All The Ways We Touch [BxB]

twenty-five - cold water pt. two

Jamison followed behind him and sat down on the sofa next to him, looking out at the backyard. He'd yet to see it in the daylight and was surprised by how big it was. Trees lined the edges of the property line behind the exceptionally tall fence, but not nearly as many as he'd have liked, and none of them were particularly interesting looking, which he felt kind of bad for thinking.

Aside from the pool, there was also a large jacuzzi, a fire pit surrounded by chairs, and a built-in outdoor barbecue area. It looked like the perfect backyard for entertaining if you lived somewhere that was less overcast and rainy.

Lighting both of their cigarettes, Elliot handed Jamison his and pursed his lips together as he looked at the pool. He was surprised that Jamison hadn't addressed the pool again since the night he left, especially when that awful nurse specifically mentioned that Jamison couldn't swim with his stitches. Maybe it had and he just didn't want to ask. Either way, he decided to take the opportunity to preemptively steer the conversation elsewhere.

"You better decide where you want the new trees to go," he said, pointing around with his cigarette. "I asked for interesting-looking ones but they're saved from areas they're going to raze so we'll see what we get."

Inhaling, Jamison turned to him and shook his head in confusion. "What're you talking about now?"

"The trees I ordered for you..." Raising a brow, he took a long drag.

Jamison's mouth opened slightly and smoke began to waft out, floating away on the breeze. "I thought you were kidding!"

"Why would I have been kidding?" Rubbing the back of his neck, Elliot shrugged. "More trees will make it so much better back here. It looks too suburban. Like some forty-year-old guy lives here."

"Why am I supposed to decide where they go?"

"Because this is our castle, whether you choose to live here or not, and I know that more trees will make you happier while you're here," Elliot said, taking a long drag as he stared at him.

With a deep breath, Jamison looked away from Elliot and slowly surveyed the yard. While he had no idea where they should go, he'd be lying if he said that he wouldn't love to see more trees in the backyard.

"Well that's as good of a segue as any," he said, looking back at Elliot with a smile. "Among the many things that I thought about while you were asleep, one was that I'd like to take you up on your offer and move in."

As relief washed over Elliot, his face lit up and against the backdrop of the cloudy day, Jamison was reminded exactly as to why he thought of him as being his sunshine. God, how he loved to be in his light.

"You were right. I was doing what I had to to survive but I don't want to struggle and suffer anymore," he explained. "And, let's be real, why would I ever choose to sleep at home now? You'll be less annoying in person."

"It's a crime that I can't kiss you!" Elliot rubbed his face with his hands, careful not to let the cigarette touch his hair. One day he'd be able to celebrate little moments by leaning over and kissing him.

"I don't even want to sleep without you anymore," Jamison said, his voice quieter and more serious. He didn't know how he could.

"You don't know how relieved I am!" He exclaimed, beaming at Jamison as he crushed his cigarette. "I don't think that I can fall asleep or wake up without you. And I don't want to try."

"You won't have to," Jamison murmured, looking up. The October sky looked ready to unleash on them and the heavy feeling of water in the air cemented the threat.

Jamison's hometown was a tiny, desolate town—if you could even call it that—where rain fell very little. Running away to the forested and rainy Pacific Northwest had been one of the staunchest rejections to that dry, dirt town. So even now that he'd been there for years, he was still grateful for the rain and every storm.