At Long Last

physically," Jack said. "Mentally and emotionally. My dad can be an ass, as you know. He gave it to the kid rough. My mom says Scotty came home, packed his stuff, and left. She tried to talk him out of leaving, but he wouldn't listen. She said she'd never seen him looking so bad."
    "Jesus," Preston whispered. He felt like someone had kicked him in the gut. Or the chest. He wanted to do something, but he didn't know what.
    Jack sat on the edge of his desk and glared at him. "So, you're a coward, huh? Can't admit you're gay and want my brother? Is that it?"
    Preston's cheeks got hot. "You don't understand, Jack."
    "Sure." Jack snorted. "Do you think it was easy for Scotty to admit he was gay? Well, it wasn't. He took a lot of shit. My parents accept it now, but they sure as hell didn't then. My mother cried and my dad yelled. They wouldn't talk to Scotty for three days. He lost friends, too. He came to me and he asked me if he'd made a mistake coming out. If he maybe should have hid it from everyone."
    "What did you say?" Preston asked, his voice raspy to his own ears.
    "I told him the truth. If he hid who he was he would be miserable his whole life. I asked him if he would he rather be miserable for all his years or miserable the way he felt at that moment for whatever time it took for people to accept him. Preston, those who love you will love you anyway, and those who won't accept it, never loved you in the first place."
    Preston just shook his head. He couldn't even think. His mind was numb.
    Jack rose and headed for the door.
    "Where are you going?" Preston asked.
    "To find Scotty. Someone has to be on his side." Jack smiled a little sadly. "See you."

    * * * *
    Scotty stared at the cell phone on the round table as it sprang to life. The only light he'd turned on in the room was a small 60-watt lamp on the table. He picked up the phone and flipped it open.
    "Hi, Jack," his voice came out raw and stripped.
    "My God, kid, you sound terrible."
    Scotty shuddered. "Yeah. I've been better."
    "I've been calling you all day and night. Where are you?"
    "Nowhere."
    "Scotty."
    "What do you want, Jack?"
    "I talked to Dad. He knows what an asshole he is." There was a slight pause. "He knows everything."
    Scotty stared at the phone. "How did you know?"
    "Do you think you're the only one with investigative skills? You're my brother. I know."
    "I wish you hadn't told Dad. It's none of his business. Yours either." He rubbed his temples. "Now Preston will hate me."
    "No, he won't."
    "Sure. Anyway, it doesn't change anything. I don't care anymore what Dad thinks."
    "That's not true."
    "It is. I'm done trying to please him. None of it matters to him. All he cares about is that I'm gay and an embarrassment to him." Scotty sighed, wiping the tears streaming from his eyes. He was a damn cry baby. "I just have to accept that. Lots of people don't get along with their father."
    "Where are you, Scotty?" Jack asked again.
    "Near the airport."
    "The airport? Why?"
    "I leave for New York in the morning. I think it's for the best."
    Jack sighed. "You can't run away from this."
    "I'm not running, Jack. I'm giving up. Surrendering. Whatever you want to call it. I should never have come back. That much is true. The cliché about going home isn't such a cliché."
    "I'm sorry about Preston. He's a jerk."
    "Nah, it's my fault. I expected too much out of him. I should have just let my fantasy play out and consider it over. I let myself believe there was something more to it."
    "So you don't love him?"
    Scotty scrubbed his hand over his face and stared out at the dismal little motel room he'd rented.
    "Scotty?" Jack prodded.
    "I love him. So what? He doesn't love me and that's that. He thinks I am abnormal," Scotty said, his tongue tripping over the hated word.
    "I'll beat the crap out of him for you."
    Scotty smiled a little. "Yeah, like old times, huh? Defending me from those who bullied me."
    "Of course. You're my little brother. I've always got your back."
    "I know." He choked on the words and the emotion suffocating him. "I just--I just don't know why he couldn't love me, Jack."
    "I don't know why either, kid. Maybe he does, you know, but he's scared. This is all new for him."
    Scotty nodded, forgetting his brother couldn't see him, but his throat was too clogged to speak.
    "Where are you, Scotty? I want to come and get you."
    "No."
    "Please. Don't leave. No matter what anyone else does or says to you, I'm your brother and I love you. Let me come