Chapter Thirty-three
Evan carefully lifted Jesse’s arm from across his chest and slid his leg out from under his.
He eased out of the bed and collected his scattered clothing.
Once dressed, he stood at the edge of the bed gazing down at him.
He pulled the blankets up around Jesse’s neck and kissed his cheek one more time.
He walked out of the bedroom, closing the door softly behind, and heard the TV playing.
He closed his eyes in a long blink. He had hoped he wouldn’t have to face Brandon, not only because he stayed the entire night, but also because after Jesse passed out, he realized he forgot about the bedroom door being open.
He put on his jeans so he could get a towel to clean Jesse with, and when he stepped into the hall to go to the bathroom, he saw Brandon’s bedroom door closed tight.
He didn’t hold much hope that Brandon didn’t know what had happened.
He took a deep breath and walked into the living room.
Brandon sat on the couch in a pair of sweat-shorts, eating cereal and watching Yu-Gi-Oh!. Achilles was on the couch beside him, begging, but when the puppy saw Evan, he bounded to him.
“Trying to sneak out before he wakes up?” Brandon said without taking his eyes off the TV. “That’s real brave.”
Evan bent to pet Achilles. “It’s not exactly what you think.”
Brandon looked at him, his blue eyes dark with anger.
“I’ve woken up alone enough in my life to know exactly what it is, so spare me the bullshit, Evan.
” He shook his head in disgust and turned his gaze back to the TV.
“Just get out. It’s my own stupid fault for letting you come over.
But for some reason, I thought you were more of a man than to take advantage of him while he was drunk. ”
Evan slunk toward the door with his head down. He paused, his hand on the knob, and looked back at Brandon. “I know what your answer will be, but I need to ask you a favor.”
Brandon slowly raised his eyes, looking at him in complete disbelief that he would dare ask something of him.
“I…” Evan began, “I was hoping you would take care of the house for me while I’m on the road. You can stay there if you want to, I’ll handle all the bills, of course, and—”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Brandon exclaimed.
He flung his spoon into his bowl so hard milk splashed up.
He set the bowl on the coffee table as he stood and advanced on Evan, stopping inches from him.
“After everything you’ve done, after the way you’ve treated my brother, you’ve got the fucking balls to stand in my apartment and ask me to take care of your house?
And to say I could stay there, in the house you and him lived in together, do you have any idea what that would do to him?
Do you know how that would look? I knew when I met you that you were an arrogant son of bitch, but I never imagined you could be this heartless and I never would have guessed you were this goddamn stupid. ”
Evan couldn’t bring himself to look into Brandon’s eyes, or at any part of him, and focused on the floor.
Brandon shoved Evan hard on the chest, making him stumble backward into the door. “Get out.”
With his eyes cast downward, Evan turned and opened the door. “I’m sorry, Brandon,” he said softly as the door clicked shut behind him.
Brandon spun away from the door and shook his fingers roughly through his hair. He stomped back to the couch and grabbed his cereal bowl, grimacing at the soggy Honey Nut Cheerios, then heard Jesse’s bedroom door open.
A second later, Jesse shuffled to the end of the hall and stood staring at the door leading out of the apartment. “He’s gone, isn’t he?”
“Yeah.”
“How long ago?”
“Not long.”
Jesse sat in a dark blue recliner catty-cornered from the couch. Achilles trotted over to him, and he reached down to pet him.
After several minutes of silence, Brandon said, “He had the nerve to ask me to take care of his house while he was on tour. Can you believe that?”
“What’d you tell him?”
“I told him no, obviously.”
Confusion made Jesse shake his head. “Why?”
Brandon looked at him in greater bafflement. “What do you mean why?”
“He doesn’t have anyone else he can turn to, Brandon. He’s all alone. And he looks at you as family. You can’t say no to him.”
“Well I did. And if he looks at me as family, then he should’ve shown more respect in the way he treated you.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Jesse demanded.
Brandon rolled his eyes. “Don’t you remember anything from last night?
I heard enough to know that asshole should’ve had more control and left you alone.
” He softened his voice. “I’m sorry for letting him come over.
I thought I was doing the right thing and it’d make you feel better if he told you happy birthday. ”
Jesse fixed Brandon with a stern glare. “If you ever call him a name like that again, black belt or not, I’ll kick your ass.”
Brandon choked out a shocked gasp. “You’re joking, right? He crept out the freakin’ door this morning like a dog and that’s an insult to him!” He pointed at Achilles.
“If I’m not angry about it, then why the hell are you? I want you to call him this afternoon and tell him you’ll help with the house while he’s gone.”
Brandon snorted and looked away.
Jesse stood up and marched across the living room to him. “I’m serious, Brandon. If you won’t do it because he asked, then do it because I’m asking.”
Brandon folded his arms across his chest. “Fine,” he said grudgingly.
Jesse exhaled a relieved breath. “Thanks. I’m going to get a shower.
The limo should be here in half an hour to take me to the bus.
” He turned to go to the bathroom and paused at the entrance to the hall.
“He did the right thing, Brandon. If he had stayed, I never would’ve been able to leave.
He knows that. He’s the strong one, not me.
And until I become stronger, I don’t deserve to be with him. ”
Brandon looked at him, taking in his words as Jesse disappeared down the hall.