Page 79 of Saving Sparrow
“Gross,” Miguel said as Elliott and I laughed.
“My joke or the helmet?”
“Both, Quentin. Both.”
“Don’t be such a prude. You know you like it when I talk dirty to you.” I nuzzled his neck, getting my sweaty hair all over his cheek.
Two dipshits watched us with their faces scrunched from the row above us. I squeezed Miguel’s ass, pressing him into my jockstrap. “Got a fucking problem?” I raised an eyebrow. They paled, snapping their gazes to the field.
I tongued Miguel down for anyone else eyeing us. Elliott wasn’t smiling when I pulled back.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing.” He shook his head before going over one of the team’s impressive plays that he’d recorded on his phone.
“I think Coach Saxton wants you,” Miguel said, his eyes now on the field.
“Everyone wants me, Guelly,” I said seriously, “but I’m already spoken for.”
“He’s looking for you, you idiot.”
“Huh?”
He chuckled as I looked over my shoulder. Coach stood with his hands on his hips, frowning as he scanned the stands.
“Gotta go.” I kissed Miguel hard on the lips and Elliott on the cheek before weaving my way out of the stands. “Meet me in the parking lot!”
I took a quick shower after our team victory meeting, then rushed to the crowded parking lot. People hung around talking, still high off the win as music blared from JT’s souped-up Raptor. Miguel and Elliott waited near my dad’s convertible, taking in all the excitement but not participating in it. I shrugged out of my varsity jacket, slipping it over Elliott’s shoulders when I reached them.
“Thanks.” He pulled it tighter around him, the cool breeze blowing through his hair. It never got cold in Porthmore, but the fall nights could sometimes be chilly.
“Ready?” I asked them.
“Hey, McAllen!” JT jumped down from the bed of his truck, stopping me with my hand on the passenger side door handle.
“Darren’s parents are out of town. Everyone’s going over there to celebrate the big win. You should swing by.”
“Nah. I’m pretty wiped.” I held the door open for Miguel, but he didn’t get in.
“You never come out, man,” JT complained. “You’re too young to be a hermit. You can bring your girlfriends with you.”
“Fuck you, Daniels,” I said halfheartedly. JT liked giving me shit, but overall he was a cool guy. When Miguel and I stopped holding back in public, JT had been the first one to show his support.
To be honest, I’d expected more backlash than what we got, at least from the team. Either no one cared, or they were too scared to admit it. It helped that Coach Saxton didn’t tolerate homophobic behavior.
“Come on,” he laughed, “you know I love them.”
I glanced over at Miguel and Elliott, who both seemed amused and flattered by JT’s antics. My irrational jealousy reared its fucking head, and I slammed the car door, taking the bait. “About that—”
“Hold that thought until you get to Darren’s.” He backed away with a grin. “I’ll even let you kick my ass for winking atBeautiful Brown-Eyes.” That was his annoying nickname for Miguel. I’d almost pulverized him the first time he’d used it. Now he just said it to fuck with me.
I scowled as JT hopped into his truck and screeched out of the parking lot, a procession of cars following behind.
“When did he wink at you?” I whirled on Miguel, who didn’t seem impressed by my tone at all.
“He didn’t,” he said, giving me one of his infamous eye rolls.
“You’re such an easy target.” Elliott grinned, slipping into the back seat. Miguel kissed the hard line of my lips before nudging me to the side and getting into the passenger seat. I sighed, circling to the driver’s side.
