It was three days later when I decided to postpone my interviews.
"Clarisse, I'm sorry but I will call you again next week, I'm having a lot on my plate at the moment. I need time off and..." I was taking my call on the living room, the one-bedroom college apartment felt suffocating in the last few days that I was there.It was a couple of days ago after I heard their love statements to each other that my feelings for them were suddenly tested. It was the fact that their relationship was way past casual, was making me think about my standings. I didn't even know what I was between them."Peyton, is everything okay? you've been a bit off lately." Andrew was the first one to notice, while Kyle has been busy with his study."I was hoping you wouldn't notice." I smiled at him and hugged him when he opens his arms for me."Why wouldn't you want me to notice?""Do you love Kyle?""I do,""And he loves you too?"The helpless feel was still there, I know he was trying to help and it would be stupid of me if I didn't take it. And that's how minutes later I was back at my place after I thanked my rich boyfriend for his cheque. I was trying to get rid of my stupid brother quickly."Here, this is the last time I'm helping you out, Wade. I owe the guy, I can't just pay you back every time...""Thanks, man, look...I know, I'm trying to quit. But you've always been the most resourceful one between us and you're also the handsome one,""What the FUCK does that supposed to mean?!" I grabbed and pushed him to the wall. His stupidity doesn't seem to end at the gambling table, apparently, his mouth can be equally dumb as his brain. My breath was heavy, when I held him against the wall, I was trying so hard not to punch him. "I know how you paid my previous one, I've seen you dance in one of the..." I punched him just before he
Andrew called me up reminding me to go check up on Kyle when I was having my coffee date with Clarisse. "So, that's why you move here? a new relationship?" Clarisse asked when I ended the call with Andrew. "My soft spot, I like to live my life Clarisse, I just wish I don't need money to pursue my hobby." She laughed but then tells me that it's good to have priorities. "At least you're being honest about it, unlike others who say otherwise. So, back to business or should I say side business, how are you feeling about an interview for Wednesday next week?"She showed me the company details, their offering salary, and the job description. I smiled and nodded."I trust you. I'll be there.""Perfect, the money is good, Peyton. In this town, it's the best one yet, and I know for sure that if you decided to move again, they have branches in several areas. You can have a long-term relationship with this company." S
I was feeling like shit, neither Peyton nor Kyle stayed at my apartment last night. Maybe I acted too harsh on him, I had a feeling that Peyton didn't like it when Kyle and I had our differences. Well, perhaps it was more than differences since there was a lot of shouting and very loud cursing yesterday. Though I had a hunch that there was more to it with Peyton. That afternoon I head out to Finn's to submit my part of our group project. The red-haired hunk opens his apartment in only his jeans, he looked fresh and sexy and forbidden as fuck. "Hey, come in." "I'm just dropping this off, I should really get going.""Come on Andrew, don't be such a stranger, it's been a while. I'm sure Kyle lets you out of his leash once in a while." He smirked and pulled me into his apartment. "I can't stay long.""You can't, or you won't?" Finn walked to the fridge and give me a cold beer. "I shouldn't."
"Finn? that stupid prick!""Kyle, forget about him, Andrew managed to get himself out. I think that's what matters the most, don't you think so?" Peyton was trying to calm me down. It was just before midnight when she slipped back into my apartment, telling me that she was just checking up on Andrew. I smirked knowing that she looked satisfied after she got back from Andrew's. And she wasn't denying it, but then she told me about what Andrew told her about Finn. It made me restless and I didn't sleep well that night, having her in my arms help but I still needed to do something about it. My vibe was still off when I bumped into Andrew in front of the elevator the next day. I was on my way to campus when he smiled and told me to join him in his car. "So, Finn huh?" it was still early and I was already picking a fight with him. I hated the fact that the situation was making me boil on the inside, while Andrew was loo
The way that Kyle left was so abrupt, I still couldn't wrap my head around it. And when morning comes it still feels strange knowing that he actually left us. It has been three days and we haven't been receiving any news from him. We called, texted, and we even searched his things. "Do you think he's serious?" "Honestly, I don't know, Andrew. Should I even be here? I hated him for doing this." We barely sleep, we cuddled and said nothing. Each busy with our thoughts. "I don't think you should go, but I don't want to be selfish and tell you that I need you." She stepped closer and hugged me. I wrapped my arms around her and sighed. "How's your interview? are you taking the job?""I don't know, should I?" "Peyton, I know you haven't sold your apartment and you're keeping it for this kind of reason exactly." "I hate that you turn out to be this nice, I have one foot out the door and you'r
"Wade, why is the black SUV still parked there. Don't tell me you owe people money again?" "Just go back to your life, Kyle. I can manage, you're the smart one. You're living your life with your boyfriend, and when are you going to tell me that you're gay?"It has been almost a week since I got back to our family home. Wade, my younger brother has been struggling with his job keeping up with my dad's old garage as a mechanic. And combined with his gambling habit, it's a recipe for a disaster. "Why don't you sell the shop, rent out the house and move away from here. You can always go back to school?" "I wish I have the brain, but I'm more of a muscle guy..." Wade and I would get along when we don't have money issues between us. "We're brothers how much different do you think we are? you should shave your beard and cover your tats and enroll back to school.""When are you going to introduce me to your boyfriend? or ar
"You should at least text, did you know I stayed up all night waiting for your call?"He was really upset when I saw him touching his beard repeatedly and pacing back and forth. "Uh...sorry?" I didn't know what his problem was but I had never seen him this upset before."Hey, is everything okay? who's the woman from last night?""I'm working some stuff out, and she's part of it. But now is not the best time for you to go back here actually. I'm...in a bit of a tight spot."He took bottled water from the fridge and drink half of it as if he was really parched. "What do you mean?" "The woman from last night...she's with the good guys, this should blow off in a couple of weeks. But if you're staying here I need to know where your whereabouts. You can't just go missing on me."I rest my back to the kitchen counter and look at him intensely. "Okay, now you're scaring me. Are you okay? do you ne
It was almost ten in the evening when I received a call from Chris telling me that he's en route to our meet-up point. The PI wouldn't tell me what's going on but I know something bad was happening.The tension had me pick up a pack of cigarettes, I lit one and took a long dragged, the familiar feel eases me a bit. Minutes later I was still resting my back to the side of my car smoking while waiting for my guy. "...He's hospitalized, someone beat him up badly. I managed to pull his hospital records, it'll cost you, but he's guarded by cops. According to my source, they're pissed with Kyle's brother for talking to the cops."Chris showed me pictures of Kyle's, X-rays, and the complete hospital charts that I can't even understand."Mexican cartel." He added when I took another drag of my cigarette. "I should get him back,""It's best for him.""We should leave tonight." He nodded and didn't ask further when I g
Two Years Later"I think I've changed my mind about him. He's not that bad. Tara loves him, he's actually good with her better than that gold-digging bitch, Phoebe. And I've never seen our son so happy..."I couldn't believe what I'm hearing when I unintentionally passed through the family lounge when I was about to inform Jasper's mom that lunch is served. Jasper, Tara, and I were at his mom's for our weekly Sunday brunch at his family home. It was the only time we spend time at his mom nowadays, though she would go to our house and play with Tara or pick her up from preschool then spend the whole afternoon with her.Last year I had finally adopted her, we have been a real family with her legally as my daughter and she calls me daddy Ben. I have been involved in her preschool activities, and be the perfect house husband for Jasper during the day and his collared lover at night. We have progressed to handcuffs, ankle restraints, and blindfolds. Sex had nev
Jasper's POVLast night I admit that I had planned everything for Benji, down to the black leather collar. I need to take his mind from the event, and by putting him on my collar he knows that he'd be the only one on my mind that night. Obviously, it worked, and I was half-hard for my husband as I introduced him to my associates. It went bad the moment Phoebe joined us at our table with Dexter. Though I know Dexter won't cause any more trouble since I sit him down and explained his future in the firm should he keeps on harassing my Ben. The man tried to deny it, but he eventually relent. Phoebe on the other hand blabbered about how she wanted to get close to Tara, but she will be my problem for another day. I know she'll back away once I offer her more alimony. Anything for my Ben.Now, it's the morning after and it's time for me to lay it all for him. I need to let him know that he'll always be on my mind."I know I've been b
Another office party, I definitely didn't want to go but I am his now and I can't hideout forever. This would be the third office gathering that I rejected after months of being married to Jasper. At some stage, I need to face his colleagues and let them know he has a husband now. Yup, not awkward at all.Married life. Adjustments. Sacrifices.The mantra slowly lose its effect on me as I popped another pill looking at my reflection in the mirror. I look good, Jasper had sent me to his tailor to get a tux fitted for me. Not that I don't have enough of them from my whoring days, but this was a very fine tuxedo and I do look extra good in it. And I felt even better when I saw Jasper looking at me with a gleam in his eyes. "You look like the perfect trophy husband." He was to my front, put his hand on my hip and his other hand to my neck, keeping me still as he lay a sweet kiss on my lips. I leaned in closer as his hand move from my waist to my back, holding
There was something about his mom, the way she looked at me and how sometimes she treated me nicely while some other times she would just blatantly ignore me.We have been staying at his parents' for two weeks, two whole goddamn weeks...I was trying to be patient, trying to understand that Jasper needed this, that he needed time with his mom. I tried to get away from the house whenever I can, but I could not leave Tara for long. I love her as she was my own and whenever Allie would text me and told me that she was asking for me I'd hurriedly come to his parents'. Jasper and I were doing great, well, he as far as he knows we were great, splendid, I was loving married life. I've been talking about my situation with my psychiatrist, she did advise me to talk it out with Jasper tell him that I'm not comfortable with his mom. But instead of doing that, I started popping my perception pills. His mom had told me to call her mom while we were having family dinne
Jasper's POVThe moment we got back to the city, life catches us effortlessly, and Ben seems to be enjoying the married life. He was great with Tara, we woke up naked every day and have lazy sex in the morning before we took a shower, slipped on our wedding rings, and get dressed for the day. "Daddy Ben, I want daddy Ben!" Tara crossed her arms to her chest, her sweet cheeky pout promised us a morning of tantrums if she didn't get her way, and this morning it looks like she wanted Ben to feed her veggies. She didn't normally hate veggies, but she despises broccoli one day telling us that she didn't like eating little trees. "Hey, you know you're a big girl now right?" she nodded excitedly when Ben lower himself down by her baby chair to get to her height. Her birthday is in two months, she's turning two and Ben had been remanding her that fact every time her tantrum was about to erupt. Then her pout was magically gone and Ben sits next to her while Allie
Jasper booked us a wedding by the beach, it was beautiful. The sea breeze was perfect, we were wearing matching casual khaki suits, Tara wears her white flowy dress that matches the color of our shirts, she was holding a small bouquet wrapped in beige color arrangements. Jasper's little nugget walked down the aisle holding my hand, looking giddy as we approach Jasper who was waiting for us at the end of the aisle.The seats were empty aside from Allie who was busy taking our pictures, and she laughed when Tara waves her hand frantically at her sister. The kid couldn't contain her excitement when she finally ran to her daddy and he lifts and twirl her, making her let out a loud giggle. I was filled with butterflies the second I was to his side. We both smile at the minister, he smiled and put our hands together since obviously I was too nervous to realize the situation and Jasper was too distracted by Tara and then couldn't stop looking at me which then only making
I still couldn't believe that I'm going to get hitched, I should be happy. Right? Then how come I feel like something big was going to happen? It was not until two days later that he's finally done shuffling his schedule with his PA. We were finally eloping, flight was scheduled, vacation villa had been reserved, clothes had been packed. Tara was excited and Allie was smiling so bright since it was going to be her first trip on a plane. But there was one last hurdle, he was going to tell his mom. "Look, this is just to let her know I'm not asking her permission. My mom is going to know that we'll be gone for two weeks, she will be asking for Tara." I was not convinced, I hated that his family has a strong pull on him. Maybe because mine is conveniently absent from me, sure it's because I ran away from home after dad beat me up when he caught me in bed with my first boyfriend and my mom just watches in horror as I was forced to kneel and she lets dad bea
Jasper POV "Ben, this is..." I backed away from his kiss, trying to get his attention, wanting him to talk about what had happened earlier."You're beautiful as fuck, but I love you more than that. I love your lovely soul, and it hurts to realize that you're trying to deflect our issue with sex." My hands rubbed his waists gently, telling him in silence that I'm there for him."But I don't want to talk about it," he was upset, immediately got up from my lap, and went to reach the liquor cabinet. I know that he was taking his antidepressant, and combining the drug with more alcohol after an evening of champagne was worrying me. "Ben, look at me," I grabbed him and he lets me pull him away from the liquor cabinet."I want to dance." He said out of the blue, taking my hand, leading me straight to our bedroom. I know I wouldn't get through to him and talking was a definite fail. So I went with him and waited until he connects his phone to t
I woke up bright and early the next day only to find that Jasper had moved to the bed. He was still wearing his work clothes, without the suit jacket and tie. His shoes and socks were scattered on the floor. My first thought was to wake him up but he was out like a rock, snoring softly and spreading himself across the bed. Reluctantly, the thoughts came flooding back to my mind, and knowing that Tara might be looking for her dad I decided to get up and get ready for the day.Getting dressed and going to the kitchen was done easily, then seeing Tara's hand grasping in the air calling out for my attention made me chuckle and picked her up from her baby chair. "Ben! Breakfast!" her sweet little voice warms my insides, the little toddler wanted me to feed her. Her new sitter greeted me, Allie gave me some space after giving me Tara's porridge bowl and move to prepare breakfast for Jasper and me. "Allie, just for Jasper, I'll have a cup of coffee." She nodded