The Only Exception // (GOT7 Markson)

5

"Why what, Tyler? That's why what?..." I said, my concern growing.

Tyler looked down and then turned his face to stare out the passenger window. His voice mellowed out and he spoke with a sense of regret. "That's why I'm always at the bar..."

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, trying my best to make sense of what Tyler was confessing to me.

He continued, "I know that if I at least put myself out there and a man takes notice of me, I can give them the one thing that they want: sex. That's something you don't need a high school diploma for. Something I'll never be turned away for, never be unqualified enough for..."

I felt my stomach churn before I unleashed my anger on Tyler, "What the fuck are you saying, Tyler? You're some sort of sex worker? Huh?!" I grabbed him by the shoulder and forced him to look at me. When I did, I was met face to face with what looked less like a 21 year old sex worker and more like a 15 year old kid - like my own little brother. Tyler had tears welling up in his eyes and a trembling lip.

I felt the anger leave my hands and escape from my fingertips. I exhaled and released my grip on him, pulling him into a firm hug instead. I felt Tyler's apprehension fade. His vulnerability collapsed around him, allowing him to melt into my body. He really, really needed comfort in that moment, I could tell.

"Look at me." I finally said after holding him for a while. "I want you to promise me something."

Tyler sniffled and looked up at me with questioning eyes.

"Don't ever, EVER do anything like this again. You got it?" I growled, staring at him menacingly.

"I won't." he squeaked back.

"I want you to promise me you will never do this again. Promise me." I said again.

"Okay, I promise." he said, clearly scared of my voice change.

"You may think it's all fun and games now, but let me tell you... you're in for a world of hurt if you continue down this path. You can't put a price on your own self worth - you will regret it in the long run. No amount of money will be able to replace all of the emptiness you'll feel after you've been used and used over and over by people who don't give half a shit for you. Believe me." I did my best to be brutally honest with Tyler. I was speaking from personal experience.

"I understand, Jackson. I already said I wouldn't do it anymore. I just, needed the money I guess." he admitted.

"That's bullshit. You'll never need money that badly. Hey, tell you what. You can come do some work at my place with my cleaning lady Mandy. I'll pay you a decent wage and it will get you away from this destructive lifestyle." I said.

"Are you serious?!" Tyler's voice beamed. His face glowing with excitement.

"BUT! There are conditions." I quickly cut him off. "First of all, you can't tell anyone about our arrangement. I don't need your little friends thinking that I'm some sort of employment agency. Got it?"

"Yeah, sure. I won't tell anyone. Promise." he replied.

"Second, you cannot, under any circumstances make a move on me. This is never going to work if you are trying to get more out of me than just friendship. I know I've said it five times already but I'll say it a sixth: We are nothing and will never be anything. That means no touching, no flirting, no nothing. I'm serious, Tyler."

He seemed reluctant, but he nodded and I believed him.

"Lastly, I have cameras, security, and Mandy in my building. My condo is worth more than half a million dollars, if you think it'll be easy to swipe a few things to make a quick buck, you'll find yourself not only unemployed, but I'll have you charged and sued for more than you could ever pay back in this entire lifetime." I lied about the cameras, but I wanted to make sure he understood my concern for theft.

"Oh Jackson, you don't have to worry about that stuff. I would never ever steal from you. Thank you for this, by the way. All of it, I'm not just talking about the job. I really appreciate you taking me home and making sure I'm okay." Tyler smiled as he opened the door to the car, getting ready to leave.

"Oh, one more thing. My master bedroom and private bathroom is off limits, not even Mandy cleans in there. It's my own space, you understand." I said to him as he left the car.

"Yeah, of course! Look, I'm gonna get to bed, but here, take this. And this time don't throw it away." he said, passing me another paper with his number on it.

I laughed and took the paper from him, "Yeah, I won't. I'll message you about when you can start. Get some sleep, drunky pants."

Tyler nodded and smiled before he slammed the door shut and disappeared through the back fence door.

I pulled out of the alley and headed home, wondering if I was making the right decision. At the end of the day I felt as though I would be making a difference, if not only for Mark's sake, but his family's. I knew that in a roundabout way, if I could help keep Tyler out of trouble and take a bit of their financial burdens away, Mark would have a better quality of life. He wouldn't have to work as hard, and he wouldn't have to worry about his little brother as much.

I pulled into my garage and left my car, walking into my house with a sigh. Exhausted, I headed to bed. I was glad that tonight I wasn't slamming myself into a young hot twink, or being pounded by a muscle jock. I made a silent promise in my mind that from that moment on, I would refrain from those kinds of hook ups. I didn't need them anymore. I had a new fulfilling purpose in my life outside of work and my company, and he was worth it.

Tonight was the start of something I knew would last for a long time, and I had Mark to thank for it.