Page 57 of Beyond the Hedge Maze

Jesse’s phone chimed again, and he rolled his eyes, muttering, “It’s probably Charlotte.” He quickly scanned the screen before putting it face down on the nightstand.

Oliver lightly ran his finger up the bridge of Jesse’s nose. “Was that her?”

Jesse grimaced. “My birthday is in a few days.”

That certainly wasn’t what Oliver expected him to say. He kissed Jesse’s pec. “I’ll be put out about not knowing that in a second, but first tell me what’s wrong.”

Jesse sighed and swept both hands through Oliver’s hair. “My father wants to visit.”

There it was. That must have been the reason he’d been acting strange.

Treading lightly, he decided to prod. “Is that normal for him? To visit on your birthday?”

“I guess. I mean, yes, it is normal.” Jesse’s hand was absentmindedly trailing up and down Oliver’s back as he spoke. There was a divot between his eyebrows, uncertainty written all over his face, like he was seeing his father’s actions in a whole new light.

Jesse was entitled to his feelings about his father, but traveling across the world every year for his birthday was a lot of effort for a father who didn’t deeply love his son.

“Is there something wrong with him wanting to visit?”

“No, I guess not, it’s just…”

Jesse’s hands found their way back to Oliver’s hair, and Oliver turned to kiss the inside of his wrist. “What, love?”

“Things have been going well between us lately. I’m afraid that once I see him in person, it’s all going to go to shit again.”

Oliver’s heart broke for him. He understood better than anyone what a complicated familial relationship looked like. But Luis wasn’t Charles or Patricia, and Oliver knew that there was hope he and Jesse could repair what had been broken.

“All you can do is keep showing up, and hope he does the same. For what it’s worth, I’ve eavesdropped on a couple of phone conversations between the two of you, and I think optimism is good.”

Oliver decided to keep the conversations he’d had with Luis to himself. It was up to him to tell Jesse how proud he was. Jesse shouldn’t hear it secondhand.

“If you say so.”

“I do. Also, there’s a great French spot in the village. You should take him there,” Oliver supplied. “And he’s always welcome to stay here.”

“I’m sure he’ll leave right after. He never stays long. Doesn’t matter.”

Jesse’s hand slipped up and down Oliver’s back in a soothing motion. “Why haven’t you kissed me yet?”

“Maybe because I just woke up and I haven’t brushed my teeth.”

“Don’t care.”

Oliver used Jesse’s broad chest to push up to a straddling position around Jesse’s waist. He loved how strong Jesse felt under his hands, like he was unbreakable. He bent down to kiss him, ignoring his morning breath. “We don’t have time.”

“Time for what?” Jesse asked and Oliver could feel his smirk against his lips.

Jesse’s hands rested on the tops of Oliver’s thighs, his thumbs running over the smattering of light brown hair.

“You know what.”

“We can be quick. You’re exactly where I want you.”

Jesse was in full on deflection mode. Whatever was bothering him, whether it was Charlotte’s visit today or his dad’s impending arrival, he apparently didn’t want to discuss it. And it’d be hypocritical of Oliver to demand him to. Not when he hadn’t shared everything, either.

Oliver plastered on his best flirty smile, determined to make Jesse feel better. Hoping maybe he would, as well, in turn. “I disagree. You’re exactly where I want you.”

Jesse stretched his arm toward the nightstand drawer, flapping around trying to reach as Oliver dropped his full weight on top of him, holding him in place. He stopped, arm falling with a thud on the mattress. “Would you like to help or would you like to be a nuisance?”