Capturing Oliver (BoyxBoy)

Chapter Eighteen

Surprise! Early Update!

Aiden stood next to the giant window, a steaming cup of coffee in his grasp. He watched out over the city. He had to fight the feeling in his gut that reminded him that he was afraid of heights. He had his phone balanced between his ear and shoulder. "I'm not kidding you," he whispered into the phone.

"I can't believe that he's a Fletcher!" Chase replied. Chase's voice was filled with shock. "A Fletcher is dating my best friend."

Aiden placed his coffee down on the bookshelf that was pushed up against the wall. He held the phone to his ear. "I can't believe it either."

"What were they like?" Chase asked. Chase seemed to think about his question. "They can't be that great if Oliver doesn't really associate with them."

"They are....interesting." Aiden really wasn't sure what to think of Oliver' family.

"What does that mean?"

"They seem like nice people, mostly. They have a lot of issues, though."

"On screen they look so put together, don't they?"

Aiden nodded into the phone. "You wouldn't believe how much of an act that is."

"I'm guessing that the dinner didn't go well?"

Aiden sat on the edge of the couch, still facing the window. He watched the sun rising over the edges of the buildings. "Oliver's brother was passive aggressive and his father picked fights with him every two seconds but his mother was nice. Eden was lovely. Surprisingly, Rosie was very quiet."

"I feel so sorry for Oliver," Chase said.

Aiden glanced at the hallway. He knew that Oliver was fast asleep in the bedroom. "Me too."

"No wonder he hides his family from everyone," Chase muttered. "Were they nice to you, at least?"

Aiden thought about that. Adelaide seemed to like him, but Orson and Pierce, not so much. "They were nice enough. I think Orson has a problem with me, though."

"What did you do?"

"I don't know if it's a question of what I did, more a question of who I am."

"Who you are?"

"A man."

Chase sighed. "I didn't even think about that. You don't think his family is..." Chase struggled to say the word, "homophobic?"

Aiden didn't want to admit it. "Everyone but Orson seemed fine with me being there. His father seemed to look at us funny when we touched."

"Did Oliver notice?"

Aiden remembered the way Oliver withdrew his arm after a scowl from his father. "He noticed."

"No wonder he hasn't seen them in years. Do you think that you'll see them much the rest of the trip?"

Aiden sighed. "We don't really have a choice. His mother has planned breakfast this morning and a few other actives over the next few days."

"You don't have to participate," Chase reminded him, "this isn't your family, remember."

Aiden thought the way Oliver squeezed his hand under the table last night. "I need to be here for Oliver. I want to be here for him. If I was with my family right now, I'd need Oliver by my side."

"You're a good boyfriend."

Aiden heard a few noises coming from down the hallway. Oliver must have woken up. "He'd do the same for me, anyway, how's Emerson?"