Wedding Ring - 1. Chapter 1

Tara held her brother close, wiping away his tears with her hand. The beginning of a bruise was forming around his right eye and dried blood still covered his broken lip. Tara had always looked out for her brother. Even though he was already taller then her 5'6" frame he always seemed fragile to her. She could never understand how such a kind loving person could have such difficulties as he seemed to have.

Reserved to the point of being shy, her younger brother Jacob depended on her not just for friendship but guidance as well. If someone was a friend of hers, Jacob tended to be more open with that person. Therefore, she partly blamed herself for not protecting her brother from her now ex-boyfriend.

At first, everything had seemed to be perfect. Ted seemed to get along with Jacob and would even go to the gym with him but when Ted caught Jacob getting a hard-on in the showers too many times and noticed Jacob look at him in a manner Ted found funny... Ted became suspicious.

The event that finally led to Jacob being beaten and Ted earning the title of ex-boyfriend and his arrest was Ted finally asking Jacob the question: "Are you gay?" Jacob had been nervous in answering but he had told the truth to his own detriment.

Tara thought about all of this as she continued to hold her brother. She blamed herself for what happened. She should of never let a creep like Ted get near her brother. If it took the rest of her life she was going to make it up to Jacob no matter what it took.

Jacob looked perfect. At least that's what her sister thought. His blond hair, parted to one side dangled just over his blue right eye. He had a slender frame but a developed chest that Tara found sexy but were off balanced by the freckles on his face that gave him a young boy's innocence. The only mar on his face was a pale scar that ran down the left side of his lower lip... the mark left by Ted's class ring.

Today Jacob was finishing his last year in residence and would be a full-fledged doctor. His sister was so proud of him as she had always tired to be.

"Hey sis!" Jacob called out when he saw Tara wandering the hospital halls looking for him.

"Hey bro!" She called out as she quickly walked to him, giving him a hug and messing up his hair.

"Stop that!" Jacob complained, his sister was always babying him.

"You know I can't help it." Tara said in her own defense.

"Yeah...I know. So why are you here... other then to revert me back to the role of a three year old."

"I came to congratulate you... and to invite you to dinner."

"Ohhh no... Why do I sense another blind date in my future." Jacob said as he covered his eyes

"Hey... someone needs to look out for your social life "Mr. I'm to busy being a doctor". Tara pouted on not having her hard work appreciated.

"Sis... I know you like worrying about me but I think you should wait until after you have man before you start looking for one for me."

"I've been looking." Tara weakly defended herself.

"Yeah right." Jacob said knowingly

Jacob shook his head. His sister worried so much in finding the perfect man for him that she hardly went on dates herself. The only one's she did go on where still fishing trips on finding Jacob a man with the hope that some closeted male could be guided by her into loving her brother. Jacob didn't know who to feel sorry for more, the man for being treated this way or his sister for the way she neglected herself. He knew one of the reason's his sister avoided dating men and it had everything to do with the scar on his face. She swore never to let another man get close to her unless he loved Jacob as much as he loved her. The sexual implications of which Jacob tried not to think about.

It would be times like this that he would pick at his scar as if he wished he could remove it and his sister's guilt at the same time. It was also a habit that his sister found very annoying and would often forcefully remove his hand from his face like now.

"Stop picking at it. You'll only make it larger." Tara said as she moved his hand away from his face and back to his side.

"I can't help it. It's a nervous habit and you always make me nervous when you set up these blind dates."

"Ok... I'll admit... the last three were really bad."

"One of them turned out to be married." Jacob took the opportunity to remind her. Tara rarely admitted to ever be wrong and her admitting it now was a chance Jacob couldn't miss to remind her how wrong she was at times.

"Well he seemed so perfect for you when I talked to him."

"Jacob... You know that I love you."

"Yes."

"I only want the best for you."

"I know."

"I just want you to know that I will always be here for you."

"I know sis."

"Hug..." she said with pleading eyes, wanting everything to be "ok" between them.

"Of course." Jacob said with a reassuring smile as he gave her a hug.

"So you'll have dinner with me then?" She felt safe to ask now that she knew Jacob wasn't too mad at her.

"Alright... as long as you promise you won't play "20 questions"

"As long as you promise to at least talk to the guy."

"Ok, it's a deal."

Will came home to the smell of lasagna baking in the oven, the sound of the dryer running in the laundry room, and the sight of his most favorite person in the world laying down on the couch reading the newspaper looking adorable as always. Everything was perfect... well almost perfect. After growing up together in high school, four years of rooming together in college, and five years of sharing this apartment his best friend Darren still didn't know he was gay or at least Will had yet to tell him. What made it worse was that Will was in love with him.

That did not mean everything was bad. In nearly all ways that counted except for sex, they could be called a happy couple. They helped each other with the household chores. Will vacuumed, washed the windows and cleaned the bathrooms while Darren cooked, did the laundry, and kept the kitchen clean and tidy. They did the grocery shopping together and at least once a week they would go out together on what Will privately referred to as a "date" to a concert or the movies, or just dinner together. But the best moment for Will was when they would go camping together during the summer. It was his favorite moment because they would share a tent together and for that time Will could pretend they were a happy couple sleeping together.

There were several reasons why Will had never told his friend he was gay. At first it was because he was just too scared to tell him. Later though, it just became too awkward. How do you tell a guy that you have been living with for nine years that you have been secretly gay and in love with him? Will was not fearful that Darren would be angry that he was gay but he did fear that Darren would be mad that he never told him. But what Will feared most was the loss of physical closeness he had with his roommate. Would Darren start looking back at all the hugs and horseplay they had done not as being affectionate and goofing around but as something sexual and undesirable? It wasn't a risk Will was ready to take.

It almost meant that Will didn't let himself look at other men. Except for the sex, he had what he felt was the perfect relationship. Oh... he would go to the adult video store every now and then and jack off or be jacked off there but he didn't let himself form any attachments that might lead him away from whom he felt was his true love and he did love Darren. That was what confused Will the most. He didn't lust after men... he loved men or more precisely one man. The fact that he didn't want to jump the bone of any and every hot guy he passed by made him doubt that he was gay during his high school years. What did finally convince him that he was gay was the first campout he and Darren went on together. It was late at night and they were already in the tent, Darren fast asleep, snoring lightly. Will though was wide-awake, looking at his best friend's peaceful face in the moonlight. Will so desperately wanted to hold Darren in his arms and this one time he let himself. What he felt when he wrapped his arm around Darren's waist was a feeling so perfect that all doubts Will had over weather he was gay or not disappeared. Besides getting a woody, Will felt so ecstatically happy that he had to hold back a giggle. He let his hand feel the muscles under Darren's t-shirt... possessing and feeling possessed at the same time. It was then that Will committed himself to keeping Darren in his life as long as possible. It was why he hated when Darren went on these blind dates.

"How's it going" Darren asked, lowering his newspaper when he heard Will enter the two bedroom apartment.

"Fine... a busy day again. Its tax season so you know how that can be." Will, a CPA by profession, said a little tired.

"I bet." Darren said with sympathy. Darren was a teaching professor of chemistry at the local university and so had more stable hours.

Will responded by giving Darren a lop sided grim before he walked over to the couch that Darren was spread out on and sat in his lap.

"Do you really need to go out on this "date"?" Will asked pleading. He was always fearful that Darren would find the girl of his dreams on one of these ventures, resulting in Will being left behind.

"I did promise I would go out with her."

"Yeah... I know." Will said, knowing that Darren always kept his word.

"Well at least you won't starve... I made you dinner."

"I can smell it." Will agreed. He just couldn't help smile at how considerate his friend was. "I just wished I could share it with you." He said to himself.

"How about I join you for lunch tomorrow. I made enough so there would be leftovers.

"Thanks... I would really like that."

"Then it's a date." Darren said innocently. "Well I guess I better get ready or I'll be late for tonight's rendezvous." Darren said finally after a moment of awkward silence.

"You want me to get off you now?" Will smiled wickedly.

"I think that was what I was hinting at." Darren returned the grin.

"You're going to have to fight for it then." Will said as he pined Darren to the couch.

"Will I..." Darren laughed as he grabbed Will around the waist and rolled both of them off the couch and onto the floor.

While Darren was a couple inches taller, Will was a larger, stronger man. The only time Darren could ever beat Will when they horse played like this was when Will let him. Today Will wasn't in the giving mood. While Darren put up a good fight, it was Will who finally ended up on top with both of them breathing deeply.

It was with his friend under him, gasping for breath, his wavy brown hair disheveled that Will could no longer hold back. He leaned forward and kissed Darren on the forehead, wishing it was his lips.

"Just promise you'll come back to me." Will said seriously.

"Of course I will." Darren laughed not noticing the yearning in Will's eyes.

It hurt that Darren seemed to be blind to what Will wanted so much so that his eyes began to water. Sensing he was about to cry, Will got off his oblivious friend and turned his back to him.

"Smells like the lasagna is done." Will said as he walked into the kitchen, keeping his face away from Darren's view.

"Is everything alright?" Darren asked noticing the sadness in his friend's voice.

"Yeah, its just allergies. Too much cedar in the air."

"Ok..." Darren replied. He didn't think about the fact that Will could usually not smell a thing when his allergies acted up

"I'll be alright." Will said as he took the food out of the oven and left it on the stovetop to cool.

"Alright... well I better get ready." Darren said as he walked slowly to his room... hoping his friend would stop him and tell him what was really on his mind. He didn't.

Jacob sat nervously with his sister at the Italian restaurant where they were to meet his blind date. The time was already 7:01, one minute past the time he was supposed to arrive. With his sister that was always a bad sign as it would earn the man a negative mark in her book. By the time it was 7:03,Jacob could see his sister twisting her napkin and constantly looking back to the front door with a glare that could burn a hole in a person's body.

It was then, while his sister was telling him how men were such scum that a man walked in, a man who caused Jacob's mouth to fall open. He was 6'4", brown wavy hair, lightly tanned skin, and a narrow nose. His build looked like a cross between a gymnast and a basketball player but what set Jacob off was the killer smile he gave the hostess.

"Gosh... let him be my date." Jacob hissed between sips of his water glass in an attempt to cool himself off. He seemed to be getting his wish as the hostess pointed to their table.

"Don't mess this up." Jacob glared at his sister as he saw the man of his dreams walking toward him."

"What?" Tara was taken aback by the seriousness in her brother's tone but the she looked behind her and saw the man approaching and her own jaw flopped open. It was then that Jacob realized that this was a true blind date, not even his sister had meet this man.

"Sorry I'm late. I got tangled up in something. Hi... my name is Darren."

"Darren...?" Tara asked.

"Oh... Darren Winston." He finished.

"Glad to finally meet you."

"Same here, our mutual friend Jessica wouldn't tell me much but she said I just had to meet you."

"She told me the same thing." Tara agreed. "She didn't tell me..." She started but was interrupted by her brother coughing. "Oh sorry... Darren this is my brother Jacob. I hope you don't mind him tagging along with us."

"Sure no problem." Darren smiled as he stretched out his right hand.

"Glad to meet you too." Jacob blushed as he shook Darren's hand.

After the initial greeting there was a moment of awkward silence as the brother and sister nearly drooled over the man standing above them. Darren felt he was being dissected by the two and it made him uncomfortable.

"Can I join ya'll? He finally said to break the silence.

"Of course, take a seat." They both replied at the same time.

Seeing that there were only four chairs around the square table and noticing that the brother and sister were sitting opposite of each other, there was no seat Darren could take that would not result with him being squeezed between the two. He sighed and hoped it wouldn't be a long night.

Darren sat down and waited as the two leaned forward so close to his that he could feel their breath. It was then that Tara gave her brother a looked that could almost kill while Jacob mouthed: "He's mine!" to his sister.

"Is everything all right?" Darren asked.

"Everything is fine. Tara said with a plastic smile. "Tell me... what do you think about gay people?"

This was usually the opening question Tara threw at the men she was interviewing as dates for Jacob. Jacob had not balked at his sister's bluntness for some time but this time it cause the blush he been developing while cooing over Darren to go pale. It was not that he was afraid for his safety but he was surprised to find that he already cared what Darren thought of him. He also was suspicious that this time his sister was not asking this time for his own good but to test whom had a better chance in bedding him.

Darren must of guessed this as he quickly turned to Jacob and said, "You never told me your sister was a lesbian?" in a tone that made Jacob feel this stranger had know him his entire life.

Both Darren and Jacob balled into laughter while Tara tried to hide her embarrassment. When the two had settled down Darren grabbed Jacob by the face with both hands and gave him a kiss on both cheeks.

"Does that answer your question?" He laughed while brother and sister were both flabbergasted.

"You're gay?" Tara asked in disbelief.

"No, I'm not gay but I am in a gay relationship of sorts."

"I don't understand."

"I have a roommate that I've lived with for the past nine years. I've known him since high school things are so close between us we are almost a couple."

"Wow." Jacob smiled dreamily. Not only had this guy had a history of a stable relationship but he was also available.

"Is he gay?"

"Well... not that I know of. He's a real cool guy but I've never know him to date much...ever."

"Why should he... he has you." Jacob knowingly thought to himself.

"So you're not gay?" Tara insisted on asking again.

"Nope... I don't even like musicals. But I understand that everyone has a bi-side to them"

"But you have no problems with gay people."

"As I said... sometimes I think I'm in a gay relationship, just without the sex, so I can understand how two men can love each other."

"You're perfect." Brother and sister sighed at the same time to both their surprise.

"And both of you are very cute." Darren smiled back to both of them. "I've never been in a situation where a brother and sister both seemed interested in me."

"Well since you're straight I guess I'm out of the contest." Jacob said sadly.

"Hey... don't look at it that way. We might not become boyfriends but that doesn't mean we can't be good friends." Darren said to lift Jacob's spirits as he gave him a hug.

"You better not mess this up sis cause if you do I'll be all over him straight or not." Jacob sighed as Darren let him nuzzle up to him.

Tara agreed, Darren already seemed to be the guy she was always looking for. Not only did he excite her but he also seemed to have earned Jacob's trust. But what set things into his mind was not just his acceptance of her brother's sexuality but also his physical affection. Here was a man good enough for both of them. She could not screw this up. How could she explain to her brother how she let this man get away.

Darren was ecstatic when he arrived home. Not only did he feel he had just gotten a girlfriend but he also felt he had just gotten a little brother. He had surprised himself when he kissed Jacob. He had never kissed a man before like that. But it was the image that popped in his head when he did it that was the real shocker... it was of Will. The two of them had always hugged each other and sometimes. During camping trips they even held each other. What they had never done though was kiss each other and now that line had been crossed with Jacob, Darren was finding he wanted to do the same with Will. Darren didn't feel that made him gay... he just loved the guy a lot and wanted to express it. That didn't make him gay... did it?

Darren smiled as he opened the apartment door and saw only one light on. It was a lamp next to the sofa and reveled Will asleep with a open book on his chest. Will always tried to stay up when Darren went out but this time it looked like sleep won over.

Darren snuck up to his friend and knelt down next to him so his face was only inches away from Will's. Darren stared at the unshaven cheek and wondered how it would feel against his lips. He was just moving his head forward when he had to release his breath. That was all it took to jolt Will awake.

"Ahhhhhh!" Darren yelled, startled awake.

"Hahahaha. " Darren laughed, the moment broken.

"Don't sneak up on me like that."

"Sorry I wanted to surprise you." Darren continued to chuckle.

"Surprise me how... by scaring the shit out of me?"

"I just might of."

"Whatever... how was your date."

"Interesting to say the least."

"How so?"

"Well it turned out to be a threesome. A brother and sister nearly got into a fight over me."

"A brother and sister... wow I would of never seen that coming."

"I guess that's why they call it a blind date." Darren agreed.

"So... you had a guy hitting on you."

"Yeah, but it didn't bother me any."

"Why not?" Will wanted to know.

"Because look at us. We're almost a couple, minus the sex of course. Gay relationships just don't seem that weird to me."

"Glad to hear that." Is what Will wanted to say but all he could do was mumble it out.

"What was that?" Darren asked not understanding.

"Oh nothing. I must be really tired. Glad you had a good night. See you in the morning."

"Nite Will... oh I need to give you one thing before you go." Darren said as he moved close to him.

"What?"

"This." Darren said just before he gave Will a kiss on the cheek.

"..." Will was stunned into silence.

"You were right Will. I was trying to scare the shit out of you." Darren laughed as he ran to his room on the other end of the apartment, slamming the door behind him.

"That bastard!" Will grinned as he head to his room. He'd get back at Darren for surprising him like this he just hoped that things wouldn't go further then either was ready to take things but then again...

During Will's lunch break Darren came to his office with a bag containing the leftover cold lasagna.

"How's it going Will?" Darren smiled as he took up a chair to Will's desk.

"Hanging in there. I only have two more tax reports left to do then I can start working on the daily stuff."

"That's good." Darren agreed. Will tended to freak out during tax season.

They ate in silence just enjoying being near each other. Darren must have been enjoying it too much for when he tried to aim the fork into his mouth he missed, smearing tomato sauce across the side of his cheek. Will laughed and made a grab for the napkins before Darren could get to them.

"Hey... can I have one of those." Darren laughed at his own predicament.

"Let me do it. It's all over you face so you'd most likely miss a spot." Will explained as he licked one of the napkins to get it wet.

"All right mother." Darren went along, moving his face within arms reach.

Will also moved closer and began wiping Darren's face clean. It was when he got to the spot closer to Darren's left eye that Darren closed them. Will stopped cleaning for a moment and took in the calm expression on Darren's face. Here was a man that would let Will get physically close to without showing any sign of discomfort. Will wanted... no needed to find out how close he could really come. While Darren's eyes were still closed, Will moved in closer and pressed his lips against his. It wasn't a real kiss as Will only allowed their lips to touch. Darren didn't move but his breathing picked up and Will saw Darren's eyes slowly open as if afraid to see what was there. A panic look entered Will's eyes, not sure how Darren was responding but that all went away as Will felt a strong hand on his shoulder. Will answered Darren's act of reassurance by giving Darren the same grip. That's how things remained for a good minute, both men reassuring the other but neither willing to make the touching of their lips into a full kiss.

The moment was broken when Paula, Will's secretary, can barging into the room. In a blur both arms went down and Darren jumped from his seat, coughing as if to clear his throat.

"Sorry, was I interrupting ya'll." Paula apologized as she made to back out of the room to escape the deadly stare her boss Will was giving her.

"What is it Paula." Will said in a tone that did not hide the fact that she just blew something major.

"Uhmmm, It's Tim... he just called in sick with the chicken pox."

"Chicken pox!" Will said in disbelief.

"Yes... it turned out he never had it as a kid so when his own son brought it home he finally came down with it."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"Well his doctor thinks he's going to be out of it for a week so Mr. Fisher told me to give you his tax stuff."

"What!" Will said now in anger. "Why me?"

"I asked the same thing but Mr. Fisher just used the F word."

"Damn it!" Will cussed.

"That's discrimination." Darren argued. Whenever Mr. Fisher, the accounting firm's senior partner, used the F word, he did not mean fuck. He meant family. Will was one of only three unmarried members of the firm, and the most junior of the three. So wherever another member had a sick child or a school baseball game to go to Will was always expected to take up the slack. He hated it but except for quitting, there was nothing he could do.

"Well you can go tell Mr. Fisher that yourself. I'm just the secretary!' Paula shouted in response to Darren's usual complaint when Will got screwed over. She then dropped several large files into an empty chair and stormed out of the office.

"Well looks like I won't be back till late." Will moaned as he looked at the heavy stack. "Tonight and for the next three weeks."

"Want me to help out... I can plug in some of the data into the computer for you." Darren offered.

"No... I better do it all myself." Will said with some regret. He wouldn't mind having Darren with him in the office late at night. "If there is a mistake I'll be able to find it a lot easier if I did it myself."

"Alright... I'll still bring you dinner though."

"Thanks, I'll really like that."

"Well I better get going." Darren said as he looked at his watch. "Got a class to teach this afternoon."

"Ok... When should I expect dinner?"

"Around 7:30."

"Alright... I'll try to be at a stopping point when you arrive."

"Ok... Love you Will." Darren said as he made ready to leave.

"Love you too Darren." Will waved back as Darren slipped out the door.

It was on the third date that Darren bought the brother and sister over to his apartment. Will who tried to work from home so he could keep an eye on Darren, was nervous in meeting the woman who had stolen his best friend's heart. He was nervous and jealous.

When Darren opened the door and brought Tara and Jacob in Will could see how Darren could be attracted to them. They looked so much alike they could almost be twins. The only differences were that Jacob was a few inches taller, had shorter hair and a broader, flatter chest.

The two of them look like they had stepped out a Rockwell painting with their white crisp shirts, brown pants, and cheerful expressions that seemed to be contagious as soon Darren had a wide grin on his face.

"Will, come over here I want you to meet Tara and Jacob." Darren waved over. Will got out of his chair and shook the hands of the two he felt were intruders in his near perfect life.

"Isn't he adorable." Darren beamed as he gave Will a hug and for the second time in so many days a kiss. "Tell me Jacob, you're gay... so how much of a blip do the two of us make on you're gaydar."

"Sorry Darren." Jacob laughed;"gaydar readings are only discussed with fellow fags."

"Oh... I guess that means we're both straight Darren sighed as he gave Will a pat on the head."

"Well at least my sister is." Jacob agreed, giving Will a wink while Darren was busy staring at Tara.

Will noticed the wink and it did not make him happy. The last place he wanted to be found out was in front of Darren's girlfriend. He had to get out of there before the redness growing on his face became too obvious.

"Well it was nice to meet the two of you... I have to go I have a lot of accounting stuff to finish up before April 15th.

"Hey, don't go Will, I was planning to take all of us out to dinner." Darren pleaded as his friend headed to his room.

"Sorry Darren, I just can't right now. Some other time maybe." Will said as he felt a pain hit his gut on seeing Darren's hurt look.

Tara and Jacob also noticed the look both men had on their faces and gave each other knowing glances.

"Darren, we can do this another time if you want." Tara said as she gave him a squeeze on the shoulder.

"No, we better go. I don't know what's gotten into Will. He's been in a grumpy mood for a week now." Darren said as he picked up his coat.

"Alright, whatever you want." Tara agreed, hoping that Darren and Will could sort things out when they got back but when they did, the lights were already out in Will's room so the problem was never solved.