2 – Maple’s Confusion (2)

 

Sebastian spent half the week debating on if he should contact Axel. Several times, he’d pull up his number, stare at it, then switch the screen to something else. Axel had shown kindness towards him, along with an interest in friendship. Sebastian hadn’t had a friend in six years. The moment someone discovered he was Mayor Barstow’s son, they lost interest. Who would want to be associated with someone like him?

Axel was the first person who didn’t seem to care about his past. But Sebastian found him attractive. A fact that reminded him of that disgusting part of himself. That part he fought so hard to bury. It would be healthier if he forgot about the mechanic.

“Now how and where am I supposed to announce my run for governor?” Waylon asked over dinner, for the fifth day in a row. “We missed Barry’s party. Everyone was there. It would’ve been perfect.”

Celine nodded along in agreement as she took a sip of wine. Sebastian poked at his steak. His mind was occupied with more important things than Waylon’s lame run for governor. In fact, he planned on voting against his father.

Axel probably would too. Sebastian smiled.

“You think this is funny?” Waylon’s harsh tone yanked Sebastian out of his thoughts.

“No!” Sebastian set his fork down. “I was thinking of something else.”

“And what were you thinking about that was more important than my problem?”

Sebastian struggled to think of something that wasn’t Axel. “Uh… Women?”

Celine smiled. Waylon stared at him. Sebastian braced himself for yelling. Instead, his father stroked his mustache. “You know, Camp Hope did a damn good job of fixing you. Almost too good.”

Sebastian forced a chuckle. “Yep. Women are always on my mind these days.”

“Definitely. It has me thinking…”

Did Sebastian want to know? He waited for Waylon to continue.

“Now would be the perfect time to find you a wife. What do you say?”

A wife? Sebastian’s throat closed up. He didn’t want a wife. “I don’t think…”

“People still can’t get over what you did. But you getting married will convince them. Those who won’t vote for me because of your past might change their mind when they’ve seen you changed yours. It’ll be a big help.”

“I’m not ready!” Sebastian blurted out.

“Not ready?” Waylon held his fork in midair as he frowned at him. “You’re 23 years old. You should already be married!”

“But-”

“Nope. I’m going to start searching the classifieds. See who’s looking for a husband. I suggest you start going out more. Maybe you can find one the natural way.”

At least Sebastian was given the option of finding someone. Too bad he didn’t want a woman at all.

With that final thought, Sebastian made the decision to contact Axel. He’d at least be someone to vent to.

After dinner, Sebastian went straight to his room. He tapped at the phone app on his watch, and navigated towards Axel’s number. “New text,” he said out loud. A blank message box popped up on the watch’s screen. Sebastian spoke into it.

“Hi Axel, it’s Sebastian.”

Axel was quick to respond. His watch read the text out loud. “Hey, I’m glad to hear from you. Everything good?”

Sebastian opened his mouth to reply back, but footsteps approached his door. His father opened it without knocking. “Who are you talking to?”

“No one. I was about to check my emails, but my watch forced me to listen to an ad first.”

“I hate when that happens.” Waylon turned around and left, not bothering to shut the door behind him.

Sebastian got up to close his door, then dug out his phone. He’d have to continue texting silently on that. He opened up his texting app, to continue the conversation in written form.

No. My dad wants me to find a wife. But I don’t want to get married.

Man, that sucks. I’d hate that too.

Sebastian smiled, grateful he wasn’t alone in not wanting a wife.

He’s planning on running for governor. He thinks me being married will help his chances. Personally, I’m not voting for him.

Neither am I. Are you doing anything tonight?

Just moping in my room.

Wanna hang out later?

Sebastian stared at his last message, unsure how to respond. He certainly wanted to. But if he knew what was good for himself, he wouldn’t. He shouldn’t.

Sebastian tapped on the reply box, and texted his answer.

Sure. What time and where?

 

~~~~~

 

Maple stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, all thoughts focused on Jake in a towel. She’d never even seen a shirtless man before. A man in only a towel? And hanging that low on him? It gave her a strange ache between her legs. And then she thought she started her period, so she hurried to the bathroom. But it wasn’t her period. Instead, it was a thick, clear fluid. The mystery goo itself wasn’t all that new. It was the fact there was so much of it. Hopefully it was nothing to worry about.

God, she longed to run her fingers over that chest. Down his stomach, past his navel. To the edge of the towel. That ache came back full-force. More wetness. The inappropriateness of it all must be causing these sensations. She gripped her hands against the sides of the bathroom sink. How was she going to face Jake, with these confusing things happening with her body?

She dug around her purse, pulled out a pad, and put it on. After washing her hands, she made her way to the dining room. There was a table with eight chairs. Her two brothers sat next to each other on one side of the table, Will across from them.

Maple sat down next to Carter.

“Everything alright?” he asked. “You were in there for awhile.”

“Everything’s fine.” Maple spotted a man dressed in the standard butler uniform standing by a doorway.

The butler walked over to her. “What would you like to drink?”

“Just water is fine.”

The butler walked through the doorway. It was probably the kitchen, because it didn’t take long for the man to return with a glass of water. He set in down in front of her, right as Jake walked in. Maple perked up.

His hair was damp, making his honey blond hair a few shades darker. He wore a gray shirt with gray pants, and was barefoot. He took a seat next to his father, directly across from Maple. He gave her a friendly nod that she returned.

Will took one look at his son and sighed. “You really shouldn’t wear that here.”

“Be glad I’m wearing anything.”

“Is that the infamous ESA uniform?” Walker asked curiously.

“Yeah.” Will sounded tired.

“Is it true that’s all anyone there is allowed to wear?” Carter asked.

“Yeah...”

“It’s so no one can judge other people based on appearance,” Jake jumped in, raising his chin. “You can’t tell if someone is rich or poor. It’s better that way.”

“Are those pronouns stitched onto it? Jesus.” Flinching, Walker turned to Maple. “Be grateful you live in the Free States.”

Personally, Maple would rather spend the rest of her life wearing bland clothes with pronouns on them, than be forced to marry whatever asshole her brothers picked out. She took a sip of water.

Jake mumbled something about more freedom in the Equal States for women, then looked at Will. “What are you cooking?”

“Sheba is making lasagna.”

“Sheba?”

“Our cook.”

“We have a cook now?” Jake frowned. “Why do we need a cook? We’ve already got a butler.”

The butler chose that moment to place a glass of water in front of Jake.

“We can discuss it later,” Will whispered.

“He’s sure having trouble adjusting to the norms here,” Walker said to Will.

“It’s only been a week. He’ll learn soon enough.” Will looked over at the doorway, where a woman walked through, carrying two plates of food.

The woman set them down in front of Walker and Carter. The butler came out with two more plates of food, setting one in front of Maple, and the other in front of Will. The woman returned with one last plate for Jake.

Unlike the rest of the table, Jake thanked her. That was sweet of him. It made Maple feel slightly guilty for not saying a thank you. The truth was, nobody ever thanked workers. The thought to do so never occurred to her.

Walker, Carter, and Will discussed boring business-related stuff too complicated for Maple to understand. She poked her fork in her food, pretending to be more interested in it than anything else. But really, she had her eyes on Jake. Jake had his eyes on the men, as though listening in. His expression was one of disinterest though.

Maple set her elbow on the table, resting her chin in her palm, gazing at Jake. She hadn’t paid close attention to his gorgeous face before. To be fair, this was the first time she had the opportunity to really look at him.

Those damp locks… It reminded her that he had taken a shower, which made her imagine him in the shower. She grew warm at the thought of him in there, all soapy and wet. Thank God she threw on a pad.

Jake looked at her. She jerked her head back to the untouched lasagna on her plate, her face bright red.

“It’s okay.” Jake’s voice was low. “I don’t care much for lasagna either.”

“I like it. I’m not hungry, is all.” Maple took a bite of it anyway. “How have you been?”

“Fine. I started working at the Pieway nearby. My dad gave me a job there. He said it would be good for me to work my way up, so I’ll be familiar with everything when I inherit the company.”

Maple wondered what it would be like to work. Unfortunately, she’d never know. Her future involved raising children and household chores. Unless she married someone rich who could hire servants to do all that for her. She hoped not. There were stories out there of women suffering from mental illnesses because they had nothing to do.

Judging by the large house, cook, and butler, Jake must be well off. Though he also seemed to frown upon employing servants. Perhaps if she were arranged to marry him, she’d be able to keep busy.

Her brothers and Will continued chattering away. Maple finished up her plate, and noticed Jake had done the same.

“Are you done with your plate?” Jake asked.

Maple nodded. Jake grabbed her plate, and put it on top of his. He stood up with the plates in hand, and stepped away from the table. The butler stopped in front of him.

“It’s fine,” Jake said tiredly. “I can wash my own dishes.”

The interaction caught everyone’s attention. Will looked as tired as Jake sounded. “Let him do it. That’s what we’re paying him for.”

Jake reluctantly handed over the plates, and sat back down. The butler took them away. Walker, Carter, and Will went back to their conversation.

“You as bored as I am?” Jake asked Maple.

“Yeah.”

“Wanna ditch these losers to hang out in my room?” Jake smiled at her.

Maple smiled back. “Okay.”