Chapter 33
Ethan
"You need to stop looking at me like you want to eat me up," I warn Logan in a murmur, after catching him staring at me for the third time in that one class.
Even though we're in different programs, him in Marketing and me in Physical Education, this semester we'd taken Communications as a shared elective, plus, of course, the Statistics class.
And yes, I knew his "thinking about all kinds of inappropriate and indecent things" expression well, since I'd lived with it being directed at plenty of girls over the years and at Charlie whenever we were together, but I still wasn't used to the expression being used on me.
Logan lets out a low laugh from his spot in the chair beside me.
"But it's exactly what I want," he whispers back, giving me his best scoundrel smile. I shoot him a judgmental look and shake my head no, but on the inside my cock and my brain are reacting with pure excitement.
Luckily my heart is too lost in this romantic mess I've gotten into to react in any way.
"You did it all weekend, sweetheart, wasn't that enough?" I pretend to complain while doodling circles on the edge of my notebook, an automatic gesture. I feel him lean in even closer to answer against my ear.
"I don't know if I'll ever have enough of you and Char, sweetheart," he confesses, and I shiver.
Seductive son of a gun.
I lift my face to look around and check whether anyone is actually paying attention to us.
Luckily, that doesn't seem to be the case.
Logan and I always pick the back of the room, and this isn't a very crowded class, so the closest person is about three rows ahead.
Some are paying attention to the presentation one of our classmates is giving, but most are focused on their own notebook, tablet, or laptop.
So I feel more at ease staring at the player beside me.
"Even so, everyone doesn't need to find out," I shoot back, but Logan just shrugs, settling into his chair.
"We live together. Rumors about us hooking up were always going around. After Charlie, then, the whispers evolved into all of us sleeping together," he says, unbothered. I can't resist a little laugh, because it was true.
"Okay, and we are, but..." I stop for a moment as I think about how to explain this much less fun part of real life.
"One thing is people gossiping about us sharing Charlie, another is them realizing we're more of a throuple than a simple threesome.
Naughtiness in the sports world? Completely normal.
Expected, even. But two bisexual players?
The thing gets a lot more complicated. The prejudice is very real, Loey," I say, unable to keep from feeling angry.
I was never going to understand why who I love or fuck could have any importance in my football career.
An athlete who cheats on his wife and has a kid with every woman? "Beautiful, wonderful, give him a round of applause!"
An LGBT athlete? "Oh no, now that's too much, kick him out of the league!"
Ugh, real hatred rises in me just thinking about it.
And I didn't plan on staying in the closet much longer.
My numbers this season were incredible and we had the Bowl game practically in hand, and if the NFL didn't draft me just because of my sexuality, it would hurt, but I'd move on with other plans.
Whether that was looking into leagues in other countries with a more open mind, or opening my own football school.
If the change wasn't going to happen because of me, then I'd foster the change from the ground up.
And everyone could go screw themselves.
But Logan didn't even understand his own sexuality yet, didn't know the consequences of what we were doing could cause for his career.
I watch him clench his jaw and cross his arms.
"That's fucking unfair," he complains, his voice louder than it should be, and we earn a reproachful look from the professor. I shoot him an apologetic smile and lean in even closer to Logan so I can continue the conversation without drawing attention.
"I know, but for now that's how things are. You don't want to ruin your career before you even know whether what's happening between us is just something passing and..." I start, but I'm interrupted.
"Believe me, Tanny, there's nothing that would take me back to heterosexuality now. I'm not going to be a 'party bi,'" he assures, and I raise an eyebrow at him.
"You've been bi for two minutes and you already want to beat your chest, huh?" I shoot back, sounding sarcastic, and I earn a slow smile from the blond, at the same time as he leans toward my face until I feel his breath and a mischievous hand settles on my thigh under the table.
"What I want to beat is your ass later while I bury your cock in my throat," the bastard murmurs with mischief dripping from his lips.
I swallow hard, my whole body heating up automatically, especially in the area where his hand squeezes eagerly and the arousal goes straight to my groin.
"And you know I never go back on my decisions. "
We spend a few seconds in this game of staring at each other while palpable arousal spreads through the air and my mouth waters with the urge to kiss him, but I barely control myself and pull our bodies apart, discreetly removing his hand from my leg.
I reach for the water bottle in my backpack and take long sips, praying the cold drink helps me cool down my mind and body. Not missing it, Logan laughs quietly beside me, but out of the corner of my eye I can see him also having to adjust in his chair and disguise the bulge forming in his pants.
"Okay then, Mr. Decisive. Never mind what I said. Just promise you'll think a little longer about the consequences, okay? And for the love of God, stop flirting with me in public!"
My very colorful friend laughs again, but finally goes back to looking ahead.
"I can promise the first part. The second I can't guarantee, since it's way too fun. You and Charlie blush with the same ease, did you know?"
I huff at the nonsense and shake my head no.
"I don't blush, damn it," I decree, but he just shoots me a sideways glance and a little smile.
"It's cute, don't worry."
"I'm not cute! I..." I try to protest again, but the deep voice of the old professor interrupts me.
"Pause your talking for a bit, Miss Black, because it seems the topic between Mr. Clarke and Mr. Hayes is much more important than the content of this class," the man says sarcastically, crossing his arms and looking at us accusingly.
I give an apologetic sign to him and to the student presenting the seminar, and Logan and I apologize in unison.
Professor Hank huffs, but after a few more seconds of a judgmental look, he goes back to addressing the girl and lets her resume the seminar.
Logan and I stay quiet and pretend to pay attention for a few minutes, but soon I see him grab his phone and type something. When my phone lights up, I open our group chat with Charlie as discreetly as possible.
Logan: Char, can you believe Tanny thinks he's not cute and doesn't blush?
His message makes me roll my eyes. The girl's reply takes no more than a few seconds:
Charlie: hahahaha no way! There's nothing cuter than the concentration face he makes when he's studying, all focused
I huff and start typing my protest, but the blond man is faster.
Logan: Yes! I also like the sleepy version that's kind of grumpy
I shake my head in disbelief.
Ethan: Cute my ass. I can be hot, handsome, smart... Not a damn teddy bear!
Charlie: You're all of that. Cocky too, but we let it slide because it's really nice to sleep wrapped around you, like a big bear for real
This time Logan almost can't hold back the laugh and is forced to disguise it with a cough before typing his next bit of nonsense.
Logan: Right? Plus he's all warm, nobody even needs a blanket if they sleep next to him
Ethan: Oh, for the love of God
Logan: And now he's blushing again
Charlie: hahahaha take a photo for me!
I huff again reading that and curse the too-pale skin that covers my whole body.
When the man beside me moves to turn his phone in my direction and actually take a photo, I yank the device out of his hands with a quick tug and stash it under my leg, so he can't try to get it back without drawing Professor Hank's attention again. I go back to my own phone and type:
Ethan: I hate you two ?? I'm even going to sleep alone tonight
Charlie: no you don't, baby. And I bet a lunch you can't stay away from us anymore
Logan, now looking at the messages over my shoulder, lets out a low little laugh, and I elbow him lightly.
Ethan: deal. I'll want Mexican food tomorrow, thanks
Charlie: hahahah we'll see, kitten, we'll see
"You're not going to resist. No chance," Loey whispers, and even though I give him another elbow to the stomach, I know he's right.
I'm already far from being able to resist any moment spent with these two.