Wednesday Brief

Here are this week’s prompts: 

prompts: "How could you think you're less than perfect to me?"

or

use pasta in a creative way (not just what's for dinner lol) or

use: flowers, bridge, seesaw or

"please don't leave me..."

or

feature a fight in your story - verbal or physical or

use: pink, condolences, believe (kudos if you use Pink :) )

United We Stand- by Lily Sawyer

Tom hated being stuck in traffic. That’s why he didn’t often go to Philadelphia. But when his husband, the love of his life, had two tickets to the Philharmonic what was he supposed to do—crush his heart and say no?

The concert was a mixed bag of Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach with a splash of other greats thrown in.   They both loved classical music.  Tom got ragged about it at the fire house but he didn’t care; he had his man at his side, and he’d had a ball, and that’s all that mattered.

They’d had dinner at a wonderful, fancy restaurant.  Ben had balked about going to some place so pricey, but the meal was Tom’s treat.

Now that they were on the drive home, he glanced over at Ben, who was sound asleep in the passenger seat.

Tom didn’t think he could love anyone more than he loved Ben; he couldn’t wait to get home and show him. 

He crossed the Market Street Bridge and headed out of the city.   He was on Route Thirty, heading home to Lancaster.

It was almost midnight when they made it to their front door.

“Ben?”  Tom touched his shoulder to wake him.  “Ben, honey, we’re home.”

“Home? Oh.”   Ben stretched.  “Wow, how long was I out?”

“You pretty much conked out as soon as I hit the road.”

“Sorry I left you to drive all alone.  Well, with no one to talk to.”

“Well, you can make it up to me now. I can’t wait to get you inside.” Tom unbuckled his seatbelt and turned off the car.  He leaned over and kissed Ben.

“Can’t wait for us to get inside, huh?”

“Nope.”   He leaned in for another kiss when a loud bang broke them apart.

“What was that?”  Ben got out of the car; Tom followed him.

“Wait, don’t go, please.  Let’s talk about this.”  Their neighbor Scott was frantically running after his boyfriend Ray. They stopped in front of Ray’s SUV.

“I’m done, Scott.  I don’t want to deal with a pathetic idiot like you anymore.”

“You don’t mean that.”

The car alarm was disarmed and Ray slid into the driver’s seat and slammed the door shut. 

“No Ray, please don’t leave me.”  Scott pleaded.

Tom and Ben were getting an eyeful of the altercation.  Tom reached out and grabbed Ben’s hand and squeezed it. They’d had their fair share of arguments, but they never allowed it to get this bad.  They had an agreement never to go to bed angry, and were respectful to each other.

Scott and Ray had moved in two years ago. They seemed to be a loving couple.  Until about a month ago, when Scott caught Ray cheating. Tut Scott gave him a second chance; now Ray was leaving him.

It broke Tom’s heart to see this drama playing out this way.

“Ray, please.”  Scott grabbed the door handle, but Ray had locked the doors.

Ray drove off with Scott running after him.

Tom and Ben ran over to the distraught man.

“Scott, are you okay?”  Tom knew the question was redundant, but it was the only thing he knew to say to the poor man.

“I-I just don’t know what happened.  We had such a good life.  We were happy, Tom, really.”

“It’s okay, you just come inside with us.”  Ben grabbed the man by the arm and escorted him into their home.   He sat him on the couch while Tom got him a glass of water.

“You can stay here tonight and think things through tomorrow.”  Tom rubbed Scott’s shoulder. 

“I don’t want to put you guys out.  I’ll just go home.”

“No, Scott, you shouldn’t be alone right now.  We’ve got a nice guest room that you can use.”

“Gee, thanks, guys.  I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t worry about it.”  Tom showed the exhausted man to their guest room.

“The bathroom is right next door and feel free to use the kitchen.  We can talk in the morning, if you want.”

“Thanks.”   Scott closed the door behind him.   Tom went back to the living room to join Ben.

“Oh Tom, we have to be there for Scott.”  Ben wrapped his arms around Tom’s waist and rested his head on his shoulders.   Tom enveloped his man in a hug too.   “I’m happy we’ve never been through this.  I just love you too much to ever do anything to hurt you.” Ben pulled back to look into Tom’s eyes.  “I’ve found the man I want to spend the rest of my life with.  I’d never ever cheat on you.  I promise.”

Tom’s hand caressed Ben’s cheek.   “I know, Ben.  I know that with every fiber of my being.  You’re my whole world, Ben.  The day I met you I knew we’d be together forever.  I love you.”

They held each other and slowly walked to their bedroom.   They made love that night as an affirmation of that forever love.  

TBC

my fellow flashers

MA Church m/m

Tali m/f

Nephylim m/m

Julie Lynn Hayes m/m