Blake's POV
About thirty minutes ago, I stormed out of the office. People cleared out of my path as I speeded my way home.
I sat in the living room shaking. I received a frantic call from Shelby about an hour ago at my office. They had Jaden. I could even hear him mumbling incoherently in the background. When I asked 'they who?' She said something in the line of 'Panic attack' avoiding my first question before hesitantly saying who was with her. Now blood froze with I heard Jerome's name in the same fucking sentence as the Hideaway.
Doesn't he know how seedy that place is? It fronts as a diner, but it was actually one those secluded hook-up places. Fuck! Why would he take Jaden there? Did he try to… drug him? Did he try to take advantage of my poor boy? Why was he even there? Didn't he disappear from this town after what happened?
Fuck. Fuck. If I hadn't avoided Jaden, would this have happened?
Unable to sit anymore, I started pacing the living room frantically. I swear to the Gods, if Jaden's hurt, I thought threateningly. My mind wasn't working right. Every bad scenario was flashing through my mind, and I growled impatiently. Pulling out my phone, I was about to call Shelby, when I saw a car skid in front of my house.
Shelby's golden head pop out the driver's side and out of the passenger's seat came out Jerome. His long hair was gone and he didn't look much different from the past, except that his eyes were even more striking than before and his suit was spotless. A man appreciates a good suit when he sees one; doesn't mean he likes to wear it. He goes to the back seat, and that's when I see him lift Jaden out.
Without any hesitation, I rushed outside and basically grabbed Jaden out of his hands. God know where they've been, who've they touched, and I was praying that it hadn't been Jaden.
There was a small history between Jerome and I. The main part of it, I could not remember due to me being intoxicated but I could see Jerome remembered. His eyes widened when he saw me, and he stood there frozen for a moment.
He gave me a look, and sarcastically mumbled under his breath, "Gee... you're welcome."
I gritted my teeth, holding back a retort, when I felt Jaden's arm embrace my neck tightly. His eyes opening up slightly. "You are in so much trouble," I said to him, but my voice betrayed me as it cracked with emotions.
He gave me a dopey smile as we walked into the house and closed his eyes back again when I placed him gently on the bed. I tucked him in before heading down utterly infuriated. I stared at Shelby who was looking through the window distractedly, and Jerome, who's leg was shaking nervously in a corner.
He still had that nervous tick?
"Now, can either one of you tell me what happened?" I asked scarily calm.
Shelby opened her mouth, but gave Jerome a look. He sighed, running a hand through hair that I'm sure had been perfectly combed before this ordeal. He was that kind of guy.
"Look, first of all, I didn't know he was your son. If I knew... and even if I knew, I still wouldn't have let him camp out at Signal Hill. Who the hell does that?" he started. "I mean, it all happened so fast. How was I to know that the kid had a phobia? We were having a good
and I got up answer Shelby's call. By the time I came back, Jaden was starting to look queasy, and there was this drunk guy making the situation worst."
"What does 'having a good time' indicate?" I asked narrowing my eyes at him.
"What?" Jerome asked with a blank expression. "Well, we were talking and drinking..."
Cutting him off, I exclaimed, "You gave a 17 year old boy alcohol?!"
He snorted obnoxiously. "I bought him Cranberry juice. I'm a Bi man, not some animal. Thank you."
"Not how I remember," I mumbled.
"You were drunk as drunk as I was," he pointed out seriously.
"And that makes it better because...?" I fired back, only to regret it when I saw a painful look flash before his eyes. His eyes visibly sadden, and a guilt settled in my stomach like an ugly troll. I knew we had both had way too much to drink that night but I just couldn't help the fact that he had been with Jaden.
It was driving me crazy inside.
Jerome shook his head, and let out a dry laugh that didn't reach his eyes. "Wow. After all this time, that's what you're going to be sticking with? Well fuck you too."
"Oh go orbit a black hole."
"Alright now, men. There's no need to behave like High Schoolers," Shelby quickly intervened. "I'm just glad that I reached in time and that he's stable now. He was pretty shaken up when I pulled up to get them. Never seen anything like that before."
Exhaling a breath, Jerome said, "It's okay. Fatherhood looks goods on you," and proceeded to send a wink. "I'm guessing that Jaden has a fear of being touched, and with when that drunk guy started to get into his face, that's when he snapped," Jerome explained.
"I-I thought that you moved because... you know..." I asked lamely without wanting to dredge up memories.
I don't think he knew of my guilt. I did feel guilty because whether I want to acknowledge it or not, I was the one whom initiated the contact. I'm pretty sure my drink had been spike with ecstasy that night, not that he needed to know that.
Honestly, it was all blurry. It was mostly my fault though, because I had let Susan sell my stock instead of doing it myself. I was young and stupid at the time. All I wanted was to just waste away my uselessness.
"I'm doing with business in the neighborhood," Jerome stated avoiding my eyes as much as I was avoiding his.
"What a way to make an entrance," Shelby snickered lightly. "I expected you late tonight."
"Oh I was going to be coming late tonight, but I found myself an interesting person. Only to find out he's the son of my ex."
"EX!" both of us burst out in unison. Shelby in amusement and I exclaimed more in defense. Jerome just sat there boringly scratching his temple. "Even if I was drunk I'd remember dating you," I blurted out and quickly regretted it.
"And here I thought he didn't recall what happened between us because he was drunk...," he challenged me back with his piercing blue-like daggers. He stood up and fixed his suit with a tug. "Fishes get caught by their mouth, my darling Blake."
"If you two were really involved, you should let me watch," Shelby mumbled softly. "I feel left out."
"That's what you're concern with? You're weird," I threw at her.
"Yeah and what does that say about you people? Birds of a feather Blakey," Shelby added in a reminding voice and stood up looking like they were about to leave. "Do you think he's going into depression?" Shelby asked and I hoped to the Gods that it wasn't true. If Jaden started to relapse into his depression at this hormonal age, the results could be fatal. I didn't want to think about a life without Jaden.
"He's just a boy. What could he possibly be depressed about?" I thought out loud. I felt a pang slam against my chest since of course, I knew the reason behind his rebellion.
I wouldn't call it rebellion either.
At that Jerome fixed me with a curious look. "Jaden is no longer a boy, Blake. The sooner you realized that, the lesser you will hurt him. Jaden is just as much of a man as you and I. You need to try to understand how he feels," he uttered. "or who knows, I might actually get interested. You know, I've always had an affinity for broken things."
My blood boiled once again under my flesh. "He's not a broken object. You touch him, I hurt you."
Shelby mockingly shivered as she made her way to the front door. "Ooh. C'mon Bax, you heard the man. No need to seal your death here."
Shelby gave me a hug as she left and Jerome gave me one of his awkward nods. Taking a deep shaky breath as they drove away, I literally felt the weight of how tired I was, sink into me.
It had been really tough with Jaden and I barely being on speaking terms. He seemed to not want to be in the house when I am. The times when he would arrive and kiss me on the cheek are gone. The only time he stares at me is when he thinks I'm not looking, and it's always the same sad heart wrenching expression.
I know it's my fault.
Going up the stairs and into Jaden's room, I sat on the edge of the bed, caressing his silky short hair. He looked so young as he slept. The shadows of his long eyelashes were cast upon his face and his chest had a steady rise and fall. With a face just like his mother's, I could see him being held more than holding someone else.
Soft skin and subtle plump pink lips. My fingers gliding along the contours of his handsome face unable to come to terms that the boy-man-in front of me, is perhaps in love with me. Why would he? I stared down longingly unto him powerless to turn away.
"You deserve someone better," I whispered softly, as if he could hear. "You deserve someone that isn't as messed up as I am."
His eyes fluttered opened, and a cool hand reached up to cup my face. His eyes were swimming in emotion, when his fingers brushed against my lips. I wanted to get up and walk away, but that would only make it worst. Instead, I closed my eyes and let his fingers caressing my face and lips.
"I'm the one who's in love with you. I'm pretty sure that makes me the messed up one between the two of us," he whispered letting out a strangled laugh. My eyes shot open and I stared down at him. His eyes had gone glossy and his nose were starting to turn pink. "Blake, please kiss me," he asked holding back tears. "Just one kiss for today. That's all I ask."
I didn't move but breathed in the pain that I saw flash before me. Was I really hurting him this much? Jaden might just be as dangerous as I thought. It broke my heart to see him like this. I know how to make the aching stop, but I just couldn't give in. It's wrong on so many levels.
Aware that I wasn't moving, Jaden let his hands fall to his sides and looked towards the window. "Please," Jaden lastly said. "Just kiss me."
He looked like he was in pain, and my heart broke all over again. There shouldn't be that much pain in his eyes. Why did he love me like this? Then again, should there be reason? Maybe he just loves me. There could be no reason behind it, maybe it just happened. With that reasoning, I leaned down and pressed a kiss unto his soft cheek and one unto his forehead.
He gulped and a tear fell from his eyes unto the pillow. "So that's your answer," he choked out. "I get it now, Blake. I will leave you alone after this."
"I'm sorry."
I tore my eyes away and got up. Jaden rolled over on his side with his back turned to me. This was hurting me and as much as it hurt him. Closing the door to his bed room, I slid unto the floor.
I can't, I thought. I can't defile him. I can't and I won't. He will always be my little boy, and even if, I did feel some attraction towards him, it's too late. He made his decision based on mine.
Still, I felt my own tears on the verge of falling, as I listened to him sobbing behind the closed door.
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