Chapter 15: Jace
"Seatbelts." Daniel is looking right at me when he says it. "Seatbelts, or the car isn't moving."
"I hate seatbelts."
"And I'd hate to see you get mangled if we get in an accident. Seatbelt."
Well, I can't argue with that voice. I click my seatbelt in, and Daniel smiles at me, glances to make sure Avery has done the same, then puts his car in gear. I like Daniel's car. It's kind of small and makes odd sounds sometimes, but it's cute and cozy and smells like cinnamon.
I can tell Avery wants to say something, as he keeps starting to and then going quiet. Finally, he says, nearly whispering, "Jace? Do you...you like music?"
"I do! I love all kinds of music, even country sometimes, and especially the music from musicals! All the genres are so...different!"
"Have you ever listened to hyperpop?"
"I'm not sure. What is it?"
Avery just passes me his headphones. They're wired ones, weirdly enough, but I think that suits him. I watch him press play.
"Oooo it goes fast. I like that. A lot. You should send me that. And more of them."
"I can do that. I'll get your number later, so I can send you some. Where are we going, Daniel?"
"Burger Bar. They have gluten free stuff, and their burgers are amazing. After, we'll go by Baskin Robbins. They don't technically have drive-throughs, but you two can give me your orders and we can get take-out."
"I thought some Baskin Robbins' had drive-through?" I ask, leaning forward since I've slipped my seatbelt off my shoulder.
"They do, but this one doesn't. Put your seatbelt on properly or I'm pulling over."
"It itches."
"Sorry, but I'm not budging."
I sigh and dramatically pull my seatbelt back into place properly, letting it snap against my chest. "What's Burger Bar even have? I've never been."
Daniel reaches over, one hand on his steering wheel and his eyes still on the road, to dig through his center console. "Here's their menu."
"...Why do you have that?" Avery asks, watching me take the menu.
"Because I like to have it on me in case I get hungry and don't know what I want."
I'm only half-listening to them, scanning over the menu. What is in this stuff? It all looks so greasy...But weirdly appetizing? "Um...I think I'll just get salad with chicken."
"Do you not like burgers?"
"I do, but Mom says this kind of food is bad for you. She only eats burgers when Francesca makes them."
"Your mom isn't here, and she's not the one eating it. You are. Do you want a burger?"
"I...But they look really big, too, and too much red meat makes my stomach hurt."
"I can get you a kid's burger. I really think you'll like it, and those are like...sliders, almost. A little bigger. If you really want a salad, I'll get you one, but I want you to order what you want, not what your mother would want."
They do look really good... "I mean, I do like cheeseburgers sometimes. Not often, but they can be nice. And I have salad and chicken all the time...Yeah, you can get me a kid's burger. Does it come with apple juice?"

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Defying Dominance (MxM) (18+)
RomanceJace is not ready for this. He'll never be ready. He can't take care of a submissive. How could he, being a submissive himself? But he has to. He has to play pretend at being a dominant, or risk becoming the family disappointment. ...