make me so hot, you’re so sexy, I love you so much…”

“We’ve been thinking about you, too,” Nick said, giving him a few sweet kisses.  The perfection of each one made him love Nick more.  “We’re looking at our wedding pictures.”

Wedding pictures?  Drew looked.  Oh…  Reaching down carefully, he picked up a photograph of Brian in mid-turn at the altar.  “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, staring.

“Brian glowed all day that day,” Nick said.  “Well, he always glows, but there was more of it that day.”

“He’s so beautiful,” Drew whispered again, and turned his gaze on the real thing.  So beautiful…  Oh…  So…  So, so beautiful…

Brian’s voice was soft and just for him and full of love.  “Happy birthday.”

Oh…  Drew wanted to-

Warm kisses across the back of Drew’s neck as Nick hauled him back.  “Pictures first, angel.”

“I like this one,” Brian said, lifting one of Drew and Nick dancing at the reception.

Drew was not fond of pictures of himself.  He found one of Nick laughing.  He just loved Nick.  He loved the way Nick laughed.  He loved how much fun Nick was.  He loved how Nick wasn’t afraid to have a good time and express himself, in any setting.

“That was a pretty good day,” Nick said.

“It was the most important day of my life,” Brian said.  “Finally coming together, the three of us uniting as one, pledging to-”

“Yeah, and you were having a pretty good hair day, too,” Nick said.

Laughing, Brian reached past Drew to push at Nick.  “There was a little more significance to the day than that.”

“I don’t know.  Bad hair can be pretty significant.”

Brian was warm against Drew, tucked up snugly against him, kissing his temple.  “What are you thinking about, sweetheart?”

He’d found a picture of the three of them walking up the aisle.  Married, on their way out of the church and into their life together.  The camera had caught Nick striding along, head up, nostrils flared.  It was clear that he’d been crying, and even though the tears had dried, there was an intense amount of emotion in his face.  He was trying to keep things in and let things out and it was all a rioting knot inside.  He’d just done the impossible and acquired something that he’d thought was destined to remain just out of his grasp.  He’d taken a true step and grabbed onto what he wanted, and now he could keep it for the rest of his life.

Maybe it was a trick of the light, but Brian really was glowing.  He’d finally united with Nick in the last possible way, in a way that fulfilled a true need in Brian’s soul.  Maybe it was because they’d gotten the past out of the way first, but ever since the wedding, Brian had been even more peaceful inside, more complete as a person.  He had Nick, and Drew had him, and they all knew that nothing would change that.

Walking down the aisle with them, Drew looked happy.  Really, really happy.  He had the biggest, goofiest smile on his face, like he had a whole party going on inside.

“That’s a good picture of you,” Nick said.

“Me?” Brian asked.  “Why?”

“I can’t see right up your nose.”

Brian laughed.  “I always told you that day was about miracles.”

Mmm…  “I love Brian’s nose,” Drew murmured.

“Thank you,” Brian said, kissing his cheek.

That had been such an important day, and tonight had been such a good night…  There was so much love in his life…  He was so happy…  Drew wanted Nick to make love to him until he couldn’t take it anymore, and then he wanted to make love to his beautiful Brian, and then, maybe, he wanted to go to sleep.

“You’re so boring, he’s yawning,” Nick said.

“I never bore Drew,” Brian said.  “He’s just sleepy.  Let’s give him his presents so he can go to bed.”

“You just want to rush things along because you heard him say how much he wants to fuck you.”

There was a grin in Brian’s voice.  “Maybe.”

Drew picked up a picture of Nick sliding the ring onto Brian’s finger.  Nick was holding Brian’s hand, looking down, utterly focused on the task.  Brian was gazing up at Nick’s face, eyes shimmering, and Drew knew that Brian had felt their souls coming together.

Brian was like that.

“Drew.”  Nick kissed his cheek; he turned his head, giving Nick his mouth, opening to Nick’s kiss.  When Nick gently eased him back, he gazed into Nick’s eyes.  Nick’s eyes were so blue and Nick was so beautiful and…

Drew blinked.  “Did you want something?”

Nick smiled.  “We got you something for your birthday.”

“We got you tickets,” Brian said.

Really?  Drew looked back and forth between them.  “Tickets to what?”

“It was Nick’s idea,” Brian said.

“It was our idea,” Nick said.  “Tickets to games.”

Really?  Drew grinned.  “Tickets to what games?”

“All of them,” Nick said, grinning right back.

Season tickets?  Since they were taking a minute off between albums, he could actually go to games now and not be too busy touring and working.  This could be awesome.  But, “To what?”

“What do you mean, to what?” Nick asked.  “To all of the games.”

“All of what games?” Drew asked.  “All of whose games?”

“Oh,” Nick said, and there was something wicked in his grin.  “To the Marlins.”

“The Panthers,” Brian said.

“The Jags,” Nick said.

“The Dolphins,” Brian said.

“The Heat.”

“The Bucs.”

“The Devil Rays.”

“The Lightning.”

“And, of course,” Nick said, “the Magic.”

Drew stared at Nick.  Turned his head and stared at Brian.  Stared at Nick again.  Tried Brian.  “You bought me what?”

“Season tickets,” Brian said.  “Box seats.”

“You’ve lived here for a while now, but you’re never actually home,” Nick said.  “Now you are home, and you have time to get into some of the local teams.”

“Or all of them,” Drew said, stunned.

“We also have some season tickets to some college ball,” Brian said.  “In case the rest of that doesn’t keep you busy enough.”

Season tickets.  Box seats.  Drew closed his eyes, leaning back until he met the floor.  Season tickets.  Box seats.  His brother was going to be so jealous.

“We were going to get you seats on the floor, at the yard line, whatever,” Nick said.  “But this way, you can show up whenever you want and take whoever you want.  You can show up with me or Brian or Nick or Jeff or Justin or all of us, we could have a whole party in there.”

Opening his eyes, Drew pulled Brian down on top of him.  “Thank you, and I love you, and you’re both crazy.”

“You’re welcome, angel.”  Nick leaned down and kissed him.  “Happy birthday.”

Season tickets.  He could go to any game he wanted.  He could take anyone he wanted.  This was the best birthday ever.

“Happy birthday,” Brian whispered, and kissed him.  Kissed him kind of deep and kind of slow and kind of hungry and, mmm, it felt really, oh, really good and…Brian…ah…  Drew rolled over, putting Brian under himself, making Brian moan.

“People can see into the boxes,” Nick said.  “So we can’t fuck in there, can we?”

Drew was going to make love to Brian wherever he wanted to.  Especially when Brian responded to him like this.  While Brian moaned softly and rocked up against him, subtly, rhythmically, Drew kissed down Brian’s neck, sucking gently.

“Oh, I forgot to mention the other tickets!” Nick said, with fake surprise.

“What other,” mmm, Brian’s neck was smooth and warm, “tickets?” Drew asked, licking while Brian arched beneath him.

“Your other birthday present,” Nick said.  “The plane tickets.  We’re spending a week on JC’s new private island.”

August 9^th, 11:49 p.m.

            With the waves lapping at the shore only a few feet away, Justin and JC sat on a towel spread over the sand.  “Look, there.  See it?” Justin asked, pointing upward.

            Instead of looking up, JC gazed at Justin.  “I still can’t believe that you got me a constellation.”

“It wasn’t easy.  But you’re so beautiful, JC, so majestic and eternal and infinite and untouchable and-”  Justin stopped talking, breaking into laughter.  “Don’t laugh at me when I’m complimenting you.”

            “Thank you, Justin,” JC said, stifling his smile and kissing Justin’s cheek, stroking the short fuzz of Justin’s hair.  “It’s an incredible present.”

            “So let’s look at it,” Justin said.  “Can you see it?  Right over…there,” he said, pointing again.

JC strained to see into the night sky, one arm automatically wrapping around Justin’s waist.  “Are those three stars the tail?”

            “Those four, right there,” Justin said.  “And then it goes off to the left.”
            “Hold on, I’m putting it together,” JC said, studying the stars.  “Is that second brightest one over there the eye?”

            “That’s the brightest one, JC.”

            “No, baby.”  JC smiled.  “You’ll always be the brightest star in the sky.”

            Laughing, Justin slid his arm around JC’s shoulders.  “I love you, too, baby.  Happy birthday.”

matthew@matthewtime.com
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