“Definitively? Wednesday.” Jack’s hand on my dick, eliciting all sorts of sounds I’d never own up to? Yup. That had sealed it in my mind.
Nick stared, completely blank, then snorted a laugh, and the tension in my shoulders broke. He nodded a few times, then said, “He into you?”
I shrugged. “Not sure, but we kissed.” Heat hit my face, and I took a deep breath, stunned I’d admitted that.
“Hell yeah.” Asher high-fived me.
Somewhere in all this, Jamie got closer to Michael, who had opened his posture, almost protective of his stepbrother, though they’d barely moved at all.
“So I’m guessing you liked it?” Nick cocked his head. “That’s what made you sure?”
“Yeah, I did. A lot.”
“And this happened at school?” he asked.
I nodded.
Nick chuckled. “Damn. Whoever this kid is, he’s got some balls.”
Well aware of that fact.
“That’s what counts, right?” Jamie asked. “You liked it, and you’re both brave as fuck.”
I nodded again. “Yeah. Suppose so.”
“Don’t seem so enthusiastic,” Asher laughed.
“What if I liked it too much?”
“You’re confusing me now, bro,” Nick said. “Don’t you want to like it?”
“Yeah, but now? Here?” I shook my head. “I guess I imagined a kiss would just make me think, you know? Like, uh, like a play for short yardage.”
Nick laughed. “Yeah? You making this into football analogies?”
“Whatever. It’s just, I dunno, I didn’t expect it to hit me so hard and so fast. I thought I’d get some short gain plays, ease me into the idea of it. But with him … Fuck, he’s the Hail Mary in the end zone.”
“I get it,” Michael said.
“Do you? I’m not sure I do.”
“Dude, you got to drill it down,” Asher said. “It doesn’t matter who is involved, falling for someone can be complicated. Sometimes we get the short plays, the easy shit. Sometimes we get that one person who takes us all the way in one shot. It’s terrifying, so I get that.”
“Yeah, but—”
“But nothin’. You ain’t gotta solve your future right now. Take the damn win, dude.”
The five of us chuckled, and then I straightened and said, “Guys, I’m bi, maybe. I don’t know for sure, but I’m definitely not straight.”
The grins that broke over their faces had my cheeks aching with one in answer. Nick surged toward me and wrapped his long arms around my shoulders.
“Nice, man. Nice.” He nodded as he clapped my back.
It was nice. It felt nice. I’d been dreading admitting that, but why? The first time I’d looked at Jack differently than any other guy, I thought I had to have the answer right then. Fuck that.Life was a work in progress. This win might’ve been small, but shit, I’d still call it amazing.
Cara and Kitty came out of the house then. We piled into vehicles and headed for the complex where the soccer games were held. It wasn’t nearby, and I’d worried the distance would keep most away. Thankfully, word had spread about the kickass team.
We found seats in the bleachers among a large chunk of Hickory Bend students, chatting and laughing as we waited. However, when Jack jetted onto the field, everything became background noise.
