Chapter 28
Noah
Having a secret boyfriend when you’re supposed to be straight isn’t easy.
The only place we’re free to be with each other is at his house, but I’m not comfortable having sex when his family is home, and short of skipping classes during the day, which is too risky with whoever my dad has spying on me, we never seem to have the place to ourselves.
It’s ridiculous. I’m a twenty-three-year-old man at university in another state. It’s not like they take attendance, so he must have someone watching me. When he called a couple of weeks ago to ask why I wasn’t in class, I freaked. I ran out on Zac and got my arse straight to class.
My house is a no-go zone considering I live with two of my teammates and I’m supposed to be dating Hannah.
Not to mention I was a real dick to Zac until the start of this season, so it would look weird if we were hanging out in my room alone for hours.
If we were doing the same degree, we could pass it off as studying, but that’s not an option either.
I’m tempted to get us a hotel room, but they require a credit card for booking, and my dad gets my statements.
So, the result is lots of hot make-out sessions in his room, the occasional blow job, some hot as fuck phone sex, and the insane need to be inside him but not having anywhere private to fuck his brains out. I want to hear him screaming my name as his arse tightens like a vice around my dick.
“The masked night at Euphoria is next weekend,” he says, kissing a path up my body after blowing my goddamn mind. He swallowed my load while I muffled my sounds of pleasure with his pillow so his family don’t hear.
My stomach swoops. I’d much rather be there with him than what I have to do that weekend.
“That’s the weekend of grandad’s seventieth. Hannah and I are flying out Friday morning.”
Zac rests his chin on my chest, gazing up at me. “How are you feeling about seeing your dad?”
“Not great.” His hair is messy from where I had my fingers tangled in it a few minutes ago, and I rake it back from his face. “I still don’t know what I’m going to say to him.”
As much as I was apprehensive about it, I let Zac and Hannah talk me into seeing a psychologist, and I’ve spent the last two weeks unpacking my relationship with my father.
It’s been intense, and dredging up all those old wounds has brought back my nightmares in full force.
Instead of hurting myself, though, I’ve been calling Zac in the middle of the night and letting him talk me down from the panic attacks.
I’m not sure trauma dumping on my boyfriend in the middle of the night is any healthier, but I can’t deny the way his gravelly voice calms me.
“The back seat of my car is looking more and more appealing,” he says with a smirk.
If only his car was big enough.
I huff. “I’m sorry. This would be easier if we weren’t hiding.”
Surprisingly, it was so much easier sneaking around with Nathan right under our parents’ noses. Dad was always at work, and Nathan often stayed over, but because he was my best friend, no one ever asked any questions.
Zac frowns. “You don’t have to apologise. I’m not with you for the sex.”
I know he means it, but a few hours later, when I’m sitting on the couch in the games room while my housemates play FIFA, I can’t help but wonder what their reaction would be if I told them I was hooking up with our teammate.
“Ya boy’s cooking,” Dane crows as he steals the ball from Jasper’s player and takes off down the pitch.
Jasper pounds the controls, going on the counterattack. “Cooking shit,” he gloats as he steals the ball back.
They both tap the controls frantically, but Jasper’s player shoots, and—
“Top bins, baby!” he shouts.
Dane grumbles, sitting straighter in the bean bag, his jaw tightening as he prepares for kick off.
“You’re quieter than usual,” Jasper says, nudging me with his knee, his eyes locked on the screen.
“Just tired,” I say with a shrug.
He grins. “I’m not surprised. You’ve been spending a hell of a lot of time at Hannah’s lately.”
Dane snorts. “That much sex would tire anyone out. I’m surprised you’ve got any energy left for the game after keeping your girlfriend satisfied.”
My stomach churns. If only they knew what I’ve really been doing when they think I’m with her. But this is my chance to sound them out.
Clearing my throat, I mentally beg Zac for forgiveness before saying, “I hear Kincaid’s dating someone.”
“Yeah?” Dane asks. “Dick or chick?”
A leaden weight drops into my gut.
Jasper tosses a cushion at his head. “Does it matter, dickwad?”
“No,” he snaps back, scowling as he tosses the cushion back. “I was just curious. Jeez. Whatever floats his boat. It’s got nothing to do with me.”
He returns his attention to the game, his player shoulder-barging one of Jasper’s off the ball with a hoot of triumph.
I rub the back of my neck. “You guys don’t care that he might be dating a guy?”
Jasper frowns, turning his shrewd gaze on me. “Do you?”
Dane whoops as he scores, but the game has pretty much been ignored as I try not to cower under Jasper’s stare.
“What?” I splutter. “No. Why would I care who he’s dating?”
My pulse rockets. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Why did I even bring this up?
Jasper doesn’t answer my question. “Kincaid’s a good dude and a solid goalkeeper. Where he sticks his dick is his business. Same with anyone else on the team. As long as it’s not affecting how they play, it’s got nothing to do with us. Right?”
“Yeah, right.” I choke out. “I just wanted to make sure no one would give him shit about it.”
Dane tosses his controller onto the coffee table. “We’re not living in the Dark Ages. Like Jas says, it’s none of our business who Kincaid dates or fucks or whatever. Does he think we’d have a problem with it?”
“No,” I say quickly. “As captain, I’m just making sure everyone has his back.”
Jasper’s brows pull together like he’s trying to puzzle something out, and I avoid his gaze. The last thing I need is him seeing straight through me.
Dane shrugs. “If whoever he’s dating makes him happy, then I’m happy for him. Same as anyone else on the team.”
“Anyone gives him grief, they deal with us. Plain and simple.” Jasper pauses, then adds, “That goes for anyone on the team.”
My throat clogs.
They mean it. I hear the blunt sincerity, the unshakable loyalty in their voices.
“Great. Glad to hear it,” I choke out. It’s too much. More than I could have hoped for. “Can we keep this between ourselves? Until Kincaid’s ready to say something?”
“I’m a vault,” Jasper says.
Dane mimes zipping his lips.
“Thanks.” I reach for one of the discarded controllers before settling back on the couch. “Who’s ready to be annihilated?”
Sooner or later, our secret will be out. I’m not ready to blurt it out, but knowing the guys will have our backs is enough for now.
When Zac and I enter his house after having breakfast with Hannah on Sunday morning, we’re greeted by Amelia sitting on the staircase waiting for us.
“I have a favour to ask,” she says, turning her attention to me.
Zac snorts a laugh. “Here we go.”
I ignore him, and the apprehension creeping through me, and sign, “What is it?”
“You promised you’d convince him to let me drive his car.”
Shit. I had promised her that.
“Sorry,” I sign. “I forgot.”
Zac shakes his head as his fingers move. “No one drives my car but me.”
Milly jabs a finger at me. “He got to.”
I cough to cover my laugh. “She has a point.”
“Not helping,” he grumbles. To her he signs, “He only drove because I was sick.”
“Pretty please,” she asks, batting her eyelashes. “I promise I’ll be careful. I know how much it means because of Pop, but that’s why I want to drive it just once. Pop and I never had anything like this.”
Zac hesitates, and I can see he’s torn.
She turns her pleading gaze on me, and I rest my hand on his shoulder, giving it a small squeeze.
“C’mon, Romeo. What’s the harm? We all know this car is special to you, but what harm can happen letting her take it for a quick spin on the back roads?
” I give him my most charming smile. “I promised her. Don’t make me a liar, baby. ”
He closes his eyes and releases a deep breath before opening them again. “No.”
Amelia’s shoulders slump, and I feel for her. Zac has the memories of time spent with their Pop, and she’s looking for a connection.
An idea forms. It’s below the belt, and guilt swirls in my stomach, but I did promise Milly, and I feel bad reneging on that promise.
I lean in until my lips are only millimetres from Zac’s ear. “If you let her drive your car, I’ll figure out a way to get Jasper and Dane out of the house so we can have some time alone together before I go away next weekend.”
He groans, and I smirk, knowing I have him. “You play dirty.”
I press a kiss to the sensitive spot beneath his ear. “You love it.”
“You guys are disgustingly adorable,” Milly complains, but her soft smile takes the heat out of her words. Her hopeful gaze meets her brother’s. “Are you going to let me drive it?”
“Fine,” he signs. “But only this once.”
Her face breaks out into a massive grin, and she flies off her perch on the stairs, launching her arms around me. I laugh as I catch her, warmth spreading through me as I lock eyes with Zac.
His expression softens as he watches us, but he still looks like he’s going to be sick over the thought of someone else driving his car.
Amelia pulls away from me and sticks her hand out to her brother.
He shakes his head, signing, “Not in town. I’ll take you out to one of the quiet back roads.”
She moves towards the front door, but when I go to follow, he grips my waist and spins me to face him. “You better make this worth it.”
I pull my phone out and hold it up. “On it.”
After climbing into the backseat of the car, I send a message to Hannah enlisting her help. She replies almost immediately, telling me she’ll see what she can do, and I settle into the back seat as Zac drives towards Eagle Peak.
When he pulls over and turns off the engine, he makes no move to get out of the driver’s seat.
“This is a bad idea,” he grumbles, signing to his sister. “I don’t like this.”
“I’ll be careful,” she promises, unbuckling her seat belt and opening her door.
“If she scratches it—”
“She won’t,” I interrupt.
“She’s going to stall it.”
“Probably.”
He meets my gaze in the rearview mirror as she pulls open his door. “I’m doing this for a night alone with you.”
“Noted.” I say, leaning forward to press a kiss to his lips. “I’m working on it. For what it’s worth, you’re earning major brother brownie points. She appreciates you doing this for her.”
With a final glance at me, he grumbles under his breath and moves out of the way for his sister. She settles herself in, adjusting the seat and then the mirror. I shoot her a wink when she catches my eye.
Zac’s stiff as a board when he climbs into the passenger seat.
He gets her attention, and his tone is serious when he signs the first lot of instructions, speaking aloud for my benefit.
“Her clutch is heavy, and you need to release it slowly, pressing down on the accelerator as you go. Be careful to ease off when you change gears.”
She nods, then starts the engine. It takes her a second to put the car into first, and Zac cringes when she grinds the gears.
“Breathe,” I say, resting my hand on his shoulder. “She’s got this.”
His jaw tightens, and I know this is hard for him, but he nods.
The engine revs as she presses down on the accelerator. We lurch forward before the car stalls.
Zac mutters a curse.
Milly’s cheeks turn red, and she glances at her brother before starting the car again. When she checks the rearview mirror, I sign, “You’ve got this.”
She releases a deep breath and tries again. When she stalls twice more, I worry that Zac’s patience is running on fumes.
He shoves a hand through his hair, exhaling before signing, “Try again. Lighter on the accelerator.”
Milly adjusts her grip on the wheel, squares her shoulders, and it’s a fucking miracle, but she finds the bite point perfectly this time. The car rolls forward, steady and smooth.
Her face lights up, pride flaring in her eyes.
As she picks up speed, Zac indicates to the gear-box, and with a look of fierce determination, she changes into second without grinding the gears. He doesn’t relax, though, swallowing hard as she shifts into third, and then fourth.
My phone buzzes in my pocket as the car rumbles down the quiet back road, and I pull it out to check it.
Hannah: Operation alone time with the bf is all systems go. Thursday night. You’re welcome.
Once again, Hannah has come through. I owe her big time.