"Hey," he said softly.
"Hey." I wanted to hug him, but there were still teammates around. "That looked rough."
"Aaron's making sure I know he's pissed." Derek's jaw was tight. "He's lobbying to have me benched for Westpoint."
"Nova told me. Derek, I'm so sorry..."
"Don't." He finally pulled me into his arms, not caring who saw. For the first time, we were hugging in public. "This isn't your fault. We knew there would be consequences."
"But your game..."
"Doesn't matter if I lose you in the process." He kissed my forehead. "I'd give up soccer before I'd give you up."
"You shouldn't have to choose."
"But if I do, I choose you. Every time."
I held him tighter, wishing I could protect him from all of this. Wishing we could go back to being a secret, to those stolen moments when it was just us.
"Derek!" Max's voice cut through our bubble. "Coach wants to see you."
Derek's arms tightened around me briefly before he let go. "I have to go."
"I'll wait."
He jogged off to where Coach stood with Aaron and a few other seniors. I watched from a distance, seeing Derek's expression shift from defensive to resigned before moving into Coach's office.
Whatever they were saying, it wasn't good.
Twenty minutes later, Derek emerged from the Coach's office, his face carefully blank.
"What happened?" I asked when he reached me.
"I'm starting. But Coach made it clear that if there's any hint of drama affecting my performance, I'm out." He looked exhausted. "And Aaron argued against it. In front of everyone."
"Derek..."
"It's fine. It's what I expected." But his voice said it wasn't fine at all.
We walked to his car in silence, both processing the weight of what we'd lost and what we stood to lose.
"Do you regret it?" I asked quietly once we were inside. "Telling him?"
Derek turned to face me. "No. I regret that it hurt him. I regret that we have to go through this. But I don't regret choosing you."
"Even if it costs you your friendship with Aaron?"
"Even then." He took my hand and kissed my palm. “I love you, Thorn. Please start believing it.”
I chuckled and nodded, moving to straddle him, before I kissed him, my tongue slipping into his mouth seamlessly. I wanted to kiss him since all of it blew up last night in our faces. And with all the drama, I just needed him. To feel his safety and warmth.
His hands moved to cup my ass as I grinded against his growing erection, and a moan escaped me.
Dex pulled away and looked at me. “The irony of us telling your brother, but still having to have sex in my car isn’t lost on me…”
I chuckled. The only way we were going to get through this was with humor. “Thank god, I’m flexible.”
Derek lifted his hips, kicking his shorts off, before making me stand up to remove my jeans. His lips trailed my hipbone and my stomach, as he peeled the very tight jeans off, making me stifle my giggles mix with moans of pleasure. His lips found my clit, as his hands reached my ankles, leaving my jeans above my sneakers.
