Page 69 of Honeysuckle
“Captain,” I corrected myself with a short nod, and Josh watched me carefully, his dark eyes flickering between mine. “Friend,” I added.
“What else?” He pushed.
The word was there. I knew what he wanted, but I wasn’t sure that I could take control of that just yet. Even in the face of his certainty, I just…
“Come on, Tuck, don’t be a coward.” His voice was so low and demanding.
“Gay,” I whispered it—my breath ragged, heart racing. “I’m gay.”
“That’s right,” Josh’s eyes flickered to my lips. “Don’t move,” he said quietly, and all I wanted to do was obey.
I stayed perfectly still as he lifted his chin and captured my bottom lip between his. The kiss was more gentle than before, slow and soft without the harsh intrusion of his tongue. His fingers relaxed, and for a second, they brushed against my chest as his teeth dragged over my bottom lip, and he pulled away.
“What was that for?” I asked him.
“It was necessary,” he said simply before going back out onto the field and leaving me wanting more from him.
TUCKER
Everythinghadchanged.
I wasn’t sure if it was for better or worse, but Josh had shed a piece of his armor—and let me see the horrors he kept tucked so close to his chest. It pained me to know that he was keeping all those secrets to himself, and for so long.
I had shed the weight of shame, at least in the face of Josh.
I hadn’t picked up my phone for anyone in my family since the news broke, and with Sunday quickly approaching, the knot in my chest grew tighter with every passing hour. But I did my best to focus on our team and the way Josh’s lips felt against mine.
Noah Hudson got a ten game suspension, Josh got two. Reyes filled in for the next two pre-season games—we won, but they were hard-fought and the field felt unbalanced without Josh.
Which is odd because two months ago I would have died on my ‘I hate Joshua Logan’hill. But now he was sitting in the dining room with his nose in a book, the cut on his cheek finally less irritated and completely unaware that I was staring at him from across the kitchen.
“Shouldn’t you be making dinner?” Cael whispered to me and I nearly jumped out of my skin.
“I thought you were at Clem’s?” I looked over at him and he shrugged.
“Everyone has to come up for air sometime. I was getting homesick,” he said, leaning his head back with a smile. The peach fuzz on his scalp was growing in, and I just knew it was because Clementine had flipped out about the impromptu haircut.
“Homesick?” I shook my head and pushed on his shoulder. “Or nosy?”
“I’m hurt,” he feigned offense and turned to the fridge. “What are you making anyway?”
I ignored him and watched the way Josh balanced his pen on his fingers as he cross referenced something in his notes. He needed a laptop, it had been a long time since I saw anyone do notes with a pen and paper but I was scared to ask him.
Scared to offer mine.
“Something happened…” Cael slid up onto the counter, his thigh brushing against my shoulder, and he leaned down, blocking my view of Josh with a stupid smile.
“You’re being annoying again,” I grumbled.
“Annoying is my middle name, big boy.”
“I thought it was ‘I’m bored,’” I shot back.
Cael laughed but looked over his shoulder at an oblivious Josh.
“He’s doing better,” Cael said quietly. “Thanks to you.”
“I didn’t do anything, he just likes to be left alone and if that’s what works then whatever,” I dismissed Cael’s gratitude and praise.
