by Jake Biondi
“I’m not worried about him in that way. I know you have no feelings or interest in him. But I am wondering how many other ‘Dustins’ there are out there.”
Derek rolled his eyes. “Do we really have to do this? Can’t we just focus on our future together?”
“Our future together comes out of our pasts. I want to know.”
“I have no idea. Truly. Maybe ten, fifteen during all the years of my marriage. It’s not like I kept a log book.”
“I’m not judging you, Derek. I love you -- you know that. I’m just trying to better understand you. And determine how likely it is that we will have other men from your past popping up in our lives.”
“Jesus, Cole. You know my hook ups were all very discreet -- and often with other married men who needed the same discretion. I don’t think you need to worry about all these men suddenly showing up here. They won’t.”
“But Dustin--”
“Dustin must be a whack job. It’s hardly normal to hunt down and try to kill a person you spent one night with. That’s deranged.”
“I know it is. I just thought it was something we should talk about.”
“We can talk about anything you want, you know that. All that matters to me is that you understand how important you are to me. We have been through a lot to be together. And all I kept thinking about during that plane crash was you. I was afraid I’d never see you again.”
Cole reached across the table and held Derek’s hand. “I’m not going anywhere. I’ve been yours since Boston and I always will be.”
A skinny, young man around Cole’s age approached their table with a magazine in his hand.
“Excuse me,” he said, “but aren’t you Cole O’Brien?”
“I am,” Cole said, looking curiously at the man.
“My name is Rob and I’m a huge fan,” Rob said, smiling. “Your work is amazing.”
“Thank you,” Cole said. “That’s kind of you to say.”
“I don’t mean to interrupt but I’m wondering if you could sign this for me,” Rob said, awkwardly handing the magazine with Cole’s photo on the front to him.
Cole smiled. “Of course.” He took the marker from Rob and signed the magazine cover. “There you go.”
Rob took back the magazine and marker. “Thank you so much. You’re the best.”
“Well, thank you.”
“Sorry to interrupt,” Rob said again. “You just made my day. Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” Cole said as Rob walked away from the table.
“There’s going to be a lot of that, isn’t there?” Derek asked.
“Are you okay with it? I think it’s flattering.”
“Totally okay with it. It’s your career and you’re great at it.”
“Thanks.”
“I want you to move in with me.”
“Wait, what?” Cole asked. “Where did that come from?”
“Life’s too short for us to be apart. Move in with me.”
“Derek, that’s a huge decision. We can’t just decide it right away; we need to talk about it.”
“I thought you’d be excited.”
“I am, believe me,” Cole explained. “But you still have Max and Emmett living with you and I have Jesse. There are other people involved.”
“Max and Emmett will be moving out shortly; their condo above the restaurant is just about done. And Jesse will understand.”
“I can’t just abandon him and leave him with the rent all by himself.” Cole paused. “Thank you so much for asking me to move in. That’s very exciting. Let’s just talk about it more a bit later, okay?”
Derek smiled. “Sure. Come on, let’s finish up so I can get over to Sam’s office on time.”
While Derek and Cole concluded their breakfast, Gino Ciancio, Justin Mancini, and David Ciancio were having their breakfast in the mansion dining room. Bella poured each of the gentlemen a glass of champagne and left the room.
“Thank you again for the wellness center in Tyler’s honor,” David said. “What a wonderful idea.”
“I thought you’d be happy about it. And I thought it would be a great way to honor Tyler. Once we get back, I’ll set up a meeting with Mateo and Patrick so that Joyelle and you can begin planning.”
“Sounds great.”
“It’ll be good to get home and catch up with everyone,” Justin said. “Not to mention re-plan our wedding.”
“Cheers to that,” David said, raising his glass. The other men touched their glasses to his.
Camille Ciancio entered the room and walked over to an empty chair. “Good morning, gentlemen. What are we toasting this morning?” She sat down next to David and put her napkin on her lap as Bella entered the room to pour her a glass of champagne.
“Justin and Gino’s wedding,” David replied.
“So you’re still going through with it? I thought maybe you’d take the plane crash as a sign...” Camille looked at Bella. “Coffee, too, please.”
Bella nodded and poured her a cup of coffee.
“The crash only strengthened our love and our resolve,” Gino declared. “But don’t worry, we won’t inconvenience you with an invitation. We know how busy you are.”
“Well, you understand how much there is to do when you’re at the helm of a company as large as Ciancio International. After all, you were in the position...for a few minutes anyway.”
“Father has made some questionable decisions in his life. This is one of them.”
“On the contrary,” Camille said. “Your father understood what it takes to make a company successful. And he understood that you just don’t have the grit.”
“How long do you plan to stay here in the house?” Gino asked, ignoring Camille’s comment.
“Why, indefinitely, of course. Even though your father left the place to you, he said anyone who is family is always welcome here. And I am family.”
“Regrettably,” Justin mumbled.
“Besides, you’re all headed back to Chicago today and it would be senseless to leave such a big house empty. I’ll make sure it continues to be a showplace for our family.”
“We should get going,” David said, standing up from the table. “We need to head back.”
“By the way, I’ll be happy to sign any necessary paperwork for the new wellness center. I concur that it’s a charming way to keep your bastard brother Tyler’s memory alive. And it’s a great business move for the company as well.”
“I’m glad you agree,” Gino said. “Let this be the start of Ciancio International giving back to the community.”
“Oh, I have big plans for the company,” Camille declared. “And Justin, my apologies to your family ahead of time, but I intend to honor my brother’s request to wipe Mancini Enterprises off the map.”
“Great to see you, too, Camille,” Justin said, standing up and walking out of the room.
David and Gino followed him out of the room, leaving Camille to drink her champagne alone.
As David and Justin headed toward the main entrance, Gino pulled Bella aside in the hallway.
“It’s up to you to keep an eye on her while I’m away,” Gino told Bella. “I want to know every move she makes.”
“Of course,” Bella replied, kissing Gino on the cheek. “You can count on me.”
Gino smiled, then followed David and Justin toward the front hall.
In Chicago, Hugo Martinez stood near the window in Jensen Stone’s hospital room. Jensen was seated in a chair next to the bed.
“I can’t believe how much better you look,” Hugo said. “What a relief.”
“I didn’t mean to worry you,” Jensen stated. “Your father says I can go home tomorrow.”
“That’s great news.”
“Have you heard anything from Emmett? He was supposed to come home yesterday and I thought for sure he’d come and see me.”
“Here I am,” Emmett laughed as he entered the room carrying a huge bouquet of flowers, which he set down on the cou
nter near Hugo.
Jensen jumped up from his chair and hugged his friend. “Emmett!”
“Hey, there,” Emmett replied, holding Jensen tightly. “Look at you, up and about.”
“Oh, God, I’ve missed you. I was so worried about you.”
Emmett laughed. “Worried about me? I’m fine. You’re the one we were all concerned about, right Hugo?”
“Absolutely,” Hugo said. “Why don’t I give you two some time to catch up? I’ll go find my father.”
“Thanks,” Emmett said as Hugo left the room. Emmett helped Jensen sit back down and then pulled over a chair for himself. “Has he been there the whole time? Seems like he really cares about you.”
Jensen smiled. “He’s been here non-stop. It’s been great. And Keith, too. Please thank him for me.”
“Seems like he should be thanking you. You saved his life.”
“Naw. Anyone would have done what I did.”
“I’m not so sure,” Emmett stated. “But it’s really great to be home and see with my own eyes that you’re doing better.”
“I’m excited to go home tomorrow. And I have some ideas for the restaurant and more. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking in here.”
“Oh? You’re still going to school, right?”
“Of course,” Jensen said. “I’m looking forward to it. But I have an idea I’d like to talk to you and Gino about.”
“Gino?”
“I’ll explain. And I have some ideas for the restaurant opening, too. Have you met the new manager that Max hired? He said he’s great.”
“So I’ve heard,” Emmett said. “I haven’t met him yet.” Emmett paused, then continued. “There are some things that I need to tell you, too.”
“Uh, oh. What’s wrong?”
Max Taylor appeared in the doorway. “I thought I might find you here.” Emmett and Jensen looked toward Max. “Can we please talk? You didn’t come home all night.”
“Now’s not a good time,” Emmett replied.
“What’s going on?” Jensen asked.
“It’s between Emmett and me,” Max declared. “We need to talk.”
“I have nothing to say to you right now.”
“Emmett, please...”
“Emmett, go on. I’ll be here. I’m not going anywhere. We can talk more later,” Jensen said.
“Thank you,” Max told Jensen.
“I’ll be back,” Emmett said, reluctantly getting up from his chair and following Max out of the room into the hallway.
“I’m not sure what there is to talk about,” Emmett told Max. “You cheated on me with Dustin. Apparently, more than once. You can’t explain that away.”
“Can we go to the cafeteria or someplace else? I don’t want to do this here in the hallway.”
“It’s going to be a quick conversation.”
“I love you, Emmett,” Max said. “You have to believe me.”
“How can I? I can’t even trust you. It’s funny, Keith and I broke up because he thought he couldn’t trust me. I never imagined that it was actually you who couldn’t be trusted.”
Max put his hands on Emmett’s shoulders. “We can get past this, Emmett. I love you and I want to marry you.”
Emmett freed himself from Max’s grip. “Marry me? Max, we are done. What don’t you understand about that?”
“Please don’t say that. We can work through this, get relationship counseling, whatever it takes.”
“What it takes is a partner that I can trust and who is happy enough with me that he doesn’t have to sleep with other people. Apparently, that’s not you.”
“I understand that you’re hurt--”
“Hurt?” Emmett’s eyes filled with tears. “You tore my heart out. And if I hadn’t overheard Dustin and you talking, would you ever have told me the truth? Maybe that plane crash was a godsend -- it stopped me from marrying someone who clearly doesn’t love me.”
“That’s not fair.”
“Neither is cheating and lying, but you seem to be comfortable doing both.” Emmett pulled the ring from his finger and forced it into Max’s hand. “By the way, I can’t wear this anymore.”
“Emmett, no. Please.”
“I have nothing else to say.”
“I do,” Max declared. “I understand how upset you are. But if nothing else, we are still business partners. We have a restaurant to open and a condo to complete.”
“We will remain business partners and open the restaurant as planned. But as far as the condo is concerned, Jensen and I will be moving in there without you. You need to get your shit out of Derek’s and find your own place.”
“Wow, you’ve thought this all through -- and in one night.”
“I barely slept last night. My mind was spinning.”
“Well, I need your help with something else.”
“What’s that?”
“I need you to help me convince Derek to not press charges against Dustin.”
“Pardon me? You want me to help you save the man you cheated on me with?”
“It’s not a favor for me -- it’s for Dustin and it’s for Derek, too.”
“For Derek?”
“Sure. The last thing your family’s company needs is a long, drawn out trial and bad press. And the last thing our restaurant needs is the press of an employee going to trial. Instead, Mancini Global could gain great P.R. by helping Dustin get the mental help he obviously needs.”
“You’re unbelievable.”
“It’s the best possible outcome for everyone. Think about it. Sam and I are meeting with Derek and Michael today. I think you should be there, too.”
“I can’t deal with this right now. I need to go.”
Max grabbed Emmett’s arm again. “I love you.”
Emmett turned and re-entered Jensen’s room.
“Fuck,” Max mumbled to himself as he headed toward the elevators.
On the other side of the hospital, Patrick Provenzano was chatting with Logan Pryce, who stood at the window looking out onto Lincoln Park.
“Do you want to talk more about your father?”
“No,” Logan said softly. “What I want is a glass of wine.”
“Let’s talk about that. Why?”
“Why do I want a glass of wine? Because it calms me down, helps me forget.”
“Helps you forget what, Logan? Your father?”
“My father. Max. All of them.”
“Why do you want to forget about Max? I thought you two were on good terms.”
“He was always so demanding and always needed to be in charge when we were together. I was never really worthy of him.”
“Worthy of him?” Patrick asked. “What do you mean?”
“He was the handsome one, the popular one, the outgoing one. I think he felt sorry for me.”
“Sounds like you felt sorry for yourself.”
“Maybe.”
“You’re handsome, you have many friends, and you have a great career. Sounds to me like you’re on par with Max. You just don’t see it that way, do you?”
“I spent my entire life letting people down. My father, Max, myself.”
“And that’s why you drink?”
“I don’t know. I just started one day and never stopped.”
“Because it made you feel numb?”
“I guess.”
“But that feeling was only temporary. We need you to learn to employ healthier strategies for coping with stress and anxiety. Drinking is damaging you not only physically but emotionally as well. It isolates you from people.”
“These scars isolate me, too.”
“Only in your head. Your friends and the people who love you don’t care about them. They don’t even notice them.”
“The people who love me?”
“Yes. Jesse, Max, all of your friends. You saw how upset and worried they are about you. They want you around for a long time -- and they want you to be happy.”
“I want to be happy, too.”
“You will be, Logan. That’s why we are here together. To help you be happy.”
As Patrick and Logan continued their session, Cole stopped by Jesse Morgan’s office. As he opened the door and walked inside, he found Jesse asleep at his desk. With a coffee cup in his hand, Cole slowly approached the desk and then put his hand on Jesse’s arm, waking him up.
Startled, Jesse sat up quickly before addressing Cole. “Oh, hey.”
“You’ve been here all night, bro,” Cole said, sitting down in a chair and putting the coffee cup on the desk. “Luckily, I brought you a little pick-me-up.”
Jesse reached out and picked up the coffee. “Smells good. Thanks.”
“When you didn’t come home last night and weren’t replying to my texts, I figured you might be here.”
“Now that I’ve taken over Logan’s accounts as well as my own, it’s impossible to stay on top of everything.”
“Bro, you can’t live like this. You’re exhausted. Not to mention under a ton of stress because of your mother and Logan.”
“It’s getting better. Mom’s back home in St. Louis and Logan will be done with his program in a few days. I got this.”
“Jesse, you need to sleep, too. Besides, is Logan really going to be ready to come back to work after in-patient therapy is over? Don’t you think he’s still going to need some time before he’s ready to come back?”
Jesse drank his coffee. “We’ll see. In the meantime, I’ll keep managing his accounts.”
“I’m worried about you, bro. You’re running yourself down.”
“I’m fine. And thanks for the coffee.”
Cole stood up to go. “Okay. Well, I’m off to another shoot, but I wanted to check in on you.”
“I appreciate it.” Jesse looked down at his desk and then looked up again. “Oh, hey. I didn’t even ask. How’s Derek?”
Cole smiled. “He’s good. Things are good. Actually, he asked me to move in with him.”
“Holy shit,” Jesse replied. “Cole, that’s amazing.”
“I told him I’d think about it. I’m not going to just leave you with the rent to pay.”
“Don’t worry about me, bro. I’ll be fine. If you want to move, go for it.”
