All The Ways We Touch [BxB]

forty-four - daddy issues pt. two

Fortunately, the storm had let up and the rain was light as Elliot drove them towards his family home. Elliot's great-great-grandfather selected a plot of land which a modest home was then built. Then his son, Henry the II, decided that it wasn't grand enough and began construction on a larger, more extravagant house that he felt better suited their status. Which, from then on, was the Astor family's primary residence. Strangely, for it being a large estate, it was still located within the city; other homes and buildings had just been built around it.

"So, just a warning that the house is like stupidly large," Elliot said, glancing at Jamison as he pulled into the neighborhood.

Jamison was too nervous to think about how ridiculous Elliot's family home was going to be, his anxiety over meeting his father making his stomach bubble and chest tight.

As he ate yet another peppermint, Elliot reached over and rubbed his hand on his knee. "Don't worry, sweetness," he said softly, "it's gonna be fine. He's probably going to be frustrating but whatever, it doesn't matter. I'm not worried about any of this." That wasn't entirely a lie but it wasn't entirely the truth either.

"You don't have to pretend," Jamison said, picking up his hand and kissing the back of it, "but you're right, I'm sure it's going to be okay. If you can't get security from him, it'll be fine to hire anyone else. Don't let that be a reason for him to be mean to you." The last thing he wanted was for Elliot to endure his father's nastiness on his behalf.

"Your safety is my top priority. I can handle my dad being a prick for the night if it means I can relax a little more between now and when Garrison gets that fuck arrested," he muttered, turning onto the driveway of a huge, gated home. Outside of the gate was a small security building where a guard sat. Elliot smiled and waved through the glass, the rain beginning to pick up. The guard opened the gate for them and Elliot drove them towards the house.

Jamison lost his thought as he looked up at the huge house in front of them. It was even bigger than Duncan's place and his jaw hung slack as Elliot parked out front. "Are you fucking kidding me? This is obscene."

"All of this is a bad look but you have to remember that this is the kind of shit they built back then," Elliot sighed, unbuckling his seatbelt. "I guess I should've warned you that it's opulent. So is the inside."

Unbuckling his seatbelt, Jamison flipped the visor down and used its mirror to check his hair. When he was done, he flipped it back up and looked over at him, gently touching his jaw to guide his attention back to him. "I'm sorry that this is happening, Elli, but just know that no matter what happens, however he acts towards me, it will never change how I feel about you. I'm not going anywhere."

Despite his nerves, a smile lit up Elliot's face at his touch and reassurance—Jamison knew exactly how to help calm him. Leaning over, he kissed him. "Thanks, Jam," he murmured, "try not to judge me if I lose my cool."

"You do whatever you need to do," Jamison said, taking a deep breath as he opened the car door. "I trust your judgment."

Lightning flashed in the sky above the house as they got out of the SUV, which Elliot tried not to take as a bad sign. Coming around the front end, he looked at Jamison, who looked like he was trying to flatten invisible wrinkles on his black button-down shirt as he hurried toward the door.

While Elliot insisted that he could dress normally, he didn't feel good being completely casual. Unfortunately, his options were limited and he ended up dressing the same as when they went to the Halloween party, complete with his leather jacket and tight pants. It was more casual than he'd have liked but he tried not to be too worried, doubting that his outfit would be what makes or breaks Henry's opinion of him.