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The Next Time You Buy Tampons
Disclaimer: I don't own Playtex... just so you know.
Jarred pursed his lips angrily as he stalked through the aisles of the supermarket. He decided that he hated his sister, his father, his brother and his life. He hated his sister because it was her fault she needed tampons, he hated his father for ordering him to pick some up for her, he hated his brother for being too busy tuxedo shopping to do it instead and finally; he hated his life for putting him through such undeserved torture.
When he reached the correct aisle he brushed dark bangs out of his eyes and glared at the wall of colorfully packaged supplies. They mocked him. He narrowed his eyes even further trying to figure out what kind his sister had asked for.
Pads? No, those were certainly different than tampons. He knew at least that much. He also knew that he should probably know this stuff since he was nineteen and all. But alas, for better or worse, he had avoided women as much as possible throughout his life and this was where his lack of womanly etiquette got its revenge.
He was utterly clueless.
Growling under his breath, as a woman pushing a cart with a small boy in the seat threw him a disapproving glance, he snatched a box that read “Playtex” on it and fled.
As he stood in line waiting to pay for his purchase a group of teenage girls walked by and burst into a fit of giggles. He sullenly attempted to ignore them but one girl seemed determined to make his life hell.
“PMSin’s a bitch, isn’t it hun?” she smirked and gestured toward the thrice-damned things. Jarred muttered something under his breath wishing that she would simply let it go. “Who’re they for? Your girlfriend? Or your mom?” she continued with a snicker.
He couldn’t help but tense up and turn on her with an eerily calm face.
“My mom died last year. And I’m gay,” he smiled through clenched teeth. The girl paled and looked away from his fierce gaze.
“Oh,” she said simply and beat a hasty retreat back to her other simpering friends. He sighed and turned back to where the cashier was waiting. His dark eyes met startling green ones that almost made him drop the box of tampons. He flushed and looked away from the amiable, but sympathetic face of a thoroughly attractive guy he guessed was a year or two younger.
“Sorry about that,” he coughed and set the box of womanly supplies down so the cashier could ring it up.
“No problem,” the response was given with a grin beamed in Jarred’s direction. “Girls are useless anyway,” the cashier rolled his eyes and the box slid through the scanner with a beep. “That’ll be four ninety-five.”
“Sure. Thanks,” Jarred replied and handed the guy a ten. Their fingers brushed and Jarred hated the way his skin felt more alive than it had moments ago. He hated the way he was so adept at foolishly letting any contact with an attractive male go to his head. Most of all he hated the blush he knew must be tingeing his cheeks. So he glared at the world for forcing him into embarrassment once more.
“Once again, no problem. And next time I’d recommend not getting the super-plus kind. I’ve got a sister too, and she says they hurt like a bitch when they come out,” the cashier winked handing him his change.
“How’d you know they were for my sister?” Jarred asked, his mouth ajar.
“It’s a secret. Plus I seriously doubt you’d be using them yourself,” the cashier grinned and then turned his piercing green eyes to the next customer.
Jarred stood staring at the other youth for a couple of moments before shaking himself off and heading toward the exit. In a daze, he watched the doors of the supermarket slide open before him and he walked out into a wall of heat.
He wished he had caught the cashier’s name.
--
“Yo Lyle!” Brandon called out and Lyle’s brown mop of hair emerged from behind a counter where he had been cleaning the floor.
“Hey!” Lyle offered his co-worker a grin and smiling green eyes. “What’s up?”
“Did you see that guy with the tampons today?” Brandon asked with a knowing smirk. Lyle smirked back.
“He was pretty hot, wasn’t he? And good news for me! He’s not into cats… if you know what I mean,” Lyle winked playfully. Brandon cracked up.
“You’re so cheesy. Honestly, you need some serious help,” Brandon’s laugh seemed forced and lasted longer than it should have been but he finally sobered enough to add, “How’d you find out? I mean, not every hot guy that comes your way is gay. Me for example. Everyone knows that the bisexual guys are better in bed,” Brandon smirked and flexed his arms in a mock show of hotness. The show was lost on Lyle as his face darkened. He remembered distinctly what the sullen customer had said.
“Some girl came up to him and asked him if the tampons were for his girlfriend or his mom. She struck a nerve ‘cause he replied with something about his mom dying this past year and being gay.”
Brandon shook his head in disbelief while helping Lyle clean up the floor.
“Some people really amaze me. It’s scary how rude girls can be without even trying. Unless he just said that stuff to get her to piss off,” Brandon sounded hopeful that his suggestion that ‘Hot-Tampon-Guy was an ass’ was the truth. Lyle didn’t know what was up with Brandon’s attitude today. It almost seemed as though…
“I doubt it,” Lyle scowled ferociously for a moment and attacked a particularly hard patch of dried on something with soapy water and a sponge. Despite his sour thoughts toward the girl and Brandon he couldn’t keep the smile from breaking out on his face while remembering the blushing man.
“He was so adorable. You could tell by just looking at him that he was embarrassed. He didn’t seem to know what to do with himself,” Lyle laughed. “And he was all moody about it too. Like a little kid.”
“A sexy little kid by the way you’re talking about him. You into pedophilia?” Brandon laugh was forced and to Lyle it sounded cruel.
“If it means getting into his pants? Definitely,” Lyle grinned defiantly and noted that Brandon began to sulk as though jealous. Lyle had the idea that changing the topic to his foster sister’s upcoming wedding would be a good idea. Brandon had been acting off lately and he had an idea as to what it might be about but he wasn’t quite ready to confront it yet.
And that’s when Brandon confronted it for him by asking him out.
--
“Here,” Jarred growled as he flung the box of tampons at his sister. She caught it deftly out of the air and he glowered. At least the damned thing could have inflicted some pain to the person who had caused him so much torture.
“Eric wants to talk to you,” Jane drawled with a bored expression. She looked down at the box and grimaced. “Thanks for getting me the ones that hurt like hell, butt wipe.”
“My pleasure,” he smiled and ignored her sixteen-year-old presence when his brother appeared and ushered him into the guestroom. Clothes were strewn about and a suit of some sort, covered in plastic, hung from the corner of a large mirror.
“Jane said you wanted to talk to me?” Jarred asked with concern seeping into his voice. He really should have paid more attention to his brother’s love life and was fearing the worst, but he didn’t think that Eric had it in him to back out of a wedding. Not when he loved his fiancée as much as he seemed to.
“Yeah,” Eric dragged a naturally tanned hand through his short black hair. “I’ve got some good news, and I’ve got some bad news.”
“Bad news first,” Jarred replied automatically. Eric smiled at him, relieved that some things would never change. Jarred loved to ‘save the best for last.’
“Josh can’t be my best man at the wedding. He got into a car accident and broke both of his femurs somehow.”
Jarred’s intake of breath was a hiss.
“Ouch,” he offered lamely. His heart beat a bit faster when he realized what his brother was about to ask of him.
“The good news is that he’s okay and that I’m fairly sure there’s someone just as close to me, and just as important who can be his stand-in. Will you be my best man?” Eric asked and stared his brother in the eye showing him that it was going to be a large responsibility but one he knew Jarred was capable of handling.
“Of course I will!” Jarred grinned and wrapped his arms around his brother in a tight hug. “You know I’d do anything for you. I’m just glad that you’ve got Carrie to keep you happy till death do you part. As of next week anyway,” he laughed.
“Now we’ve just got to find a suitable boy-toy to keep you occupied, dearest brother,” Eric teased and ruffled Jarred’s sleek black hair. Jarred retaliated with a playful growl and a jab to Eric’s side with his elbow.
They ended up joking around and talking for a while, simply enjoying one another’s company.
--
The night before the wedding upraised voices could be heard in the hallway of a cozy home, threatening to wake the neighbors. Family pictures decorated the walls and there was a distinctly warm feeling about the home that clashed with the presence of arguing voices.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes!”
“No! I refuse to be set up on a blind date with some guy just because your future husband’s got a gay brother!”
“Please?” Carrie’s lip quivered. “You’re supposed to be my maid of honor!”
“Please don’t remind me of that, and no,” Lyle growled. “I’m taken Carrie! You can’t just pop this out of nowhere the day before your wedding! How would Brandon feel? Even if it is just one night! If you had mentioned it back before Brandon asked me out, then it might have been different but I won’t change my mind.”
“But Lyle! Eric’s told me so much about him and I know you two would hit it off! Not to mention I don’t trust Brandon. And for good reason! Why don’t you trust my judgement for once?”
“Because it usually ends up with me in a dress,” Lyle growled at his sister not wanting to believe her rumor catching ears. She said that Brandon was cheating on him with a girl. He didn’t believe it.
Lyle studied his sister to get his mind off of his boyfriend. She glowed with something that he wished he could experience too. Her wild red hair contrasted with his dark brown and he was reminded of how wonderful his parents were. Foster parents to the both of them, yes; but parents all the same.
“Why won’t you listen to me!” Carrie cried in frustration.
“Look, mom and dad are probably trying to sleep. I don’t understand why you and your hubby-to-be wanted to come home to your parents and bother them for the couple months before this whole shebang but you’ve gotta remember them,” Lyle warned.
“You’re right,” Carrie sighed. “I guess I’m just taking out my wedding jitters on you hun,” she smiled nervously and Lyle felt a gush of love for his sister smother him. “I just want to see you happy and I honestly can’t see you with Brandon. It seems like he’s not the type for you. I think you need someone more sensitive and romantic,” she fluttered her eyelashes here.
Lyle simply rolled his eyes and reminded her that Brandon was coming with him to her wedding, which was romance enough for him.
She scoffed, but dropped the subject in favor of chatter about the next day’s festivities.
Soon they were both sleeping soundly; one with dreams filled with white dresses and her wonderful groom, the other with nightmares about cheating boyfriends and being forced to go out with someone he didn’t know.
The next day went extremely fast for Lyle. He was doing his sister’s makeup and driving her to the salon at six in the morning. Then they were ordering Chinese for her because she had a last minute craving. After that they were back at the house hurriedly stuffing her in her gown before nine. After that the rest of the household was awake and in a flurry of suits and dresses, shined shoes and heels.
It was insanity to say the least. At ten they arrived at the church to go through a quick run through of what was to happen (the groom never got to see the bride of course, with the bad luck and all) because at previous rehearsals some of the members hadn’t been able to make it. Lyle was one of those people so he paid extra attention to what exactly he was to do during the actual service.
He knew everything would be perfect for his sister. He would make sure of it.
Unfortunately, when they got there the groom’s best man and younger brother ‘Jarred’ was nowhere to be found. His sister was reportedly missing as well but Lyle didn’t care so much about her. He was simply relieved that now he wouldn’t have to worry about Carrie pushing him at the other man.
He was told that Jarred and his sister had been to all the other rehearsals so no one was sweating it too much and that when the time came everyone would know what to do and when to do it.
After the rehearsal the craziness toned down as guests began to arrive. Carrie and Eric left to wait for their walk down the aisle and Lyle followed. His dad was in the room with her and he smiled at the sight of father and daughter sharing a quick embrace. Carrie looked like she might start to cry.
“Hey,” Lyle popped in and joined the hug. “Aren’t you proud dad? Carrie’s finally found a guy who can put up with her!”
“I’m more proud of you than you could ever know,” the elderly man beamed at his daughter. Then he turned on Lyle with a knowing smile. “I have a feeling you’ll make me proud too.”
Lyle ducked his head to hide his flushed cheeks and thanked his foster father. It was amazing to know that his parents supported him no matter what his sexuality was.
“Jarred!” A happy shout came from the other room and Lyle tensed before flicking his eyes over to Carrie. She smiled smugly and glowed with that infernal bride-to-be glow. Lyle sighed and wondered where his boyfriend was.
“I told him to be here around nine-thirty,” Lyle growled to himself under his breath. He sat down, waiting for the cue for his sister and father to begin their walk down the aisle. He smoothed his tuxedo pants and ran a hand through his brown mass of hair. It was styled to look lazily done in order to take advantage of his naturally unkempt hair. He had to admit it looked good this way.
His foot began to tap impatiently as he looked at the clock. Brandon should have been here by now. Lyle forced himself not to think of the possibilities of where else Brandon could be. Maybe he should have listened to his sister?
Not able to contain his curiosity, worry, and some anger at Brandon’s absence, he quickly pulled out his cell phone. He dialed Brandon’s mobile and he smiled when his boyfriend picked up with a husky ‘hello’. It sounded like he had just woken Brandon up. His anger died.
“Hey babe,” he grinned. He couldn’t stay angry at his boyfriend with the adorable picture of a newly awoken Brandon flitting through his mind. “Did you sleep through your alarm clock again?”
“Who is it Brandon?” a girlish voice hummed and Lyle’s smile froze.
“Shit,” was Brandon’s breathy reply. Lyle could tell Brandon had put his hand over the phone but it didn’t stop the voice of his boyfriend from coming through. “Hold on a sec Jane.”
“Hey Lyle,” Brandon’s voice was injected with fake cheer.
“What the fuck, Brandon. WHAT. THE. FUCK.”
“Look, it’s not what it sounded like!” Brandon attempted to defend himself.
“Not what it sounds like? Not what it fucking sounds like? Do you think I’m stupid? Well guess what? I’m not! We’re over! I should have listened to Carrie. You’re a fucking bastard Brandon. Go to hell,” Lyle hissed into the phone and then snapped it shut. It immediately started to vibrate, signaling a call. He angrily turned it off, cursing Brandon under his breath.
To his surprise the music cue started up and Lyle was happy to get up and hold the trail of his sister’s dress as they stepped out into the church. He wanted to focus on something else. Anything else.
Everyone hushed as Carrie started down the aisle. She radiated love and light and beauty. Her dark red hair was pulled up in an elegant twist and some stray curls brushed against her shoulders.
The cut of her dress was simple but its intricate silver embroidery suited her and brought out the green of her eyes. Lyle was proud of those eyes. They were the same as his even if his parents hadn’t been the same as hers. He loved them and he was ecstatic to know that Eric loved them too.
As they approached the alter Lyle remembered that he was supposed to stop for a moment after Eric led Carrie the last couple steps up to the priest and wait for something. Or so Carrie had said. Eric lead Lyle’s sister up, gazing lovingly at his soon-to-be-wife and a person Lyle assumed was Jarred stepped down at the same time. Lyle fought the urge to back away as Jarred walked up to him and stealing his wrist, kissed the back of his hand.
Lyle was floored.
He wasn’t sure what was going on but he knew it had something to do with Carrie’s wish to set them up. The only problem was that he couldn’t quite find it in him to hate her for it. Jarred dropped Lyle’s wrist and coughed. With a start Lyle immediately remembered he was supposed to step up to the side of his sister.
He did it feeling distinctly lightheaded. There was something familiar about Jarred. Something extremely familiar.
It was something… nice.
Lyle found that as the priest droned on he was sneaking glimpses in Jarred’s direction, trying in vain to remember where the other man was from. Jarred had straight black hair that he wore longer than his brother Eric’s. Elegant bangs fell into his eyes and he brushed them back once in a while with long, tapered fingers. Dark eyes darted over to him quickly and Lyle was struck by the childishness there that offset the rest of Jarred’s physique.
Jarred was the kind of guy who looked like he might be a little arrogant and conceited. The kind of guy who knew way too much about sex, and way too little about love… but the sulky childishness in his eyes had a jarring effect that disproved that immediately.
Lyle didn’t want to think about why, but he was suddenly very happy he was single.
As though that thought had summoned Brandon, Lyle caught sight of his boyfriend standing at the back of the church. Brandon was looking at him with an unreadable face. Lyle decided he could deal with it at the reception.
--
Jarred’s hands were shaking. He ignored the green eyes that had been on him ever since the wedding ceremony and hesitantly straightened his tie with slick fingers. He forced out a nervous smile and stood. Smiling just wasn’t his thing.
Jane’s usually apathetic teenage face was lit with a grin and she winked at him. At least his little sister had faith in him. He was glad she had shown up in the nick of time. He had been worried when he heard she was missing.
He inhaled and exhaled deeply to prepare himself while lightly tapping his fork against his glass.
The jubilant gossiping of the hall became a slow murmur before dying down to nothing. The silence was a pressure around him that he forced himself to ignore.
Sweat trickled between his shoulder blades and he cursed the powers that be for giving him stage fright.
“Everyone, I’d like to thank you all for taking part in the celebration of my brother’s wedding,” he began in a wavering voice and paused as a loud cheer came from the rowdier guests. His eyes darted around the table where his own family sat alongside Eric’s new one. They all urged him on with their expectant gazes. He caught sight of Carrie’s younger brother and avoided the bottle green eyes. It had been bad enough when he’d had to kiss the guy’s hand.
No, not the guy’s hand. Lyle’s hand. Now those green eyes seemed to be glued on him and it put him on edge. They were familiar in a way that put an unreachable itch under his skin.
The cheers died down and he cleared his throat as best he could and forced himself to continue, pushing all other thoughts aside.
“I know it might be forward of me, but I’m going to tell you about how much Eric has impacted my life so you can understand and share in the joy I have attained from my brother’s happiness with his new wife.”
Eric beamed from beside Carrie and Jarred felt his stage fright significantly decrease.
“Eric has been there for me from day one. When I was a kid, I was a wimp, and that’s putting it lightly,” he smiled ruefully which gained him a few chuckles from the guests, “and I was always coming home whining about some bully taking my cookies or my lunch money. Well, Eric soon put a stop to that. He was like my own personal knight in shining armor. I think I lost count of how many guys he beat into the ground for my sake.”
Eric had the decency to blush and Carrie kissed his cheek quickly. She murmured something into his ear that made the red on his cheeks darken and Jarred’s smile spread to a grin before he turned serious again.
“When I came out, he was the first one to know. He was the first one to accept me for it and eventually got my parents to accept it as well. I owe everything to him. He taught me how to swim, how to hock a lugey into girl’s hair, how to go streaking without getting caught, and how to moon people while driving, ” he paused here with an impish grin for the roar of laughter to die down. Eric looked like he wanted to sink into the floor out of embarrassment.
“More importantly he also taught me how to deal with people who wanted to bring me down. He showed me how to protect and love the people I care about and he showed me that it’s not what other people think that matters, it’s what you think of yourself.”
Jarred could see many of the guests nodding in agreement with his words and he smiled. Eric’s head was ducked as he pushed back the sentimental tears that threatened to trickle out as Jarred continued.
“So now you can see why this is such a joyful occasion and why my heart is so full of gratefulness. My brother deserves the happiness that this woman has and will continue to stir within him. I pray you all feel the same. Thank you,” Jarred ended and sat down quickly to hide his embarrassment at the applause he received.
Eric stood up and beamed at Jarred.
“Thank you Jarred. Everyone! Another round of applause for my best man!” The clapping continued for a moment and when it died down Eric continued.
“Since my brother so openly shared, I will as well. He taught me that there are things in the world worth protecting. He is one of the few things that I would protect with my life. This is why I encourage any of you here who think you might be a good match for him to take a shot at it!” Jarred felt as thought he was going to explode with humiliation.
He glared at his brother for all he was worth and his eyes darted to Lyle who was holding a hushed conversation with his sister. Deciding to ignore it he turned his attention once more onto his brother.
“Eric!” he hissed from his chair, but his brother gave no sign that he heard.
“But keep in mind, Jarred here hasn’t been so much as kissed yet so if you hurt him, I swear I’ll rip out your livers and feed them to you raw,” there was an uneasy silence and Jarred’s eyes narrowed further. “But if you end up being the one for him you’ll find yourself just as embraced and loved by me as Cassie has been embraced and loved by Jarred,” Eric ended, smiling happily.
There was all around applause and some cheering that consisted of whistles and catcalls. Eric sat down and Jarred hid his face behind his hands.
--
Lyle watched Jarred make his speech as if in another world. Eric’s best man was familiar and it drove Lyle crazy to know he could not remember where the man was from. But when the dark haired hunk sat down with heated cheeks and an embarrassed smile the connection snapped together in Lyle’s mind.
“Jarred’s the tampon guy,” Lyle voiced without thinking and suddenly Carrie’s face was in his own. “Agh! What are you doing?” he hissed at his sister.
“The tampon guy?” she whispered with a face that was the epitome of ‘wtf’. Her voice was low and Lyle took her lead, not wanting to be rude to whoever was speaking in Carrie and her husband’s honor now. Turns out it was Eric who talked about Jarred quickly before sitting down.
“Yeah, he came in and bought tampons from work once,” he replied and his eyes glued themselves to Jarred’s sulking face. From the corner of his eye he caught sight of Eric’s father standing up as Eric sat down.
“He bought… tampons?” his sister asked and looked at Jarred as though to reassess him.
“For his sister, you idiot!” he growled. She smirked.
“Oh. Are you interested in him then?”
“Maybe,” he admitted and averted his eyes from long obsidian hair and a dark, sullen gaze.
Carrie’s face lit up. “You mean you’ll break up with Brandon?”
At this, Lyle’s face fell and he sifted through the tables to catch sight of the one that housed a weary looking Brandon.
“Already did. You were right. He was cheating on me and now he’s here making me wish I’d never doubted you,” he whispered brokenly and Carrie, ever the drama queen, exclaimed a loud and shocked, “What!”
Eric’s father, who was now speaking, stopped in his speech and all eyes turned to Carrie and Lyle. Lyle felt his face heat up and tried desperately not to melt under the dark and questioning stare he knew Jarred was directing their way.
“Carrie! Say something,” he hissed from the corner of his mouth.
“I’ll say something alright,” she retorted and slammed her fists against the table. “Excuse me. I’ve just become aware of something,” she smiled dangerously at her guests. Lyle made a note-to-self: Never, ever upset a happy bride during her wedding reception.
“I’m very sorry to interrupt your speech my dear father-in-law, but I fear that it is necessary. You see, I have the same protective feelings that Eric has toward Jarred when it comes to Lyle. And finding out that his boyfriend just cheated on him and had the gall to show up to my wedding is quite upsetting!” Her smile turned murderous and Eric attempted to calm her down to no avail. Jarred’s sister’s face paled.
“Brandon. Remove yourself,” was her icy command and the boy it was directed to stood up slowly with his hands held up in defense.
“Carrie. Don’t you think this should be settled between me and Lyle?” his ex asked and Lyle knew that Brandon was humiliated beyond belief. At least a hundred sets of eyes were tagging him as a cheating asshole.
“Fine. Lyle, go talk to him,” Carrie snapped. Lyle rose from his chair and silently followed Brandon out of the dining hall. He heard Eric’s father continue with his speech in the awkward silence that had descended on the hall.
--
Jarred found himself quickly excusing himself to the bathroom.
He halted before a corner when he heard angry voices. He tilted his head around the corner so that he could observe the two bickering boys.
“What?” Lyle hissed. “Couldn’t you have simply stayed away? I told you, we’re over.”
Brandon’s smile was degrading and Jarred’s jaw clenched at the sight of it.
“I wouldn’t be talking if I were you. I saw the way you looked at the best man after he kissed your hand. Funny that he’s the same guy you were gushing about the very freaking day I asked you out!” Brandon belted out the words and Lyle cringed back.
Jarred’s heart was beating a million miles a minute. Partly because he was spying on something private, partly because he wanted to punch Brandon’s face in, and mostly because of Brandon’s words. Lyle had been gushing about him? When and how? It didn’t help that now he really did have to go to the bathroom. When nature calls it fucking calls.
“Oh yes, because I’ve secretly been cheating on you with some guy that came into the store once to buy tampons and somehow ends up to be the best man at my sister’s wedding,” Lyle’s sarcastic comment flew back and it hit Jarred like a ton of bricks.
That’s where he had seen Lyle before. He pushed down the remembrance of that entirely humiliating day to focus on the conversation. He couldn’t help feeling triumphant though. Lyle had been gushing about him.
“So you admit it!” Brandon cried and Lyle’s face twisted in anger.
“I was being sarcastic! I would never cheat on you!”
“The what was that kiss? You looked all too delighted up there when he defiled your knuckles, you fucking slut.”
“Slut?” Lyle gasped and his green eyes flared with anger. “You’re the one who’d rather be sleeping with a girl than spending a day with your boyfriend at his sister’s wedding! I told you Brandon, it’s over.”
“Over? Did you even give me a chance to defend myself?” Brandon shot back.
“How the hell are you going to explain it? What possible reason would you have for sleeping with a girl in the same bed?”
“She’s my cousin!” Brandon argued and Jarred’s fists clenched. He could see the lie in Brandon’s eyes. “She needed a place to crash, okay?”
Lyle’s anger dropped into confusion and Jarred almost pissed himself when something brushed up beside him. It was Jane.
‘What are you doing?’ he mouthed but she simply raised a delicate eyebrow.
“Your cousin?” Lyle’s voice attracted Jarred’s attention and he frowned. He wanted to tell Lyle not to believe Brandon but it seemed Lyle’s confused face was leaning in that direction.
That is until Jane stepped out.
“Jane!” Brandon exclaimed, utter surprise written on his features.
“This is Jane? Your cousin is the younger sibling of the man my sister is marrying!? I can’t believe I was going to trust you!” Lyle practically screamed when he realized what was going on. He sent a murderous glare at the both of them and shoved past Brandon.
Jarred had no time to react before the boy flew around the corner in an angry rage. When Lyle saw Jarred he stopped dead in his tracks and gaped.
“Do you happen to know which way the bathrooms are?” Jarred asked in a voice he forced to come out less awkward than he felt. Lyle’s glare came back and he walked briskly past Jarred throwing directions over his shoulder.
“Down the hallway. Take a right when you’re past the cheating ex and slutty little sister.”
“Uh, thanks,” Jarred replied but Lyle was already out of earshot.
Jarred stared at the retreating boy and when he came back to his senses he stormed out to find himself facing Brandon sucking face with his sister.
Anger ripped through his veins like a typhoon. He growled dangerously and ripped them apart and shook his head in disbelief at his sisters half lidded eyes.
“You were always my least favorite sibling. Now I know why. And you,” he turned his furious eyes on Brandon, “never touch my sister again.” He congratulated himself on not saying anything about Lyle.
Instead he wound back his fist and punched Brandon square in the face.
His fist made a sickening crunch when it impacted with Brandon’s nose. Fuck did it hurt.
He then turned his back on the pair and stalked off to the men’s room.
--
Music flooded the room and hundreds of people twirling about in a frantic dance made Lyle happy he wasn’t out there with them. He would have puked his guts out by now if he whirled around that fast. He was confused and somewhat lost in his own muddled thoughts.
Brandon had emerged after all of the speeches with a broken nose that was spouting blood and had been ushered off to the emergency room. The were only three possibilities and only one of them was logical. Either Brandon punched himself, or one of the two siblings had done it. Lyle doubted Brandon would be able to harm himself like that and he also doubted that it was Jane because she had been crying and wiping at his nose with her dress.
That left Jarred.
But why? Most likely it was because Brandon had been fooling around with Jarred’s sister. This thought made Lyle cringe because it meant that Jarred heard most of Lyle and Brandon’s argument. Embarrassing to say the least. Not only that but it ruled out the possibility that Jarred had punched Brandon for Lyle’s sake.
Lyle desperately wanted that to be true but logic pummeled that hope to death and forced him to acknowledge the fact that things just don’t work that way. Jarred didn’t even know him, so why would he punch Brandon for cheating? No, it was much more logical that he punched Brandon for screwing around with his sister.
But Lyle didn’t want that to be the reason. He wanted… hell he didn’t know what he wanted.
Nothing made sense.
“Has anyone seen Jarred?” Eric’s worried and somewhat slurred voice pulled Lyle out of his state of self-pity. It was getting dark by this time and everyone over the age of 21 was pleasantly sated with wine. Unfortunately for him, that meant Lyle was still sober.
“Last time I saw him, he was on his way to the bathroom,” Lyle offered and forced himself not to think of it. Just how long had Jarred been standing in the hallway when he and Brandon were fighting? And just how long had he been in the bathroom? Was he still there?
Carrie sighed from beside Eric and looked at him with imploring eyes.
“Would you go look for him?”
Lyle opened his mouth to reject her request but found himself nodding in affirmation.
“Sure thing, Carrie,” was his reply as he got up from his seat and dodged through the mass of dancing and laughing entities.
He trudged out of the ballroom and past the dining hall, stopping to look at splatters of blood where Brandon had stood earlier today when they were arguing. He sighed and closed his eyes before taking a right.
He stood before the bathroom and stared at the little sign that said ‘Men.’ Taking a deep breath he pushed open the door and stepped inside. Dark eyes watched him from their perch on the counter.
Green eyes lowered to stare at shined shoes.
“He’s an asshole. So’s Jane. I woulda punched her too if she wasn’t my sister,” came Jarred’s sullen greeting. Lyle’s heart screamed into overdrive as it peeled out of his chest and rammed itself into his throat.
“Thanks,” he choked out.
“No problem,” was Jarred’s response as he swung his feet back and forth. An awkward silence spread over them and Lyle wasn’t sure what to say or whether he could say anything.
So he didn’t. Instead he walked over to where Jarred was sitting on the counter and gently picked up the hand that was still bloodied and beginning to bruise. He shook his head and rolled his eyes at Jarred’s lack of first-aid.
Silently he dampened a paper towel in the sink next to where Jarred was sitting and began to work at the already dried blood.
--
Jarred watched with barely restrained emotion as Lyle tenderly washed his knuckles. The brown haired temptation in front of him didn’t say a word as caked on blood was sloughed off. He gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes when Lyle added antibacterial soap and started to gently rub it in.
Jarred’s other hand clenched until it was white as the stinging pain forced him to hiss in discomfort. He glared at the world. For some reason it liked to see him suffer, he was sure of it.
Here was a perfectly gorgeous guy in front of him and he knew he didn’t have a chance.
Lyle’s eyes darted to his and he attempted not to look so sullen. He knew it was childish to blame everything on the fact that he was sure his name adorned life’s hit list, but there was no other logical explanation as to why he always got the short end of the stick.
A classic example would be now. It was his little sister’s fault that Lyle had been hurt. If she hadn’t helped Brandon cheat then Lyle would probably still be happy. That cut his chances of Lyle liking him down even more. As Jarred stared, enraptured by Lyle, he could see the workings of sadness and fatigue in the movements of the other boy. It killed him.
The way Lyle’s hands shook slightly, the downcast eyes and the soft downward tilt of his lips.
The tremble of Lyle’s breath that was sending chills through Jarred’s body.
The worst sign was the wetness on his cheeks as he wrapped up Jarred’s hand with a handkerchief pulled from the pocket of his tux. Lyle lifted the bandaged hand to his lips.
Jarred couldn’t handle it.
“C’mere,” he commanded as he hopped off the sink and wound his arms around Lyle’s waist. As a sob wrenched its way through Lyle’s body one of Jarred’s hands traveled to the back of Lyle’s neck and gently pressed the younger boy’s face to his chest.
He held tightly to Lyle and cursed himself for loving it. Loving that he was holding an attractive guy whose tears were spreading through his tux. He loathed loving the feeling of Lyle’s hair against his neck. He despised loving the contact and the sheer bliss it sent through his body as it fantasized about what might happen if Lyle would give him a chance.
Damn it. He shouldn’t be hopeful like this when Lyle was so obviously crushed. He shouldn’t feel like he was soaring when obviously Lyle’s wings had been clipped so painfully by Brandon’s cheating.
“I’m sorry,” he suddenly had the urge to say. “I should have asked for your number that day. Or at least your name. Maybe it would have prevented you from saying yes to that asshole.”
Lyle’s trembling slowly ceased and he gave a chuckle. Bright eyes lifted to search dark ones.
“So you heard all of it?” Lyle asked and Jarred nodded as a guilty flush stole over his cheeks.
“I wanted to make sure you’d be okay,” a pause, “That and I had to go to the bathroom,” Jarred admitted with a rare smile. Lyle laughed and to Jarred’s disappointment he backed away, breaking the embrace.
“Thanks, and it’s okay. Maybe next time, yeah?” the younger boy smiled and moved further away.
“No,” Jarred’s voice came out firm when he realized Lyle was planning to run away. Lyle stopped his backward retreat to look at Jarred with wide, confused eyes. “Not next time. This time,” Jarred continued and grabbed Lyle’s wrist, ignoring the pain that blossomed through his knuckles.
He wrapped his other arm around Lyle’s stiffened body and forced himself not to think about what he was doing. He’d be damned if he let this chance slip through his fingers. He kissed Lyle on the lips, hoping that his inexperience wouldn’t matter. It was sloppily done and he cursed himself for being so foolish and was about to let go when Lyle relaxed into his arms.
To his delight he found himself being instructed by Lyle in the art of making out. He slowly backed Lyle up against the nearest surface and pushed their bodies flush against each other, earning a low moan from Lyle. Lyle’s tongue darted over his bottom lip, seeking entrance that he gladly gave. They lazily frenched for as long as they could before breaking apart for air.
Jarred’s lips gravitated to Lyle’s neck. In between soft pants, he pressed kisses into the younger man’s skin.
“Would you,” Jarred’s breathy voice stopped to apply another gentle kiss, “go out with me,” another kiss, “sometime?”
Strong hands found his shoulders and pushed, breaking him away from Lyle’s neck.
“Please,” Lyle pleaded, “No more. I need some time. Next time, Jarred. I promise,” green eyes wouldn’t meet his. Jarred didn’t move. His wounded gaze fastened on Lyle’s flushed face and reddened lips.
“Next time? What if there isn’t a next time?” Jarred asked breathlessly, thinking of all the things that could happen. Lyle might find someone else. Lyle might realize that he didn’t want Jarred. Lyle might forgive Brandon and take him back.
“Next time,” Lyle promised before shoving him away and escaping out the door.
Jarred stood staring blankly at the door for a few moments before stalking dejectedly back to the counter. He hopped up and leaned back against his hands while glaring childishly at life.
--
Lyle lethargically rang up item after item. Three times today he had passed a box of tampons through the scanner and three times he had looked up hopefully to find strangers staring back at him. Utter bullshit.
He grabbed a twenty from an outstretched hand and quickly made change, never looking up. He started on to the next customer with a sigh. The lone box of Playtex mocked him as he swept it through the scanner. Super-freakin-plus. He didn’t dare hope it was more than a stranger.
Hope was for idiots.
Then again he was a moron for having turned Jarred down. He had wanted so badly to say yes and make plans to go out with the best man of his sister’s wedding. But he’d wanted time to set everything right in his head. He’d needed to make sure it wasn’t because he was on the rebound that he was so willing to go out with Jarred.
Now he’d lost his chance.
“That’ll be four ninety-five,” he droned and held out his hand. The customer handed him what looked like the exact amount and he popped the register drawer open while handing them their receipt. He counted the amount again to make sure he’d gotten it right and stopped at the fifth and unnecessary dollar.
Scribbled on it with green sharpie was a message: ‘This is next time, right?’ along with a cell number. His head snapped up and his eyes were instantly caught in a dark gaze that watched him from behind obsidian bangs.
The owner of the dark eyes grabbed his bag of tampons, politely thanked Lyle and walked away.