All The Ways We Touch [BxB]

sixty-one - a real victory pt. three

"We need to talk about something else, Jam."

Looking back at Elliot, he raised a brow. "What now?"

"You've...been hiding things from me," he said, trying not to squirm too much. It was uncomfortable but necessary to address that Jamison hadn't been completely open with him. "Justin told me that on the day of the storm last week, he asked you to intervene and try to get me back in the pool."

Inhaling heavily, Jamison brought his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around them.

"He was who you were talking to when I called. You said there was nobody," he said, reaching over and putting his hand on his knee. "I promise I'm not mad, I just want to know why you didn't tell me."

"I knew it would piss you off and make you want to confront Justin, but it was just such a stupid thing that I didn't want you to get worked up over it," he said, looking at him dead on, his voice taking on a dour note as tears formed in his eyes. "And I knew that I couldn't tell you he was talking to me without you demanding to know why. So, I told him that I wasn't going to intervene and that this was your choice, and that was it. It just seemed like it'd only cause more drama, and honestly, neither of us needed that. I am truly sorry for lying to you, though," he said, shaking his head. It'd been so stupid, but he didn't think it'd matter. "Oh, and while we're at it, I haven't told you that I've gotten calls from the lady at the magazine. She keeps leaving me voicemails about wanting to talk, but I just ignore them. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about that either, but again, I just knew it'd upset you and it was easier to ignore it and keep you happier."

Making him cry was the last thing that Elliot wanted to do, so he leaned forward, kissed his knee, and rubbed his legs. "I promise I'm not upset about any of it, sweetness," he said. "I appreciate you telling me. We'll get you a new number tomorrow, okay? No more weird calls from strangers or my father."

Nodding, Jamison smiled a little.

"Your logic was sound. I was upset when he told me earlier. In fact, it's what led to make the decision to swim competitively again. When he told me what he'd said to you and that he'd been—and I quote—"an ass" towards you, I was livid. So angry that I challenged him to a race. If he won, I'd return to swimming, but if he lost, he'd have to leave me alone for good."

Blinking away his tears, Jamison wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his coat—the breeze making them sting. "So, you finally lost a race?"

Scoffing, Elliot shook his head. "I have lost races before, not for a long time, but still."

"When you were a child doesn't count, Elli," he said, rolling his eyes. "Ridiculous as always."

"Fine," he laughed, glad to see some of Jamison's sass coming back.

"So, what'd it feel like to lose as an adult?"

"I'll tell you when I find out," he said, playfully sticking out his tongue. "Your beloved boyfriend continues to reign supreme."

"Well, duh," he teased. "If people heard how loudly you make me moan, they'd never doubt you in anything."

Just the thought of making him moan was enough to fill his head with his favorite sound and to cause a whoosh of heat that filled his entire stomach cavity. Elliot let out a long sigh in frustration. "Why tease me when you know I can't do anything about it?"

"What's the matter, Elli? Getting hard on the beach?" he asked. "Are you ready to give it to me? Right here in all this sand? With all of this cold air? I know I'd be cold, but with your body pressed into mine, I'm sure you'll keep me warm. All that friction, too, you know. All I have to do is think about you thrus—"