My Brother's Keeper

CHAPTER FIVE

Jared was absolutely a nervous wreck, he paced in a small circle just outside the restricted zone of terminal 12 as he waited for Colin. He was coming to Denver early, a whole two weeks before Jared's graduation to be exact. The visit had been a suggestion from Jared since Colin was doing little at home in anticipation of starting his fall classes. They'd spoken to each other daily since he left almost 2 weeks ago if he was honest they were in constant communication. They texted and talked throughout the day and had bonded in a way that Jared hadn't expected. Any stray thought he would share with Colin without hesitation if he was happy he told him if he was upset he'd also share that. He was shocked at how easily he was now confiding in him.

Their conversations over the past week had revealed that Colin didn't want to get married that he'd proposed at the insistence of his father. Jared wasn't shocked to hear this bit of news and he felt guilty after the confession simply because he would constantly bring up the topic of the upcoming wedding and each time Colin would become quiet and sullen. But Jared just couldn't let it go he knew Colin didn't want to get married, he just couldn't understand why he was preparing to go through with the sham. After he told Jared how stressed he was about trying to get out of the situation Jared had suggested that he come spend the time in Denver to get his mind off things.

But the biggest reason was a selfish one, Jared wanted to see him, he couldn't take being away from him anymore. He wanted to see if when they were together would he feel the same way. Their talks had become somewhat intimate, at least that his how it felt to Jared. He was now harboring feelings for Colin that he'd never held for anyone and maybe he was just imagining the swell in his heat and the grin that spread across his face every time that he saw Colin's name pop across his phone screen. Maybe the reason during their talks that he would become so filled with lust was because he couldn't look into his eyes and know the feeling was mutual. He only knew that he had to be close to him so that he could see Colin's reactions to him as well to know if it was all in his head or not.

Jared had reserved Colin a suite over at the Marriott Residence Inn just a short drive from his school mainly because it had an apartment feel with a fully functioning kitchen and he'd hope to sample Colin's cooking skills. Colin's father had rented him a car to use while in town. Both Jared and Colin had been surprised that Joseph had supported the idea of him taking the trip, but on the further discussion they'd realized it was just him trying to manipulate their friendship more than likely. Jared had sort of expected this from Joseph so it wasn't a total shock, but it was more a disappointment, it reminded him that he couldn't relax where Joseph was concerned.

The wedding was in four weeks and his mother still hadn't drawn up the prenuptial agreement and Jared doubted that his mother had even bought the topic up to Joseph. She was just an ostrich burying her head in the sand in hopes that she was never seen. Jared knew his mother better than she knew him, he knew she would handle the prenuptial discussion in the same way she had handled the Joseph discussion with him. He also knew that it would have to blow up in her face before Joseph would have a clue about it being a clause in the conditions of him staying in Jared's house.

Jared bought out his phone and held it at the ready to take a picture of Colin's reaction to seeing him after their short separation. Jared knew he would probably scrutinize it to death in some attempt to talk himself out of what he was feeling. He lusted after him, but knew he couldn't act on things, this was his friend and he wanted to keep him as a friend.  Unfortunately, relationships failed, but a friendship could weather any storm in his opinion.

Jared looked up from his phone after refreshing the screen for the fourth time in anticipation of taking the photo and locked eyes with Colin the smile that spread across that face made his heart pound. He quickly lifted the camera and snapped the photo and grinned back. He counted the step Colin took until they were close enough to touch.