Page 87 of Hidden Plays
Fuck this. I was done. “JJ, can you take me home?” I met his gaze, my insides boiling with emotion.
“Of course, babe. Let’s go.” He kissed my cheek.
After hugging my parents goodbye, he took me to his vehicle.
JJ parkedin an open spot at my apartment complex and stepped from his SUV. “Is your roommate home?”
“No, and shit.” Ambling around the front of JJ’s 4Runner, I met him at the walkway. “I totally forgot to tell you. I told him about us.” So much had happened in the last week. How had I forgotten? Maybe because Arden was the least of my worries.
“You did?” A smile played on his mouth. “How was it?”
“Not bad.” I snatched JJ’s hand and brought him through the courtyard, the landscaping lights illuminating the rocks and plants on the property. “He was surprised, but he was cool with it.”
“Good. I suppose nobody’s left to tell, huh?” He kissed the back of my hand.
I hadn’t thought of that. “Nope, since I’m not making any announcements to the team and coaching staff.” I stopped at the door to my place and opened it.
Stepping inside, JJ planted his hands on his hips, his gaze wandering the main room. “This is nice.”
He’d never been here. “Thanks.” I strode into the kitchen. I could use a beer or five after tonight. “You want a beer?”
“Sure.” He stepped to my couch and dropped onto the end. “Who owns the couch?” He ran his hand over the gray cushion.
“I do. But it’s from a yard sale, so…” I grabbed two beers from the refrigerator, opened them and brought them to the couch, handing one to JJ. “I’d like new stuff after I graduate.” I fell in next to him.
JJ nodded and sipped his beer. Uncurling an arm on the back of the couch behind me, he said, “How are you doing? Really. Don’t tell me what you think I should hear.” His brows crinkled.
“I’m uh…” The earlier anxiety had lifted some when we left the hospital, but my brother’s ugly outburst—“I don’t know.” I fell against his side as he hugged my shoulders. “He looked so terrible.” An ache wound through my soul. “Why was he such an asshole to us?”
He kissed my head, skimming his fingers over my shoulder. “You threatened the monster inside him. That wasn’t him talking. It was his addiction.”
I nodded against him, the ache intensifying. “My dad is serious about the intervention and rehab.” I drank some beer. Fuck, here I was, using alcohol to calm my emotions after berating my brother for it. But I didn’t have a drinking problem.
“Good. But maybe your family should get professional help with the intervention? Noel seems pretty bad off.” He squeezed me to his side. “What can I do for you, Holden? What do you need from me?”
“Can you stay the night?” His body heat tingled my skin. Ididn’t know if I’d want sex, but being in his arms all night sounded heavenly.
“Of course.” He drank more beer. “I’m all yours, babe.” His body relaxed against mine. “I’ll bet my dad could help find an interventionist for your family.”
“Could you ask him?” I snuggled deeper into his side. My family was so lucky to have the Matthews standing by us. I had even more than JJ.
“I’ll send him a text in the morning. Unless there was another surgery, he’s probably in bed by now.” He chuckled. “Surgeries like your brother’s wear him out.”
“Thanks.” I glanced across the room at the television. I wasn’t sure I could sleep yet. “Do you want to watch something funny?” I sipped my beer.
“If you think it’ll take your mind off your brother, then hell yes.” He bent forward, plucked the remote from the coffee table and then turned the TV on. “Pick whatever you want.”
Kissing his chest, I rose from his side. “Maybe an old rerun of Friends?” I hadn’t seen it in a long time, and it had been an old favorite.
“Sure.” He settled onto the couch with his arm out, waiting for me to cuddle into his side again.
With him, no matter what happened, it would be okay.
After a few episodes of Friends,we undressed for bed, and I peeked at JJ’s cock as he slid his briefs down his legs. My balls tingled with heat. After all this today, I still wanted JJ. Nothing could stop it. “Hey.” It was late, but we had nothing to do the next day.
His gaze snapped to mine. “What?” He threw the covers down on his side of my bed, tilted his head and a sly smile quirked his lips. “You’re looking at my junk.”
“It’s nice junk.” I threw my underwear into the corner,lowered the covers and climbed into the bed. He could help me forget today ever happened. “Could you, uh, fuck this day out of me?”
