Read Online Ashton And Justice by Stephani Hecht - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Stephani Hecht
Tags: Gay & Lesbian
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Ashton replied without a moment of hesitation.
"How long have you known Justice?"
"A week."
"He must be pretty special for you to act this impulsively."
Ashton waited for some sort of reprimand, or perhaps some chiding over acting like some dramatic drama king. Instead his father continued to study Ashton as if seeing something new in his son. Going by the wry smile on his face, his father didn't find the fresh development lacking.
"What makes him so different from all the other boys you've dated?"
"I care about him. More than anyone I've ever dated before. In fact, in enough time I'm pretty certain I could fall in love with him," Ashton replied simply, surprising even himself by that admission.
His dad raised a brow, but didn't scoff at the declaration. His stoic response once again shocked Ashton. His conflict must have shown on his face, because his father asked, "What were you expecting, me to yell or maybe forbid you to ever see him again?"
"Well...yeah, I was."
"Like I said earlier, I'm not happy about who his father is, but if that's what you want, I'll do my best to support you. Haven't I always encouraged you to make your own decisions in life?"
Ashton paused as he thought that one over. Perhaps it was due to a newfound maturity in himself, or perhaps it came from watching the way Justice suffered under his own father's oppression. Whatever the reason, Ashton realized for the first time just how much his dad always supported him.
Ashton sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the couch. Locking gazes with his father, he said, "Thank you for once again being there for me. I couldn't ask for a better father."
Dad's lips curled up into a smile that never quite reached his eyes. His gaze grew troubled and for the only time in Ashton's memory, he noted a bit of regret in his father's expression. Strangely, that tugged at Ashton's chest and made him almost want to cry.
"There are a lot of people that would argue with you about that one," Dad finally said, his voice a bit gruff.
"That's because they don't know you as well as I do."
"So, what are you going to do about Justice?"
Ashton rolled that over for a few minutes, before the solution hit him. It would be the perfect way for them to finally be together without the fear of Justice being hurt again. The only catch was it would require a huge sacrifice on both their parts, plus it would be asking Justice to take a huge leap of faith. Something that Ashton didn't know if Justice would be ready for yet. While he now realized his deep affection for Justice, there were no guarantees that the other man would return the feelings.
"I have an idea, but I'm going to need your help," Ashton said.
"Anything, son, just name it."
Chapter 7
----
Justice let out a long-suffering sigh as he adjusted the costume mask. It felt hot and itchy, and, even worse, he knew he looked ridiculous in the thing. He didn't dare say a word against the monstrosity, though, since his father had been the one to pick it out and send it to his apartment.
A bright yellow contraption, with a puffy shirt and tight pants, he knew he looked more like Big Bird, than sexy and mysterious. Which always had been the image that came to him whenever he thought of masquerade parties. The sexy part that is, not the looking like a walking, living creature from Sesame Street.
He pulled at the itchy costume as he cast a jaded glance over the crowded hotel ballroom. While it was nice, it still didn't begin to compare to the hotel where he and Ashton spent the night. Then again, Justice didn't exactly see the local law authorities holding any kind of party at a place owned by any of Ashton's relations.
All of the people at the party were friends of his father's, which meant they treated Justice as a nuisance to be tolerated and nothing more. On the other hand, they all treated Craig as if he were some hometown hero or something. His brother remained glued to their dad's side as they both pandered to
"How long have you known Justice?"
"A week."
"He must be pretty special for you to act this impulsively."
Ashton waited for some sort of reprimand, or perhaps some chiding over acting like some dramatic drama king. Instead his father continued to study Ashton as if seeing something new in his son. Going by the wry smile on his face, his father didn't find the fresh development lacking.
"What makes him so different from all the other boys you've dated?"
"I care about him. More than anyone I've ever dated before. In fact, in enough time I'm pretty certain I could fall in love with him," Ashton replied simply, surprising even himself by that admission.
His dad raised a brow, but didn't scoff at the declaration. His stoic response once again shocked Ashton. His conflict must have shown on his face, because his father asked, "What were you expecting, me to yell or maybe forbid you to ever see him again?"
"Well...yeah, I was."
"Like I said earlier, I'm not happy about who his father is, but if that's what you want, I'll do my best to support you. Haven't I always encouraged you to make your own decisions in life?"
Ashton paused as he thought that one over. Perhaps it was due to a newfound maturity in himself, or perhaps it came from watching the way Justice suffered under his own father's oppression. Whatever the reason, Ashton realized for the first time just how much his dad always supported him.
Ashton sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the couch. Locking gazes with his father, he said, "Thank you for once again being there for me. I couldn't ask for a better father."
Dad's lips curled up into a smile that never quite reached his eyes. His gaze grew troubled and for the only time in Ashton's memory, he noted a bit of regret in his father's expression. Strangely, that tugged at Ashton's chest and made him almost want to cry.
"There are a lot of people that would argue with you about that one," Dad finally said, his voice a bit gruff.
"That's because they don't know you as well as I do."
"So, what are you going to do about Justice?"
Ashton rolled that over for a few minutes, before the solution hit him. It would be the perfect way for them to finally be together without the fear of Justice being hurt again. The only catch was it would require a huge sacrifice on both their parts, plus it would be asking Justice to take a huge leap of faith. Something that Ashton didn't know if Justice would be ready for yet. While he now realized his deep affection for Justice, there were no guarantees that the other man would return the feelings.
"I have an idea, but I'm going to need your help," Ashton said.
"Anything, son, just name it."
Chapter 7
----
Justice let out a long-suffering sigh as he adjusted the costume mask. It felt hot and itchy, and, even worse, he knew he looked ridiculous in the thing. He didn't dare say a word against the monstrosity, though, since his father had been the one to pick it out and send it to his apartment.
A bright yellow contraption, with a puffy shirt and tight pants, he knew he looked more like Big Bird, than sexy and mysterious. Which always had been the image that came to him whenever he thought of masquerade parties. The sexy part that is, not the looking like a walking, living creature from Sesame Street.
He pulled at the itchy costume as he cast a jaded glance over the crowded hotel ballroom. While it was nice, it still didn't begin to compare to the hotel where he and Ashton spent the night. Then again, Justice didn't exactly see the local law authorities holding any kind of party at a place owned by any of Ashton's relations.
All of the people at the party were friends of his father's, which meant they treated Justice as a nuisance to be tolerated and nothing more. On the other hand, they all treated Craig as if he were some hometown hero or something. His brother remained glued to their dad's side as they both pandered to
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