The Butler's Son

Ch. 7: Beach House

Chapter 7—Beach House

 “Are you sure this is a good idea?” Clark asked as we entered the Coventry beach house.

“Yeah, I’m sure.”

“Isn’t this the first place your family would look for us?”

“Yes and no,” I explained. “You see, it’s like reverse-reverse psychology…if that makes any sense at all.”

“Let me guess. This is the first place your family would look, but they know that you know that. So, instead they’ll look somewhere else. But in your mind, you know that they’d look for you somewhere else, so this is actually the last place they’d look.”

“Wow, most people don’t get that,” I said.

“I think most people do. The problem is that they don’t know how to put it into words.”

“There are lots of things that people don’t know how to put into words,” I said, placing my keys on a nearby table. “Now, please, make yourself at home. I want you to feel as comfortable as possible here.”

“You don’t think we’re going to get caught?” he asked.

“I know that we’re going to get caught, sooner rather than later,” I replied, “But I also know that we have a little bit of time before that happens. And a little bit shall have to suffice.”

Clark wrapped his arms around me and gave me a long kiss.

“I can’t believe you’re taking this risk just for…us.”

“What are we exactly? Just two crazy people seeing where life takes us, or…are we an actual couple?”

“I’m willing to be whatever you want us to be. I know that I want us to be together, but at the same time, I don’t want to force you into anything. You have more to risk than I do. You have more people to face than I do, and I don’t want to let you down.”

“Trust me, Clark you’re not going to let me down.”

“I sure hope not. I would never want to let down the one person that I love.”

“Did you just use the L-word?”

“I’m not expecting you to say it back. But yes, I did use the L-word. Kasey, I love you.”

“I love you, too,” I said and pressed my lips against his.

“Now, how long do you think it’s going to take your parents and Dylan to show up here?” he inquired.

“I’ll give them until ten tomorrow morning,” I replied. “Knowing them. They’re going to wait for a couple hours, expecting me to be popping up and groveling at their feet. When that doesn’t happen, they’re going to call all of their friends for the next couple hours and ask about me. If that doesn’t work, they’ll hit up random spots that I’m most likely to be at.”

“Wow, it sounds like you’ve done this before,” he stated.

I smiled. “Let’s just say that I know them way better than they know me.”

“Your family’s just looking out for you,” he said, sitting down on the couch.

“They insulted you by calling you worthless, yet you’re defending them right now. Why?”

“Because I don’t want to build a wall between you and your parents,” he responded. “As much as I want to, I don’t think I’d ever be able to forgive myself if you made the mistake of permanently separating from them.”