Perfection

by Gianni Holmes

  A small smile ghosted her lips, then vanished. “He’s a special young man.”

  “I couldn’t agree more.”

  She gave me a curt nod. “Master Ashton is still getting dressed. His mother would like to meet you in the meanwhile.”

  “Sure, it would be great to meet Ashton’s mother.”

  She raised her eyebrows but didn’t comment as she headed for the door. “Please come with me.”

  I followed her briskly into an airy room artfully decorated with paintings and pottery. As I entered, a huge portrait of the Keyes family on the opposite wall grabbed my attention.

  I recognized Ashton’s father and brother from the one at the restaurant. A smiling woman had her hand on the shoulder of a younger-looking Ashton. The picture was perfect, including Ashton minus two bottom teeth.

  He was adorable.

  “Those were good times.”

  I swiveled around. I’d become so engrossed in the picture that I hadn’t noticed Ava coming back with a woman who had to be Ashton’s mother.

  “Ava, thank you,” she said to the maid. “Could you stall Ashton for me for a few minutes?”

  “Yes, Mrs. Keyes.”

  I liked her frankness. She didn’t care about me knowing her true purpose for insisting we be introduced. While I hoped for the best from our interaction, I knew from the hard, cold stare she gave me that it would be anything but pleasant.

  This woman, delicate and beautiful, was similar to ones I’d dated in New York before I met Mario. She oozed confidence and an aloofness that would’ve once intrigued me enough to want to get to know the secrets she hid.

  These two women had a hand in the young man I now dated. One he spoke highly of, while the other frustrated him to no end.

  “You seem quite taken with my maid,” Mrs. Keyes said, pulling my attention away from the other woman, who scampered away, her low heels clunking on the floor. “Is there a reason?”

  “Ash has told me much about her. About you as well.”

  She waved one slender hand in my direction. “Oh, I’m quite sure he’s painted me as the ogre.”

  “Not quite.” But close enough. Like her, I didn’t plan to make nice just to appease her. This woman was stifling Ashton, and if she didn’t ease up, we’d both lose him.

  “You should be the last to judge,” she lashed out at me. “You’re old enough to be his father. My son is nothing but a boy. A damaged boy, who’s lost his father and is confused. What kind of man would seduce an impressionable young boy when he’s vulnerable?”

  Well, she certainly got all that out quickly. Managed to effectively turn the tables on me too.

  “I know you’re only concerned about your son,” I said, frowning when she walked away from me, picked up a glass decanter from a table, and poured herself a drink. “But Ashton has nothing to fear from me.”

  “What do you have to offer my son?” She gulped the drink, the movement of her arm causing droplets to plop out onto the floor.

  “My love.”

  Her laugh was brittle and bitter. “Your love? Your love? Love alone can’t sustain a relationship. You’re flat broke. Running a coffee shop that if you’re not careful, you won’t be able to maintain. My son deserves more than your so-called love.”

  “I’m sorry, but do you think it’s wise to keep liquor in the house, considering your son is an alcoholic?” I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. Ashton’s sobriety was my number one priority, and if he had access to liquor whenever he was home, that was a cause for concern.

  “Are you lecturing me about how to handle my son?”

  “I’m mentioning the basic rule when dealing with an alcoholic. You don’t become their source for alcohol, and it seems there’s quite enough here to keep him from sobriety.”

  “It’s always locked away when he’s home.”

  “Doesn’t seem locked away now. And alcoholics always find a way.”

  She placed the glass onto the table and glared at me. “Mr. Davidson, I lost a son and a husband. I will not lose my other son to you.”

  “I think losing Ashton to me is the last thing you should be worried about. If you’re not willing to help me keep him sober by changing your attitude toward him and keeping liquor out of his reach, you might just end up losing him to something worse.”

  Her hand cracked against my cheek, the sound ringing out in the room.

  “How dare you!”

  She’d moved so fast I hadn’t seen that coming. Despite the stinging in my cheek, I was more perturbed by the sadness and hurt in her eyes. Jesus, so much pain existed between her and Ashton. How the hell had they not drowned in it already?

  “Did that make you feel better?” I asked her. “Because you’ve wanted to slap me since I walked into the room. Now that’s out of your system, we need to learn to get along for Ashton’s sake. So why don’t we start over?”

  I extended my hand, a selfless enough move, since she’d just slapped the hell out of me.

  “My name’s Callum. I’m from out of town, thirty-eight, and I’m in love with your son. I don’t have much to offer him financially, but I believe I’m good for him. I’ll always take care of him.”

  She gave me the once-over, a smug look on her face. “I suppose that’s the reason you’re wearing clothes he paid for? I keep tabs on my son’s credit cards, Callum. With a drunkard for a son, I have no choice in the matter.”

  The earlier shame about wearing clothes my young boyfriend had bought me returned full force. In relationships like ours, the Daddy normally took care of his boy’s financial needs. I could never give Ashton the lifestyle he was used to.

  To have her throw that into my face hurt more than it should especially since I’d already worked out that I would swallow my pride with this issue.

  “Mother, that’s enough. How dare you?”

  Chapter Eight

  Ashton

  From my bedroom window, I had a view of the courtyard, and I knew the exact moment Callum got here. Giddy with excitement over him inviting me to a social gathering with his friends, I ran over to the window. My fine specimen of a Daddy got out of his car.

  I gasped. What the hell? He wore the clothes I’d bought for him. I’d wanted to give them to him when we got back to his apartment, but I’d got so scared. What if he blew up the way he had about the television? What if he thought I was taking shots at his clothes and how he dressed?

  If he’d misconstrued my intentions, the whole situation could’ve gone sour. In the end, I’d left them for him to find but kept the watch. That was probably too much. His birthday was coming up in a couple of months, and I would have the perfect excuse to give it to him then.

  He looked great in those tight-fitting jeans. He would’ve never gotten them that tight himself, but I loved the way they hugged his long legs and perfect ass. My cock hardened at the sight of him. There was something arousing about my Daddy wearing clothes I bought him.

  I wanted to return to the mall and buy out the entire store for him. I’d do it too. He deserved to be pampered. He cared for me and Mario and took so little for himself.

  “I’m going to make you love the way I pamper you,” I vowed, watching him until he disappeared.

  He was here, and I still couldn’t decide what to wear. Something more conservative since his friends would be older? But all my more sedate attire sucked. Now I didn’t have time to choose properly.

  I pulled on black jeans. Skinny. At least they didn’t have a rip in them like most of the others. I added a nice black-and-red-checkered shirt that could be considered conservative and a pair of loafers that were conveniently lying on the floor near the door. If I opened my shoe closet, I’d be stuck in there for an hour, discarding options.

  I wasted five minutes searching for my phone, then slapped my forehead. Callum had cut me off. I so hated this stupid punishment, but at least I’d survived. While spending the day with him at the nursing home and the mall, I never once thought about uploading pictures to Sn
apchat or making weird videos of myself to broadcast to the world.

  A quick check in my wallet confirmed I had the small packets of lube I always carried around in case I got lucky. I shouldn’t think about this when we were visiting other people’s homes, but this was Daddy Callum. He turned me on without even trying.

  A knock on the bedroom door sounded, and I called for the person to enter. Ava slipped inside, her face pale.

  “Something wrong, Ava?”

  She smiled, but it did nothing to reassure me. She looked ready to cry. “Everything is fine, Master Ashton.”

  I frowned at her and tried to lighten the mood. “You know you’ll go to hell for lying.”

  “I’m already going anyway,” she muttered and sat on my bed with a sigh.

  “Seriously, Ava. I don’t remember you being this down. What’s wrong?”

  I sat beside her and wrapped my arm around her shoulders.

  Instead of answering me, she hugged me back. Tightly. Then she kissed my temple and stood.

  “It was great helping to raise you all these years.”

  “Why are you telling me this? It sounds like you’re leaving.”

  “I’m not leaving.”

  “Well, is my mother firing you? Because I’ll hire you right back.”

  She chuckled and patted my cheek. “You are sweet, but I promise you. I’d never leave without telling you.”

  “Thank fuck for that!”

  “Master Ashton.”

  “Sorry, Ava.” I kissed her on the cheek. “I’m just excited about today. Callum is introducing me to his friends.”

  “You love him, don’t you?”

  “If I didn’t have a heart, I’d find a way to get one just to give it to him.”

  “And you’re staying away from all that crazy drinking?”

  “I’m trying. He helps me a lot to stay sober.” I stiffened. “Ava, where’s Callum? Is he alone with my mother? Oh my god!”

  “Master Ashton—”

  “No, no, no!” I rushed out of the bedroom and ran down the stairs, taking them two at a time. It was a wonder I didn’t tumble down to the landing. I dashed across the hall to the sitting room.

  “I suppose that’s the reason you’re wearing clothes he paid for? I keep tabs on my son’s credit cards, Callum. With a drunkard for a son, I have no choice in the matter.”

  I gasped at my mother’s audacity, my heart racing in my chest. I was used to her opinion of me, so I couldn’t care less about what she said about me, but her attacking Callum brought out my anger.

  What if she ruined everything with her careless words? Callum was proud, and it couldn’t have been easy for him to wear the clothes I’d bought him.

  “Mother, that’s enough. How dare you?”

  I stormed up to them and wedged my way between her and Callum to protect him from her careless barbs. I’d had a lifetime of listening to her, and I didn’t want him to fall victim to her scathing words too.

  “Ashton, I’m just pointing out the obvious, dear,” she said, turning up her nose at Callum. “This man has nothing to offer you.”

  “He’s offered me much more than you ever have.”

  “Well, if you mean sex, I’m assuming half of Battersea has offered you that.”

  My stomach churned at her hateful words. How could she so calmly stand there and try to belittle me…humiliate me in front of the man I loved? Why did she have to bring up the fact that I’d slept around? Like we all didn’t know that already.

  “Callum knows about my past.”

  “Well, I suppose so, considering much of your wild escapades usually end up online.” She looked over my shoulder to Callum. “You mean he’s not done a porn video too and demand us to pay him off, or else he’ll release it on the internet?”

  The blood drained from my face, and I blinked. This was my mother being nasty before someone I cared about. She was deliberately digging up the worst stories to tell about me to ruin our relationship.

  “It’s not going to work.” I took Callum’s hand. “You won’t even take the time to get to know him, but what you’re doing isn’t going to chase him away. Callum loves me.”

  “Does he? Because if he really loved you, he’d take you to a quality recovery center where you can clean up and not be a sloppy drunk.”

  I gasped, and Callum’s arm came around my waist, supporting me as I sagged against his weight.

  “That’s enough.” His voice rang out in the room.

  “This is my home, and I’ll say it’s enough when it’s enough.”

  “You should be ashamed of yourself talking to your son that way,” he snapped at her. “Belittling him the way you do. Can’t you see that with all your animosity, you help to drive him to drink?”

  “That’s great. Blame the mother for giving him what his spoiled little hands always wanted. I gave him everything!”

  “Ava has been more of a mother to me than you’ve ever been,” I said softly.

  She sucked in a deep breath, her face turning so red I worried she’d have a stroke. For unknown reasons, she was vile toward me, always had been, but I still loved her. Despite everything. I desperately wished things were different between us. She was my mother.

  “I don’t want you back in this house.” Her words hurt more than anything else she’d ever said to me before. “If you want back in, you’ll go to that recovery center in Texas, just like I said. He’s only a temporary relief.”

  “I’m already in AA.”

  “You go to that center, Ashton, or so help me god, I’ll cut you off.”

  “Ashton—”

  “Oh please, Mother, you know I don’t need your money,” I spat, furious at her stooping to a new low to threaten me. “I’ll get my stuff and move out later. Maybe you’ll be happier then.”

  “Ashton, I’m doing this for you.”

  I turned my back to her, blinded with rage as I grasped Callum’s arm and tugged him along with me. She wanted me out. Then I’d give her what she desired.

  “Ashton, don’t leave like this. There are things you don’t understand.”

  I no longer wished to. All this stress with her just made me want to turn my direction to the wine cellar. But no, I promised Callum. I would do this, even if it killed me. At least I’d die sober and make him proud.

  “Ashton, babe, slow down.”

  I had no idea how fast I was going before Callum spoke. “I just want to get out of here. She makes me so furious.”

  Once I was outside, I dropped his arm and ran my fingers through my hair. “Fuck, now you know why I’m such a mess. She just couldn’t be a regular mom. Who the hell tries to paint the worst picture of their child before their boyfriend?”

  “Hey, come here.”

  Callum placed a hand on my shoulder and pulled my rigid frame into him. I wanted to hold on to my anger, but the moment his strong, comforting arms wrapped around me, I burrowed myself into his chest, choking on a sob.

  “I hate her so much.”

  “No, baby, you don’t. I know it’s tough, but you love her. She’s your mother.”

  “I don’t care. I still hate her.”

  “All that hate is not good for you.” He kissed my temple twice. “Don’t let it fester into bitterness, Pretty Eyes. It’ll make you miserable.” He rubbed my back, and I sighed, mellowing against him.

  “You’re so good for me,” I murmured, nuzzling his neck. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Callum. You’re everything to me.”

  “You’d survive. You’re a fighter, and I don’t believe you need me at all.”

  I scoffed and stepped back out of his arms. “Let’s just agree to disagree.”

  His smile warmed me. “Want to go back to the apartment instead?”

  I shook my head even before he finished speaking. “No, I’m not going to let her ruin this. I’m looking forward to spending the evening with your friends. That’s what we planned, and that’s what we’ll do.”

  “Ashton, s
he’s your mother. It’s okay if it hurts.”

  I headed for his car without him. “I just want to forget about it, okay? Please.”

  I glanced back at him over my shoulder. He stared after me, then nodded.

  “Fine, but I’m watching you. If I think you look exhausted from all that’s happening, we’re leaving. Better yet, promise me you’ll be up-front with me if you want to leave.”

  “Okay, I promise.” When he walked over to me, I looped my arms around his neck. “Thank you.”

  He eyed me warily. “For what?”

  “For wearing the clothes.” I hoped it was okay to bring it up. “I didn’t know if you’d be offended, so I lied about it. Please forgive me.”

  “I don’t like you lying to me, but I get why you did.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes, I’d be lying too if I didn’t admit that at first, I wanted to throw it all out, but you did something nice for me. I shouldn’t make you feel shitty about that. So I’m happy to wear the clothes you bought me.”

  He filled me with such elation that I kissed him hard, squeezing him. “I’m so glad. There’s so much I want to do for you.”

  “Now, just wait a moment. We’re not going to get carried away. Ash, you don’t need to do all this for me.”

  I placed my hands over his stomach and stroked the luxurious material of the shirt and his hard abs underneath. “I know, and that’s why I do it. You’d never ask anyone for anything you need, but you always can with me, Callum.”

  “We’ll talk about all this later when we get home. For now, let’s go make one little girl happy.”

  Once we were in the car, all the horrible things mother had said to us came back to me. The words, her snide, bitter remarks kept playing over and over in my head, stealing my joy. Today would’ve been perfect without that journalist interrupting our lunch and now this.

  “Babe, stop thinking about it,” Callum said as he slowed into a driveway of a very modest house. Two were parked at the curb and another in the driveway. “We’re here. If you want, I can drop off the gifts, and we can go home.”

  “No, we’re going to hang out with your friends. Later, we can talk about getting all my shit from mother’s house.”