Page 74 of Charming Like Us
“No, they immigrated to America when they were both babies. Their families made them mortadella sandwiches growing up too.”
Jack looks confused. “I thought your grandparents still lived in Brazil. So…how’d your mom and dad come over here alone as babies?”
“They didn’t. My dad’s parents are still in Philly, and my mom’s uncle was already here. Her aunt was bringing her over to live with them.” I watch him nod, but I can tell something else is on his mind. “So my mom’s parents are the ones still in Brazil, along with her two brothers and more cousins.” I want to ask about his family.
But he lets out, “Back to what you said before aboutphysicalprowess…”
“Yeah?” I cock my head, wondering where this is going.
“I don’t have a nasty uppercut.” He tries to smile, but it levels-out again.Is he nervous?“To tell you the truth, I don’t haveanykind ofuppercut. I’ve never been in a fight or punched anyone before…” He trails off at the sight of my grin. He smiles back. “You knew.”
“I figured you’d hug it out before punching it out.”Not a surprise.
Jack massages his hand, still seeming uncertain or…again,nervous.Maybe, though, he’s still just in a war with fatigue.“So your parents don’t care that you went to Yale?”
“My mom brags to family and friends, but they bragged harder when I was a pro-boxer.” I add, “And they let my brother skip school all the fucking time for fights.” I shrug. “My siblings never reallycaredabout an education the way that I did. So I went to Yale, and they both ended up in the ring.”
Jack leans forward again, arms on his thighs. He always sits like a jock holding a football between his spread knees. Only instead of a football, he’s usually gripping a camera.
You’re way too into him, Oliveira.
Yeah.
I should go to bed too, but this feels like the most comfortable place to be. Awake, talking to him.
“I don’t understand why Quinn followed you,” Jack says. “To security, I mean. If he was so good at boxing, why not stay?”
I shake my head. “All he’s ever really said is that he wanted something different. He knew security work existed, so he left boxing behind. Our dad would’ve fucking blown a gasket, but Jo was andisreally good. She’s the new protégé.” I push some curls off my forehead. “Mybiggest pet peeve with Quinn is that he didn’t even look at colleges. This career takes more than it gives, and there’s so many other paths he could’ve taken.”
Jack rubs his tired eyes. “I get what that’s like. Jesse wants to follow my path and do camera work—photography, mainly, but I guess it’s a bit different from your situation.” He explains, “My brother wants to go to college. My alma mater.”
University of Pennsylvania, located in Philly.“Were your parents happy about you going to UPenn?”
“I just call it Penn,” he says with a smile. “Andno. Not at all. It was all the way across the country. My mama and dad kept saying,why not Standford?Jesse begged me to stay in California, but I liked Penn’s swim team.” His lips downturn. “I broke his heart that day. But it got better the more I FaceTimed and called.”
“Can relate,” I nod. “On some level, I guess. My brotherhatedwhen I went to Connecticut for college.” Here we are eighteen/nineteen and our brothers are just little eight/nine-year-olds, and we’re tearing away from them. Jack went through that too. “I think he felt like I wouldn’t ever come back to Philly. Like I’d never see him again.” I shake my head at myself. “I didn’t do a good job staying in touch. I barely ever saw my family while I was at Yale, barely ever came home. But I always told myself I’d end up with them anyway, so the four years would go by and we’d be together again.” I meet his eyes. “You know I studied sports medicine with the idea that I’d come home and help boxers my dad trains—like my brother and sister. I’d help them after bad blows and intense trainings. Ice baths, stretches, PT.”
“I didn’t know that,” Jack says softly. “How come that changed?”
I scrape a hand over my tensed, unshaven jaw. “Once I graduated, I started realizing that I didn’t want a full-time career around boxing. My family trains at Akara’s gym, and Akara is the one who introduced me to security work. So I ended up here. And eventually, I did try to be with Quinn more. I tried to train him in boxing while I was a bodyguard. To reconnect. But it went down like a grenade. I don’t think he ever got over me leaving.” My muscles strain. “Looks like you’reWhat To Doand I’mWhat Not To Dowhen it comes to college and little brothers.”
“No,” Jack tells me. “I just got dealt a different set of cards, Oscar. Probably the easier set.”
I’m not quite sure that’s true. But I ingest Highland’s sunny outlook anyway. Our conversation has roused him awake more, and I feel badly about fucking with his beauty sleep.
I go to stand. “You should get some rest.” Once on my feet, I press a hand to his broad shoulder to ease him back against the leather couch.
He grabs my forearm with one hand, and we both go still, our breaths heavying. Our eyes descending and exploring.
Thiscan’t be happening. But damn, how many times am I going to be surprised in a day?Until it sinks in for good.That he’s into me. That he’s not playing me.
He scoots forward on the leather couch. I stay standing like a brick wall, and his other hand—his other hand settles on my waist, fingers edging towards the elastic band of my gym shorts.
“Jack,” I breathe.
He stares up at me from beneath long lashes. “I’ve been thinking about this all day…ever since we kissed. You said we could do other things, right? I don’t know if I’ll be any good, but can I…” His chest rises and falls like he’s mid-marathon again. “Can I suck you off?”
Fuck.
