Bound

Chapter 3

I watch as Justin jumps off of the bed and practically tears a hole in the carpet as he runs across the room. I get up and pull my shirt over my head, smoothing down my hair. He gives me a terrified look.

"Luckily we cleaned up all the condoms in the house and by the pool earlier, noodle boy."

"Brian, this isn't funny!" He starts pushing me towards the open window. I grab the sides and spin around to face him. "Just jump."

My boyfriend is trying to kill me.

"Justin!" Is he fucking insane?

"Come on. It's not that far."

"Justin, I love you, but I am not sacrificing myself because you're scared of your parents!" God, there are tears in his eyes. How bad can they be?

"I don't want to tell them yet, Brian."

"Baby, calm down." I push him into a sitting position on his bed. "I'm Brian." I grab the computer chair and sit on it backwards. "I'm the new neighbor. " His face relaxes a little. Good. "I came over to introduce myself and we hung out. That's it. Now, relax."

"Thank you," he says with relief in his voice. I pick up his remote and spin the chair to face the TV. I flip it on and toss the remote back onto the floor.

I have just enough time to put a bored look on my face before his parents come barging into the room. I turn my head and look up at them. Wow, they look uptight.

"Hey mom. Hi dad." I look over my shoulder at Justin. He looks calm and collected. Good boy.

"Hello Justin," his mother replies. "Who's this?"

She doesn't even look at me. What a bitch.

"This is Brian Kinney. He and his parents moved into the Nelson's old house." Justin is like a completely different person around them. He's tense, on guard, afraid.

I don't like that.

"Hello, Mrs. Taylor," I say, jumping out of the chair to take her hand. She shakes it wearily and I turn to his father. "Mr. Taylor. It's great to meet you both. Justin has told me all about you."

That's right Kinney, work the charm.

Ok, his dad is looking at me funny. I don't like it.

"You look familiar," his father tells me. "Where have I seen you before?"

In your dreams?

"Brian moved from Philadelphia," Justin offers.

"That's it! You're that football player. Damn son, you're practically a legend."

Great. Just fabulous.

"That's me, I guess." His father slings his arm over my shoulders and I steal a glance at Justin. He seems shocked. Ok, now I'm scared. I laugh nervously.

"There was hardly a Friday night that went by that I didn't see you on the news. You're the football prodigy of Pennsylvania!"

Great, he's one of those people. He's one of those guys that spends his weekends drinking beers with the boys, talking about pussy, cars, and ballgames. I bet it takes a natural disaster to move his ass from his recliner on Sunday afternoons.

"Did you catch the game today?"

Told you.

"Can't say that I did," I reply.

"Shame, it was a good one. I wouldn't leave the hotel until it was over."

"Darn," I reply.

"Maybe you can get Justin into the game and get him to put down those stupid sketchbooks."

That's it. I don't like him.

He dissed the boyfriend.

I slip out from under his arm, and that's when I see said wonderful sketchbook lying open on the floor. My half naked body is displayed prominently in shades of gray. I swoop down and grab it before they have a chance to see it. I step back and face Mr. Taylor, holding the sketchbook against my body.

"Actually," I begin. "Justin was showing me some of his sketches earlier, and I think they're quite impressive. That's real talent, not throwing around a football."

I see Justin beam at me from his spot on the bed. I smile and run my hand along the binding of the sketchbook. I meant what I said.

"Nonsense. Football is a man's game." It takes all I have not to glare or make some snappy comment. "Besides, he won't need that shit when he goes to Dartmouth."

"Dad," Justin interrupts, but his voice is hollow. I turn to face my boyfriend. He's not even looking up. He looks defeated. "I want to go to PIFA."

I can tell by the tone of his voice that this discussion has been opened and closed more times than the sketchbook I'm currently holding. My heart breaks for him.

"You aren't going to that fairy school, and that's that."

"Craig." God, the mother finally says something. "We can discuss it later. I'm tired."

Yeah, still a bitch. My blood is boiling. I feel the muscles in my jaw twitch. How can a father dismiss his son's desires like that? Sure, my dad got me to play football, but it was ultimately my decision. And as soon as I wanted to quit, he let me quit. It should be what Justin wants, not what Craig wants.

All I know is, I'll be at Justin's first gallery opening.

"I'm glad you made friends with Brian here. He's a lot better than that ditzy girl you're always hanging around."

Now he's dissing the best friend in law. What the fuck is his problem?

"Maybe he can teach you a few things about being a man."

Yeah, you should see what he got on his cock sucking final exam.

"Oh I'll teach him a few things, Mr. Taylor." Justin looks up and sees the smirk on my face. He smiles and I feel so much better.

I still want to beat the shit out of his dad though.

His mom leaves the room without a word to either one of us. Craig slaps me on the back. I grimace at his touch.

"Can Justin come over to my house for a while? Maybe I'll get out the balls and we can play around a bit," I say innocently. I see Justin clasp his hand over his mouth to keep from laughing. My tongue slides into my cheek.

"That sounds fine." Craig then leaves the room. I sigh and close Justin's bedroom door. I sit next to him on the bed and gather him into my arms, kissing the top of his head.

"So that was your parents."

"Yeah."

"Tough crowd."

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