Addison Albright - Snippet

Blurb:

Brandt and Graeme have been apart for over a year after five years of happiness together. Will Brandt ever get over Graeme? What about hunky Mark? Will this special Halloween night help both Brandt and Graeme to move on?

Excerpt:

Graeme watched from across the room as Brandt danced slowly with a nice-looking man decked out in a purple, crushed-velvet pimp costume. There were some wild costumes at the Halloween dance party tonight and Brandt was looking extra hot in a tight sailor boy costume.

Graeme didn’t remember seeing the man Brandt was with before, but he’d taken notice of the guy tonight. He’d watched the purple pimp checking out Brandt and finally working up the nerve to approach Brandt for a dance. The man was clearly on the prowl for a hookup, and if there was one thing Graeme wanted tonight, it was for Brandt to finally get laid again. Brandt really needed to move on with his life.

The man had been polite and pleasant. He seemed like a nice guy. Not at all predatory -- pimp costume notwithstanding. He’d be a good choice for Brandt tonight. They looked good together.

It had been just over a year since Graeme had left Brandt, and it had been a very hard year on Brandt. Hell, it had been hard on both of them, and if Graeme could fix it, he would, but he didn’t know how.

Brandt had been doing pretty well these past few months, but he still wasn’t getting out like he should. Graeme was glad to see that their friends, Jason and John, had been able to convince Brandt to get out of the house to attend this party with them.

As Graeme watched the couple dance, the purple pimp started putting moves on Brandt, squeezing Brandt’s ass and pressing their hips together. Brandt reacted quickly, placing both hands squarely on the man’s chest and heaving. The man let go immediately.

Shaking his head, Graeme had to stop himself from crossing the floor to try to talk some sense into Brandt. Wouldn't do any good, anyway. Damn it, Brandt. He seemed like a decent guy. Why didn’t you go with it?

The song ended and Brandt stalked to the edge of the dance floor, looking wretched. The purple pimp watched him go, looking confused as hell. Fuck.

Graeme moved closer to Brandt, wanting to be near former lover. He desperately wished there was something, anything, he could do to help Brandt, but what? He'd already tried everything he could think of.

Jason and John came off the dance floor, looking sexy in their matching pirate costumes. Their brows were knit as they approached Brandt. Brandt got a hug from John first, then Jason.

Jason said, “Brandt, you know we love you, right?”

Brandt just nodded his head and stared at the ground.

Jason looked at John for help, and John took over. “Brandt, honey, we know how much you loved Graeme, and I know this probably sounds trite, but it’s time to move on. It’s been over a year. Please, let us help you, hon.”

“Love, John, not ‘loved.’ I love him, now and forever,” was Brandt’s forlorn reply. The look of hopelessness on Brandt’s face was distressing.

Fuck. Graeme would love Brandt forever and it broke his heart, seeing Brandt as miserable as he’d been this past year. Graeme couldn’t stop himself from reaching out to Brandt. “I love you, too, sweetheart, now and forever, but they’re right. I need you to be happy again. Please.”

Brandt looked up sharply. He spun around and looked through Graeme, seeing the crowd behind him.

Brandt hadn’t actually heard him, had he? No, Graeme had spoken to Brandt so many times in the past year, and Brandt had never heard him.