Page 66 of Off Sides

“Okay, I get it.” He wipes the tears from my cheeks with his thumbs. “Me telling you none of that will happen isn’t going to prove anything, so I’ll find a way to show you until you believe me.”

He kisses my forehead again, then wraps his arms around my shoulders. My face is pressed against his chest, the rhythmic thump, thump of his heart calming my tattered nerves. I don’t know what I did to deserve this man, but I know I’ll die if he leaves.

The door opens and I tense. Shit. I don’t have pants on.

The urge to run licks my spine but I force myself to stay put. Nick’s body has tensed around me, like he’s waiting for me to bolt like last time. I don’t know what to do or where to go from here; this is awkward and there’s no pretending it’s not happening.

“That’s Neal, he’s cool, and to be fair, he saw us fuck already so…” Nick whispers against the top of my head.

Neal pauses, then goes into the bathroom and closes the door.

Nick lets me get up and I pull on my clothes quickly. I feel better, less vulnerable.

“Okay?” Nick asks, reaching for my hand. I let him take it and I thread our fingers together. The smile he gives me is…everything.

A cleared throat sound comes from the bathroom and I turn my head to look.

“I’m going to open the door. If anyone would like to disappear before that, do it now.” Neal’s voice is distorted by the wood but his words are clear.

Nick chuckles and looks at me. I was given an out, a way to pretend a little longer, but I don’t want it.

“I’m not ready to make an announcement or anything but this feels like a good first step.” I squeeze Nick’s hand as the bathroom door opens.

“Okay,” Neal says as he walks toward us and holds out his hand. “Nice to meet you, I’m Neal.”

“Joey,” I say as I shake his hand.

“Nice to officially meet you.”

The man is huge. Easily wider than I am, though not as tall, and looks solid as fuck. He would be a good defenseman, actually. I can’t tell what color his hair is since it’s buzzed really short but it's not a pale color like blond. Not that it matters.

“I’m going to bed, so keep it down, though it already smells like cum in here, so I assume y’all are done.” He walks past me and my eyes bug out of my head while my face is lit on fire.

“Really, dude?” Nick sighs. “I thought for once, you were gonna be nice.”

Neal climbs into bed and smiles at Nick. “I don’t know what gave you that impression but it sounds like a you problem. Good night.”

Nick huffs and I lead us to the door, grabbing my bag and kissing him softly. “Good night.”

“Good night, baby.”

26

Nick

Since this is college and the frat houses need no reason to party, they’re having a block party on a Wednesday for International Women’s Day. Since women are badasses, it’s a hero costume party.

So here I am in jeans and a hoodie with ‘Hero’ written on the front, looking for my favorite Anxious Andy. He’s going to stress himself into a heart attack if he doesn’t let go of some of the pressure he puts on himself.

The street has been blocked so no one can drive down here. All the houses seem to have their own theme, and there are people everywhere. The Barbie house looks like it’s vomiting pink shit, and I am so glad I don’t have to clean that up.

One house is clearly superheroes, there’s one with what looks like Renaissance vibes, and another that looks like they sprayed the entire thing with glitter. They are going to be fucked if they can’t get all that off, though the disco ball hanging from the porch is kinda cool.

As I wander around, getting a feel for everything, I notice every house has a drink station set up on the lawn and they are all different. Since Jell-O shots are the bomb, I grab two red ones.

“Oh nooo,” Joey whines behind me. I turn with the little plastic cup to my lips and laugh—which turns into me inhaling Jell-O—when he looks distraught at the table I’m at. “Not Jell-O shots. These guys are going to be wasted and Coach is gonna be pissed.”

I cough up the offending red gel then pat his shoulder. “Well, if you don’t get drunk, it won’t be your problem.”

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