At Year's End (The 12 Olympians) (3 page)

“
He doesn’t have to do that,” he whispered.

“No, he doesn’t. He wants to. He knows your parents don’t do jack shit for you and
, if he could, he’d take you out of that house right now. So would I,” Jaxon added.

“Really?” Elijah stared down at his shoes. Fingers tucked under his chin and gently pulled his face up. Elijah met Jaxon’s eyes.

“Yes, really. I think we are all counting down the days to your birthday. We can’t wait to move you out of there.”

“You’re…you’re going to move me out?”

“What did you think would happen? That any of us would allow you to stay in that house a minute longer than you legally had to? Look, I don’t know what happens there —”

Okay, so he was lying just a bit
. Jaxon had an idea that Elijah’s adoptive parents were world-class assholes. He was also pretty damn sure that they were hurting Elijah, as well as some other kids from school.

“
The second you turn eighteen, a moving truck will be there, along with a few burly men.”

“Will you be one of those burly men?” Elijah grinned.

“You bet your ass I will be.” Jaxon pulled Elijah forward. “Now come on, we have a lot more shopping to do.”

For the next two hours,
Jaxon dragged Elijah from one store to the other. He was shopping in every store he’d ever stared into through the display windows. He honestly didn’t care what his clothes looked like, as long as he was warm.

Jaxon
made him try everything on, and then gave him a thumbs up on most of the selections. Elijah grinned as he waited in line for food. Jaxon had gone to the ATM to get money for lunch while Elijah held their place in line. He was looking into his bag of jeans when he was pushed into the wall next to him. His bags fell at his feet as his shoulder met with the wall.

“Hey, Newman. I didn’t think you had enough money to shop here.
Goodwill closed today?”

Elijah scowled and picked up his bags. “
Leave me alone, asshole. I mean Ashton.” Elijah grinned. Ashton Banks was one of the bigger football players. Somehow, Elijah had pissed him off just by breathing. He was pretty sure Ashton was the one who had his jacket, too.

“What did you call me, you little shit? I don’t see any of your gay buddies here to help you. So I’ll do whatever the fuck I want.”

Elijah cringed as Ashton raised a hand to him.

“Wrong.”

Elijah’s head snapped up to see Jaxon glaring at Ashton, his hand wrapped around Ashton’s wrist. Jaxon jerked his head toward Elijah. “Are you okay?”

Elijah nodded. He stood up as Ashton tried to wriggle free of Jaxon.

“Dude, let go of me!”

Jaxon leaned into the kid
’s face with a feral grin. A low growl escaped his throat. “I see you touch him again — or even hear of it — and I swear I’ll cripple your stupid ass.”

“You’re crazy!”

Jaxon smiled wide. “Do I look like a people person? Get the fuck out of here.” He gave him a shove to start him on his way.

Elijah had to chuckle as Ashton tripped, face planting on the tile of the food court.

“Oops!” Jaxon chuckled. He turned to Elijah and eyed him from head to toe. “You okay?”

“Yeah, thanks for that. I’ve tried to fight him off before…” Elijah shrugged. “I’m just not strong enough.”

“Well, you’re not puny. I can work with you if you want.”

“Really? You’d do that?”

“Sure,” Jaxon shrugged. “Why not?”

“Um, okay.” Elijah turned to look up at the menu board. “What are you having?”

“Probably garlic chicken. It’s my favorite.”

Elijah turned slowly. “Are you serious?”

“Of course.”

“Next thing you’ll say is you have an unnatural obsession with bacon
,” Elijah blurted.

Jaxon’s eyes widened. “How did you know?”

Elijah’s jaw dropped.

“You
, too?” Jaxon laughed.

Elijah snickered.

“Come on, let’s get you fed. You look ready to drop.”

They ordered
and took a seat at a table. Elijah dug into his food and almost moaned. Even though it was food court food, it was really good. Jaxon seemed to like his just as much, shoveling it in as fast as he could with chopsticks. Elijah could never master them, but it looked so cool.

“How do you do that?” Elijah motioned to the sticks.

“You don’t know how?”

Elijah shook his head.

Jaxon grabbed a set from the tray and unwrapped them. He took Elijah’s hand. The warmth from Elijah’s hand traveled through his body, warming him instantly. Jaxon concentrated and helped Elijah hold the sticks properly.

“There, now move the sticks back and forth, then try to pick up a piece of chicken.”

Elijah held the sticks between his fingers and grabbed a piece of chicken. He almost had it to his lips before it slid out and landed back in his rice. Elijah pouted and was startled to hear a soft laugh from Jaxon.

“Keep practicing. You’ll get it.”

“Yeah, well I may starve to death before I get it.”

“I would never let that happen.”

Elijah locked eyes with Jaxon and licked his lips nervously. They’d gone out before, for ice cream once, and another time just for some soda, but now he was all alone with Jaxon Salvatore and he found he couldn’t speak properly. Elijah coughed slightly and lowered his eyes back to his plate, attempting to get another piece of chicken. This time he lowered his head and caught the chicken before it slid out.

“So, I’ll just eat with a crick in my neck
,” he joked.

“Don’t worry, you’ll eventually get it.
” Jaxon glanced over his shoulder. “How about ice cream?”

“Okay, sure.”

“Let me guess, waffle cone with rocky road ice cream?”

Elijah pursed his lips. “There is nothing wrong with rocky road.”

“God, that’s so boring,” Jaxon teased. “I’ll be right back.” Jaxon turned at the last second and leaned over Elijah. “I’ll be watching, okay? No one’s going to hurt you on my watch.”

Elijah nodded. Jaxon turned back toward the ice cream
shop and Elijah almost drooled over the man’s fine ass. Damn, but Jaxon Salvatore had it going on. He managed to slip some more food into his mouth before Jaxon came back with their ice cream. Elijah’s eyes widened at the banana split Jaxon carried in his hand. The thing was a massive mound of whipped cream, nuts and sprinkles.

“Jesus! Where do you put all that?”

Jaxon scooped some whipped cream off the top. He leaned over and flicked some of it on Elijah’s nose.

“You know you want some
,” Jaxon whispered huskily.

Elijah forced his mouth to stay closed. Holy shit
. Yeah he wanted some, and not the ice cream. Why did it seem as if Jaxon was flirting with him? Was he? Elijah grabbed a napkin and wiped the whipped cream from his nose.

“And you call
me
a kid,” he muttered.

Jaxon grinned. “You’re not though, are you? It seems like you’ve had to grow up pretty fast.”

Elijah nodded, licking his ice cream. “I had to learn to take care of myself at a very early age. I learned how to do my own laundry, cook my own meals and wake up on my own for school. Things have been much easier since camp, though. I made a lot of good friends and Skylar and Ryder are kind of like my big brothers.”

“You’re very talented as well
,” Jaxon pointed out. “You have a gorgeous voice.”

“You think so?” Elijah licked the ice cream that was sliding down his cone. He swore he heard a groan from Jaxon. When their eyes met, he saw something in Jaxon’s
— probably the same thing that shone in his.

Lust.

Jaxon cleared his throat and swallowed another bite of banana split. He loaded the spoon again and reached across the small table.

“Take a bite.”

Elijah eyed the whipped cream-covered banana. Sprinkles were sliding off the spoon along with what looked like caramel. His stomach turned over and he shook his head.

“Oh come on.” Jaxon wiggled the spoon a little bit. “At least try it.”

Jaxon thrust the spoon a little closer and Elijah’s lips parted. Jaxon slid the spoon in and watched Elijah’s lips close over the spoon. He inwardly groaned at the sight and smiled when Elijah made a noise of approval.

“Good?” he asked.

“Yes, I didn’t think it would be, but somehow, that mess is good,” Elijah chuckled.

“Ha!” Jaxon cackled.

Elijah shook his head with a smile. “Again, and I’m the child?”

Jaxon sobered and regarded Elijah seriously. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“What happened on New Year’s Eve?”

Elijah’s brows furrowed. “Okay, you’ll have to be more specific.”

Jaxon reclined in the chair and searched Elijah’s eyes. “Are you serious? You know, at ten seconds to midnight?”

Elijah stared at him dumbly.

“You really don’t know?
” Jaxon sat forward now. This was not good. “You don’t remember New Year’s?”

“Am I missing something?”

Jaxon’s jaw dropped. That night he’d finally gotten up the courage to find Elijah at midnight and kiss him. Okay, so it would have been a peck, but still…

“Jaxon?”

“You’re telling me you don’t remember New Year’s Eve?”

“I was at home by myself. Did I miss something?”

Jaxon slumped in the chair. Oh, this was really not good.

“What’s the last thing you remember about that night?”

Elijah pondered the question. “Um, Skylar called and asked me to help out at the club but my guardians said I couldn’t go. I stayed home and watched the ball drop on TV.”

Jaxon
felt dread pool in his gut. Elijah had blurted that out as if he was reading it from note cards. He almost opened his mouth to ask about Elijah’s boyfriend, but Elijah hadn’t brought it up and Jaxon wasn’t in the mood to discuss the man who had captured Elijah’s attention.

“What’s this all about, Jaxon?”

“It’s nothing. I’m sorry.” Jaxon checked his watch. “We still have time to get some shoes.”

Elijah bli
nked at Jaxon’s swift change of demeanor. “Did I upset you?”

“No, I’m okay.” Jaxon stood up and dropped his banana split in the trash. He’d lost his appetite.

A
fter buying four pairs of shoes — Elijah wouldn’t let him get any more than that — they left for Caden’s office. They made quite a sight rumbling down the streets on the Harley with shopping bags looped over their arms, flapping in the breeze.

“You really need a car,” Elijah
managed through his laughter as he tried to tuck a bag closer.

“The bike makes me look more
badass,” Jaxon shouted back.

“Oh yeah — nothing says ‘badass’ like a man who can shop!”

Jaxon could feel Elijah convulse with laughter behind him and smiled. But his brain was working overtime. Elijah didn’t remember a damn thing about New Year’s Eve at the club. Elijah snuggled into his back and wrapped his arms around him tighter. Jaxon warmed at the contact and almost closed his eyes at how good it felt. His feelings for Elijah were getting stronger; he’d have to be careful.

They pulled into the parking lot at Caden’s office and Jaxon helped Elijah off the bike, stowing his helmet. They walked to the entrance and Jaxon flashed his badge at the guard out front.
He got a nod and Elijah got an easy smile from the man. Jaxon held the door open for Elijah and they walked through the spacious lobby.

“You’ve been here a lot?” Jaxon asked as he pushed the elevator button.

“Well, yeah, I guess. Our studio is here. We practice a lot at Skylar’s too, though. We usually come here when we want to record something; it sounds so much better.”

“Have you?
Recorded something, I mean?”

The doors opened and they both stepped on.

“Yeah, but it needs work.”

“I’d love to
hear it sometime.”

“Really?”

Jaxon turned to face Elijah and took his hand.

“Of course.”

Elijah’s big blue peepers were glued to Jaxon’s mouth, and God help him he wanted to taste those lips. Jaxon coughed slightly and backed away an inch or two. He only had a week, and then Elijah would be legal and he could take him as his.

“Jaxon?”

“Yes?”

“Do you, um, like me?”

Jaxon opened his mouth only to be interrupted by the dinging of the elevator alerting them that they had arrived on their floor. Elijah sighed as they stepped off, and Jaxon’s eyes strayed to the teen’s perfect ass in jeans. They made their way to Caden’s office and Jaxon knocked once.

“Come in!” Caden’s voice sing-songed from behind the door.