Chapter 31 Jed #2
“His girlfriend. Shelbs and Maddy drove up to surprise Paulie and East. They live in Connecticut. Kind of a boon being on the Clippers, them being so close.”
He glances from side to side and leans forward.
“And I know something Paulie doesn’t know.
” Those tempting pink lips spread into a mischievous grin.
He’s so damn excited about it my heart can barely take it.
“Shelbs is here for an entire week. Maddy for longer because the semester is done, and Madz is doing a clinical rotation here in Providence for the summer.” He sighs.
“Poor Paulie. Bad day to get stuck late at the clubhouse. Easton already had his fun celebrating his surprise. The whole apartment could hear his…cheering.”
I grin. “Good for him. That’s awesome that the guys will have their girls with them for a while. I can’t imagine how tough the distance must be.”
Shane lets out a strangled, high-pitched laugh. “Yeah. Girls. Yeah.” He fidgets with his topknot. “Distance. Hard. Girls.”
Okay…that was very weird.
I open my mouth to ask what’s wrong when a shirtless man comes striding into the kitchen, beelining for the fridge.
He’s flushed, the kitchen lighting reflecting off the sheen on his skin.
This must be Neb’s brother. Doesn’t look too much like him.
He has fairer skin and sharper features.
He takes a swig of one of the two water bottles he nabbed from the fridge, and his green stare catches on me.
He cocks his head as he lowers his drink. “Jed Stone Junior. In the flesh.”
“The one and only.”
He walks up to me, hand out. We clasp wrists. “Maddox Barnes. Good to meet you, man.”
Maddox… My gaze flies to Shane, who’s staring at me in wide-eyed horror.
“Uh. Yeah, Maddox…” Shane squeaks. “This is Jed. He’s bisexual. So, he’s, like, totally cool. You know? You know?”
Maddox wings a brow and turns to Shane. “You typically introduce people with their sexual orientation?”
Shane’s making meaningful eyes at Maddox. “I…ah…just mean, since he’s queer, he’d be okay knowing certain information that no one knows that I didn’t tell him per se but, like, I think I did accidentally just tell him in a really roundabout way a second ago.”
Maddox’s smile turns soft. “Relax, Shane. East is cool with him knowing. He’s already told me some of the shit Stone’s done in the locker room to stand up for us.” He turns back to me. “I’m Easton’s boyfriend,” he says softly.
An overwhelming ache rushes through my chest at the awe in the man’s words. Like he can’t seem to believe it’s true he gets to be Winters’s boyfriend. Shit. I think I’m getting choked up, and that doesn’t happen often. I don’t even know this guy.
Maddox lifts the water bottles he’s holding. “Speaking of. Should get this to my man—”
“Too slow.” Winters slides in and snipes a water bottle. “Plus, think we should move to the living room. Paulie and Shelby are giving pornos a run for their money up there.”
Shane snorts. “You’re one to talk, East.”
Winters’s cheeks go bright red, and his attention drops to the floor. Maddox chuckles. Then tugs on the waistband of Easton’s gym shorts. “Come on, babe. Couch.”
Winters shoots me a shy smile and an awkward wave, then the two head to the living area. I don’t miss how they can’t seem to stop touching each other. Small grazes, fingers brushing, like there’s some sort of pull between them that keeps them gravitating toward each other.
When I look back at Shane, he’s leaning against the counter, a content little smile curling his lips. “They’re cute, aren’t they?” he says softly, a wealth of fondness in his tone.
My ribs tighten, like they’re trying to create a protective armor around my heart.
He’s got something really special here. I’m…
envious. I’ve always been content in my solitude.
I have my teammates, the coaching staff, the Jetties’ organization.
I thought that was enough. Seeing this? Doing whatever it is I’m doing with Shane?
I don’t think what I have is enough. I want this. I want…
More, whispers through my mind. I take a step toward Shane, ready to touch my own man, when the thunder of footsteps fills the apartment.
A man barrels into the kitchen. “What a fucking day,” he bursts out.
“I need a glass of red. Like yesterday. I hate traveling.” He snaps his fingers at Shane, who is already pulling out a bottle and grabbing a glass for the man.
“And does anyone have industrial-powered earplugs? I really do not need to hear my brother’s sex noises. ”
Ah, and this is clearly Nebs’s brother. They’re nearly identical in looks, same dark hair, dark eyes, and rich olive skin.
Where they differ is in build. This man is long and lean compared to Paulie’s stockiness and has smoother features.
He’s got a tight black turtleneck on with loose beige sweats.
I don’t know how he makes loungewear look so…
uh…chic? Is that the right word? I glance down at my gray sweats and sleeveless tank and back at the guy who’s cradling his wineglass to his lips, humming with his eyes closed.
This guy looks like he just stepped out of Vogue Italia.
His eyes snap open, and warm brown irises meet mine. And lock on.
I take a step back.
He slides his wineglass onto the kitchen island and stalks toward me. “And who brought home this snack.”
Um…
My wide-eyed gaze finds Shane’s amused one. “Help,” I mouth.
The bastard chuckles.
Nebiolo’s brother runs a finger down the center of my chest. “Hmmm. Let me guess. Baseball player. Shortstop. You’ve got a command about you. I bet you like to be in control.”
Damn. This man is forward. And exudes sex. There was a lot baked into all that. I’m not interested, but my body sure is fucking confused.
“Jed Stone,” I manage, but my voice comes out embarrassingly squeaky.
The man’s eyes light up, and he chuckles. “Oh, honey. I know. The elusive Jed Stone Junior.” His head snaps to Shane. “Pictures do not do him justice. I approve, Shaney-babe. I approve.”
“Frankie, behave!” Maddy’s shout echoes through the apartment.
It doesn’t work.
Frankie shoots me a look from beneath his dark lashes. “Do you two share?”
Oh my God.
“Nope,” Shane says, popping the ‘p’. “Sorry, Frankie. That’s all mine.”
My attention snaps to Shane’s, and a thrill streaks through me. At his words. At the possessive shine to his blue eyes.
“I feel like I’ve walked into an alternate dimension,” I say dazedly. “Is everyone in this apartment queer?”
“Everyone except Pauls,” Shane says.
Frankie gives my bicep a squeeze and lets out a soft “yum” before going back to his wine.
I rub my chin and chuckle in bewilderment, watching Frankie slink over to the living room. “Of course. He’s the only one I actually thought could be queer initially.”
“I would have thought how obsessed I am with your dick would have given my queerness away.” Shane pouts. “Guess I’m not doing a good enough job.”
I throw him an exasperated look, and his lips split into a grin.
I can’t wait any longer. I need to touch him.
I close in, forcing him back against the island.
My hands fall to his hips, and we stand like that, just staring, just breathing.
God, he smells so good. Citrusy. More grapefruit than orange today.
“Hi,” he whispers.
I lean down and brush a kiss on his lips. And it feels so fucking good that I can do that here. Out in the open. Safe.
I pull back and find those baby blues again. “Hey, Sunshine.”
His gaze flicks in the direction of his bedroom. “Kinda wish we could do some cheering of our own. But, ah…the chili is on the stove and…” He glances toward the living room.
A chuckle builds in my chest. Or maybe that’s just the rattle of my heart. “Tonight, babe.” When we don’t have a living room full of roommates who would definitely overhear.
He blinks owl-eyed up at me. That’s when what I said hits me. But it just felt right. I want to trust my gut with this. Lean into it. Seems like something a surfer boy with golden curls and ocean-blue eyes would do.
“You okay with me calling you that? Are we on the same page—”
“Yes!” He bounces up and down, his loosening topknot flopping wildly. “Same page. Same fucking paragraph.”
I breathe out a laugh. Once again, he has me smiling. Laughing. He has me doing it so much lately. It’s almost like it’s not rare anymore.
He drops his forehead to my chest, and I run my hand up and down his back.
“I can’t believe I outed East and Maddy to you.” He groans and thumps his head against my sternum. “I’m always so careful. I try to not even mention Maddy’s name most of the time.”
“Hey,” I reassure softly. “Maddox said they were going to tell me anyway.”
“Yeah, it just was a big slip to mention they were boning. Like obviously you were going to find out after that.”
I press a kiss to the top of his head and then tip his chin back. “Do you think, maybe, you only made that slip because it’s me? Someone you know is safe. You wouldn’t have done that with just anyone.”
“Let’s go with that.” He sends me a small smile. “Makes me feel a little less shitty.”
He quickly redoes his topknot, and I reach out to spin one of his bracelets.
“Oh! That reminds me.” He reaches into his pocket, then stills. Those blue eyes glow up at me, and he practically vibrates in my arms. “I have your bracelet.” His voice lilts up. “Are you ready?”
I nod, unable to get any words past my grin.
He’s so happy. Luminous. And knowing how much he’s struggled with feeling unwanted, feeling less than, it amazes me.
He’s this resilient star, refusing to let anything steal its light.
But that light only shines outward. He hasn’t saved any of it for himself, doesn’t think he deserves any.
I’ll do everything I can to help him see the worth he keeps overlooking.
“Close your eyes,” he says with a little bounce.