by Andy Gallo
Brant flashed him a wide smile. “That’s totally cool. Ed’s a lucky guy. He just doesn’t know it.”
“Yes, he does,” a voice said from behind Jack.
Jack whipped around, chest so tight he couldn’t breathe.
Ed stood across the room, all proper in a dark gray tux and silver shirt. Dashing and tall, with flushed cheeks and a nervous flicker in his eye. He stared at Jack, his gaze searing right to the core of him. His lips twitched before shyly tipping up at the edges.
Brittany pushed his back. “Go talk to him already.”
Jack willed his legs to move through the shock. His gathered frat brothers blurred as he focused on his guy across the room. His heart thudded so hard he could hear it pulse in his ears.
Ed stepped forward, gaze sweeping appreciatively over Jack, and Jack could’ve melted right there. The biggest smile of his life pulled at his lips.
“You’re here. What are you doing here?”
Ed glanced around the room and then straightened. “You asked me to be your date for the formal. I’d like to accept.”
“I thought being here with me was too risky.”
“Someone once said to me that I’d meet a guy who’ll be worth the risk. Spoiler alert: I met him.”
Jack reached out and pulled them together, hands shaking on Ed’s biceps. “Eddy.”
“Wait.” Harper yanked Jack around and glared at Ed. “Didn’t you hear? He already has a date.”
An icy grip of fear seized Jack. Ed stared hard at Harper. “Get your fucking hands off my boyfriend.” Ed came forward, slipped his arm around Jack’s waist, and drew him close. “I heard. All of it.”
Jack caught his breath.
Harper scowled. “But….”
Ed glared at him. “I know what you’re trying to do. Just give it up.”
“Fuck you.”
“Piss off, Harper,” Jack said.
Harper stepped forward, red with rage and embarrassment. He looked ready to deck Jack. Jack braced for it, but Ed positioned himself between them. “You’ve done enough damage. Leave Jack and his friends alone.”
The room erupted in agreement, and Greg pulled Harper back, tugging him out of the room. “This isn’t over,” Harper yelled, but no one was giving him the time of day. They were all looking at Ed and Jack—and whispering for them to kiss already.
Music started, distracting half of the couples from the scene. Ed faced Jack, love burning in his eyes.
“Let’s give them some privacy.” Marcus shooed the crowds, motioning for them to mind their own business.
Ed chuckled, and Jack searched for a more private space. He nodded toward an empty corner.
“I’m really sorry about Thursday,” Jack said, “but I swear, it’s not like how Harper told you.”
“I know. I read all your texts and emails and listened to the umpteen-zillion voicemails you left.” He smirked, and Jack blushed.
“Sorry for that.”
“It was a tough spot to be in, your brother or me.” Ed took Jack’s hands in his. “I’m sorry I made you choose.”
“I shouldn’t have put you in that position in the first place.”
“I hope we can move on. Together.”
Jack brought their entwined hands to his chest. “You bet.”
“Uncanny choice of words.”
“One bet I am willing to stake everything on.”
Ed laughed, inching closer. A warm tingle scuttled over Jack.
“I’m curious,” Jack said. “What changed your mind? You weren’t talking to me.”
“Yeah, that was so my fault.” Before Jack could protest, Ed shook his head. “It was, and your friend made me see that.”
“Friend? Who?”
“Brittany. She came to my house this morning.”
“She did?”
“Yes. She was all over me. Said you were the sweetest guy—I can’t argue with that—who always puts other people first. That you were just trying to make Marcus happy because he’s the only family you have and that I should have at least given you a chance to tell your side because Harper is a liar and… well, she went on a bit.”
“Remind me to tell her how much I love her later.”
Ed smiled. “She told me what really happened and how awful Marcus felt because he forced you to make the choice. She also said you both agreed to lose rather than risk hurting me.”
Jack looked down again.
“Honestly, I was hurt,” Ed said, “but it was more that I was mad that you weren’t here to meet me. I kept thinking you knew how much I didn’t want to be on campus, how could you make me wait? Then when Harper told me why you weren’t here, I way overreacted.” He ducked his head until Jack looked at him. “She’s right about you. You’re too good for me, but I hope you’ll give me a second chance.”
“You want me to give you a second chance?” There went the spiel he was working out on the fly. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”
“Nope, you already apologized for being late on Thursday, and that’s about the only thing you did wrong. Everything else was all me.”
He couldn’t think of anything else to say and stuttered.
Ed wrapped his hands around Jack’s waist and pulled them closer. And then Ed was kissing him. Lips whispered against his and hands roamed up Jack’s back, and then Ed kissed him harder, deeper, like in that instant he wanted the entire world to know Jack belonged to him. When they pulled back for air, a cheer surrounded them.
“I think they know you’re gay now,” Jack said breathlessly.
Ed kissed him lightly this time. “My dad said I have to have the courage to be myself, otherwise I’m no one.”
“You talked to your dad about this?” The sting was small, tempered by the surprise that Ed talked about this to his father.
“He struggled more with not telling me what a jerk I was than with the fact we were talking about me dating a guy. He told me to fuck finances, that between us all we’d find a way, but he could never live with himself if I compromised myself for the family.”
“Have I told you how much I like your dad?”
“He is a good man.”
Ed cupped Jack’s cheek, brushing a thumb over his lips. “Will you still dance with me?”
Jack waggled his eyebrows, and Ed chuckled. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”
They drew into a slow dance, foreheads pressed, noses lightly bumping. Ed’s shaky breath feathered over Jack’s lips. “What you said before….”
Jack tensed and looked him in the eye. “I meant it. I love you.”
“Good.”
“Just good?”
“Amazing. Incredible. The best.” Ed brushed their lips together. “Because I love you too.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jack turned off the engine and glanced at Ed. “Thanks for coming today.”
An easy smile played across Ed’s lips. “Been a while since I’ve played real football, however. I hope no one is expecting a star wide receiver.”
“You’re definitely a tight end, not a wide receiver.” He winked and jumped out before Ed could answer. “Not that I’m one to kiss and tell, mind you.”
Ed got out the other side, visibly blushing, but there was a grin there too. “Of course not.”
Jack hesitated before reaching for Ed’s hand. They’d kissed inside the house, in front of all his brothers. Holding hands should be no big deal. Ed seemed tentative at first, but then he squeezed tightly.
Neither commented, but Jack knew his smile said it all. They were almost to the door when he spotted a couple of his fraternity brothers, dressed for the game, heading around from the back door. He immediately pulled his hand away.
“What…?” Ed started, but Jack motioned with his eyes. Ed froze. There, coming down the house steps, were Ben and Ed’s coworker, Cole.
Cole looked their way and then turned to the others.
“I’ll catch up with you.” Cole trotted over to Jack and Ed. “He
y.”
“Hey, Cole.” Ed held out his hand, but his voice shook.
Cole turned toward Jack. “I’m going to guess Jack isn’t really your cousin?”
“He’s my boyfriend.”
Cole held out his hand. “Cole Jenkins. I’ve worked the last two summers with Ed.”
“Nice to meet you.” Jack hoped it was, at least. “Ed’s told me a little about you.”
“Don’t believe all of it.” Cole’s smile seemed real enough. “I’m the boss’s son. I’m either an arrogant, entitled asshole or I’m talked up in hopes of getting on good with my dad.”
“Actually, he was more neutral, said you were a decent guy.”
He laughed, but Ed’s rigid posture hadn’t eased any. “I’ll take that.”
“You playing today?” Jack eyed Cole up and down.
“Yeah, Ben said you needed a cover guy. I played safety in high school, and I hear there’s beer after the game.”
“Yeah, loser buys. We had to spot them four touchdowns, but I still think we can win.”
“Four? Wow. Ben said you were good, but that’s a lot of points.”
Jack nodded toward Ed. “I brought along a secret weapon.”
“Right.” Cole’s expression changed, but Jack didn’t think it looked hostile. “For what it’s worth, you’ve nothing to worry about at work. My cousin Gerald is gay, and he’s my dad’s favorite nephew by a long shot. You met him. Worked the last two summers with us.”
Ed swallowed. “Wait. Gerald, the guy who looked like he could snap a two-by-four in half with his bare hands?”
Cole snorted softly. “That’s Gerry. He’s coming back again this summer. Starts next week I think.”
“I had no idea.”
“Dad and I had no idea about you either.” Cole’s smile morphed into a wicked grin. “Don’t say anything to Gerry right away. He’s always on about how he can tell ‘his kind’ and all. I’m sure he has no idea about you.”
“Your dad knows?” Ed’s face lost all color, and Jack thought he might get sick.
“Yeah, I told him after Ben mentioned you came as Jack’s date to the formal.”
Jack was sure Ed had stopped breathing, but before he could say anything, Cole spoke again.
“Don’t look so worried. Like I said, Dad doesn’t care, so long as you do your work. And he won’t allow anyone to harass you either. Just let him know if it happens and he’ll deal with it, assuming Gerry doesn’t snap them in two first.”
“Others seemed to mind when they found out about Wayne,” Ed said. “At least that’s how it seemed.”
“Yeah, there were a couple assholes who said a few things they shouldn’t have. Dad dealt with them and it stopped.”
“Wayne left a couple days after it started.”
“Not because of that.” Cole’s face screwed up for a second, and he looked away. “I probably shouldn’t say this, but he got arrested on a drug charge a week after his old boyfriend started coming to the shop. He and his ex were doing something shady and he got caught. Dad let him go when he couldn’t make bond. Didn’t want the liability of sending him into people’s houses knowing what he knew.”
“Seriously?” The tension finally melted from Ed’s frame. “I thought he quit because… you know.”
“Yeah, I know how it looked.” Cole shrugged. “He got a bit of time for the charge. He came back afterwards, asking for his old job back, but you know.”
“Right.” Ed perked up.
Jack motioned toward the house. “We’ve gotta get to my room to meet Marcus. See you on the field?”
Cole smirked. “I hope you’re as good as they say. I don’t want to chip in for beer.”
Jack laughed. “No worries. If we lose, only the brothers need to kick in. You get a pass.”
This time when Jack reached for Ed’s hand, there was no hesitation. And when they were inside, Jack kissed him. A quick nip on the lips.
“Come on.” Jack bounced as he led the way upstairs. “Marcus is waiting.”
“Move to your left.” Ed held up the Murphy-Reynolds photo as he spoke. “Okay, stop! Don’t move.”
He handed Jack the photo and moved back to the camera on Marcus’s desk.
Jack studied the thirty-year-old picture and felt a chill as he imagined what his father and Trevor Reynolds had been thinking as they posed. “Your arm over my shoulder and mine behind your back so that just my fingers are visible.”
Marcus checked the snapshot twice before adjusting his hand. He and Jack had combed through thrift shops all spring for the right clothes. It wasn’t perfect—Sean was taller than Trevor, but Marcus had Jack by an inch. And Jack’s hair was brown like his mother’s, not black, but it was still great.
“Dad is so going to love this.” Marcus’s excitement had them both smiling. Just like Sean and Trevor in the photo.
“You two ready?” Ed held up the camera. “I’m told there’s a football game to be played.”
“One second.” Jack triple-checked he had the stance right and tucked the photo in his waistband behind him. “Ready.”
Ed smirked but kept the snarky comment to himself. That he was taking the picture added to Jack’s good mood.
“Hold it.” Ed clicked off several shots. “Got it.”
He flipped the camera around and handed it to Marcus. Jack pulled out the picture, and they compared the two.
“Pretty damn close,” Jack said, staring at the image. His gaze fell on his dad. He would have loved to have met Ed. The pang of loss hit, but he pushed past it. His dad would have also been happy things had worked out for him.
Marcus looked at Jack first, then Ed. “Thanks for helping, Ed. Nessa’s wonderful, but all her pictures come out at weird angles.” He wobbled his hands back and forth.
“If you guys are done,” Billy said from the doorway, “the game starts in fifteen.”
“Be down in a few,” Marcus said.
Ed came dressed for the game, and Marcus changed in less than two minutes. Jack lingered until Marcus had hoofed off.
Jack stopped Ed from closing the door. “Don’t shut it. I didn’t stall for that.”
“Oh?”
Jack laughed at Ed’s disappointment.
“We’ll have time for that later.” He leaned into his closet and found his cleats. Ed swatted his butt before he could stand up.
“Fine, but you better be sure.”
Jack winked and sat on the bed to tie his sneakers. “I’m sure. Marcus is taking Nessa to dinner tonight.”
“Nice.” Ed leaned in the doorway and Jack’s pulse quickened.
Jack finished tying and prowled over to his boyfriend, not stopping until their lips collided. Ed laughed into the kiss, carding his hand up the back of Jack’s hair. “Very nice,” Ed murmured.
“Know what’s nicer?” Ed lifted a brow, and Jack drifted his mouth over Ed’s jaw to his ear. “I’m planning to stay in the area this summer.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, Marcus and I are subletting an apartment off campus.”
Ed squeezed him tighter, and Jack closed his eyes for a moment. “Nicest news ever.”
Jack wiped the sweat from his forehead and shook his head. So much for trying to pass to someone other than Ed. Billy meant well, but he had stone hands. At least it kept the other team honest. He waved everyone back to the huddle, but his eye wandered to the parking lot.
The stream of people leaving campus now that finals were over had started to pick up. Mostly he didn’t care, except for one particular person who was moving out. Someone who’d been told in no uncertain terms to be gone the day his last exam was over.
Now Harper packed his car—alone. Even Greg had abandoned him to watch the game.
Pi Kap had to spot Sigma Chi four touchdowns to get them to play, and it worked. The game was tied at fifty-six each. Winner bought the keg. As his teammates straggled in, Jack’s attention was divided between the game and Harper struggling with another box.
r /> “I was open,” Ed complained, pinning Jack with a furrowed brow that quickly disappeared when Jack smiled at him.
“I know, but so was Billy, and he was the target.” Jack avoided looking at his little brother. He glanced up and saw Harper watching. “Okay, so here’s the play. Darren, go deep, take your defender with you. Billy, line up left and slant right. Ed, line up outside of Billy and run a square out.”
“An out?” Ed searched the huddle for confirmation. “I can beat any of them on a post.”
“Look, they’ll expect that.” Jack checked on Harper again. “Just run the out and you’ll be open.”
Jack clapped to break the huddle and his team lined up. Holding the ball out, he surveyed the defenders, checked off his receivers, and yelled, “Hut!”
He dropped back and watched as three Sigma Chi players moved back to prevent Ed from running a post route. One defender shadowed Darren and the other mirrored Billy. Clearly they’d learned fast who the most dangerous receiver was.
Ed ran his route perfectly, and Jack let the ball go before the defenders finished counting their Mississippis. Tight and fast, the ball zipped across the field, and Ed turned exactly on time. The ball, however, was high—way too high—too far left, and thrown much too hard.
Stretching as far as he could, Ed leaped and reached out for the ball. He missed by more than a foot and thudded to the ground. The ball continued unimpeded and struck the box in Harper’s hand. Contents exploded out of the cardboard box, flying everywhere, and Harper gave a high-pitched scream. When he figured what hit him, he glared at Jack.
“Sorry!” Jack just managed to keep a straight face. “It got away from me.”
Players on both sides were laughing as Jack turned away. Marcus winked at him as someone from Sigma Chi chased down the ball. Harper found the pigskin and hurled it in the opposite direction. Fortunately his throw was wobbly and barely went five yards.
“Nice call,” Billy said, smiling from ear to ear. “Best throw of the day.”
“Yeah,” Ed said with a cunning grin. “No one was defending that.”