Friends from Boston

[shyguy]

Shy and TJ have spent a nice, quiet day together as Shy waits for Tom to show. He's curious if Dev will be with him. He's not sure that he'd want to go on a road trip to help out a husband's ex, so if the guy does show up, Shy knows he'll be impressed.

"Are you sure you don't mind them staying here?" Shy asks TJ again.

"Of course I don't mind," TJ assures him with a grin for the umpteenth time. "And if they decide to stay somewhere else, I won't be offended," he adds before Shy can ask that. "I'm just psyched to meet a friend who cares so much about you. Plus, I want to see if he's as hot as you say."

"Oh, trust me, he is," Shy says. "And if I hadn't been an idiot, I could have married him and been happy. He's just the best."

TJ smiles. "Don't you dare be a homewrecker, Shy."

Shy's eyes widen, then he realizes he's being teased. "Tom is an awesome, dedicated husband, and Dev is a sexy guy I can tell really loves Tom. No way I'd be able to even attempt to wreck that home." He checks the time. "They should be here any time now."

Comments

[nosaint-justme.livejournal.com]

Tom blushed. "I talked to Orlando after we hung up earlier today, sweetheart. I told him I was taking you to Boston. I'm sorry if that upsets you, but if it was me, I'd want to know you were okay."

[shyboy86.livejournal.com]

"If it was you, you wouldn't have hurt me the way he did," Shy said with a sigh. "What is it about me that makes the people I love turn their backs on me?"

[nosaint-justme.livejournal.com]

"Aww, sweetheart, maybe it's not what it is about you, but what it is about them." Tom murmured against the younger man's hair.

[shyboy86.livejournal.com]

"Why is it so easy to leave me?" he whispered.

[nosaint-justme.livejournal.com]

"Shy, you aren't easy to leave or easy to forget. Andrea was confused, angry and pushed by her family into a course she didn't necessarily want to take." Tom sighed. "As for Orlando, I hope this is confused thinking on his part. Maybe his mind isn't working as clearly as he thinks after being shot. It isn't you, sweetheart, believe me."

[shyboy86.livejournal.com]

Shy hugged Tom tighter. 'I don't think it was getting shot that made Orlando stop loving me," he said softly. "I don't think he ever really loved me to begin with."

[nosaint-justme.livejournal.com]

"That may be, sweetheart, but if that's the case then it still isn't you, it's him." Tom said. "He should have been more honest with himself, but that isn't always something people can manage."

[shyboy86.livejournal.com]

"I wish I hadn't let myself fall in love with him. That's what really kills me. I would never have gone back to him if I didn't love him and now you're married to someone else, and..." He shakes his head. "I hate him, Tom. I hate him so much for doing this to me."

[nosaint-justme.livejournal.com]

"It's okay to be angry with him for now, Shy, but don't let it start to eat at you." Tom carded his fingers through the younger man's curls soothingly. "I would hate to see you become bitter."

[shyboy86.livejournal.com]

"It's too late," Shy said, closing his eyes. "I'm never going to fall in love again because I'm never going to let anyone hurt me like this."

[nosaint-justme.livejournal.com]

"Oh, sweetheart." Tom sighed sadly and kissed the top of Shy's head. "I wish I could take all this hurt for you."

[shyboy86.livejournal.com]

"I don't," Shy said, shaking his head. "You don't deserve to feel like this at all."

[nosaint-justme.livejournal.com]

"Neither do you, Shy." Tom said gently.

[shyboy86.livejournal.com]

"It feels like maybe I do." He looked at Tom. "I killed a man. Maybe all the bad stuff that's happened to me since then is my punishment. Maybe I had to meet Orlando so I'd get kidnapped by Kevin and then tossed aside like garbage. I think it's my fault."

[nosaint-justme.livejournal.com]

The former priest shook his head. "No, sweetheart. This isn't your fault and you didn't 'deserve' it."

[shyboy86.livejournal.com]

"You don't know that for sure."

[nosaint-justme.livejournal.com]

Tom held Shy away from him so he could look him in the eyes with a gentle smile. "Do you trust my opinion, Shy?"

[shyboy86.livejournal.com]

Shy nodded. "Uh huh."

[nosaint-justme.livejournal.com]

"Then trust me when I say you don't deserve any of this pain." He kissed Shy on the cheek. "I'm going to be right here for you, sweetheart, Dev and I both. We'll help you through this."

[shyboy86.livejournal.com]

Shy felt tears starting to sting his eyes again. "I can't believe he came, you know. Where'd you find him?"

[nosaint-justme.livejournal.com]

Tom grinned. "Funny thing is, he found me. I wasn't even looking and there he was."

[shyboy86.livejournal.com]

"Well, I think you should keep him. I know that I've barely said two words to him, but the fact that he's here..." Shy sighed. "He must love you a lot. Or he's keeping an eye on you," he added with a small smile.

[nosaint-justme.livejournal.com]

Tom grinned. "He loves me a lot and while he didn't always like to show it, Dev is a very compassionate man. He's here because he wants to help you, sweetheart. He didn't even hesitate when I asked if he wanted to come."

[shyboy86.livejournal.com]

"Wow," Shy said, "I don't think I'll ever meet anyone like that."

[nosaint-justme.livejournal.com]

"You just have to be patient, sweetheart, trust me, it'll happen." Tom smiled. "As beautiful and sweet as you are, someone perfect for you is going to come along."