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.""He's better than me.He deserves someone betterthan me.Someone smarter, someone who knows what thefuck he's talking about when he's trying to explainstatistical finance."112 Taxes and TARDIS N.R.WalkerTim snorted and shook his head."He's not anybetter than you.You're just different, but neither one isbetter or not-better than the other.Brent, you're a good guy,one of the best guys I know.And any guy, regardless ofhow smart he is or what he does for a living, would belucky to have you."I took the ice pack off my hand and put it on myforehead.I was getting a headache, and maybe the coldwould stem the tears that kept threatening to fall.Suddenly there was a knock at the door.I took theicepack off my forehead and looked at Tim."If that'sMarty, I'll fucking kill him."I stood in the kitchen doorway, looking to see whoit was Tim let inside.But it wasn't Marty.It was Logan.The first thing I noticed was that he'd been crying.And it twisted my gut.The second thing I noticed was hewas holding some papers.He swallowed hard."This is your tax return." Hewalked over to the dining table and pulled out a pen."Ifyou sign it now, then you'll be free of any obligation to seeme."I shook my head.But the words wouldn't come.Myeyes stung, and my chest hurt.But I somehow walked overto him and picked up the pen."It wasn't like that," I said113 Taxes and TARDIS N.R.Walkersoftly."Please listen ""You don't have to explain." He shook his head andlifted his chin."In fact, I'd rather you didn't.""But what Marty said wasn't true.""Brent, please don't make this any more difficult."And I understood then.It was too late.He wantednothing to do with me.It shouldn't have surprised me, butthe hollow ache in my chest burned, making my eyes fillwith water.I sucked back a breath and willed myself not to cry.Fuck, I hadn't cried in years.I shook my head and signedthe paper.And I wasn't just signing my stupid fucking taxreturn.I was signing us done.That was it.It was over.I looked at him, and I know the tears in my eyessurprised him, but still, he said nothing.He was socomposed, so together.And I was fucking falling apart."Please don't& " I started to say, but he picked upthe papers and took a step back.I wanted to tell him to stay.I wanted to tell him tostop.But as he turned and walked to the front door, Icouldn't make a sound."Logan, wait!"Those were the words I wanted to say, but it wasTim who said them.I looked at him, my best friend, as hewalked over to us."Logan, please," he started."What114 Taxes and TARDIS N.R.WalkerMarty said isn't true.So if you're gonna leave, if you'regonna end things with Brent, then at least do it oversomething he did, not some bullshit story Marty made up."Logan looked at Tim and swallowed but saidnothing.He just waited for Tim to finish.And I& I just stood there.Tim looked at me then back at Logan and told him,"Brent doesn't give a shit about taxes or how much refundhe'll get back.He never has.Marty's just a jealous assholewho'd say anything to get his hands on Brent, and when hesaw how Brent looked at you, he knew he didn't stand achance."I stared at Tim.He was talking about me like Iwasn't even there.He was talking for me, saying all the shitI could never say.Tim looked back at me and sighed then turned toface Logan."If you had any idea what Brent was likebefore he met you, you'd understand.You'd see howdifferent he is now."Logan finally looked at me then.And I thought forone second I saw a flicker of something in his eyes, butthen he shook his head."I can't& " And he turned to leave."Logan, please." This time the words were mine.They were barely a whisper, but he heard them, and hestopped.When he looked at me, I tried to tell him, I tried to115 Taxes and TARDIS N.R.Walkersay the words that would make him stay."I& I, um, I& "Logan shook his head and turned back toward thedoor
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