If I Knew Then

Chapter 28: Family Advice

Brian's birthday was not long after Nick had talked to Kevin, and it had come up faster than everyone was expecting. Nobody had made plans to celebrate as they'd been recording in New York for the past week. Nick had no idea what to buy Brian for his birthday and started asking strange questions about what he might like. Everyone was acting strangely and Brian wondered why. Leighanne had called him the night before, deciding to come to town for his birthday and he didn't have the heart to tell Nick he'd already made plans. He didn't like lying to Nick again but Nick was harping on him to tell Leighanne the truth so much, he needed a break from him for a while.

It wasn't that he did not enjoy Nick's company, he did. It was that Nick was nagging him about a lot of things and Brian preferred to be independent. He didn't like Nick meddling even though he had good intentions.

"For the hundredth time, Nick please drop it. I told you, I don't need to go to the damn doctor. I am probably just getting a cold." Brian hissed when they came off the elevator together and Nick heard Brian sniffling. Brian rolled his eyes and thought it felt like he had two girlfriends because of how smothering Nick had been that day. Brian liked fooling around with Nick but that was the extent of their...well whatever it was. Brian didn't really want to call it anything because he felt like the word relationship didn't cover it at all. They had sex once in a while and mostly cuddled in bed or kissed, to him it wasn't anything serious and he wasn't sure where it would go.

Or if he wanted it to continue.

"What's going on with you and Nick?" Kevin asked after he observed them bickering in the hall on the way down to their rooms.

"Oh, hey. Nothing really. Nick's just bugging me about my cold, that's all." Brian said, waving it off.

"I see."

"He is just worried because of the surgery, I guess. I told him to drop it. Leighanne is coming tonight and I don't want her to join him in nagging at me."

"Leighanne's coming? Did you tell Nick she was coming for your birthday?" Kevin asked suddenly, raising an eyebrow as they stopped outside of Brian and Nick's room.

"Why would I need to tell Nick she was coming?" Brian asked as he turned around to face his cousin. Kevin seemed to be holding his cool but he could tell that he was hiding something from him.

"I don't know," Kevin shrugged.

"I don't believe you."

"Cuz, whatever is going on with you and Nick isn't my business...."

Brian blinked at him, his temper rising. It was in that moment that he had figured out what Nick had done. He had told Kevin about them messing around, or confided in him that he was gay and Kevin was now assuming. Either way, Brian was pissed off. Kevin thought quickly and they ducked into his room before anyone else heard the rest of the conversation.

"First of all, there is nothing going on with me and Nick." Brian protested. Kevin was silent, allowing Brian to speak because he was clearly upset and agitated as he paced back and forth across the room.

"Look, please don't be mad at Nick. This is my fault." Kevin assured him.

"How is it your fault, he is the one telling people lies about me." Brian said, even though he knew he was just lying to himself. He was mad because someone else knew and would treat him differently. This was not what he wanted. He wanted to keep everything a secret until he figured out what his feelings were and what was between him and Nick. It was obvious that it was more than friendship but he couldn't define that just yet. Nick had just ruined everything.

"What was the lie? He confided in me Brian, it's okay if you are gay. I accept you."

"I'm NOT."