Special Handling (manxman)

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

"It was great seeing everyone, but I can't wait to get back to L.A.," Jamie said excitedly as she sat back in the seat next to me and buckled her seatbelt. We had just boarded our return flight and I couldn't agree with her more. The atmosphere at my parents' was weird. It had me wondering too, how long they 'pretended' just for my benefit. Apparently, my dad was moving into a condo on December 1st, when their separation would become "official".

"You can't wait to get back to Dennis," I teased.

"Oh, you're one to talk Benji, I'm not the one moving in with my Dom barely a third through my first contract, not to mention first semester of college!"

"Do you think it's a mistake, Jay?"

"Honestly?"

"Of course!"

"I think it's too soon. Why don't you do some kind of compromise and just spend more time together, but still keep your own space? It just seems like you're rushing into a really big step."

"Yeah, that's what I'm starting to think too. The guys were saying the same sort of stuff and I couldn't even imagine if I told my parents." I let out a deep sigh, although I knew it was the right decision, I couldn't help but feel disappointed.

"I'm sure Ajax will understand. If he was looking at it objectively, I'm sure he would say the same thing to a friend." I just nodded, not looking forward to telling him at all. Would he be upset? Angry? Hurt? Would it make him change his mind about me? "I mean, it's easy for him Benji, he's the Dom. Having you at his beck and call is a pretty sweet deal and when he wants to do something on his own, he just orders you to your room or something, what about when you need your space? Do you have to ask permission? What about your friends at school?"

"It's not like that Jay, you should know that. All I have to do is tell him when I need space or time to study or to go hang out with friends...besides, you're really my only close friend at school...well there's Pierce too I guess...and Joe of course, but I really only see him at our weekly sessions and Thursdays at the Boy's Club. Any others are just acquaintances."

"Yeah, well, when are we going to see each other? I don't want the only time I get to see you to be when you're tied to a cross getting flogged at the club." Jamie whispered the last part, glancing at the passengers nearby and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Jamie, first of all you know I've never dropped our friendship for a guy. We'll still study together, go out, go shopping, just like we've always done. Maybe you and Dennis can even come over for dinner sometimes? But...I've decided to keep my dorm room; stay there a few nights a week."

"I think it's just important for you to have an 'out'. Like, if you feel it's too much, you have your own place to go. Being a sub can be very intense and doing it 24/7 is really tough, something to be worked up to very slowly. When we first talked about it, we agreed it would just be a weekend thing at most."

"Okay Jay, I've already agreed, can we not talk about it anymore though? It's a short flight and I'm already stressing about how I'm going to talk to Ajax."

"I'm sorry Benji, you're right. And don't worry; I'm sure he'll be cool about it." She paused for a moment and I could practically see the gears shifting behind her eyes. "So how do you feel about this thing with your parents?"

I looked at her and let out a long breath, leaning back into my seat and closing my eyes. My shoulders felt tense so I took a few more long breaths telling myself to relax.

"Sorry Benji, we don't have to talk about it right now."

"It's okay Jay. There's nothing I can do about it, so I just have to accept it. I wouldn't want them to stay together if they're not happy. It's just weird, going to take some getting used to. I just feel bad because my mom said something about them wanting to wait until I was off to college, so I have to wonder how long they stayed together unhappily just for me?"