Page 89 of Off Season

Zach lets out a heavy sigh. I notice the skin around his nails is red, like he’s been biting them anxiously.

“Me and Carter…Well, you know we’ve been best friends and inseparable since I was six. I guess you could say we’re kinda…codependent. I know it’s bad. I don’t really know how to live without him in my life, but…” He takes in a deep, shuddery breath, and when he looks up, his eyes are filled with so much heartbreak that I feel the ache in my own chest. “I’m in love with him, and I’ve made my peace with it. I’ve always known he didn’t feel the same and that he won’t. I told myself it would be fine, that as long as I could still have him in my life, I would get over it. But I haven’t. I don’t think I can, and I don’t think I can sit by and watch as he meets other people anymore.”

“Oh, Zach.” I wrap my arms around him. His head fallsonto my shoulder, and I’m engulfed in one of his lovely big hugs.

I stroke my hand in soothing circles on his back. I catch Ethan’s eye over the top of his head, a mix of anger and sympathy written on his face.

“Have you thought about telling him?” I whisper.

I feel him shake his head, his words mumbled against the fabric of my t-shirt. “No. I can’t. If I tell him and he gets mad, I could lose him completely.”

I squeeze him a little tighter.

“I don’t think you would lose him, Zach. You two have been thick as thieves for so long. What if you told him and he feels the same?” Ethan suggests.

Zach looks up, but remains silent.

“I nearly lost this guy because I was too afraid to put my heart on the line.” Ethan places a hand on my shoulder. “It’s fucking terrifying, but it worked out. I think you should talk to him. He can’t do anything about it if he doesn’t know.”

A smile spreads across my lips as Zach eases out of my hold. His light blue eyes dart between us before landing back on Ethan. “You did it then?”

“Did what?” Ethan asks.

“You finally pulled your head out of your ass and admitted you have feelings for Jacob.”

Ethan groans. “Fuck you and Jackson for saying the same thing.” He gives him the double bird. “Yes, I did pull my head out of my ass, thank you very much.”

I let go of Zach and wrap my arms around Ethan’s waist, resting my chin on his pec as I peer up at him. “He’s alright. I might keep him.”

Zach snorts a laugh, and Ethan shakes his head, tskingunder his breath, but his lips quiver as he tries to hide his smile.

I turn back to face Zach. “Seriously though, Zach, talk to him.”

“I will.” He nods solemnly. “But not today. Will you help me make something for the twins?”

“Of course.” I give Ethan a quick kiss, then turn back to Zach. “How about donuts?”

“Better make some extra for me, I’ve missed your donuts so much.”

“What the fuck is this?” Blaine points to the expansive cheeseboard in Adam Kendrick’s hands.

He’s been quizzing every person as soon as they walk through the door as to why they brought the food they did and the meaning behind it, but Kendrick’s might be the best one yet.

The wooden board is filled with blocks of various cheeses, along with chopped apples and red grapes, and a selection of crackers.

“A cheeseboard,” Kendrick says with a roll of his eyes. “Duh!”

“I gathered that, Einstein,” Blaine drawls sarcastically. “But why a cheeseboard?”

Kendrick snorts. “Because, my dude, you’re the cheesiest fucking sap I’ve ever met. You’re cheesier than The Cheesecake Factory.”

“They don’t technically sell cheese there,” I point out, chuckling, as I take the wooden board from him.

“Semantics.” Kendrick waves me off before slapping Blaine’s shoulder. “The point is, Blaine, my bro, you are a major simp for Alex. You’ve turned into a walking gouda, so it’s only appropriate to bring the dish that resembles you best.” He moves to stand beside me and does jazz hands at the cheeseboard. “Ta-da! Cheese!”

Blaine rolls his eyes, irritated, and flips his teammate off, but his mouth betrays him, the corners of his lips kicking up in a small smile.

Kendrick puts Blaine in a headlock, and the two of them begin to wrestle like children, so I quickly sidestep before they can knock the board out of my hands and place it on the kitchen counter next to the other dishes.

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