Snow Lodge
Chapter 63
Outside the room, Howie and Nick stood with their mouths open in shock. Nick's bad feeling had persisted, and he had made an excuse that he had left something behind in order to go back to Brian. Howie had made his excuses as well, wanting to see what had seemingly upset Nick so much.
As a result, the two of them had heard most of Brian's confessions, their emotions ranging from pity to sorrow to pure shock with each admission that had fallen from Brian's lips.
They stood there for several minutes, unable to move as the enormity of Brian's words ran through them. Eventually though, they regained enough composure to come to their senses, and they looked back into the room.
Brian had stopped crying now, and was instead whispering soft words to AJ, gentle words of love and sorrow, mixed with heartfelt pain. Nick looked at Howie for a moment before opening the door and slipping inside.
He quietly stepped up behind Brian and put his arms around his shoulders, pulling him back into his embrace. Brian stiffened for a moment, before relaxing when he realised who it was. He bent his head back and looked up to Nick's face. He could see in his eyes that Nick had heard what he had said to AJ.
"Oh Brian. I..." Howie broke off, too choked to say anything more. He was finally beginning to realise just how wrong he had been about Brian, and once again felt incredibly guilty for blaming him for everything that had happened.
Brian reached out a hand to Howie, who took it gratefully, and allowed himself to be pulled into the embrace.
"It's okay Howie." Brian soothed him. "I forgive you."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be D. You were just being AJ's best friend and trying to protect him from any more pain. I know that. Hell, if I were you, I would've done exactly the same thing, so don't feel guilty about it okay?"
Howie sniffed and wiped his eyes. "Okay."
Brian managed a watery smile. "C'mere." He gently tugged on Howie's arm, pulling him back into the hug. Nick wrapped his long arms around both Howie and Brian and closed his eyes, resting his head on top of Brian's, whose face was buried in Howie's neck.
None of them were looking at AJ. So they missed it when his fingers twitched a little before going still again...
