JOSEPH.

joseph listens, brows furrowing thoughtfully as he looks out over the park’s grassy hills and perfectly manicured tree line. 

       ‘   so not quite as posh, is what you’re saying. i get it. maple bay can be a little… pretentious, at first. i certainly thought it was.  ’

he laughs to himself, recalling a simpler time. brand new to the neighborhood, raising chris, watching new neighbors arrive and settle in. maybe things were easier back then, or maybe he’s just romanticizing the past. it’s hard to be sure now.

    ‘   … but it grows on you, you know? you start making memories with people, and then it feels more like home. i hope it can be that for you, laurence.  ’

                     he  laughs,  shaking  his  head  slightly.  ❛  'not  quite  as  posh’  is  one  way  to  put  it.  ❜  not  that  he  didn’t  love  his  old  neighborhood,  his  hold  house.  he  just–  couldn’t.  especially  with  amanda  moving  out  in  a  few  months.

❛  i  hope  so  too.  ❜  a  soft  smile  spreads  across  his  face.  ❛  it’s  already–  i’ve  already  met  so  many  wonderful  people  here.  i  think  i’ll  like  it.  amanda  likes  it.  she’s  usually  a  good  judge.  ❜

sweet cute child

the softest boy

joseph.

joseph smiles, because that’s what he’s best at. the breeze touches his face and scalp, and he sighs into it, glad to be outside rather than cramped in his office or stuck at home. he looks over at laurence as they walk, an aficionado at eye contact during conversation.

     ‘   what was your old neighborhood like? i don’t think you’ve talked about it before.  ’

                    laurence  meets  joseph’s  eyes  for  a  moment  before  his  gaze  darts  away,  not  quite  comfortable  with  the  sustained  eye  contact.  his  fingers  twist  in  his  hoodie  pocket  and  he  tips  his  head  to  the  side.  

❛  my  old  neighborhood??  it  wasn’t…  bad.  a  little  nosier  than  this  one.  not  as…  well  maintained.  ❜  lips  purse,  unsure.  ❛  a  good  place,  though.  it  was  just–  time  to  move.  ❜

  @boatknxts  continued from here

                     laurence  smiles  faintly,  shoving  his  hands  in  his  hoodie  pocket.  the  sunshine  feels  amazing  against  his  face,  warm  and  gentle.  he  keeps  pace  with  joseph  easily  as  they  wander  through  the  park.  speaking  of  joseph,  the  man  looks  like  a  MESS.  well,  no,  he  looks  perfectly  put  together,  as  always.  but  there’s  something  tense  about  the  set  of  his  shoulders,  something  tired  about  his  eyes.  

                    hence  the  walk  through  the  park.  

❛  it’s  nice.  quiet.  in  the  best  way.  and  i  definitely  can’t  complain  about  the  neighbors.  ❜  he  shoots  joseph  a  little  smile  at  that.  ❛  it’s  very  different  than  where  i  used  to  live.  i  wouldn’t  turn  down  a  tour,  for  sure.  ❜

Y E L L S

plot twist: joseph has this hanging in his yacht.