Chapter Seven #8
Henry’s phone chimed, so he dug it out of his pocket. “It’s my mom.” He sighed, rejecting the call. “I can’t deal with the Keith lecture tonight.” It rang again right after, causing Henry to make a frustrated noise.
“What does she say to you?” Jackson wondered.
“She makes excuses for his behavior, tells me about how sick he was, then insists that it become water under the bridge.”
“Really?” Jackson didn’t want to believe Henry’s family was as bad as they seemed.
When the phone rang again, Henry answered, putting it on speaker. “Hello, Mama.”
“How could you do that, Henry? Not only did you leave, but you also incited your brothers to as well.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m done taking Keith’s shit. Apparently, Lincoln and Jasper are too.” Henry’s voice was flat and emotionless.
“Keith was just trying to get to know your boyfriend. All he did was ask a few questions,” Henry’s mother defended. Jackson was appalled.
“He did nothing but insult Jackson and I all evening,” Henry corrected.
“You know your brother has an odd sense of humor. He was just joking,” she insisted.
“He crossed a line, and that was a big mistake for him.”
“Oh, Henry, don’t be like this. You’ve always been way too serious, even as a child. You need to let it go.” Henry blew out a heavy breath. Jackson pulled into his driveway, but neither of them got out. “I’m going to put Keith on so he can apologize.”
“Actually, I do want to talk to Keith.” Jackson grabbed Henry’s hand, squeezing tightly. Henry gave him a half smile.
Then Keith was on the line. “I’m sorry you can’t take a joke. I’ll do my best not to do it again.” The mocking tone of the man’s voice had Jackson wishing he had punched him in the face.
“Would you put me on speaker? This is for Mama and Pop as well.” Henry seemed calm and in control.
It was quite a few minutes until he heard his dad’s voice. “We’re here,” the man said.
“In light of tonight’s events, I’ve decided that some changes need to be made. I know that you’ve been supporting Keith with the money you get from me.” Henry blew out a breath. “That stops.”
“You can’t tell them what to do with their money,” Keith said angrily.
“I can when it’s mine,” Henry reminded him. “So, here’s the deal, Keith has six months to find a job. If he has one at that time, I’ll allow another six months to find an apartment. If at any time during that year you don’t have a job, you are out immediately.”
“You can’t throw me out of Mom and Dad’s house.” Keith sounded incredibly pissed off.
“You’re right, I can’t do that.” Henry smirked. “But if Mama and Pop expect to keep getting money from me, they will.” He heard Henry’s mother gasp.
“You can’t do that, Henry,” his mother said sharply. “You will stop all this nonsense. Keith already apologized.”
“He can stick his shitty apology up his ass because I’m done.” Henry’s voice was clear and strong, but his body was shaking. Jackson squeezed his hand again, wishing they were in the house so he could hold him.
“Language, Henry,” his mother scolded. She sniffled, sounding like she was crying. “You’re trying to make me choose between my children.”
“I’m not telling you to abandon Keith, but I am no longer willing to finance the lifestyle of another grown-ass man who is completely capable of working.”
“You know he almost died.”
Jackson saw Henry shake his head. “That was twenty-seven years ago, Mama. You can’t keep using that to guilt me.”
“Let me talk to Henry,” his father said.
“Yes, Pop?” Henry tipped his head back against the seat.
“I’m not sure I understand, Henry. You’re paying the bills?” Henry’s father sounded incredibly confused.
“I have been for the last three years.” Henry pointed toward his house then opened his door. Jackson got out, following him to the door.
The line was silent for a few moments. “I don’t know what to say. Tell me, dear,” He seemed to be addressing Henry’s mother. “If Henry is paying our bills, where is my money going?”
“Keith just needed a little help,” Charlotte tried to explain.
“For three years?” Ray sounded as if his patience was wearing thin.
Henry unlocked the door; Angel was right there to greet them. The three of them went over to the couch to sit. Jackson put his arm around Henry’s shoulders.
“Honey, listen—”
Ray cut her off. “You both told me that Keith had a job.”
“I did, Dad,” Keith insisted.
“Can we talk later, Son?” Ray asked with a sigh.
“Of course, Pop.” Henry hung up. Jackson held him tighter. The man seemed to be incredibly upset. His hands were shaking, and he was breathing hard.
“Would you like me to come on Angel’s walk?”
Henry gave him a sad smile. “That would be great. I don’t really want to be alone right now.”
“As long as I’m here, Henry, you never have to be,” Jackson assured him, wishing like hell that he could offer the man more than that. The smile on Henry’s face caused a few palpitations in his chest. “Come on,” he told him.
Henry clipped on Angel’s leash, then she darted for the door, tail wagging all the way. Jackson opened it, and Angel pranced happily in front of them. Jackson slipped his arm around Henry’s waist. “Why do your parents favor Keith?”
“When he was eight, he contracted meningitis. He almost died twice. They were worried about brain damage. He was in the hospital for the better part of a year. Then he pulled through.” Henry sighed.
“He got anything he wanted and acted however he pleased. Any time we complained, we would get a lecture on how he almost wasn’t around. ”
“That doesn’t sound like a very healthy dynamic.”
“It isn’t.”
“Can I ask you something?” Jackson looked over at him.
“You can ask me anything,” Henry assured him.
“What did he mean about me being with you for money?”
Henry let out a harsh breath. “I honestly can’t stand to be around him.
I hate it when he brings up money. I don’t know why my bank account is any of his fucking business.
” He sounded angry. “It’s always Henry will take care of it, just let Henry pay, it’s not like Henry needs the money. Sometimes I just want to scream.”
“Why doesn’t he have a job?” Jackson asked.
“Why should he when he can live off his brother?” Henry leaned his head against Jackson’s shoulder.
“I stopped giving Keith money five years ago. Now he just mooches off what I give to my parents. If he wants something extravagant, Mama comes up with some story about something she and Pop need.” He sighed. “It’s not like I can tell her no.”
Jackson hugged him tighter. “Why do they think you should pay for everything?” He didn’t want to directly ask how wealthy Henry was. It was none of his business, but curiosity was a bitch.
Henry shook his head. “Because I’m, as Keith so eloquently put it, loaded. They come to me for everything because they know I have the money.”
“That’s really not fair to you.” They arrived back at Henry’s and went inside. Henry unclipped Angel’s leash then hung it up. Angel ran off to play while they went to sit on the couch. “What expenses do you pay for them?”
“Everything.” Henry leaned his head against Jackson’s shoulder. “Houses, cars, tuition, vacations, you name it, I probably pay for it. Don’t get me wrong, I love my family, but sometimes I feel like I’m just their personal piggy bank.”
“I’m sorry they treat you that way.” Jackson put his arm around Henry’s shoulders.
“Tonight was the first time I’ve ever stood up to them.” Henry snuggled closer so he held him more securely to him.
“I’m proud of you. It’s not easy to stand up to your family.
” Wanting to see his face, Jackson adjusted Henry so that he lay across his lap with his head on the couch’s armrest. Jackson gently caressed his cheek then leaned down to place a light kiss on his lips.
“You are so beautiful.” Henry pulled him down into a deeper kiss.
“How do you feel about what happened?” Jackson asked when he pulled back.
Henry stared at him quizzically but answered, “I’m a little worried about the backlash. You know, everything being in chaos and everyone blaming me.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong, Henry. Your brother went beyond what you were willing to tolerate, despite being told to stop several times.” Jackson again stroked his cheek. There was an odd, confused look on the man’s face. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Henry’s features softened, something he dared not name shining in the man’s eyes causing Jackson’s heart to pound. “I tell you that I’m incredibly wealthy, and your main concern is making sure I’m okay after a family fight.”
“Making sure you’re okay is always my main concern.”
Henry stroked his jawline. “Don’t you have questions?”
Jackson shrugged. “Of course I have questions, but none of them are any of my business.” Henry kissed him again, progressing to the point where Jackson was ready to take him to the bedroom. Then Henry pulled back. Jackson couldn’t stop the frustrated groan.
“You can ask anything you want,” Henry told him.
“Okay, will you kiss me like that again?”
“That’s not what I meant.” Henry looked up at him, smiling sweetly.
“I know what you meant,” Jackson assured, placing a soft kiss on his lips. “But right now you need to relax. What if we get in the hot tub again?”
“Are you just trying to get me naked?” Henry laughed as he got off Jackson’s lap. “Actually, I’m kind of hungry.” Keith had completely ruined dinner. Neither of them had eaten a single bite at his parents’. “How do you feel about Chinese?”
“Sounds good. I’ll have pepper steak with white rice.”
Henry nodded, clicking around on his phone for a few minutes to place their order. “It should be here in half an hour,” he said. “Whatever shall we do until then?” Jackson loved the flirty little voice he used when something incredibly sexy was about to happen.
“Do you want to play a game?”
“A game?” Henry sounded confused, and he raised an eyebrow. Jackson nodded. Henry shrugged his shoulders. “Sure.”
“Don’t you want to know what the game is before you agree?” Jackson chuckled.
Henry shrugged again with a smile. “Nope.”