Page 18 of Play Hard

Robert stared at him, holding up the undergarment in question, the lacy black waistband stretched between his thumbs. “You want me to play football in these?”

“Just wear them over your jockstrap in place of boxer briefs.” Liam held up a hand and widened his eyes to show his sincerity. “Only if you’re comfortable, both physically and mentally. Per our rules.”

“Of course I’m mentally comfortable,” Robert said. “There’s nothing wrong with wearing women’s clothes. I just don’t want it to affect my game.”

“Maybe it’ll be a positive effect. Anyway, it’s just Barrowfield at home today. If it was a tougher match, I might not be so daring.” Liam tilted his head. “Nah, I would be.”

“Don’t let Charlotte hear you underestimating our opponent, or she’ll leave you on the bench.” Robert examined the pink pair with an inscrutable expression. “Shall I try them on now?”

“Eat first, while your breakfast is hot. And I don’t want to see them on you until after.” He slid a raspberry between his lips as he met Robert’s eyes. “When they’re all sweaty.”

Finally Robert smiled. “This is definitely a surprise,” he said as he tucked into his breakfast. “Never would’ve thought you’d fancy something like this.”

“It’s just for a laugh. I’ve got no predilection for lassies’ clothes. Though perhaps that’ll change today. You’ve taught me anything is possible.”

Robert furrowed his brow. “If it was the other way round, and I was asking you to wear ladies’ knickers, would you think it was cos I missed being with girls?”

Liam was ready to fire off a flippant answer like, “Oh, aye. I’m insecure like that.” But his mouth was full of pancake, which gave him time to reconsider.

It had been ages since he’d feared Robert would go running back to the “straight life” once this relationship got troublesome, and even longer since Liam had worried his bisexual boyfriend was with him simply out of curiosity about men. But sometimes it still helped to pronounce these things out loud.

So Liam swallowed and said, “I know you’d want to be with me no matter which gender or sex I was.”

Robert’s eyes softened. “That’s exactly it.”

Liam felt a glow of pride and relief. Despite always knowing he was gay, he’d remained clueless about a lot of queer realities, and in his ignorance he’d said some hurtful things when Robert had revealed his sexuality. They were long past tiptoeing round these issues, but Liam was glad to know that Knickers Challenge wasn’t opening an old can of worms.

“It makes sense you’d love me in any form.” Liam cut another bite of pancake with the side of his fork. “I’m just that awesome.”

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