Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 103010 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103010 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
I sat there dumbfounded. I had no idea what to say. I was ecstatic they loved me that much, that my mom’s sister was there and really wanted me to be in the family, but… “My life is in California. What about Aidan?”
“Oh, sweetie.” She reached over and put her hand on my thigh. “I know you care about him a lot, but you’re so young. There will be other guys, boys closer to your age, who you’ll have more in common with.”
“I have plenty in common with Aidan.” Maybe not the kind of things she would understand, but we had them. And he made me feel good. Made me laugh and made me want more for myself. I loved him, and that wouldn’t change.
“Is it okay to admit I worry about you? He’s basically twenty years older than you, and there’s something…I don’t know, a little controlling about him?”
“Aidan doesn’t do anything to me I don’t want,” I snapped.
“I’m sorry. I really don’t mean to attack him. He’s a very nice man, and I’ll support you whatever you decide. If you love him, you love him. I’ll always be here for you. I just… We’re your family, and we were robbed of so many years together. Will you promise me you’ll at least think about it?”
She was my family, and we had lost so much time. I didn’t want to lose her again, so I nodded. “Okay. I’ll think about it.”
It was all I could do for the rest of the day. My mother’s sister wanted me move to Houston with them, with my family, but in going, I would lose Aidan. He gave me everything I never thought I could have, everything I’d ever wanted, but he couldn’t give me this…my family, and I wanted them too.
Back at the house, I said I wasn’t feeling well and excused myself to my room. The girls were disappointed. I’d promised I would play with them, and I loved spending time with them. Kids of my own definitely wasn’t something I wanted, but I enjoyed other people’s.
When dinner was done, I skipped that too. Jenn gave me a sad smile as she closed my door, and that small thing made me think about Aidan. Oh God, if I’d tried to skip a meal with him, he’d have my ass…and I liked it. He was so particular about being healthy, and regular meals, and blah, blah, blah. Sometimes it drove me crazy, but most of the time it made me feel special, loved.
I texted him when it was time for our nightly phone call and asked if I could call him later. I lied and told him we were watching a movie and I didn’t want to miss it, when the truth was, I wanted to talk to Aidan alone, when everyone else was sleeping.
It was after midnight when the house was completely quiet. My hand shook slightly as I picked up my phone to video-call him. He would know something was wrong. All it would take was one look from Aidan to know, and I was nervous to see how he would react.
“Hey,” I said, the moment he accepted the call and his handsome face showed up on the screen.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
He sighed. “Try again. What’s wrong? I was going to allow you to jack off tonight, but now I won’t.”
“Aidan,” I whined because I really wanted to come. He hadn’t let me much since I’d been in Houston without him.
“Don’t make me ask again, Finley.” His voice was steady, firm, as always, but there was a soft lilt of worry to it.
“I, um…Jenn asked me to stay, to move here with them, in their house or a place they own. And there’s money for me too, apparently? She wants to transfer part of her inheritance to me. She said I can work with Jeff or go to school.” It was so strange saying those words. A year ago, I wanted nothing to do with school, but now I knew I still wanted to go. I could do that here or in California, obviously, but it was just funny to consider. All I’d ever wanted before was to serve, and while I still wanted that, while I still took joy in being Aidan’s houseboy, I wanted more now as well.
“I see,” he said, without much emotion. “I can’t say I’m surprised. I figured that would be where this would go. I guess the important question is, what do you want, Finley?”
“I don’t know.” I shook my head. “You’re supposed to tell me what to do.”
“Not in this, precious boy,” he replied softly, sadly.
“What should I do?”
“Again, that’s something I can’t say. This is your life, Fin. Your choice. I can’t tell you what’s best for you in this. I’m just a man, like any other.”