Page 66 of Hidden Plays
Fuck, how much did Noel see? Would he be a dick about it? “JJ’s my boyfriend.” I flinched. Might as well get it out of the way and take whatever he’d give us.
“Boyfriend?” With a lop-sided smile, he examined JJ, his eyes narrowing. “I guess if my brother was going to switch teams, he could have picked worse.” He dropped his arms and focused on me. “When the hell did you turn gay?”
“I’m not gay. I’m bisexual.” With a scoff, I eyed the server making her way to us with our burgers in her hand. If he started shit with us, I was pretty sure she’d intervene. She’d been so nice to talk to earlier.
“Bisexual, huh? I guess that means you still like girls.” He glanced at JJ. “You’re kinda pretty. Maybe that’s why he picked you?”
“Uh, thanks?” JJ’s throat bobbed as he stared at Noel.
This was not how I’d wanted them to meet, but what the fuck. I had to go with it now. “Have a seat, Noel.” I patted the empty stool next to me. I wanted him as far away from JJ as possible.
He hopped onto the seat and as Margaret dropped off our burgers, he said, “Hey, darlin’. Can you get me a beer and a shot of Jamo? Neat.” He peered toward my burger. “And might as well get me a burger too.” With a smirk and a twinkle in his eye, he leaned in. “Don’t want to be the odd man out.” The scent of alcohol and weed floated on his breath.
“Of course.” With a glance at me and her brows ticking, she ambled to her POS system, tapped it, and poured his drinks.
“So, when did this start?” He waved his finger between me and JJ.
“I don’t know, six weeks ago?” I threw JJ a glance. What was he thinking about this? If I were him, I’d be terrified.
JJ poured ketchup onto his burger and set the bun on top. “Yeah, six weeks.” He bit into his food.
“Oh. You ever been with a man before?” Noel poked my shoulder. “Is this a recurring thing for you?”
“No, this is the first time.” I poured ketchup onto my plate and dipped a fry into it. Noel seemed okay for now. It was surprising as fuck. But I knew him better than that. Eventually, something shitty would slip out of his mouth. I should get the topic off me and JJ. “Why were you so late?”
“Had to finish a job. I’m laying laminate flooring at a condo, and the bitch who hired us is fucking picky about the damn pattern.” He scowled. “Fucking rich Scottsdale bitches.”
Margaret dropped off his drinks.
“Oh.” I bit into my burger. Something made me think he hadbeen drinking on the job or had had a few in the car on the way here. Both were bad.
“You got it easy, Golden Boy.” He shoved my shoulder. “All you do is go to class all day and fuck your boyfriend.”
I glared at him. “Excuse me?”Here we go.
JJ wiped his mouth and stared at us, his lips parting.
“I’m actually working as a student trainer for the football team and studying for my master’s. It’s difficult. JJ here is the first-string wide receiver for the team, and I’m his trainer.” Jesus fuck, I’d probably told him too much. I flared my nostrils, taking a deep breath.
He peered at JJ and then at me. “Okay, so your first training job and you’re already fucking the clientele?” He huffed a snicker. “Not sure that’s a good way to start, but you do you.”
“It’s not against school policy.” JJ’s gaze darted between us.
Noel leaned over the bar, focusing on JJ. “Are you gay or bisexual too?” With an unnerving grin, he downed his shot.
“Don’t answer that, JJ.” I held my hand up to JJ. It was none of his fucking business.
“Why not? He’s fucking my brother, right?” Noel gulped his beer. “I don’t care either way, was just curious.”
“I’m gay.” JJ’s hardened gaze bore into Noel.
“Great.” Turning to me, Noel rested a forearm on the bar. “Why did you invite me here if you were bringing your boyfriend and didn’t want to talk about it?”
“I…I intended to meet you by myself, but I didn’t think you’d show. You were an hour late and weren’t answering your phone or texts.” I sipped my beer.Don’t say it…“I figured you were too drunk already to make it.”Fuck me.I flinched. “So, I invited him to meet me instead.”
“Drunk? Hell no. I’m just getting started.” Noel lifted his beer glass and then downed it. “Where’s the damn bartender? I need fresh drinks.”
As if on cue, Margaret appeared from behind the doubledoors, holding his burger. When she set it in front of him, he ordered more drinks.
