"Here's what I found out." As I put the finishing touches on my outfit my wonderful sister was informing me of what she was able to uncover about Calvin Andrews. "He's the COO of the trust company that holds all of Jason's money."
"Wait, so he calls of the shots for Jason's future?"
"That is what a trust fund is for. Stop interrupting me." She snipped. "Apparently the company just got a bunch of cash on hand through some real estate sales, particularly some land in Scotland."
"Ok anything about the man of doom himself?" I picked up my keys after one last check in the mirror and walked towards the door.
"He's Thirty-Two. Has a partner of three years who is Filipino. The partner has dual-cititzenship between the UK and US and they're currently applying for Naturalization for the US."
"What is naturalization? Come on Karen I'm stupid."
"Calvin is trying to become a US Citizen apparently." Another interesting point to note for later.
"How did you find out all of this?"
"You still have no idea how deep you're in are you?"
"What on earth are you talking about?"
"Your stupid boyfriend is probably worth around a hundred million before we even talk about stocks. The Andrews are effectively Scottish royalty so I don't understand how their only heir is such a fuckup."
"Can you not call him a fuckup?"
"It's the best way to describe him. If he wasn't worth so much, he would just be a burnout."
"Alrighty then. Thank you, Karen. I love you, goodbye." My sister has no tact and plenty of disdain for people she views as unworthy to their success. She's a literal genius but in turn, she has literally zero social skills.
I knew from the house that Jason was rich but I didn't think he would be worth over a hundred million. I spent short ride calming down and thinking about what stupid questions I was about to be asked. He seemed to have only good things to say about me but I still felt like I needed to be on top of my game. When I drove up, I saw that the back yard was lit up as I had never seen it before. As summer ended and fall began, a couple of warm nights still lingered and it seemed that Calvin wanted to take advantage of this one. My suspicisons were confirmed when I saw the sign telling me to come out back.
"Right on Time." He uncle said not looking up from the steaks he was flipping on the grill.
I took the time to admire the absolute beauty of the back yard. I had been out here plenty of times but Jason never had more than the deck lights on. Lights from the edges of the yard lit up the ground a surprising amount and whatever was remaining was taken care some lights by the pool. The grill had its own set of lights which covered the table closest to the pool. The white marble the Andrew's invested in made the place look like a museum garden rather than a backyard. I took one more look over at the grill that potatoes were frying and the smell as I walked forward bring drawn in by the smell.
"How was practice champ?" He started.
"It's not going too well. I think we'll be fine for game day this week but, I'm considerably worried about the season." I answered straight, it felt weird hiding my personal life from him. It had to be because he reminds me so much of Jason...well I guess what I want Jason to look like at least.
"Well I hope it works out. Has your sister told you what she knows about me or do you need to full story?"
"I uhhhh... Excuse me sir?" I stammered trying to regain my composure.
"Karen Han, the Wilson HIgh Prodigy made an inquiry for a summer internship with my Corporation. You know, your sister?" His eyebrow cocked up and he folded his arms while turning to me.
"I'm sorry I just asked her to see what she could find out and I didn't think she would be so bold as to..."
"Jon, relax. It's fine. I'm surprised you didn't find out sooner." He walked over to the table at the pool and cracked open one of the beers in his six pack. "If you could tell her we would gladly accept her for the summer, that would be great. She won't be coming to Scotland though as I'm sure both of you are fully aware."
I'm here thirty seconds and this man is already playing me like a fiddle. If Jason was clever and keeping my on my toes then his uncle was making me look like a monkey. I couldn't help but admire the man that Calvin Andrews was. The more I got to know him the more I realized he was every bit as smart and polished as a person of his caliber ought to be. I was talking to literal Scottish Royalty. He chose to dress incredibly casually with matching light grey sweats and some crocs which was a polar opposite to my red dress shirt, styled hair and pressed dress pants and oxfords. His hair was styled and the change certainly changed him from how I saw him this morning. The way he sat so confidently in his chair stirred my groin a bit.
"Come on lad. Sit down, stop standing there ogling me."
"Sorry." I said as I quickly made my way over to the table.
"It's fine. You're getting a glimpse of what little ol Jace will look like once I'm through with him you can't help but stare." He tipped his beer at me as he chuckled. "Ah where are my manners? You want one? I love this draft, straight from Scotland I had it shipped here before I left."
"No thank you sir." I waved my hand nervously. "Game on Friday, no drinks."
"Ah how could I be so crass? You're fine with fries and steak right? I remember I had a weird pre-game diet where I only ate raw fish."
"No, it looks...well it looks incredible." I admitted. "No junk is all."
"Good man. Alright let's get into it shall we? Jace...well Jace is my nephew and I love him very much. However, his parents haven't exactly raised him properly. I had my own issues to attend to but now that those have finally resolved after a near decade I'm here and I intend to fix what my worms for brains brother fucked up."
"I don't think Jason's that bad when you keep him away from the sauce." I admitted.
"I don't think that's true because surely he wasn't sauced when you got mad at him yesterday." I had completely forgotten he was the only reason we were even talking today.
"I think that was more me not wanting to say something I'd regret more than Jason..."
"Yes, but he probably set you off by being crass like he always is. He gets his attitude from his absolute wasp of a mother." He talked about Jason's mom with an incredible amount of disdain. "I know how those two got together but I can't believe they're actually together, let alone had a child."
He wasn't wrong. Jason definitely pissed me off and after our heart to heart yesterday it was clear it wasn't intentional. It would have to keep this in mind since I'm sure I would meet his mom soon.
"I shouldn't talk ill of her even though I can't stand the woman. She's very accomplished and did very well for herself before she met my brother. Anyways, as I'm sure you've figured out at this point, I'm not here for a vacation like I told you and Jace earlier.
I nodded before he turned off the grill and fryer.
"I can't give you more information but I'm going to be taking this house once all the papers are settled and Jace's parents will be buying a house in Texas when the school year is over."
"Well I appreciate the fact that you are telling me this, but what do I have to do with it?"
"Well, I was first going to scare you off but you're actually quite the influence on Jace." He sampled a fry after seasoning one and found it to be satisfactory as he began plating. "It reminds me of a certain soccer playing brat."
"Mark Houston..." It was about a month ago when Jason told me that Mark saw me as his replacement. I completely forgot about it until now.
"Another case of awful parenting. Makes me dread when my husband will ask about ones of our own." He shook the thought out of his head with another sip of his beer. "To continue my point lad, is that I'm quite certain I gave Jace a type. Headstrong fearless leader, strong and good at sport. I happened to be the only positive adult role model in his life for his formative years and well we all see the product of that."
"Mark has helped me more than I'd like to admit. I can see why Jason fell for him all those years ago. He makes everything look effortless unless he's mad."
"How do you feel about the situation between those two?"
"I keep telling Jason that he's gonna lose his best friend if he doesn't bury the hatchet."
"Interesting..." he leaned back slightly as if some more thoughts had come across. "Let me continue before you misunderstand me. The real issue at hand is that Jace is more than capable of being his own man and he's relying on lads like you to avoid trying."
"Are you saying I'm a problem?"
"You really ought to let your elders finish before you make a further fool of yourself." He snapped with a look that could cut steel.
"Sorry sir. This is actually my first relationship as well." I admitted unable to look at him.
"Well you will stand to do better if you let me finish." I heard him pick up his bottle for another sip. "No Jon. You are far from a problem in fact you've done be quite a bit of ground work as you're the first person to get into Jace's brain that didn't seem like an abhorrent bitch. However, you need to understand that whatever plans you have for you two they will more than likely be derailed."
"Oh..."
"Your time will not be wasted I can assure you. Jace is the happiest he's ever been and I don't intend the just rip that away from him. You're nearly everything I could ask for in a first boyfriend in fact."
"I appreciate the compliments sir but i'm very confused. What are you trying to say exactly?"
"Tell me about your goals Jonathan. You're being scouted by a number of colleges. Any one you want to go to in particular?"
"OSU. I want to follow in my dad's footsteps and play ball there."
"Ah, OSU is not one of the colleges looking at you...yet. This could change very quickly." He got up and pulled the rested steaks from the grill and plated them before bringing them over. "I found an organic farm an hour out so please let me know if the steak is of notable quality."
"Wait, are you saying you would..."
"I'm a very powerful man Jonathan and you'd do wise to not make things difficult for me. Now tell me, how is the steak?" He pointed to my plate and waited for me to take the first bite.
Surrendering the conversation for now I cut my steak to realize it like butter. One bite and my eyes rolled into the back of my head as I had no idea such high-quality meat was available around here.
"Ah yes, that what I like to see. Well worth the money." He took a bite himself and was very pleased. "Now Jon, tell me about that little trip you took."
"I figured he was stressed out so I pulled some strings to get a room away from everyone."
"I should be more forward I suppose. Have you taken my nephews virginity?" He asked as he shot out the same paralyzing look right at me to hold me in place. I was equally terrified and turned on.
"No sir." I pleaded putting my hands up. "I am waiting until he's ready."
"This is all so interesting." He finished his steak and put the utensils down. "I have in front of me the point guard of Wilson High. A man who could have any guy or girl he wants in the school and somehow ended up waiting half a year to date my skeleton of a nephew. In that month of dating you mean to tell me you haven't had sex once..." I understood his concern but did he need to cut right through me like this?
"I swear on my life sir. I am waiting until he's ready."
"That's all good and well but forgive me for not understanding your intentions here. If I didn't know any better I would say you were after his connections much like a certain women I've grown to despise." He blinked once and he moved leaned against the table putting his hand under his chin.
"Well it was all a game for a few months. But then the first day of school happened." I said in relief.
"What happened then?"
"Well, I made a dumb mistake and apparently he was having a terrible day before that so he shoved me off and drank himself into a near coma. He then called me and when I made it downstairs, I saw the real Jason. He was wearing his scars all over as he screamed at me to fuck off. It never had occurred to me how he got to this point. It was then I realized he's just scared of being hurt. The reason he's so off putting is that he never had unconditional love from anyone except you. Call me a sucker I guess but that's when I knew that I wanted to be there for him and show him I care..." I looked up at the moon to try and stop the tears. "Jason is the only person to keep me at a distance for so long and it was that day I realized it wasn't because of me, it was because of him."
"That doesn't mean you have to obligate yourself." His uncle interjected unshaded by my outpouring.
"Maybe I'm a fool but I think when someone shows me who they really are, that means want to trust me. He expected me to run but I'm not scared off that easily. As the captain, I need to be a source of strength. If I can't do that for the person I love, Well then I don't really love them now do I? It feels amazing when Jason comes out of his shell and we're just laying there without a care in the world. I wouldn't trade it for any amount of sex.." welp there it is, my heart and guts for full display. I always wanted to be like Jason's uncle. The cold sinister don't-fuck-with-me type. I could never do it because I wear my emotions on my sleeve. All I could hope now is that he believed what I said.
He sat there brooding and silent. It was as if he was checking me for any inconsistencies, any lies. I hadn't really thought about how other people viewed me and Jason together. This entire time I had been so focused on not fucking up I didn't realize the massive social repercussions he was facing. Now, his uncle is here staring me straight in the eyes trying to decide if I'm remotely good enough.
"I think you're too innocent and expecting but I suppose it comes with that young love and all that nonsense." He shook his head as he got up, returning to the casual demeanor he had when I first met him. "Well Jon. I think I've learned everything I need to know about you. Do you think you could summon Jace for me while I clean up?"
"Wait, I have some many questions still."
"And they will all be answered in time Jonathan. Don't worry, you two will still have fun. Homecoming is next week and I'll be back in Scotland for the week." He balanced all of his utensils on the cutting board he brought out and walked towards the house. "Come on up when you're done eating and have called my nephew back."
Almost instantaneously I dialed Jason's number and hit call. Two rings after his uncle went inside he picked up.
"Good to know he didn't break your arms I guess." There was that snarky voice that I loved a bit too much.
"Where are you?"
"Just getting out of The Hog. I figured I had to eat since I wasn't invited."
"Are Eric and Kenny with you?"
"No, I had to sneak around to pay the check. Why?"
"Well your uncle says it's time to come back and babe I would listen to him."
"God he just has every dumb Asian hanging on his every word doesn't he?" He scoffed. "Yeah sure I'll have Smith drop me off."
"Ok see you soon babe. Love you."
"Idiot" he chipped one more time before hanging up. I walked into the house to find Jason's uncle making a drink with Jason's whiskey.
"Is he on his way back?"
"Yes sir."
"Good. He's with his friends I assume?"
"My friends sir. He has...well had...Jenna."
"Ah I see is this another trial by fire for him?" He marked the whiskey with a sharpie then put the bottle back.
"No sir, my best friend loves Jason...I'm a platonic younger brother sort of way."
"Ah Kenneth Anthony Wilker right?"
"Wait how do you know his name?"
"I'm a very powerful man Jonathan, please do remember this. Kenneth has made quite the name for himself. He can probably go to any school program in the nation on a scholarship after his project made headlines in the scouting report last year."
"Headlines? Scouting Report?" Everything was starting to blur as he revealed his power level to me.
"Your best friend carried an entire team of absolute garbage to a Semi Finals in what was seen as the most miraculous run in the past decade. Of course, they're paying attention to him." He walked past me and pat my shoulder. "I must attend to some matters online now Jonathan. It's still early over in Texas you know. If you want to stay the night, you're free to just don't be too loud and know I'm waking him up at five. It was nice to get to know you and I must say I'm quite impressed with the both of you. Let's make this experience as beneficial for all of us as we can. Shall we?" He turned the corner and walked out without waiting for a response. Leaving me dumbfounded with my mouth agape like a cartoon character.
I needed to get out of here. Is this how Jason feels when he gets overwhelmed? No wonder he reaches for the bottle. I unbuttoned the top of my dress shirt as walked towards the front as I made my way out the door and down the steps I saw the headlights of Eric's car turn the corner and I knew I would be trapped for at least a few more minutes. I took off my dress shirt and threw it in the car while they parked and came over to me.
"Babe." Jason said childishly as he came over and squeezed me
"Did you guys bully him like you do with Kenny?" I narrowed my eyes at Eric knowing he can be a real douchebag sometimes.
"I did nothing. Tell him Kenny." Eric pointed at me to get Ken to speak.
"We stopped at my place, drove around, and got dinner. No teasing happened." Kenny shrugged as he walked up to the house. "I did come up with a fantastic idea though and I need to get it down before I forget."
"KEN WAIT." I shouted a bit too loudly startling everyone.
"Oh god what did my uncle say about Ken?" Jason mumbled into my shirt squeezing me tight.
"No it's just..." I had to come up with something quick before I spilled the beans on everything that had just happened. "He's in a business meeting with someone in Texas and he said he needs quiet."
"Oh, well if that's the case I guess I shouldn't risk it." Ken said giving me a subtle sign he wasn't buying a word of it. This was the greatest thing about my relationship with Ken. If he knows somethings up he doesn't make a fuss about it. He just goes along with it until I can explain. "Come on Eric. I should check on my mom anyways."
"Aw man I wanted to hang out in the back." Eric said as he followed Ken back.
"Don't worry. His uncle said he won't be around for homecoming so we can use it all weekend." I told them as they walked away.
"Holding you to that." Were the last words Eric said before he hopped back in his car. Ken shot me one more look demanding I tell him everything tonight and I nodded in agreement. I waved them off but Jason didn't look up at all.
"What's wrong babe?" I asked lifting up his chin.
"Missed you." He replied nuzzling back into my chest. "Wanna hold you since you can't come in."
"Actually...he said I could stay tonight if I wanted to. Think you can be quiet?"
A little glimmer of joy shined in his eyes as he nodded and it made me fall in love with him all the same. That glimmer is his little bit of love he has to give and it's all for me. He trusts me enough to just be vulnerable with me and I never want to break it.
"I think I can be quiet. Come on." He grabbed my hand and tugged it lightly pulling me back up the steps. It was crazy to think what I was getting myself into here. Jason was going to be changed in a huge way over the next year and I get to be there for every bit of it. It was equal parts exciting and frightening. At the very least I knew that I wanted to help him as much as possible and that was the best I could do for now.
Authors Notes:
Another Jon Chapter. I personally love these chapters it let's me develop Jon into something that makes more sense rather than being the Casanova that is so prevalent in other stories of this nature.
I'd like to thank nifty for hosting my stupid story. If you can spare it in these cruel times please consider donating.
It's still pretty surreal so many people are reading this and waiting anxiously for the next chapter. I hope this one suffices while you wait to hear back from Jason. Chapter Nine will be out next week should everything goes according to plan.
Side Note: LETS GO FLYQUEST WOOOOOOO!
-Frank