Chapter 14
Zac
My thoughts are consumed with one thing: Noah Bentley.
I expect him to shut down and avoid me again after his meltdown in the motel room, but to my surprise, he does the exact opposite.
When I wake the next morning, he hands me a decent coffee he got from the coffee shop down the road. He keeps the conversation light, sticking to the Premier League highlights and school, and keeping my word, I don’t bring up what happened the night before.
At training on Monday afternoon, I expect him to avoid or ignore me. Instead, he asks me how the rest of my weekend was and even drags me into a debate with his housemates over whether pineapple belongs on pizza—hard no.
I run into him at the library on Tuesday, and he invites me to study with him and Hannah.
I’m so stunned, I can’t even come up with an excuse, so I plonk my arse down across the table from them and try to focus on my research project.
It’s almost impossible to concentrate when all I can think about is how broken he looked, shivering his arse off after that shower.
Whatever happened to his friend has really affected him.
None of the other guys who have roomed with him on away games have mentioned any weird behaviour from our captain, which leaves me assuming his freak-out had something to do with me.
My psychology degree is working against me here, because all I want to do is help him, even though he doesn’t deserve it after the way he treated me.
The worst part is that my growing attraction to him is getting harder to ignore.
I can’t help casting glances at him while he studies across from me, until I realise Hannah is watching, curiosity gleaming in her crystal-blue eyes.
Noah blinks at me as I mutter an excuse, gather my things, and leave.
He’s in my head. I need a distraction.
Thankfully, I’m meeting my masked man at Euphoria this weekend. With all this stuff going on with Noah, I’d almost forgotten. A night with the mysterious shadow in a private room will surely make me forget about my captain.
I just have to make it through one more training session and an away game without doing anything stupid, like falling for my straight, unavailable teammate.
By the time Ritter drops me home Saturday afternoon after we get back from Blue Haven, I’m tired, grumpy, and ready to chill on the couch.
Between Dane’s snoring and my mind constantly drifting to Noah, I barely slept a wink last night.
I’d hoped for a nap on the three-hour bus trip home, but the guys were whooping and shouting as they played road trip games.
I need a good few hours of peace, so after dropping my bag by the door, I head straight for the lounge room and stop in my tracks when my eyes land on Amelia making out with Jonathon Crawley.
“Christ, Milly,” I grumble, causing Jonathon to jump a mile. “Where are Mum and Dad?” I sign when my sister looks over at me, red tinging her cheeks.
“Saturday market,” she says.
“So, you thought you’d take advantage by mauling your boyfriend on the couch while they’re gone?” I talk as I sign so Jonathon can follow our conversation.
“Sorry,” he says, signing the word. I’m impressed he’s learnt the basics of sign language, and Amelia looks at him like he hung the moon.
“Whatever,” I say, signing as I speak. “I guess I should be glad you’re on the couch and not in her room.”
My sister shoots me a dirty look, but I’m too tired to care.
“How was the game?” Jonathon asks.
“Draw.”
He grimaces. “Where does that put you on the ladder now?”
“We drop to fifth.” I run a tired hand over my face. “I’m going to make some lunch. You guys want anything?”
Amelia shakes her head, but Jonathon jumps off the couch. “Yeah. I’ll give you a hand.”
Heaving a sigh, my sister flops back and picks up the television remote while he follows me into the kitchen.
I busy myself pulling out ingredients for sandwiches while Jonathon grabs a couple of plates from the cupboard. He’s a little twitchy, casting glances at the archway to the living room until I can’t take it any longer.
“Go on then,” I say, slicing a tomato.
“What?”
“Ask me whatever it is you want to ask.”
He swallows. “Can you teach me how to ask Milly to the formal?”
I fight my grin, maintaining a serious expression. “You know she can read lips.”
“I know,” he says, focusing on the bread he’s buttering, “but I want her to know she’s special.”
My chest expands as I study the guy in front of me. He’s nervous, but there’s not a trace of pity in his voice. He clearly likes my sister, and I admire him for having the guts to ask.
“Yeah. I can show you.”
“Thanks.”
We finish making our sandwiches, and I wipe my hands on a tea towel before turning to him. “All right, it’s pretty simple.”
Jonathon straightens.
“You know how to say you.”
He nods, pointing at me. “You.”
“Right,” I confirm. With my pointer and middle fingers, I make upside down V’s and do a sweeping gesture in front of my chest twice while holding my other hand palm up to represent a dance floor. “That’s dance.”
He nods, repeating the gesture a couple of times until he has it.
We do this for the words go and together, finishing with him pointing at himself.
I demonstrate it all together, and he practises until the movement looks almost natural.
When he’s done, he glances towards the living room with a nervous grin.
“Do you think she’ll say yes?”
I smirk and pick up my sandwich. “Dude, you had your tongue in her mouth less than twenty minutes ago. She’ll say yes.” His cheeks redden, and I pat him on the back. “You’re a good guy, Jonathon. I know you’ll treat her right.”
“I really like her,” he admits, looking me in the eye. “She’s kind and funny and sweet. I wish I hadn’t been so intimidated by her all these years.”
“It doesn’t put you off that you’ll have to learn sign language to communicate?”
He shakes his head. “I’m willing to do anything for her,” he says, taking his plate.
Well, fuck. The guy has just earned my respect.
I take my sandwich and head up to my room to give them some privacy.
My sister deserves a nice guy, and I’m happy for her, but it makes me feel a little lonely.
While I’m still looking forward to tonight, it’s clear after our last two hook-ups that whoever my mystery shadow is, he’s not ready to step outside the walls of the club. It’s fine for now, but I’ll want more eventually.
I almost had it with Kaylee, who I dated during my second year at Beckford U. She was ready to settle down and plan our future together, and though she was a great girl, we were only twenty. The idea terrified me.
Since then, I’ve hooked up with a few guys and girls, but nothing has given me that butterfly-inducing, heart-fluttering sensation I’m searching for.
I want someone who will make my pulse stutter every time they’re near, someone my body knows and responds to. Most of all, I want someone who accepts me for who I am, free of judgement. I’m not sure who I want to spend the rest of my life with, but I’m sure I’ll know it when I meet them.
For now, I’ll settle for someone who makes my dick rock-hard every time I think of that Prince Albert piercing and what it will feel like pressing deep inside me.
Too amped to sleep now, I decide to take a long shower, manscaping and preparing myself for tonight. We never spoke about our sexual preferences, but as a vers, I’m not fussed either way. My shadow gives off dominating top vibes, so I guess I’ll find out in a few hours.
Stepping out of the shower, I wrap a towel around my waist and stand in front of the mirror.
My eyes are a little tired, and I haven’t shaved since yesterday morning.
Searching through Amelia’s stuff, I find some hydrating eye cream and set about making myself feel fresh, even though the mask will cover half of my face.
I’m halfway through shaving when my phone rings. I glance at the screen, groan, then answer the call, putting it on speakerphone.
“What’s up, Theo?”
“Yo, bro. Where are we partying tonight?”
Theo’s one of those guys who peak in school and has no direction once they’re out in the real world.
He spent the last six years playing soccer.
Now he uses that clout to hook up. He got his degree in mechanical engineering, but he’s still living at home with his parents and Jade, and partying with the team even though he graduated last year.
Theo’s mum is good friends with mine—they went through high school and university together—hence Amelia and Jade’s close friendship.
Theo and I, on the other hand, only tolerate each other because we grew up together.
I wouldn’t call us friends, but I’m his ‘in’ with the team; he doesn’t feel guilty using me to find out where the next party is.
“Nowhere, dude. No one’s in the mood after drawing against BHU. We needed the win.”
He makes a dismissive sound. “All the more reason to get drunk and drown yourself in booze and pussy… or dick. Whatever floats your boat. No judgement here.”
“Gee, thanks.” I roll my eyes even though he can’t see me.
“Come on,” he presses, his voice carrying that familiar mix of charm and desperation. “You can’t sit at home on a Saturday night, man. Get a few of the boys together and we’ll hit up Carter’s for a few.”
“I’m good,” I lie, rinsing my razor. “I’m going to stay in and watch highlights.”
Theo scoffs. “No worries, grandpa.”
I scowl at my reflection, but Theo can tease me all he likes. I’ve got plans, and they’re not with him.
“Bentley may have mentioned something about drinks,” I say, tossing him a bone and not giving a shit about throwing my captain under the bus. Let Noah deal with our former teammate. “You should hit him up.”
“You disappoint me, Kincaid.”
“I don’t know how I’ll live with myself,” I deadpan. “Have fun.”
I hang up before he can give me any more grief. I don’t give a shit what Theo thinks of me.