“You make me smile too. Even when you toss cum rags at me.”
“Never say that again, Cory.”
“I will if you ever stop smiling.”
“Deal.”
I’m contemplating round two when my phone rings. It’s in the pocket of my jeans, buried somewhere on the floor, and by the time I find it, it’s stopped. It starts again immediately and worry sets in as James finds then hands it to me. “It’s Coach.”
“Shit.” I take a breath and answer while trying not to laugh. James has slapped his hand over his mouth to keep quiet and it’s so freaking cute it’s not funny.
“Hey Coach. How you doing this fine evening?”
“Fine, Cory. Thanks for asking so formally. You sound like a fucking butler.”
“Yeah, sorry. I always get a bit nervous when you call.”
“Good to know. Listen, I was talking to your mother today, had an idea to run by her.” I sit up so straight, so fast, my head spins.
“You talked to my mom?”
“I did. I knew it must be close to the time you have to move out of your home, and I wanted to lend a hand. I have one last Sunday of slave labor up my sleeve and I’ve decided to use it to help your family. Come Sunday morning, the team will be at your place seven sharp. If you have any … private items you don’t want your teammates to see, I suggest you pack them securely before we arrive.”
Several private items only me and my prostate have been introduced to recently, spring to mind. “Thanks for the heads up, Coach. And for helping us move. It’s unexpected and so appreciated.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m a Goddamn saint. See you at practice, Captain.”
Sitting next to Brady,one of my favorite people, in my favorite class, sports psych, has been the highlight of this term.
At least it was. “Do you want me to talk to her? There’s got to be a reason why she’s so … um.” His face screws up as he searches for the right words.
“Why she hates me all of a sudden?”
Exhaling, he makes a sound similar to a horse and nods. “I was looking for a better way to say it, but yeah. She does seem to hate you.”
It would take all of five words, I slept with her brother, to explain her sudden dislike of my fave, but I promised Jamie that I wouldn’t talk to anyone about us and Ihaveto keep my word. I’m desperate for whatever this is between us to last. Even when I go to Canada, as hard as it will be, I need James in my life.
It feels like every second we spend together, I understand him better. Despite his grumpy, snooty outer shell, when he lets his guard down and shows who he really is, the guy’s a Goddamn delight. He’s so fucking funny, would do anything for those he loves, and he has a really big dick.
I lean over my desk to shield my face from the professor. “You know what it might be? I talked to James about the house stuff, and the coming out stuff. And the friend stuff too. Maybe she’s put out that I didn’t come to her.”
Brady shoves his hand in his pocket, and I know he’s rubbing the hair of that damn troll. It helps him think. “That doesn’t seem very Faith-like. She genuinely wants the best for the team and as long as you’ve reached out for help, I don’t think she would mind who you went to.”
“Mr. Malkovich, is my lecture interrupting your conversation?”
Wincing, I raise my head, and come face to stomach with Professor Plum.
“Actually I was talking,” Brady cuts in. “Sorry about that.”
“There’s no need for you to cover for him, Brady. After all, Mr. Malkovich will be twenty-one this week. I’m sure he’s big and brave enough to fight his own battles. I’ll see you in my office after class.”
“But I have practice.”
“Well, you better not drag your feet then.” Brady begins to speak, but is silenced by a remarkably similar death stare to the one I’ve received from her brother.
The rest of our lecture drags, and when Plum dismisses us, I rush to beat from the lecture theater to make sure I beat her to her office. Even though I’m about to get my ass handed to me, I can’t stop smiling. I haven’t been back here for weeks, not since I was stalking Jamie while eating alone. It’s sad to look back and think how lonely I was then, but brilliant to compare it to now.
Lost in the daydream that relaxation provokes, I didn’t hear Faith approach. “Did you run here?”
