Page 47 of Rule 3: Never Fake Marry the Coach's Son
“It’s fine,” he says, but whatever has caused the distance between us can’t possibly be fine.
We spend too long being quiet, and even though his breath has stilled, I’m not sure if he’s just feigning sleep.
Finally, I wake up. At some point in the night I pulled him into my arms. He rests his head against my chest, and I inhale his scent, no longer masked by cologne, but just him. A slew of gold rests on my chest, and for a moment, I raise my hand to brush my fingers through his hair, then I remember that he’s a guy and that’s not something I do.
A wave of tenderness moves through me all the same, and I hate the moment my alarm goes off and he springs from my arms, his cheeks red and eyes wide, murmuring apologies.
“Sorry!” His long lashes flutter up, and he rakes a hand through his blond curls. “I-I didn’t mean to...”
“Is fine.”
He pulls the covers up in a suspicious move that I totally recognize.
“Want to use the bathroom first?” I ask.
He yawns. “I’ll just wait. You can go.”
“Uh-huh.”
He casts another nervous glance toward the blankets strewn over his lap, and my lips twitch.
“You have erection,” I say.
His eyes widen. His mouth drops.
“Is something that happens in mornings, Oskar. No big deal.”
Pink descends over his face. He shuffles the blankets around.
I sigh. I won’t have him be uncomfortable.
“Look.” I remove the blanket. “I have one too.”
He turns to me, and his breath catches audibly.
“You’re showing me your...” He doesn’t finish the sentence.
“Is covered by pajama pants,” I explain, gesturing to the gray cotton, “but you get the point.”
His gaze remains fixed downward at my bulge. “Yes, I get the point.”
I smile, trying to ease the tension. “See, you don’t have to worry. We’re both men.”
“But...”
“Is biology, Oskar. Happens every morning. Besides, you were lying in my arms.”
His cheeks flame again.
Shit.
That wasn’t what I wanted to say. Now he’s stressed again.
“If I’d had a problem, I could have woken you up,” I say. “Or slid you from my arms.”
“You were awake before the alarm went off?”
“Uh-huh.” I step from the covers. Oskar’s eyes flare, before he studies his palms, but I don’t mind. The man is gay, and I’m highly attractive.
