has liked me… well, for me. You've welcomed me into your life and home. You've trusted me with your adorable dog and taken care of me when I was sick. You have no idea what that means to a person like me. I want…" Eli stopped and his face flushed red. He didn't know if it was because of embarrassment or anxiety, but Jack knew he had to say something encouraging for his young friend to continue.
"Whatever you want or need, Eli, I'm here for you, okay? Your friendship means as much to me. Nothing you say or do will change that."
Eli blinked and took another shuddering breath. "I want… for our friendship to turn into something special. I feel something I've never experienced before I met you, and when I'm with you, Jack, I feel like maybe all those stupid fairy tales I was told as a child might just come true."
As Eli's words reverberated throughout his mind, Jackson was both exhilarated and scared to death. He couldn't believe that this sweet, amazing man had some of the same thoughts and felt the pull of something special between them. It was almost too good to be true. For years, Jackson believed he would be alone forever. Now, upon hearing Eli's thoughtful words, Jackson began to feel something he thought he'd given up a long time ago.
Hope.
"I feel it too, Eli."
Jackson looked deeply into his friend's worried eyes and slowly raised their joined hands to his mouth. He pressed a light kiss to Eli's knuckles, and then he placed them back in his lap. The younger man squeezed his a little tighter and a vulnerable look crossed his lovely face.
A beautiful smile formed on Eli's face and a spark of joy gleamed in his eyes. But as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared and once again the frightened look returned.
"I'm scared, Jack. I'm scared that once I tell you this, those feelings might change."
"It's not going to change anything, Eli."
"You don't know that."
"I do."
"How do you know, Jack? Huh? How do you know that once I tell you about my past, you won't want to run away from me as fast as you can?" Eli looked almost frantic, his breathing erratic and his face flushed.
With his free hand, Jackson gently cupped Eli's face. "I just do. There isn't much you can tell me that will make me think badly of you."
"Oh, yeah?" Eli sounded almost argumentative.
"Yes. Take a chance on me. Let me prove to you that I'm not a fickle man. No one is perfect. Especially me."
Eli visibly swallowed and leaned his cheek into Jackson's hand for a few precious moments, and then he pulled away and nodded.
Here it comes.
Jackson steeled himself to keep his emotions in check. He was determined to get past whatever it was that haunted Eli in his past—together—as his friend or as something hopefully, possibly more.
It was then Jackson became aware of where they were. By Eli's expression, he guessed it was going to be a long conversation.
"Eli."
"Hmm?"
God, he wanted that frightened look to just go away. The few bites Jackson had eaten earlier settled heavily in his stomach.
"I have an idea. Let's pack up the food and talk about this at my house, okay?" He grabbed Eli's shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "I was wrapping things up here anyway. This way we can relax and talk and not worry about having to drive home afterward."
Eli searched his face for a few seconds before he looked down at the floor and gave a quick nod. "Sure, Jack. I'll meet you there in a few minutes," he whispered through tight lips. He jumped to his feet and started to walk briskly toward the door.
Fuck this .
Jackson didn't want for Eli to leave upset. With no idea what to do other than to give him some encouragement and support, he immediately jumped to his feet and caught up to his panicked friend. Jackson wrapped his arms around him, stopping Eli in his tracks, and pulled the smaller man back into the warmth and comfort of his embrace.
"It's going to be all right." Jackson gave Eli's lean stomach a gentle, reassuring squeeze. "Let's take a
"Whatever you want or need, Eli, I'm here for you, okay? Your friendship means as much to me. Nothing you say or do will change that."
Eli blinked and took another shuddering breath. "I want… for our friendship to turn into something special. I feel something I've never experienced before I met you, and when I'm with you, Jack, I feel like maybe all those stupid fairy tales I was told as a child might just come true."
As Eli's words reverberated throughout his mind, Jackson was both exhilarated and scared to death. He couldn't believe that this sweet, amazing man had some of the same thoughts and felt the pull of something special between them. It was almost too good to be true. For years, Jackson believed he would be alone forever. Now, upon hearing Eli's thoughtful words, Jackson began to feel something he thought he'd given up a long time ago.
Hope.
"I feel it too, Eli."
Jackson looked deeply into his friend's worried eyes and slowly raised their joined hands to his mouth. He pressed a light kiss to Eli's knuckles, and then he placed them back in his lap. The younger man squeezed his a little tighter and a vulnerable look crossed his lovely face.
A beautiful smile formed on Eli's face and a spark of joy gleamed in his eyes. But as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared and once again the frightened look returned.
"I'm scared, Jack. I'm scared that once I tell you this, those feelings might change."
"It's not going to change anything, Eli."
"You don't know that."
"I do."
"How do you know, Jack? Huh? How do you know that once I tell you about my past, you won't want to run away from me as fast as you can?" Eli looked almost frantic, his breathing erratic and his face flushed.
With his free hand, Jackson gently cupped Eli's face. "I just do. There isn't much you can tell me that will make me think badly of you."
"Oh, yeah?" Eli sounded almost argumentative.
"Yes. Take a chance on me. Let me prove to you that I'm not a fickle man. No one is perfect. Especially me."
Eli visibly swallowed and leaned his cheek into Jackson's hand for a few precious moments, and then he pulled away and nodded.
Here it comes.
Jackson steeled himself to keep his emotions in check. He was determined to get past whatever it was that haunted Eli in his past—together—as his friend or as something hopefully, possibly more.
It was then Jackson became aware of where they were. By Eli's expression, he guessed it was going to be a long conversation.
"Eli."
"Hmm?"
God, he wanted that frightened look to just go away. The few bites Jackson had eaten earlier settled heavily in his stomach.
"I have an idea. Let's pack up the food and talk about this at my house, okay?" He grabbed Eli's shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "I was wrapping things up here anyway. This way we can relax and talk and not worry about having to drive home afterward."
Eli searched his face for a few seconds before he looked down at the floor and gave a quick nod. "Sure, Jack. I'll meet you there in a few minutes," he whispered through tight lips. He jumped to his feet and started to walk briskly toward the door.
Fuck this .
Jackson didn't want for Eli to leave upset. With no idea what to do other than to give him some encouragement and support, he immediately jumped to his feet and caught up to his panicked friend. Jackson wrapped his arms around him, stopping Eli in his tracks, and pulled the smaller man back into the warmth and comfort of his embrace.
"It's going to be all right." Jackson gave Eli's lean stomach a gentle, reassuring squeeze. "Let's take a
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