Lets Not And Say We Did

Forty Six

Patrick was getting dressed in Pete's room. Well, their room. He was preparing for lunch. This was the only boring part of his day. When he was waiting for Pete to stop working.

They were going to go out into the public today. To show everyone that they were still together. Even after all the rumors were gone. And even after the big deal was made. They were going strong and staying together.

He shuffled through the drawers where his clothes were. He wanted to look nice for Pete today but he didn't know what to wear. All the fancy clothes were gone now. So he decided on a pair of black jeans, a black button up and his black Prada shoes.

He glanced in the mirror. Not too bad. It wasn't the best outfit he'd ever worn but it definitely wasn't the worse. He slipped on his glasses and hat.

"Sir?"

Patrick turned to face the maid who was standing in Pete's doorway. Their doorway. It was so hard to get used to calling it that.

"Call me Patrick."

"Patrick, sir. Someone is here to see you."

Brendon was early. "Send him up."

She nodded and disappeared from the room.

Patrick turned back to face the mirror. He felt so happy today. He'd been feeling happy a lot lately. Pete just radiated vibes that made it impossible for Patrick to feel any negativity. Even though he still hadn't said he loved him back yet. But he would. Patrick just knew he would.

Something moved behind Patrick. He glanced into the mirror and gasped. There stood Andy. Wearing the clothes he usually wore when he went to work at the gym. Black T-shirt and black basketball shorts.

"My, My have you changed."

Patrick spun around. "What do you want? Why are you here? How do you know where Pete lives?"

"Do you want those answered in any particular order?"

"Andy-"

"Well, first, everyone knows where that rich son of a bitch lives. Second, I'm here to see you. And third, because we need to talk."

"I don't have anything to say to you."

"Well I have plenty to say to you."

"I don't want to listen to this." Patrick signed.

"Patrick, just sit down and listen please."

"No. I don't want to-"

"Sit down!" Andy's voice was more commanding.

Patrick sat down on the edge of the bed. He wasn't even sure why he did it. Andy walked over and sat down beside him. Uncomfortably close. Patrick slid a few inches away.

"Talk."

"I love you, Patrick."

"You left me, Andy."

"I made a mistake. We all make stupid mistakes."

"Stupid mistakes? Is that what you call leaving me after almost ten years and then getting engaged to one of my best friends?"

"A really stupid mistake?"

"I'm so over this conversation and it's barely begun." Patrick stood up. Anger beginning to seep from him.

"Sit back down."

"No! I'm tired of you telling me what to do!"

Andy jumped up. "Sit down!" He said in a more stern voice.

"You sit down and you listen to me!"

"I thought you didn't have anything to say." He crossed his arms over his chest.

"I've just thought of a few things." Patrick sat his hands on his hips. "I've been listening to you for ten fucking years. It's time I spoke."

"You-"

"Shut up!" He snapped. "For ten years you've cheated on me and left me when I needed you most."

"I hadn't cheated on you in months!"

"Do you have any idea how terrible that sounds?"

"I still love you. I never stopped loving you."

"No. You just started loving Joe."

"That-That was a mistake."

"How can an engagement be a mistake?"

"I-it just. You know what? Fine! I do love Joe. But I love you more. I'll always love you more."

"How could you do that?" His voice cracked as tears threatened to escape.

Patrick never hated himself more than he did in that moment. How dare Andy still evoke any kind of emotion from him? How dare he let himself cry over someone he knew didn't deserve his tears?

"Patrick," Andy's voice was softer. Sweeter. Fake. "I'm so sorry."

"Ten years." The warm tears slid freely down his cheeks. "My entire life was devoted to you and only you for ten years."

"I know." Andy took both of his hands in his. "And I'm so so sorry."

"I never cheated. I never strayed. I never did anything but love you. And you kept hurting me. You kept breaking me." His voice broke on the last sentence.

"Well, you technically cheated with Ms. Yao-" The look Patrick gave him made him shut up.

"I kissed her. Once. To get back at you for having a threesome in our bed. Our bed. A place where you told me you loved me. Countless times."

"I was young."

"You're the exact same."

"No I'm not." Andy squeezed his hands. "That's just it. Seeing you with another man changed me. I can fully appreciate you now."

"I don't love you anymore, Andy!" Patrick pulled his hands away. Crying harder. "I love Pete!"

"Pete could never love you like I do! He could never understand you like I do. You know that, Patrick!"

"T-That's not true."

Pete understood him better than anyone. And Pete loved him. He knew he did. He just wasn't used to saying it. But he would. He had to.

Andy took Patrick's silence as weakness. He watched his ex boyfriend's face scrunch up in deep thought. The tears still flowing. Andy pulled him into a hug.

"No one will ever love you like me."

"Why'd you have to hurt me?" Patrick asked him. Staring into his eyes. The pain in them almost made Andy weep too. "Just why?"

"It'll never happen again, baby. I swear."

Andy kissed Patrick softly. Trying to put his apology into the kiss. Trying to make Patrick understand why he had to do what he did.

Patrick sobbed against his mouth. But he didn't pull away. Why couldn't he make himself pull away? He didn't love Andy. He loved Pete. Thinking of Pete's name brought him back to reality. He pulled out of Andy's hold. Turning to run away from the situation.

But instead came face to face with a very angry Pete. He watched Patrick with emotionless eyes. His lips tilted downward slightly. That was the only sign of disapproval visible.

And in his hands were flowers. A bright red and white bouquet of roses.