Page 61 of Unlovable Player

“We’re just friends.”

“Got it.”

“Austin, Seb, come over here.” Ma calls.

“We don’t have to-”

“Come on.” Seb pulls me by the elbow and when we reach the group of women – my ma, Alyssa and a couple of my aunts – Ma introduces Seb to everyone, leaving Alyssa until last. Alyssa gives him a little wave and my heart pounds in my ears.

“Hi, it’s nice to meet you,” Seb says, sounding just as sunny and polite as he always does when introducing himself to someone new. I think about that day in class when he got up and introduced himself to everyone like a forty-year old banker at a conference. My lips twitch in a smile. He’s such a dork.

I realize everyone’s looking at me like I’m supposed to say something.

“Huh?”

Ma rolls her eyes. “The drink, is that for Alyssa?”

“Oh, yeah, sorry.” I pass it to her, blushing furiously. All my aunts flutter their eyelashes and exchange glances.

This is getting out of hand. I should do something to reassure Seb, but how the fuck am I supposed to do that when I don’t even know what’s going on between us?

My aunt Debbie starts asking Alyssa about school and the limelight is off me for a second and I can take a breath.

Seb’s face is blank as he sips his root beer and smiles politely, answering my aunts’ questions about what position he plays and what classes he takes at school.

“Have you got a girlfriend Sebastian?” Aunt Suze asks.

“No.”

Why didn’t he tell her he’s gay? He told us that first day in the locker room. Does he think he has to hide it for me?

“Handsome young man like you?” Aunt Suze teases.

Seb treats her to a shy smile.

“Put him down Suze,” Ma says.

“Austin, you should be his wing man,” Suze persists, ignoring her.

Seb flushes a little. The freckles along the top of his nose stand out when he blushes like that. I wanna grab him and kiss him. I’m fucking this up.

I poke him in the ribs, hoping he’ll take the hint. It’s like being on the ice, giving each other discreet signals we don’t want the other team to pick up on. He excuses himself to use the bathroom.

“I’ll show you where it is.”

I leave before Ma can remind me that he knows where the bathroom is.

“Go upstairs,” I say to his back as he walks ahead of me into the house. He does what I ask without question, and when we’re in my room, I close the door behind us and kiss him.

“What was that-”

I kiss him again before he can say anything. I’ve learnt this is the only way to shut him up. That and blow-jobs, but I’m not about to risk that with a house full of my relatives.

“I wanna stay friends with Alyssa, but I don’t want you to be pissed off.”

“Okay?”

“I’m not trying to fuck you around, I don’t know what’s going on here, but, I’m into you.”

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