Brian left quickly. Justin followed. Justin wondered why he was so uncertain about sex with this man. If he was on his planet he would have not even faltered. He would have jumped at the chance but now he was hesitant. He had anyone he wanted at home. He never thought twice but this man was complex and he seemed to use sex as a drug. Justin didn’t want to be used like that and then discarded. He wanted to be more to Brian than just a roll in the hay. There was something about this man that nagged at him. It was this nagging suspicion that Brian was afraid of love, of caring for anyone but his son. He could find out just by reading his mind but that wasn’t right. Not here and not if he wanted something to come out of this acquaintance. He wanted a relationship. Why did he feel like his world was suddenly thrown upside down or flung inside out?

He walked back to the kids. After a while he made sure everyone brush their teeth and do their business before snuggling into their sleeping bags.

About an hour after everyone was asleep, he and Brian went to the snack area to get a drink and talk. It was an hour before midnight and both were wide awake. They wanted each other badly but Justin also wanted to talk about Gus.

“Brian, Gus is a gifted telepath. It comes naturally to him like breathing but your society knocks it and forces many gifted to hide their gift or ignore it. They become stilted and can’t be themselves for fear of being marked as eccentric or worse yet, mentally unstable. Your son is brilliant. He is a genius and understands a lot more than anyone gives him credit especially his moms. You have accepted it but skeptically at first. Isn’t that correct?”

“Yes. But I have seen too many instances where he has told me exactly what I have been thinking. It’s scary. I don’t know how to deal with it.”

“That must have been hard for you to admit to a stranger. You aren’t one to admit to things to others. Probably, not even to yourself.”

Brian smirked. This young man was getting to him in more ways than one. Have you…”

“No, I wouldn’t do it with your kind without permission though it would make our conversation quicker.”

“Well, if both of us had the gift than we would understand where each other was coming from faster, truth could only be told, and there would be no holding back. We would get to the nitty gritty faster cutting out the bullshit. Why are you so afraid of things Brian? You are successful in life and in your career yet you hold yourself out falsely. I can see how you act to others but not to your son. The real you is so beautiful. And I don’t mean your outside. “Brian stammered. Shit! What was this man doing to him? He was calling him on his shit.

“I…I…don’t know what you are talking about. Let’s get back to Gus.”

“Alright Brian, but this conversation isn’t over especially if you want me.” Brian looked at him intently and knew that it was true. Brian also knew that somehow he had to get this man. He also knew that this man was more than a casual trick and he sighed. Justin knew that Brian understood.

“Brian, I feel that you know that this gift is real. The reason I know that is that Gus feels very comfortable around it with you. I also believe that you have the gift or something like ESP, but have denied yourself its pleasures. And there are great pleasures with the gift.”

“Why do you think I have the gift as you call it? I can’t read minds.”

“But you do Brian, you read them every day. You just have closeted it under the guise of reading people well. Don’t you get them to sign virtually every time when someone comes into your agency? You have a 99% ratio of signing. That is not normal. Besides, telepathy isn’t just reading minds. It is communication without speech. That is what your son does with me.”

“It is a 100% actually, if you count only the accounts that I pitched alone.

“Right. That is unnatural Brian. You are good but not that good. Everyone makes a mistake even if it is only once. You have buried it. Whatever it is? You have found a way to forget that you have it for some reason and yet realized in your subconscious that it was a tool that could be used. You deny it consciously but tap into when necessary and unconsciously. You always seem to know what the client needs to hear, don’t you?”

”Yes.”Brian started to think about this new wrinkle. He furrowed his forehead thinking back to when he was young. It was true. He had said a few things to his mom and to his dad and they beat him whenever he had repeated their thoughts, even when he was a mere three years old. Could it be? Could he be a closet telepath? He remembered fear in his father and his mother thought it was of the devil. They probably figured the beatings had set him free of the foolishness but he had just learned to keep it to himself. These were memories he had buried a long time ago and he had turned pale. Tears had formed in his eyes.

“What are you thinking about Brian? Justin said with concern.

Brian was caught up in the memories and didn’t hear him. “Brian, hello Brian, calling Brian Kinney.” Brian was startled. “Huh!”

“You were lost somewhere. What were you thinking? What is wrong?”

“I was thinking of my childhood. I remember saying things to my folks and they would slap me for it. You may be right. Why would I have had the gift?”

“I don’t know but I do know your son has it and he isn’t giving it up. He enjoys it. He likes the voices in his head because he doesn’t know it any other way and because you accept him. I want to help you cultivate it again and I want to help your son learn the nuances of it. Your son is very trusting and enthusiastic about life and what is before him. May I be a part of that life? Before you answer that, I have to come clean with you. There are many things about me that might startle you. Also, if we have sex it will be something you have never experienced before. Of that I am sure.”

“You think that highly of yourself.”

“Yes, besides I know something you don’t know about me. I am attracted to you too Brian, but I don’t want to be just a trick in your never ending line of tricks. You are beautiful and hot. But Brian, you are so much more than that. You are beautiful inside as well. I want to share that other Brian. I want to know you and I know that scares you.”

“You don’t know anything of the kind.”

“Brian, I don’t have to go inside to read that. You are afraid of a lot of things and that is why you won’t let anyone come close.

Suddenly, out of the blue and before he could stop himself he blurted out. “I want to know you too.” He looked away. Justin smiled at Brian’s nervousness. It was a good sign.

They discussed Gus for the rest of the night. At about three in the morning, both fell asleep in their bags. The morning came too quickly. The kids were hungry and they had a large pancake breakfast with all the fixin’s. Then they all went to the gift shop to browse and bought several things. Justin bought each child a plastic dinosaur to remember the sleepover. Everyone dispersed to their own homes except Brian, Justin, and Gus.

They took a cab to Justin’s penthouse where Justin sat the two of them down and finalized a plan of action. Brian remembered that Mandy would be coming soon. He called her to tell her she had the day off. Brian kept having feelings for Justin, feelings he had never felt before, alien feelings.

He had found out last night what Mandy and Justin had discussed from Justin’s point of view. He had watched Justin as he spoke and knew it was the truth. He also knew that Mandy had indeed flirted with him. He just ignored it.

Gus would come over to Justin’s and he would be taught here during the day while Justin painted. Brian had decided that Mandy would be paid for two weeks and let go tomorrow. He also had marveled at the drawings all around the loft. Many of the paintings were indeed of his home planet but Brian didn’t know that. Justin would take care of all of Mandy’s responsibilities with the added task of helping Gus with his gift.

The next day Brian was home when Mandy came and she was very surprised. So was Justin.

“Mandy, you met Justin the other day.”

“Yes, I did. Hello, Justin.”

“Justin is going to be Gus’ new governess. He has some qualifications that you don’t have and that Gus needs. Here is your pay for today and for the next two weeks. I hope it will give you enough time to find another job.”

“But…but…”

“Like I said, Justin has qualifications in a couple of areas that I want Gus to learn and you can not help him there. I need the key back.” She gave it to him. She was shaken.

“He is a man. I thought you wanted a woman so that Gus wouldn’t miss his mom.”

”Actually, that is moms, plural.”

“Huh!”

“Well ,Gus hit it off with Mr. Taylor and Mr. Taylor accepts his idiosyncrasies. I think it is a better fit. I didn’t know about this till yesterday. Thank you for your time. Oh, and Mandy, go find someone else to marry. I am not on the market for women. I am gay.” He said gently guiding her out the door. The door shut behind her before she registered what he had said.