Page 51 of Defensive Zone

“Nope.” Zach shakes his head slightly.

Jacob narrows his eyes, then quickly takes the box away from him and snatches the half-eaten donut out of his hand. Zach’s mouth drops open as a choked noise leaves him, and I have to smother my laughter with my hand.

Jacob may be small, but shit, he is feisty. I met him before he started dating Ethan, and there was a time when I thought Jacob and Zach would be well-suited. I also remember there was a moment in Blaine and Alex’s apartment where Zach gave Jacob a hug, and the surge of jealousy that whipped through me was alarming. They are both quiet and gentle, and seemed to share this mutual connection that no one else was privy to.

But now, I can’t picture Jacob with anyone except Ethan. And well, Zach’s mine.

Zach groans, reaching out for the donut. “Jacob. Give me the donut back,” he whines.

“No. I will not give you these back until you tell me what you’re hiding.”

“I’m not hiding anything.”

He gives him a pointed look, then quickly looks at me. He flashes me a wink and a small smile.

“Don’t make me tell Ethan you’re hiding something from me.” He pouts.

Zach sighs and reaches out to me with his good hand. I take it, lacing our fingers together and giving his hand a small squeeze. “Carter and I are together.”

Jacob’s face morphs into the widest smile I’ve ever seen on him. “Really? Liketogethertogether?”

“Yeah, really.” I nod, unable to stop my own smile. “I got my head out of my ass and finally realized what’s been in front of me all this time.”

Jacob drops the donut into the box and claps his hands excitedly before wrapping his arms around both our necks, bringing us in for a hug. “I’m so happy for you. Oh, gosh, this is like a book I’ve read. Best friends forever, finally falling in love. Aw! It’s so amazing.”

Zach rolls his eyes, but his expression is soft and adoring. “I haven’t told the guys yet, so if you tell Ethan, make sure to tell him to keep it quiet.”

I try to hide my hurt by looking down at our linked hands. I know we haven’t spoken about what we were going to tell people, but knowing he didn’t tell the guys he’s closest to stings.

Is he still unsure about this?

Jacob’s face falls. “Why haven’t you told them?”

“I was planning on telling them at boys’ night so they can interrogate Carter, and it can be my entertainment for the evening.” Zach grins.

“Thanks. Setting me up for the wolves. Nice,” I deadpan, but inside, I’m relieved.

I’m so fucking nervous about messing this up. Zach means everything to me, and I’m so desperate to make him happy that I keep forgetting he’s had nearly two decades of suppressing his feelings for me. Hiding them from those around him.

I’ll take every doubt going forward as long as it means I get to call Zach mine and continue to show him I’m in this for real, no matter how long it takes for him to believe me.

Chapter Seventeen

Zach

I’m not sure if Carter is purposely trying to torture me or if he simply doesn’t realize the impact his touch has on me.

With his head propped up on one fist, he drifts his fingers lazily down my bare chest, tracing over the curves of my pecs before grazing featherlight strokes over the hair on my chest. He circles my nipple with a fingertip, and I shiver.

“You like that?” His face lights up with a grin.

“Yeah, I do.”

It’s been a week since I introduced him to the magical world of frotting, and to say he’s been curious would be an understatement. Carter is eager. Very eager. To the point I’ve had to slow him down at times because I haven’t wanted to rush this.

Showering together has become a regular occurrence since the time Carter kissed me. He claims it’s to save the environment by sharing water and to keep an eye on me in case I have a dizzy spell, but I think he likes having an excuse to take care of me.

So, with nothing else better to do, we decided to spend the afternoon watching a movie in bed. Though it seems Carter isn’t interested in watching the movie anymore and has made it his mission to make me lose my mind.

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