Page 56 of Off Sides

“Okay,” Micah says, releasing him but patting him on the shoulder. “And I said that you can’t camp out together tonight because it’s too cold, but I also said you are welcome to stay the night in Jonah’s room.”

“Oh,” Calvin says, his jaw dropping a little, and then I see that cute blush there. “We um . . . that’s your house.”

“It’s Jonah’s home too, and if you need it, it’s yours too. Don’t act like Jenna hasn’t already adopted you,” he teases.

“Ew. Gross. I don’t want to be related to my boyfriend,” I say, and to my surprise Calvin actually laughs at that.

“Come on. Let’s go. Jenna said something about hot chocolate,” Micah says as we grab our bags and limp out to the parking lot.

Things are going to be different, for sure.

A lot has changed in the span of just one football game.

But I also feel like it’s going to be okay somehow.

Not sure I can convince Calvin of that, but I’m going to try.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

calvin

Jenna did have hot chocolate waiting for us when we got back to the house. She also had ice packs and antibiotic cream waiting for us too.

She saw the fight and probably would have rushed down there to doctor us all up if she didn’t have the girls. Luckily, she drove them separately tonight, so she didn’t have to wait around for Coach.

Shame washes over me as she doctors my face, hissing when the cream comes in contact with my split lip, but I try to hide the pain. She, of course, doesn’t miss it and soothes a hand over my hair. “You did good, kiddo.”

My mouth falls open in shock as I stare at her. “What?”

I hear Jonah and Micah snicker from somewhere beside us, but Jenna doesn’t pay them any attention. “I couldn’t hear what those little shitheads said, but I guarantee you gave them what they were begging for.”

I don’t know about that. I shouldn’t have gone off like I did. But I snapped. This last year has been hell. And all I wanted was a little bit of normalcy. Spending time with the person I love . . . and I do love him.

I haven’t been able to say it out loud yet, and until tonight, I hadn’t been able to actually say the word gay, but it doesn’t make it any less true. Just like me not saying gay didn’t make me any less gay.

“I ruined State,” I say, shame dripping from my words.

She cups my cheek in her tiny, delicate hand. “Fuck State.” It’s strange to hear Jenna curse so much. So strange, it startles me a little.

Coach, though, must be a little more used to it because he comes over and holds up a hand in the air for his wife. “That’s what I said.”

She high-fives him with a big smile and then looks back to me. “I know this is shocking, but there are more important things in life than football.”

“Gasp!” Jonah says, taking the seat next to me at the island. “That’s blasphemy.”

Jenna just laughs. “I know. It hurt to say.” Then she looks me right in the eyes. “But it’s true.”

I look over at Coach, who still looks a little worn out from the night but not nearly as pissed off as he was at the game. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. Like I said, I’m sorry.” He wraps his arm around Jenna. “We’re going to bed. Don’t stay up too late.”

He winks at us and then they walk down the hallway to their room, closing the door behind them. I look over at Jonah, still unsure about this.

The thought of going home and being grilled about what exactly happened at the game, though, is just not an option if they’re going to let me stay here. “I should probably take the couch.”

Even though Coach specifically said I could sleep in Jonah’s room. I don’t know if that’s the best idea.

Of course, Jonah has other ideas. “Not a chance.” He takes my hand and two ice packs, pulling me to his room. I go willingly and sit on the bed while he closes and locks the door before turning back to me.