Page 13 of Your Pace or Mine
Jackson grinned. “Please, you love my sweaty arse.”
Darius glared at him. “Not on my clean white sofa, I don’t,” he replied. “Go take a damn shower.”
The truth was, Darius didn’t hate coaching the clinic quite as much as he’d expected to. Sure, Anders had been his usual dickish self, and he’d been hassled for sponsorship even more than he’d expected, but it had been kind of alright once they were running. The article that had come off the back of it had hurt, but it didn’t change the fact that he would still be back again for the next one, with more to prove than ever.
The sound of the shower filtered into the room, giving Darius a few minutes to think. It still seemed unfair, having to play show pony for Anders like this just to get him to consider him for a spot that should have been guaranteed.
Jackson came back just minutes later, a towel slung low on his hips as he shook his long auburn hair dry, water droplets flying around the room.
“Ugh,” Darius groaned. “I swear, you’re worse than a dog.”
Jackson just smirked at him and shook his hair more vigorously. “So, you didn’t notice my hot brunette. Could that be because you were preoccupied with a blonde Scouser for most of the night?”
Darius groaned. “Are you still on this? Seriously? I wasn’t there to check people out.”
“So you didn’t notice Jason at all then?”
“Jamie,” Darius replied instantly. He only caught the fatal error he’d made when he saw the grin form on Jackson’s face. “Not a word from you.”
Jackson held his hands up in surrender, but the mirth struggling to stay contained was unmistakable.
The expression faded quickly from Jackson’s face when he glanced at his phone. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Yeah?” Darius replied. “Is this a cup of tea conversation?”
“Only if you’ve got the good shit. None of that weird herbal stuff you’re always trying to peddle.”
“Yerba mate enhances athletic performance.”
“Yeah, yeah. Get me a proper builder’s brew or I ain’t talking,” Jackson replied.
“You’re the one who wanted to talk in the first place.”
Jackson shifted. He looked genuinely uncomfortable, so Darius relented. “I keep some Earl Grey for Selena in the cupboard above the fridge, that’s the closest I can offer.”
As Jackson busied himself filling the kettle and getting tea bags out, Darius observed him quietly. “Is this about Owens?”
“What?” Jackson started. “Why would it be about Owens?”
“You just seemed pretty concerned about him edging you out for the Olympics.”
Jackson snorted as he handed Darius a steaming cup of Yerba Mate before adding milk and sugar to his own mug. “No, it’s not about that.”
Darius waited quietly for Jackson to continue.
“I know you said the article thing was fine and all… I just, I think you should know that Anders pulled me aside after the clinic.”
Darius shrugged, though inwardly his heart kicked up a gear. “What did he want?”
“He was checking I was ok, that you hadn’t upset me or anything.”
Darius frowned. “Why does he think I’d upset you?”
Jackson shifted uncomfortably. “He seemed to think you had a problem with my sexuality.”
A loud guffaw escaped Darius before he could control it. “That’s mad.”
“I know, but what was I meant to say, Darius? He didn’t buy it when I said we were fine, and I couldn’t really defend you without outing you.”
