“That’s the weekend of grandad’s seventieth. Hannah and I are flying out Friday morning.”
Zac rests his chin on my chest, gazing up at me. “How are you feeling about seeing your dad?”
“Not great.” His hair is messy from where I had my fingers tangled in it a few minutes ago, and I rake it back from his face. “I still don’t know what I’m going to say to him.”
As much as I was apprehensive about it, I let Zac and Hannah talk me into seeing a psychologist, and I’ve spent the last two weeks unpacking my relationship with my father. It’s been intense, and dredging up all those old wounds has brought back my nightmares in full force. Instead of hurting myself, though, I’ve been calling Zac in the middle of the night and letting him talk me down from the panic attacks. I’m not sure trauma dumping on my boyfriend in the middle of the night is any healthier, but I can’t deny the way his gravelly voice calms me.
“The back seat of my car is looking more and more appealing,” he says with a smirk.
If only his car was big enough.
I huff. “I’m sorry. This would be easier if we weren’t hiding.”
Surprisingly, it was so much easier sneaking around with Nathan right under our parents’ noses. Dad was always at work, and Nathan often stayed over, but because he was my best friend, no one ever asked any questions.
Zac frowns. “You don’t have to apologise. I’m not with you for the sex.”
I know he means it, but a few hours later, when I’m sitting on the couch in the games room while my housemates play FIFA, I can’t help but wonder what their reaction would be if I told them I was hooking up with our teammate.
“Ya boy’s cooking,” Dane crows as he steals the ball from Jasper’s player and takes off down the pitch.
Jasper pounds the controls, going on the counterattack. “Cooking shit,” he gloats as he steals the ball back.
They both tap the controls frantically, but Jasper’s player shoots, and?—
“Top bins, baby!” he shouts.
Dane grumbles, sitting straighter in the bean bag, his jaw tightening as he prepares for kick off.
“You’re quieter than usual,” Jasper says, nudging me with his knee, his eyes locked on the screen.
“Just tired,” I say with a shrug.
He grins. “I’m not surprised. You’ve been spending a hell of a lot of time at Hannah’s lately.”
Dane snorts. “That much sex would tire anyone out. I’m surprised you’ve got any energy left for the game after keeping your girlfriend satisfied.”
My stomach churns. If only they knew what I’ve really been doing when they think I’m with her. But this is my chance to sound them out.
Clearing my throat, I mentally beg Zac for forgiveness before saying, “I hear Kincaid’s dating someone.”
“Yeah?” Dane asks. “Dick or chick?”
A leaden weight drops into my gut.
Jasper tosses a cushion at his head. “Does it matter, dickwad?”
“No,” he snaps back, scowling as he tosses the cushion back. “I was just curious. Jeez. Whatever floats his boat. It’s got nothing to do with me.”
He returns his attention to the game, his player shoulder-barging one of Jasper’s off the ball with a hoot of triumph.
I rub the back of my neck. “You guys don’t care that he might be dating a guy?”
Jasper frowns, turning his shrewd gaze on me. “Do you?”
Dane whoops as he scores, but the game has pretty much been ignored as I try not to cower under Jasper’s stare.
“What?” I splutter. “No. Why would I care who he’s dating?”
