“I hate that we have to sneak around like this...”
“Me too,” Kaj said between kisses.
“I’m gonna come if we keep going.”
“Do it. Your face is gorgeous when you do.”
He could feel it, the shiver running down his spine and into his balls, his dick throbbing with need. Almost. Just a bit more...
“Noah Sørensen!” Trine called, and they both froze on the spot, slowly turning to look at her. “What in the hell are you doing?”
“I-I... Ehm, uh...” he blabbered, dismounting Kaj ungracefully and so fast he stumbled over his feet. “It’s not—”
“I can explain...”
“You idiots...” Her expression was serious, but Noah swore he heard a dash of mischief in her tone. “You wanna die of hypothermia, or what? Get in the car right now.” She pointed toward the narrow path that led to the cliff.
That’s when they sawhim, Nikolaj. He was standing behind Trine, face twisted with shock, fear, and hurt. He didn’t seem angry, more like relieved? Either way, Kaj lowered his head when they passed by him.
“Do you have any idea how worried we were? You were supposed to be back two hours ago! Why didn’t you pick up your phones? Or text back or something? How did you even get this far without your bikes?” She continued her rant, scolding them for the entire ride home.
Meanwhile, Nik didn’t say a word, just glanced at them through the rearview mirror. His weird expression from before had turned into a faint, almost apologetic smile when Trine called them irresponsible brats, among other things.
The atmosphere was heavy, charged with tension and awkwardness, but it was also a touch comical. Both teens were so mortified for having been cockblocked by their parents, they couldn’t even speak. So, they just nodded. What could they say, anyway? She was right. It was their fault they’d been caught.
If only Noah hadn’t always been so open with her about everything, she wouldn’t know all the places they liked to hang out and be so nosy about it. But what’s done is done.
As they all entered the Sørensens’ house, silence settled. Nik walked into the kitchen momentarily to speak with Katja on the phone. She was in Copenhagen with Jesper, who’d had a run-in with the police after drunk driving a few days before.
“The kids are good, yeah. They were just ignoring their phones, like always when it’s us calling.” Nik paused to listen. “Yeah... Anyway, how are things over there?” This time he quieted longer, nodding at what she was saying as he walked over to the window. “What? How can you say that, Katja?Just a littleis more than enough. Stop excusing him. He’s young, but he can tell right from wrong.” He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, clearly exasperated.
“You shouldn’t eavesdrop on people’s conversations,” Trine murmured, startling the teens peeking inside the kitchen.
“We weren’t—” Kaj started, but she didn’t let him finish, pushing them away and into the living room.
“He could have killed someone,” Nik said, loud enough for them to hear. “Sure, he’ll just have to pay the ticket and retake some driving tests, but that doesn’t mean this isn’tthatserious. We need to have a talk with him.” Another pause. “Okay. Just take the time you need to settle it. And be careful, okay?” His tone was sweeter and lower again. “Love you, too. Bye.”
Noah and Kaj were sitting on the couch, bracing themselves under Trine’s scrutinizing gaze for what was coming. They were cold, clothes wet in patches where the remnants of snow had pressed against them, but at least with the heater behind them they would be warmer.
“So?” she said, legs crossed, staring at them from across the living room as Nikolaj walked in.
“So…” Noah parroted, unable to look at either of their parents. “We’re sorry we didn’t call?” It came out like a question because he was unsure what exactly she was asking.
Kaj was quiet, sitting on the opposite side of the sectional with an empty seat between them. They were too embarrassed to be any closer. Still, Noah could sense the nervousness emitting from him like ultrasonic vibrations.
“I said what I needed to say earlier in the car, and I think you got my point—no more sneaking out without telling us where you’re going and texting if you’re gonna be late. So now I’m asking why you didn’t tell us you were...seeingeach other?” Trine asked as Nik took the armchair beside hers. For a big, rugged guy like him, he moved like a feline in the shadows.
“Because.” Noah rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. Sass and sarcasm were the best defense.
“What we really wanna know is why didn’t you trust us?” Nik’s voice was soothing. “Kaj, we talked about Anna and Emma when you were dating them. Why didn’t you tell me about Noah?”
“Because... he’s a guy?”
Both Trine and Nikolaj frowned. They weren’t angry scowls, but concerned ones.
“So? There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” she said. “We’re not gonna love you any less because of that.”
“It doesn’t matter who you wanna be with as long as they make you happy,” Nik added. “We only want the best for you. Both of you.”
