Page 45 of Stand By Me

"I don't know what I did wrong," he finally said in a quiet, subdued voice. "It's like… One day we were good and, sure, we fought sometimes, but it was the usual stuff between brothers. And then, boom, I'm his worst enemy."

Mario wasn't sure what he could say without betraying any confidences, so instead he moved his hand lower and circled his fingers around Clay's ankle, squeezing gently.

"I'm sorry."

Clay nodded, but then he seemed to shake himself off and looked up to meet Mario's gaze.

"I'm sorry you're going to be pulled into the middle of it now."

Mario rubbed the jut of Clay's ankle with his thumb. "Better than the alternative of not having this."

It earned him a real smile before Clay grew serious again.

"I never want to come between the two of you, so if I somehow…" He paused. "If I ever make it sound like I'm trying to get you to pick sides or convince you to make a case for me or something, tell me, okay? I don't want to be that person."

Mario swallowed, feeling horrible that he hadn't even thought of Clay putting him in a situation like that, and yet he'd suspected Ben might.

Damn, he was a shitty friend.

In the end, he just nodded and squeezed Clay's ankle again.

Sure, he'd fantasized about being able to bring the brothers closer. He wouldn't admit to it out loud, but he at least tried not to lie to himself. When he was thinking clearly, though, he knew that avoiding a flat-out war should be the best he aimed for, here.

Anything above that would be pushing their luck.

* * *

The absolutely worst part about the great weekends was that they had to end.

They dragged it out as much as possible, with Mario leaving Clay's apartment when it was already dark outside, but it was time to get back to the real life.

This is your real life now, too, Mario told himself, looking up at Clay's apartment building before heading home. They'd set up another date for Tuesday and made tentative plans for Saturday, if Clay wasn't busy after the gala, or if Mario wasn't hanging out with Ben then.

The good humor sustained Mario all through Monday, which of course meant Andie and Carina teased him mercilessly during and after work. Still, they were obviously happy for him, too, which he appreciated a lot.

It stung that Ben would never support this the same way, even if—or when—he would later come to accept his choice of a partner.

"You're not giving him a chance to support you," Carina reminded him gently before they parted for the night.

Mario rubbed his forehead. "I know. I promise I plan to tell him as soon as I see him."

"Good."

Ben was supposed to let him know when he was free, but he hadn't texted him, so Mario decided to nudge him after he waved Andie and Carina goodbye.

Hey, do you know when you're free yet?

He was almost at his place as his phone pinged in his pocket.

I'm still not sure about the weekend, but I'm definitely free on Friday. What about you?

Friday. Mario could work with that.

Friday is fine. I'm thinking something low-key, maybe a game night at my place? R should be out.

There was no way Mario wanted to have this conversation anywhere public.

I thought you'd suggest a night out! Internet is not a place to find a guy, dude. I thought we've been over this.

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