Chapter 26
26
J J’s brows rose higher and higher as he took in the series of images on my phone screen. “What’s all this?”
“I think it’s obvious. I owed you a pair of trainers, so I want you to pick a pair, and I’ll get them for you. I know you told me not to worry about it when I offered to replace them the first time, but…yeah. I know none of these are the same as the ones I ruined, but they’re all really fucking expensive, so…” I trailed off with a shrug.
“Finn. I didn’t—I was only joking about you ruining my shoes. Mostly. Yeah, I was pissed off at the time, but I’d never expect you to buy me a replacement pair. I should’ve known better than to wear them to a house party of drunk students.”
I rubbed my hand over my mouth, staring down at the floor. This was more awkward than I thought it would be.
“Okay, I also get the impression you don’t really like me, and I’m guessing you’re not happy about the idea of me and Leo being together. So part of the reason I’m doing this is to?—”
“Bribe me?” JJ finished.
“No! Uh, maybe, a bit.”
He shook his head. “Look, just… Wait here.” Jogging over to the entrance of the small dance studio I’d cornered him in, he closed and locked the door. When he returned to me, he lowered himself to the floor, his back against the wall, and tapped his hand on the smooth wood next to him.
I sat down beside him, pulling my knees up and resting my arms on them, a contrast to JJ’s casual sprawl, his legs stretched out in front of him.
“I want to start by saying that I don’t dislike you. Not at all. We don’t know each other very well, and before you started hanging out with Leo, I didn’t really know anything about you other than you were one of Ander’s teammates who ruined my irreplaceable trainers. Then you were suddenly in Leo’s life, and he…he was so fucking happy. Happier than I’d ever known him to be. More confident, too. He’s still shy, but it’s like he has a quiet determination inside him now that I’ve never seen before.”
“He is happy. But that’s all him. It’s nothing to do with me.”
“It is him, but what I’m saying is that him having your support means he’s more comfortable expressing himself. The only thing I can feel towards you is grateful for the part you’ve played in helping him feel that way.”
I let JJ’s words sink in, but I couldn’t quite believe them.
“That night at your house…”
“I was looking out for him. I wanted to make sure you had his best interests in mind, and now, it’s clear to me you do.” He turned to meet my gaze. “I’m happy he’s with you. I trust you, and I know you won’t knowingly hurt him, and I also know he’s not afraid to speak his mind with you, is he?”
I shook my head. “We’ve always tried to be honest with each other and talk things through. I trust him to do that with me, and he knows I’ll do the same.”
“Good. I don’t want to seem like I’m being overprotective of him or pushy about your relationship because it’s not my place. All I want is for him to be happy, and I know he is with you. That’s all that matters to me.”
“I love him so much,” I confessed quietly.
JJ stared at me for a second, the corners of his lips curving up, and then he held out his hand. “Friends? Let’s start with a handshake. We can work our way up to hugs.”
I clasped his hand in mine. “Friends, and if you wanted a hug from me, all you had to do was say so. No need to hint.”
“Babe. With all due respect, fuck off.” He blew me a kiss with his middle finger, and I grinned. Yeah, he’d definitely forgiven me. Now, all I needed to do was get him to accept the trainers.
“About the Nikes?—”
“I’m not letting you buy me replacements. I can’t. It’s too much.”
“Just do it.”
“No.”
“Take them.”
“No.”
A loud banging on the door interrupted us before I could protest again. JJ rose to his feet in a smooth, graceful movement and glided over to the door, unlocking it and flinging it open.
“Hey, babe.” He kissed Alyssa’s cheek as she entered, her hands full with a large bottle of water, a towel, and her dance bag. My heart rate kicked up as I spotted messy red hair behind her, and then my boyfriend came into view, his green eyes sparkling and his lips curved into a sweet smile. JJ pulled him into a quick hug as I climbed to my feet, crossing the studio in quick strides.
“Hi.” I was sure I had a ridiculously huge grin on my face, but I couldn’t help it. That was what seeing Leo did to me. Wrapping my arms around him, I pressed a kiss to his hair. “Missed you.”
“Hi. I missed you, too. Are you going to tell me now why you had to meet JJ here without me?”
“I just wanted to straighten things out between us. He’s one of your best friends, so I wanted to make sure we were on the same page with everything.”
“You’re the best.” His lips met mine. “Best boyfriend.”
I did not deserve this man. “Love you,” I told him, because I could, and I didn’t think I’d ever get tired of saying it.
“Love you.” He kissed me again before stepping back. Biting down on his lip, he gave me one of his shy looks from beneath his lashes. “Do you have to be anywhere now? If you’re not busy, you could stay and watch our dance practice. If—if you want to.”
“Baby.” I tilted his chin back up, my thumb stroking over his smooth jaw. “Of course I want to. If you don’t mind me watching you, I’m all yours. Where do you want me to sit?”
His hand covered mine, and he tugged me towards the side of the studio, where there were a couple of folding chairs. Dropping his duffel bag on one of the chairs, he released my hand.
“Here.” He waited until I was seated before continuing. “This is a work in progress, so bear that in mind, but I think you’ll like it.”
With those words, my boyfriend went from sweetly shy to sultry as fuck, with the sexy, heavy-lidded look he gave me, and my dick was not prepared to handle him throwing that kind of look at me in public. I rummaged around in his duffel as he strutted off to join JJ and Alyssa, pulling out his hoodie and balling it up in my lap, just in case. It was either that or potentially broadcast a boner to yet more of his friends, and I was still traumatised from Connor and Niall getting an eyeful during our camping trip.
You know how I’d just mentioned how my dick wasn’t prepared? The music started up, and I didn’t stand a chance.
The way Leo was moving made my mouth go dry. Fucking hell, he was so hot that I wouldn’t have even been surprised to see flames appearing in the studio. Alyssa and JJ were probably hot too, but honestly, I couldn’t even say because the only thing I could focus on was my sexy-as-fuck boyfriend.
By the time the dance finished, my dick was rock hard, and I was so. Fucking. Turned on. I needed to get Leo alone ASAP.
He prowled over to me like a lion hunting its prey, a hungry look in his eyes, and he’d never lived up to his name more than he did in that moment. When he reached me, he swung himself onto my lap, and I groaned at the sudden pressure on my erection.
“Oh, you liked it,” he murmured, and all I could do was stare at him wordlessly because where had this confidence come from? It was so fucking hot.
“I loved it,” I rasped. “And I need to get you home right now so I can show you my appreciation.”
His tongue swiped across his lips as he placed his hands on my shoulders, leaning into me. “Let’s go back to my flat.”
Yes . Best idea ever.
“Now. Go now.”
He suddenly broke character, tipping forwards and burying his face in the crook of my neck with a huff of laughter. “Sorry. I don’t know how to do this sexy thing. I’m trying, but?—”
“Leo. You don’t even have to try. You are so fucking sexy. The way you moved during that dance…you were killing me. If we’d been alone, I wouldn’t have been able to keep my hands off you.”
He lifted his head, his eyes darkening. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. Now, do you have to practise anymore, or can we go?”
“Get out of here. We’ll practise again tomorrow.”
Leo and I both jumped at the voice next to us.
“JJ!” Leo burrowed into me again.
“Sorry, babe. Didn’t mean to make you jump.”
I could hear the smirk in his voice, and so I lifted my hand to give him the finger.
A laugh burst from his throat. “Seriously. Go. I’ll text you, Leo. You did good today. Finn, I’m sure I’ll see you around soon.”
When he’d retreated to the front of the studio where Alyssa was stretching, I ran my hands up Leo’s thighs.
“Wanna get out of here?”
“Yeah.”