Haunted

Rootless Tree

"Yes," Justin nodded. "Though she told me not to tell you that."

"I won't be mad at her," Maddox rolled his eyes.

"I think the bigger issue is the distance," Justin said. "With your work and school schedules, how often can you really go out to see Eli or bring him out here?"

"Yeah, that's the hard part," Maddox made a face. "I really want to see him, Dad," he admitted before he knew what he was saying.

"So let's bring him out here," Justin suggested.

"Really?" Maddox asked.

"Yeah, sure," Justin nodded. "Maybe when he finishes school?"

"Okay," Maddox agreed. That would definitely make Eli forgive him for his mistake.

"The other thing is dealing with the media and the fans," Justin pointed out. "I don't know about Eli, I'm sure he thinks he can handle it and he's the only one who can really decide that, but you have to be ready for it to be hard on him."

"Yeah," Maddox sighed. "So it's kind of a horrible idea, right? Like I should probably just date someone who's used to that stuff?"

"It's not a horrible idea, Maddox," Justin smiled. "Just think it over and try to decide if you really care about Eli enough to put him through that. He would be your first official boyfriend so it's a lot to ask if you're not sure about him."

"Right," Maddox suddenly didn't feel as good about it as before.

"Just get through his visit and then you can figure it out."

"Okay," Maddox nodded. He really wanted to text Eli and tell him right away but he decided to wait until he got home so he could tell him over Facetime where he could see his reaction.

But Eli didn't answer any of Maddox's texts that night and never called him back. Maddox found himself lying awake most of the night hoping to finally hear from him even though he knew Eli was 3 hours ahead of him. When they'd first started talking Eli had answered every text or call from Maddox almost immediately. Since he'd found out he wasn't the only one Maddox was talking to though, Eli took his time getting back to Maddox.

Maddox didn't hear from Eli for a few days. As soon as he texted back, Maddox raced home so he could Facetime Eli in private and see his reaction.

"I have a surprise for you," Maddox could barely keep from smiling.

"What is it?" Eli laughed.

"My dad said you could come visit," Maddox bit his lip as he waited for Eli to get excited. "I mean he's going to let me use our plane and come get you and everything," Maddox added.

"Oh my god," Eli covered his mouth. Maddox couldn't help it, he took a screenshot. Eli's reaction was just too cute not to. "You'd better not be lying."

"No, definitely not!" Maddox insisted. "He said when you're done with school maybe."

"Oh my god, that's so soon!" Eli gasped. "I finish in two weeks!"

"Yes!" Maddox cheered. "I can't believe we'll actually get to see each other."

"Me neither, this doesn't even seem real," Eli shook his head. "Oh my god, I might die my heart is going so fast, Dax."

"Mine too," Maddox grinned. He'd known the visit would solve everything with Eli and it definitely seemed to.

For the next week it was all they talked about once Eli's dad had given him permission to go. Maddox kept trying to think up all the different things they would do. Eli could only come for a few days since Maddox would have to start work again but it was all he wanted.