He had never been close with his father but he never quit got close enough to be considered a mommas boy either. He could talk to his mother in ways he couldnt with his father, but he was always guarded with his inner most thoughts and feelings. She tried her ways of grilling and coaxing, asking about girls at school and who he wanted to take to the dance but he usually shrugged it off, giving short answers like "i dont know" and "maybe." Sometimes just a sound and a head shake was all she would get. When he was young, he was like most little boys and tried to gain his fathers approval. He watched him dote over his older sister, ruffle her hair, and show her he was proud of her in his own way. But he never gave Taylor a second look. He learned to ride a bike with no training wheels and tried playing sports like football and basketball. It wasnt that he wasnt good at it. He just didnt usually get along with the other guys. He didnt join them in bullying other kids which was the "cool" thing to do so he was the outcast and stopped going to practices.

His dad didnt seem to care what he did either way. He only had eyes for his sister Sarah. He honestly didnt know where his life would be at right now if he hadn't found Sacrosanct and Adelaide. He'd probably still be on the run like a fugitive watching his every step in case Doug caught wind of him. He wondered if Tommy had given up on calling his old phone number yet or if he still had a reminder to call him every week and try yet again to ask about the back rent he was due. He had the money to pay him so now it was just that dreaded call he had to make and hope that Doug had given up on looking for him back at his old apartments. He'd hate for Tommy to have been dragged into his drama.

He knew that Adelaide had been hurt, first by her fathers motivations to marry her off and then by his tool of destruction, a literal "tool" in Taylor's opinion, called Julian. He wanted to comfort her in every way possible, to prove to her that not all men were like that. He wasnt like that. He wanted her to chase her dreams and see the world and do anything and everything she had ever wanted to do. He wanted to share the world with her and be there to watch her enjoy it. He wouldnt mind moving in with her but he didn't want to pressure her. He was getting money saved up and he could always upgrade to a better place with more room if thats what she needed. He just didnt want her to feel she had to leave Townsend or Reginald and Rose behind. They were a part of her life and he accepted that, all of it. He wouldnt mind living with all of them. He had already earned Reginalds trust and he was determined to earn Roses too.

He looked at Adelaide and saw so much in their shared future. He saw glimpses of her in a white dress when she smiled at him and he saw a baby in her arms when she looked up at him from beneath those dark lashes. They needed more time before hed have the guts to say anything but he didnt rush into anything with her. He wanted to enjoy their time together and just see where things go.

She joked about moving in and it was as good a time as ever to surprise her and tell her about the key hed had stored away, just waiting for the perfect time to bring it up. He smirked to himself, eyes glittering when he saw he had succeeded in surprising her. She told him as much and he smiled right back. "Just trying to keep up with you, is all." He said with a teasing wink. As he whispered in her ear, she turned to tell him the same for him and he chuckled, shaking his head as he leaned back. "I feel like a rookie most of the time." He found it so easy to admit with her. It didn't make him feel weak or any less of a man to say she made him feel so out of his league sometimes. As she stripped herself of her jacket, it about took his self control with it as well. His eyes scorched her skin and he hated to admit that he wanted to finish cooking first at least. She said she would wait and teased him about needing help. He chuckled. "Well, you know me, ever ready to help a damsel in distress." He smirked, his eyes twinkling.

He loved feeling her against him as she ran her fingers lightly on his skin. She was tormenting him but he didnt mind in the slightest cause hed rather have her like this than any time at arms length. He saw the desire in her eyes and was sure his own reflected it. He would never tire of touching her and having her in his arms, in his bed, on his couch. Anywhere really. She brought up Townsend, saying he was going on a family visit and he smiled and nodded. He probably had people to miss as well back home. He could tell her thoughts were already elsewhere, telling him how this week was for them. No work, no other home to pull her away. He couldn't be more thrilled. He couldnt contain himself from picking her up and he beamed when she started laughing, wrapping her slender arms around his neck. He felt her hair tickling his shoulders. After giving her a good long kiss, he reluctantly put her down. There would be plenty of time for more of that now that he knew her plans for this week after all.

When she asked if she left him speechless, he chuckled. "Delirious, overwhelmed, aroused, crazy. There are many things you leave me, sweetheart, but speechless is not one of them." He smirked. He moved to sit beside her on the couch with the food, just as happy to eat anywhere with her, so long as she was there too. She said shed want him in the kitchen and he glanced up. "Now come on, Townsend cant be that horrible at cooking." He smirked, knowing firsthand that he was anything but. "Besides, you like ogling my sexy sweaty torso in your yard. It wouldnt be as dramatic over a stove." He smirked. He watched her take a bite of the steak, almost holding his breath until she made a sound of approval that went straight to his groin. God, he loved that sound. He had to swallow and look at his own steak, glad the plate was covering his lap. Then she said the next meal should be a tem effort and he smiled. "That should be fun."

She wanted to go everywhere and anywhere. Where should he begin? She wanted him to choose. He thought for a moment. "Then we'll do it." He said with a shrug, like they were just talking about watching a tv show or something. He didnt know where they'd go but hed figure it out on the way or when they got there, either way. He was happy just to have her along for the ride. That was everything.

She threw out a comment about having never made a pillow fort before and he looked up, quirking his brow in disbelief. He looked at her for a minute as if waiting for her to burst out laughing and say just kidding so when she didnt, he shook his head. "Unacceptable. That changes tonight." He said before digging into his meal again. As soon as they got done eating, they would start the construction. He was determined. Then they'd have an even more secret place for...fun.