Liam Groves. James would get one of the books on his kindle once he got home. No one would know.
* * * * *
Jacob
Ten twenty-three. Jacob could hear the motorcycle engine at ten twenty-three. James was home safe and sound. And Jacob had not stayed up to make sure of that. No, he was working on his syllabus for the next semester. He still had a few weeks to get it done but Jacob liked having things neat and tidy and ready to go.
The new statistics class for sophomores that he was offering this semester would be an asset to the students who had signed up. And his class was already full.
He relaxed back in his chair and stretched his arms over his head. Jacob had bent over his lesson plans for the last hour. His body was not happy being in the same position for so long. Jacob was getting too damn old.
The motorcycle being cut off seemed to enhance the stillness of his house.
Jacob pushed himself from his chair. He turned off the lamp beside his files before strolling out the door. He began to unbutton his shirt as he made his way through the dark hallway. There were rooms in his house that he barely used.
One room, particularly, Jacob never entered.
He paused at the door to the room next to the master bedroom. Once, years ago, Jacob had plans for that room. When he still believed that he’d find someone to share his life with.
Placing his hand in the middle of the door, Jacob closed his eyes. If he opened the door, Jacob knew what he’d find. Nothing. Not one piece of furniture, no bed, no toys, nothing.
A room meant for his boy that hadn’t made it past the stage of having the thick, soft carpet laid.
Maybe it wasn’t too late for him.
Wasn’t it proof that he might still find his perfect partner when Jesse had just found Lake? Jacob had doubted that his brother would ever claim the young man that he’d been obsessing over. Jacob had encouraged Jesse every time they spoke or he saw his twin, but Jesse had been hesitant. And now look at Jesse living with Lake and starting their lives together with a special and unique group of friends.
His brother, who was a multi-millionaire and owned more property in Las Vegas than any other developer, had given up his penthouse suite to move into a house with Lake and another couple. Because that was what Lake had wanted for them.
It must be amazing to have such love and trust with another person.
Thinking about Jesse and Lake led Jacob back to that scene earlier that afternoon when he’d witnessed James inside the small garage apartment. That had been a cape around James’s shoulders. James looked so happy while dancing around laughing. Something that Jacob would love to see more of.
Not that he thought that would ever be possible.
Even if by some miracle James was interested in a Daddy and little relationship, which seemed nearly impossible, James wouldn’t be interested in him. Jacob had messed up too many times when dealing with James. He could blame his past trauma, but the sad truth was that Jacob didn’t know how to talk to James. James was a strong, confident, and stubborn young man that didn’t need a stickler for the rules like Jacob.
Rules were vital to Jacob’s well-being.
One of the reasons that he preferred his partners to identify as an older little was because Jacob needed to set expectations and have them followed. He’d lived in a house where rules were nonexistent. It was because his parents hadn’t cared about Jesse and Jacob. Jacob couldn’t live that way again.
As attracted as Jacob was to James, he knew in his heart that James would never feel the same. And Jacob might like a little to call his own, but just like the year that would be ending in a few short days, the next year wouldn’t be any different. Jacob wouldbe spending the next year all alone. It was time that he accepted that.
Chapter Three
James
He’d been warned. New Year’s Eve in Surf City was the busiest night of the year for the fire station. They ran as extra support to service the interstate that ran along the edge of their city. Normally that wasn’t a big deal. Their station could handle the city and interstate but with a massive and deadly five-car accident that night, James wasn’t sure if he would ever get the carnage out of his head.
James was utterly exhausted, barely able to stay on his bike as he pulled into the rear driveway of the house and where his apartment sat empty and dark.
He really shouldn’t be driving. Josh had offered him a ride home but James hadn’t wanted to wait. He just wanted to fall into his bed and sleep. Even if he was afraid to close his eyes.
Shutting off the engine, James sat on the seat of his motorcycle as the bike slowly rumbled to silence. His arms felt like they weighed a hundred pounds each as he removed his helmet. The sun would be coming up soon. Too soon. James always found it hard to sleep after a night shift. He was not looking forward to even attempting it. The car, the burning of rubber, the sound of screams. It was all inside him.
It had taken longer to get home after his shift since James was a little scared to be on the road. Instead of taking the main streets like normal, James had stayed on side roads, making his commute take double the time.
With all the resources out in the world, why would someone choose to drive drunk?
