41. Do Not Disturb
41
Do Not Disturb
Rockwell
W e just won the Semifinals.
I have Clay in my arms, and our lips are crushed together in the middle of the court. I hear the telltale sound of cameras shuttering as they take pictures of the two of us and wolf whistles coming from what feels like the whole crowd. Lil’s voice booms through the commotion, “Get a room, you two!”
I pull away from him slightly to look into his dark brown eyes. Tears pool as he hits me with his signature beaming smile, dimples and all. “We did it! We’re going to the finals! ”
The words have barely left my mouth when he grabs the sides of my face, popping two more quick kisses on my lips. Far sooner than I like, he’s pulling away and dragging me behind him toward the net to shake South Carolina’s hands. They played a hell of a game, but we pushed harder. We played harder. And now there’s only one game left.
Arizona State has had a similar run, their only advantage being that those two have played together for four years. Be that as it may, with the way Clay and I connect out on that sand, there’s no way to tell we only became partners mere months ago.
The reporters on the sidelines are calling our names, and for the first time all season I can genuinely say I’m eager to talk to them, so I head over, leaving Clay up by the net as he chats with our opponents.
I stop at one of the reporters I’m familiar with, and she smiles ear to ear as she excitedly holds the microphone out toward me. “Rockwell, after everything that happened at the start of this season with your former partner, did you see yourself getting to the finals?”
1 ?? “This year has been nothing short of amazing. And as far as my old partner goes… I wish it wouldn’t have been for the reason it was, but I’m so thankful the universe put Clay and I together on the court.” I look over my shoulder at Clay, who’s now made his way over to the photographers, but he must feel my eyes on him because he smiles over at me, and I can practically feel my heart swell in my chest.
Fuck, I love him so much.
“Oh. My. God. You two are precious,” she squeals in excitement. “I told myself I wouldn’t pressure you into talking about the kiss, but the look in both of your eyes just now…” she trails off as she places her hand over her heart in dramatic fashion.
I’m still looking at him, unable and unwilling to pull my eyes away. “Clayton Aldrich is my partner in every aspect. He is the kindest human I’ve ever met, one of the best players I’ve seen, and the light that illuminates from him is truly magical to get to experience firsthand.” I look back at her, and she has tears running down her face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you…”
She waves her hand at me as she sniffles. “Back to volleyball before I’m a sobbing mess… What are the plans for the championship game against Arizona State?” Just as I’m about to answer I feel Clay brush up against my arm.
Looking way too mischievous for my liking, Clay wraps his arm around me and pops a kiss on my cheek before rambling to the reporter as if she asked him the question. “My boyfriend and I plan to keep that championship trophy here at Palm University, where it belongs.”
I’m listening to him talk in pure awe. He has that boyish excitement that takes over when he’s talking about something he loves, and it’s something I don’t think I’ll ever tire of seeing. “Now, if there aren’t any more questions, I would like to go celebrate with my Rock Man.”
I roll my eyes and elbow him in the ribs. “Don’t call me Rock Man.”
Clay chuckles. “Hard limit. Got it.” Then he leans down to whisper in my ear, ensuring no one else can hear what he’s about to say, “However, I distinctly remember you once said that about me calling you Baby. Now you love it… hell, you’ve even begged for it.”
He rights himself before I have a chance to respond quietly, so I don’t say anything. Instead, I grab his face and crush our lips together. We kiss for longer than socially acceptable, but I know Clay’s getting some kind of kick out of putting on a show. We’re letting everyone know that he is mine and I am his.
I pull away breathless, then turn to the now blushing reporter and say the same words that are now forever marked on Clay’s skin, “ O amor n?o tem lei. ”
Of course, the pictures of us kissing after winning the semi-finals have been plastered onto every social media site you can think of. People have shocked me, though; most have been nothing but supportive of us dating, not that I’m one to give much of a fuck either way.
Coach, of course, had no clue, but he didn’t seem all that shocked either. He congratulated us in one breath and in the next went right back into going over the game.
The championship is tomorrow, and we just got back to my place. Clay’s making something for dinner real quick, and then I’m sure we’ll be cuddled up on the couch watching some rom-com in no time.
I’m sitting at my little kitchen table with my thumb hovering over the “post” button on the picture one of the reporters got of our kiss when I glance up at Clay. He’s already smiling at me softly, love and adoration covering every feature of his face, yet he’s the one who asks, “What are you smiling at over there, Baby?”
“About to announce to the world that I’m gay for Clay and dating some hot as fuck guy I know,” I respond with a nonchalant shrug.
“Are you nervous about what people will say?” I watch as his smile falls ever so slightly, his brows pinched with concern.
“No, Garot?o. Anyone who doesn’t support who I decide to love doesn’t need access to me or my life. And I’ll be happy to see them out. Matter of fact, I’ll open the door for them.”
I hit the post without another thought and put my phone on “Do Not Disturb.”
We eat the soup Clay whipped up from the limited ingredients I had in the fridge, and I can’t even lie, it’s good as fuck. I’ve been groaning and moaning in appreciation since the first bite.
Clay gets up to put our dishes in the sink, and my eyes immediately spot the tent he’s sporting in his pants, and I let out a whistle. “That things ready to go…”
“It’s from you moaning like a goddamn erotic audio creator over my food. Leave me and my erect penis alone.”
Right as those words leave his lips there’s a knock at the door before it’s being thrown wide open. I’m up and in front of Clay, ready to fight to protect him if need be. I immediately realize none of that is necessary, though.
“What the hell are you doing here, Lil? You couldn’t text before coming over here?” I’m still standing in front of Clay, now more worried about hiding his boner than protecting him. I’m not trying to give my little sister a free show.
“You didn’t answer, fuck face,” Lil snaps.
Shit, I forgot I put my phone on “Do Not Disturb.” I’m not used to family being close enough to just pop in. But that’s besides the point. “What if we were fucking on the table? I know he wants to see my dick”—I point at Clay, who’s now trying not to laugh—“but do you?”
The horrified look that takes over her face is worth the minor heart attack I just had. Clay’s bent over, howling in laughter, but once he finally regains his composure and catches his breath, he asks, “Is there something wrong at the apartment? What’s going on?”
“Nothing. I was bored.”
One look at her face, and I immediately call bullshit. I know how to read my sister better than anyone. “Lilliana…”
“I just wanted to hang out with you two and give Mom and Dad a night away from me. I love them, but it’s good to have a break from your roommates… especially when they’re your parents.” She looks down at her feet like she’s ashamed before she continues, “I just… Seeing you guys this week and watching all of these students on campus… I feel like I should be further along with my life by now. I want to live on my own, but SoCal is outrageously expensive, and building my clientele hasn’t been as easy as I thought it was going to be. I just feel like I’m free falling and stuck in one place all at the same time. I don’t know how that’s even possible, but that’s how I feel.”
“Move into my place,” Clay says without a moment’s hesitation. It takes him a second to realize what he just said before he looks over at me hesitantly.
Lil looks from me to Clay and then back to me. I wink at her, then turn to him. “I didn’t think I would be having this conversation in front of my sister, but why the hell not.” I shrug and ask Clay what I’ve been keeping bottled up for a while now, “Move in with me, Garot?o? ”
Tears are already lining his eyes like he can’t believe I’m jumping on board so easily. But I want this. I want him in my bed every night when I go to bed and every morning when I wake up. I want his delicious desserts to cover my kitchen, and I want to hear him complain about how grumpy I get when I’m tired. I want it all.
Little does he know I’ve wanted this since the first night I had him in my bed .
“This can’t be because I offered my place to Lil, though. I don’t want to pressure you and take over your space. She can stay in my spare ro—”
I cut him off before he can say one more word. “The only Campos you’ll be living with is me, Clayton. Plus, you said so yourself, this is the kitchen of your dreams. And you’ll be right above your favorite store, so you can visit your BFF Kevin whenever you want.”
He closes the distance between us, wrapping me up in his arms. “Yes. Yes. Yes.” Clay pops kisses on my neck between each word. “I’ll move in, Baby.”
And like she has no self-control, Lil ruins the moment by fake gagging. “I’ll throw up, please, for the love of god. No tonguing each other in front of me.” She shivers dramatically, and I roll my eyes before she walks into the living room to flop on the couch. She quickly makes herself at home by grabbing the remote and turning on the TV.
She gives it a second before turning her head and smiling softly up at Clay. “Thank you.”
I pry myself out of Clay’s arms and hold his face to really get a read on him. “Are you sure you’re okay with her moving into your apartment?”
He grins as he reassures me, “Of course, Baby. Lil is as much my sister now as she is yours. I think she could do great here. ”
“I’m sure my parents are going to love finally having an empty house,” I joke, but a serious look crosses his face.
“I have a feeling they’re not going to like being so far away from both of you.” I give a slow nod because he has a point, but I pacify him with, “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. All I care about right now is winning the championship tomorrow and having you in my arms… and bed .”
After tomorrow, all I have to do is graduate, and I’ll be on my way to teaching and coaching, to making children’s lives better and their futures as bright as they can possibly be.
The only thing that’s up in the air is our biggest goal, the one that we want most while simultaneously being the one furthest from our reach.
The Olympics.
While that goal has always felt like a pipe dream, it was still that… a dream. But one thing I know for certain, is that no dream is out of reach with him by my side.
Clayton Aldrich.
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