“What?” I ask, because I’m genuinely not in the mood for whatever weird ass conversation he’s trying to start.
Danny and I had asingle date.One. If you can even call the party where we awkwardly half talked. And he really doesn’t have the right to start interrogating me about my love life when we aren’tanything.
“Is that why you aren’t putting in effort? Because there’s someone else?” he asks again.
I open my mouth and snap it shut a few times because I’m honestly stunned at how bold and wrong this entire situation is.
And then, like the universe decided to send an emotional rescue team, Mack rounds the corner, sees Danny half blocking me, and literally fucking slays the moment.
“Yo, Jake. Coach is asking where you are!” he hollers, voice loud and perfectly timed like he’s been waiting for his cue since birth.
It’s a total lie, I’m early as hell, like always, but I will take this save with every grateful fiber of my being.
“Oh fuck, Danny, I have to go,” I say, scrambling to pick up the bags like they suddenly came with instructions.
But Mack beats me to it. He just swoops in, grabs the bag off the ground, shoulders it like it’s no big deal, and then stands next to me, his shoulder brushing mine in this quiet, unspoken way that says not today, asshole.
“We were talking,” Danny says through gritted teeth, eyes zeroed in on Mack like he thinks he’s witnessing some conspiracy.
Mack just shrugs and says, “Well, duty calls, Danny boy. You’ll have to catch up with our Jake when he gets back.”
I swear to god, there’s steam coming out of Danny’s ears but I don’t wait for his retort. I just move down the hallway dragging gear like someone’s choreographed my exit.
To my surprise Mack actually comes with me. He grabs another bag without saying a word and falls into step beside me like carrying equipment is just part of the friendship logistics.
I half expect some shitty comment or sarcastic joke about my absurd situation, but Mack doesn’t give me shit. He just walks with me, helps carry the gear, and when we finally reach the bus he drops the last bag down and then follows me back inside the training center for round two of unpacking.
Still no commentary. Still no mocking. Just silent, helpful, solid presence.
And when we drop the final bag I exhale this long breath I didn’t even know I was holding.
“Thanks,” I say, chest still tight from the earlier confrontation, but genuinely grateful.
Mack gives me this simple, honest nod with a small smile and then he heads back inside like a normal human being who knows when someone needs support, not commentary.
And for some stupid reason that’s the nicest fucking help I could’ve asked for today.
18
Griffin
I’m honestly pleasantlysurprised when Griffin takes a seat next to me on the bus, which probably shouldn’t be surprising given that we’ve been talking more, texting more, and even grabbing lunch together but here we are.
He doesn’t say anything when he sits down and there’s this easy quiet between us that feels oddly comfortable.
Jacob is sitting up front with the coaches and I have to actively work not to steal glances at him like some creepy fucking stalker. It’s something I have been working on all week while I attempt, and fail, to deal with the feelings that are sitting on my fucking chest.
“Yo,” Mack’s voice calls out from behind the seats, and I glance over my shoulder, already bracing for whatever chaos he’s about to unleash into the bus atmosphere. He’s smirking in this way that definitely means he’s about to spill tea in approximately the loudest, most inappropriate way imaginable.
“Did you hear about Jake and Danny?”
My stomach twists and I grimace, shaking my head like I want no part of the rumor mill tonight. Isawthem at that party, and thinking about that makes my blood pressure spike.Thinking about the two of them dancing immediately leads me to thinking about Jacob’s lips on mine and his strong solid body pressed against the wall. It makes my mind spiral into the sound he made while he pressed his hard cock against my fucking thigh.
Hughie snorts from beside me and responds without even glancing up from his phone. “What rumors are you talking about?”
That’s actually adorable in a way that makes me want to laugh because of course he’s unfazed; Hughie does not get rattled by gossip. And the only reason he is even responding is because his brother is part of the equation and the big fucker is overly protective of him.
Mack grins and then stares right into my fucking soul. “That Danny is obsessed and keeps asking around about Jake. He was talking to our buddy Shawn from basketball because, I guess, Jakey isn’t replying to his messages.”
