BBW ROMANCE: BWWM Romance: A Cowboy’s Southern Comfort (Military Cowboy Pregnancy Romance) (Interracial Army Contemporary Fantasy Romance Short Stories) (49 page)

One day, Curtis was in the living room cleaning up the place while Brett read.  Curtis was quiet, but he was also formidable.  He was there, but he respected the privacy of spaces and didn’t really initiate conversation unless goaded.  But Brett was growing frustrated, feeling confused about his thoughts.

“Something the matter, sir?” Curtis asked.

Brett looked up.  That was the first time Curtis spoke without being spoken to.  He didn’t mind it, really.  Curtis was still very strong, even though he did respectfully leave the people he worked for alone.

“Eh, nothing.  Just frustrated,” he told Curtis.

Curtis put the duster down, settling down next to him.  He looked at Brett directly in the eye, and soon Brett’s green eyes met Curtis’ dark hazel ones.

“What’s wrong?” the man asked.

That’s when Brett realized there was no way to get out of this.  He felt like maybe this was what he needed, a means to get closer to someone to help him alleviate the feelings he had.  He was pissed at carol for being all over Curtis, but he was also pissed at himself.  He wasn’t happy, and frankly, he was thinking about many things right now.

“I don’t know.  I’m just frustrated with my life.  I’m not happy,” he told the other man.

“I can see that.  Is this about how carol has been acting?  Because I wanted to discuss that with you as well, that is if you don’t mind,” he asked Brett.

Brett turned to Curtis, wondering what he meant.  “What do you mean?” he asked.

“Well, to be honest, I’m not very comfortable with Carol’s advances.  She does it while you’re in the room, but it doesn’t make me feel very good.  She doesn’t know it, which kind of surprises me,” he told Brett.

What did he mean by that?  What didn’t she know?

“What are you talking about?  I thought you were a guy who was into that sort of thing,” Brett asked.

That’s when Curtis gulped, blushing a tiny bit.  Brett could see the faint rouge on his dark face.

“I’m gay Brett.  I’m not into chicks.  I’ve never been into them,” he told Brett.

That explained it all.  He couldn’t believe that this was happening.  He really couldn’t.  So this man was into dudes.  Guess it was right for him in a sense to feel a bit of a relaxed feeling when he stared at Curtis.

“I’m shocked, but I’m kind of happy as well,” he admitted.

“I figured.  Yeah, I’m not into chicks.  It’s part of the reason why the military was fitting for me.  I got to be around so many men, and for about twenty years that’s what I did,” he told Brett.

“I imagine that was paradise for you,” he told the other.

“Not really.  I couldn’t act on my feelings, so I had to pretend I was straight like the rest of them.  I became a high-ranking officer, and that’s when I met this guy named Robin.  The two of us really hit it off, and I asked him if he wanted to come to my cabin for more fun.  We ended up having sex, but Robin was a kid in comparison to me.  I was 38 and he was only 21.  He blabbed to one of his friends, and despite the fact that people look at gays in the military in a decent way, I was still forced to leave.  It was awful, especially after all that I built.  I tried to serve at different restaurants, since I didn’t have a degree and only knew of the military.  But it was harder for a man like me, because I was above thirty and working shitty jobs that maybe a college kid would do.  I couldn’t take it, and that’s how I was led to you,” he told Brett.

“Wow, that’s crazy.  I’m glad that you did come to us though.  You seem like a great man, and trust me, I won’t judge if you’re gay.  I kind of have my own secrets myself,” he told Curtis.

Curtis looked at the door, wondering if Carol was about to come home at any time.

“This is about Carol isn’t it?” he asked Brett.

“It is.  The truth is, I’m not in love with her,” he told Curtis.

“I figured as much considering how she was so quick to flirt with me when you were around and you didn’t bat an eye,” Curtis said with a sharp tone.

“I know it’s awful to continue on with this, but our marriage wasn’t one out of love.  It was a business investment, a tool that was used to bring two companies together.  I’m in charge of the company that her family has, and my own, but I don’t feel like it’s the right thing for me,” he told him.

“I imagine.  So what do you do about it?  I mean, I would go insane if I was in a relationship with someone I didn’t love,” Curtis asked.

That’s when Brett got quiet.  What would Curtis think?  He would probably think that Brett was a whore, or something along those lines.  He sighed, staring directly into Curtis’ eyes, wondering how much the man would judge him.

“If I tell you the truth, will you hate me?” he asked Curtis.

“Of course not.  What is it?” the other asked.

***

That was the moment of truth, the moment to decide whether or not this would even work out.  Would Curtis just get up and walk away in disgust?  Or would he stick around?  That was what was going through Brett’s mind.  Finally, he uttered the words.

“I’ve been cheating on her.  But I’m not happy.  I want to find the right person, the one who makes me smile.  I want to feel love, and I don’t feel it with Carol.  I tried sleeping with other women to see if it was a sexual thing, but it’s not.  I just don’t feel complete,” he told Curtis.

Curtis nodded.  “I understand.  I’m not going to judge.  You’re a great man with shitty circumstances, so I think it’s safe to say that you’re not happy with your life.  But let me tell you something Brett, if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m there for you,” the other said.

Curtis and Brett glanced at one another, and then Brett smiled.  “Thank you Curtis.  You’re a great man.  I’m glad I hired you,” he said.

The two men continued to talk, and for a long time, Brett started to realize that Curtis was similar to him.  Even though Curtis was older than him and much bigger, he was a nice man, and they got along very well.  One night thought, Brett was at home and Curtis was gone, and carol was in the dining room.

“Brett, I need more money,” she said.

Brett was getting sick of this.  She didn’t talk to him anymore unless it was about money, and soon he looked at her with a glance.

“Why should I do that?  I just gave you some.  What, you spending it at the club or something?” he asked.  He knew that she had been going out the last couple days, and already he was getting frustrated with her.

“I just need it.  I’m meeting up with a friend tonight,” she replied.

“I thought we would have dinner together,” he asked.  He was trying to put the relationship back together, but it wasn’t working.  It was only getting worse.

“Sorry, I have plans,” she simply said.

That’s when Brett came closer, looking at her with a glance.

“You know, I’m tired of your stupid little bitch attitude that you think you can get away with.  I do a lot for you Carol, and nowadays you’re never home.  I’ve been working at the house a lot recently, and I thought that maybe we could work things out.  But I don’t think we can anymore, because you’re too busy living it up and partying,” he told her.

“Well I have a life Brett.  You’re holding me back.  Besides, this is a party tonight for my modeling,” she bragged.

“I don’t care Carol.  You’re being a bitch, and you don’t want anything from me anymore besides money.  All you see me as is dollar signs, and to be honest, I’m done with your shit.  I really am.  I’m sick of having to be around you, and the only time you ever come into contact with me is if you want money,” he told her.

She looked at him, anger present on her face, but she tried her best to keep calm.  “Well that’s all you are these days.  You don’t give a shit,” she replied.

“Oh yeah?  Well I gave a shit when I saw you flirting with Curtis.  God, why would you do that?  He’s not interested in you, and frankly, you’re making him uncomfortable,” he told her.

“Well maybe I was just playing around.  I’m stuck with you anyways,” she replied.

“That’s how I feel.  I’m stuck with your ungrateful ass.  All you want is my money.  The only reason you’re still here is my money, and honestly, you need to get the fuck out of my house right now.  I’m done with you and your whining little ass,” he cried out.

She looked at him, shock present on her face.  “So you don’t want me around?” she asked.

“Not with the way you’re acting.  Go out, because I know that you care about your friends more than I do.  I know you don’t love me Carol, you never did,” he replied.

She looked at him, and then she scoffed.  She grabbed her bags and headed out the door.  After a moment or so, she slammed it, leaving Brett alone to wallow in his problems.

“Shit.  I can’t believe I said that,” he muttered to himself.  Actually, he could believe it, because that’s how he felt about everything.  He didn’t feel love with this woman, but instead he felt like the unresolved tensions had now come to a boiling point.  He felt upset, but at the same time, he wanted something else.  He didn’t feel completely upset, but rather mad at himself for letting this continue on.

He sat in his office, working on paperwork but feeling lifeless.  He had to do something fast, or else he was going to end it. 

***

The next day, Curtis came over, but when he got to Brett’s office, there was a small muffle.  He heard crying, and for a moment, Curtis thought about leaving Brett alone.  He didn’t know how to deal with situations like this, other than to maybe just give the other man space.  Finally, he knocked on the door, an after hearing a small sniffle, he heard Brett respond.

“Come in,” he said.

Curtis stepped inside, looking at Brett with a smile.

“Hey, you okay?” he asked the other man.

“I’ve been better,” he admitted.

“Come with me out to the living room.  We can talk there.  You obviously look like you need someone to talk to,” Curtis said.

“You could say that,” Brett replied.  There was something in his mind that was eating away at him, and he definitely liked the fact that it was him who came to see him.  They went to the living room, sitting on the couch.  Curtis prepared some tea while Brett collected his thoughts.

“So, what happened?” Curtis said as he brought the tea in.

“Well, to put it simply, I found out that Carol doesn’t love me anymore either.  I mean, I honestly thought she did.  The sole reason for making this whole thing work before was for her.  I wanted a divorce a long time ago, but I couldn’t have that, so I suffered.  Only yesterday did I find out that she’s been going out to clubs, probably cheating on me with other men, and probably just using me as a piggy bank.  I never put it together until now because I used to think that the sole reason for her being around was business reasons and love.  But I guess she just did it because she wanted to save face in public, only to lead me on for the longest time,” he told Curtis.

“I’m sorry,” he simply said.

“It’s fine.  Now I just feel like there’s nothing left for me now.  I don’t have anything to live for,” he told the other man.

Brett was expecting some sort of story from Curtis saying otherwise.  But what he got instead, was unlike anything he ever expected.  Brett felt something soft against his lips, and for a moment, his eyes widened at the shock that he just felt.  When he felt the other man pull away, Brett looked at him with the same shocked face that seemed to be plastered on him.

“What the hell was that for?” he asked the other man.

“Simple.  You’re an idiot, and you haven’t realized it yet, have you?” the other man said.

Brett looked at the other man with a clueless expression.  “I don’t get it.  What’s going on?” he asked Curtis.

“I love you Brett.  I want to be with you.  I know that it’s weird to be saying that sort of things, but I know for sure that the only way to express myself is to be forward.  You need someone who will take care of you.  I’m sick of seeing you suffer.  You’re an attractive man, and I’ll show you something that the bitch has never shown you.  Real, true love,” Curtis said.

“How would you do that?” Brett asked.  He couldn’t believe he was even listening to what the other was saying.

“Brett, just trust me.  I’ve got this.  I’ll show you something that she’s never been able to show you.  I don’t think you understand how much you’ve been missing out simply because you’ve been tied down.  Let me show you the life that you need, and I’ll show you why leaving that woman is the best thing you could possibly do,” the other said.  His voice grew husky, and soon, Brett realized that he was already getting hard from the man’s actions and the way his words seemed to roll off his tongue.  Brett never thought that this would be the way everything went, but if the boot fit, he would wear it.

***

Brett thought about what to do.  He figured the only way to really cope with the feelings he had was to act on them.  He glanced at Curtis, staring at him with a serious face.  Could he love another man?  He figured the tensions between them were due to the feelings that they had, and deep down he figured that Curtis was the right person for him.  He was the one here for him, not Carol.  Carol was off living her own life, and he didn’t need to be held back by that bitch anymore.