Chapter 17 Boys Night

Will cleared his throat, "What subject does she teach again?"

Ron shrugged. "Probably Maths. She originally applied for the Marketing Principles post but didn't get it."

Will sighed with relief. That was close. He didn't have that class until next semester. Uncle Nate had insisted he take some business courses, in preparation for college, those were his focus this semester.

"Oh, and before I forget," Ron threw a bottle of blue pills at him. "Your Grandad says you need to start taking these vitamins to boost your crap diet."

Will caught the bottle with ease. Only Milton Woodcombe would see the humor in making the hormone suppressor which would keep him from acting out on his impulse to mark and mate the same blue as pills taken by older men to increase their virility.

Will smiled and thanked Ron. They went in opposite directions in the parkade. He checked his watch. Crap, he had an hour to go home, change & get to Bryan's.

He looked at the black trousers, leather black shoes and belt teamed with a light-blue, tailored long-sleeve button-down shirt he wore and figured Bryan's mom would love to see what he wore to work. He unlocked his car and put his phone in the console. As he slid into the driver's seat and turned on the engine he dialed his great uncle's number.

He fastened his seat belt and looked behind the car before pulling out of his parking spot. Today, he was the last intern to leave. Somehow he had managed to convince Coach to let him skip one session a week if he trained with the Junior Varsity team on the weekends.

Then again, he was doing well this year. He glanced outside his window at the greenery of the Office Park. Will glanced at the console, Uncle Miles' number was ringing.

"Hello, Will! Ron finally tell you you're moving in with him today?" Uncle Mile's voice filled his car.

"Today? He said I should be ready on Sunday."

Miles sighed. "Ah. I see your grandmother's hand at play. Just be careful. Men can get angry about their wives no matter what they say they feel about them."

Will couldn't figure out what his great uncle was talking about but he was scared to ask. "I'll be careful. Is, is there something I should know about her husband?" There was a pause on the other end of the line.

"Not everything you see is what it looks like. Just keep your eyes open & trust your instincts. Gotta go, your grandmother has invited me for supper. I most certainly cannot keep a Southern belle waiting." Miles' tone was playful despite the warning.

Will laughed, he liked this side of the family, it had a backbone and it took chances. "Alright Milton Cartwright," he drawled, "You best get stepping. Tell Gramama I love her n I'll see her tomorrow afternoon."

Will saluted the security guard as he drove out of Titania. The two laughed and said their goodbyes. Will headed for the highway deciding to avoid driving through town. He could drive to Bryan's drunk. It was a forty-minute drive to Bryan's from Titania but today being Friday lots of cars would be headed into town; no need to get caught up in that.

Will liked Bryan's mom, she was strict, they always had a curfew and they weren't allowed to touch alcohol outside the house unless they were with Bryan's dad. And even then they were only allowed a can each. They couldn't leave home once they drank.

Once they had had whiskey with Mr. Jameson and his brothers; it had been epic. The two boys had passed out cold in the bar. Mrs. J had not been amused.

Boy, could she cook! Bryan swore there was a time she couldn't boil an egg but Will was sure that's how she snagged her man. Mr. Jameson was huge. He was over six feet and built like a tank.

Will took an off-ramp and headed for the hills. Bryan's family lived in an estate called Cotswold Hills. It was very suburban and quite exclusive.

Mr. Jameson had worked for Titania as head of security before getting a private job. Will was pretty sure that it was for Titania's Elite team but it was a golden rule that work was not discussed at home unless Mr. J was telling his wife he'd be away for work.

Cotswold Hills was built like Titania Park. There was one ten-footwall that surrounded its perimeter and four entry and exit points. The entry and exit points were on the northern, southern, eastern, and western points of the estate.

Its security guards looked like normal run-of-the-mill guards. Some were chubby, some were lanky, some were old, and some were young. Will knew it wasn't the case though because he had seen one of the chubby guards chase and takedown a burglar on foot. The burglar had been fairly muscular and fit.

Later on, he had found out that it was an on-the-job assessment and the guard had passed. Will pulled up to the western entry point and smiled at the guard. The guard smiled back. She was new and looked nervous.

"Name & residence?" She asked pulling out a clipboard and stylus.

Will's smile widened, he recognized the design; it was a Titania product. "William Parker, Jameson Residence. I'm probably about 20 minutes early." He pulled out his driver's license and handed it to the guard.

She glanced at it and noted down his details with the stylus. "Please sign here." She handed him the clipboard and stylus. He initialed next to his details and returned the clipboard.

The clipboard was glass, well, plastic designed to look like glass and had a very thin touch screen across the surface on the front side. Will knew that because he'd begged Uncle Nate for one as he started high school. It was perfect for taking notes. Of course, Uncle Nate had said no.

Will grinned at the memory. What he wasn't expecting though, was the awesome early Christmas present where he got his very own clipboard custom made to only recognize his fingerprints and voice. It had been so cool! Not to mention the fact that it paired seamlessly to all his electronic devices. He watched the guard take his license plate number and indicate he could proceed.

From the gate to Bryan's was another ten minutes if he kept to the speed limit. It was dark now so there probably wouldn't be kids playing in the street but he wasn't in a rush. He pulled up to the house and parked in the garage with 5 minutes to spare.

He'd bought a bottle of non-alcoholic wine on his way to work so he was covered. Putting on his blazer for the kick of it he put his hand on the pad of the door that led into the house from the garage. The door clicked and he turned the handle then pushed it open.

The smell of roasted chicken and baked potatoes hit his nose before he was fully in the door and his stomach rumbled. To his left was a staircase that went down into the basement and to his right was a short staircase the led to the kitchen.

Virginia Jameson turned in time to see him walk in. She smiled widely at him and headed towards him with her arms open. She enveloped him with a hug as the door clicked shut.

"Billy! So good to see you & right on time!" She held him at arm's length taking in his suit. A teasing smile and a knowing look came onto her face. "Well don't you look good enough to eat? You boys going out after dinner?"

Will smiled, "Not sure yet Mrs. J. I was at work 'til late so I headed here straight without passing through home."

Mrs. Jameson was beautiful. In her jeans and loose-fitting top, she looked like a model. Her green eyes sparkled with mirth.

Sometimes Will forgot that she wasn't Bryan's birth mother though you'd swear she was. Her dark brown hair was in a fancy knot held up by blue chopsticks that matched her top. The look on her face was almost exactly like the one Bryan had when he was bursting to say something. Her sun-kissed skin looked like it belonged in a suntan lotion ad.

"Son, if you're going to look at my wife like she's edible you boys will have dinner outside, in the back yard." Tyson Jameson warned. He had a voice that was deep but not booming or threatening. Will liked to think his voice would deepen somewhere close to that when he was fully mated.

Will looked shocked and he was. He hadn't even been aware that he was staring. He looked apologetically at them both and apologized profusely. Tyson wrapped an arm around Ginny and whispered something in her ear. She blushed and swatted him gently with a dishtowel.

"It's the hormones Dad, they're finally kicking in. You should have seen him at school this week drooling all over the place."

"All over the place? Dude, you know there's only one," Will closed his eyes. He clenched his jaw for the love of staying alive! He had almost blurted out her name.