Page 67 of Hidden Plays
“Did you Uber here?” I ate more fries. I hadn’t wanted JJ to witness this, but now he knew what I was fighting on Thanksgiving. I peeked at JJ. He sure was quiet, but then, it was a good thing.
“No, why would I do that? My car’s working fine now.” He downed his fresh shot and chased it with a gulp of beer. “This burger looks delicious.” He bit into it, spilling a tomato from the back. “Have you told Mom and Dad about your boyfriend?” He sucked juice off his fingers.
“No, I’ve only told a handful of friends.” My pulse picked up speed. “It’s still new.” He didn’t need to know about JJ’s queer friends.
“Oh.” He set his burger down and faced me, quirking the edge of his mouth. “Because Dad is going to shit himself.” He lifted his chin. “His golden boy is dating a guy. It’ll be an epic fall from grace.” He drank more beer.
“What do you mean?” Did he know something I didn’t? I watched him, my eyelid twitching.
“Dad thinks you can do no wrong. But you know how conservative he is. I doubt he’ll accept this shit.” He ate a fry. “Don’t be surprised if he cuts you off. He’ll think you’ve fallen prey to the liberal queer agenda at ASU.” He snorted and wiped his nose with the back of his hand.
Fuck, was he serious? I blinked at him. With his addiction problems, he’d seen a side of Dad I hadn’t. But then, Dad always bailed him out in the end. “He gives you money when you need it. Why would he cut me off?”
He shrugged and ate more of his burger. Speaking while chewing, he said, “But I’m not bisexual and fucking a guy. I can be—” He made air quotes. “—saved.”
With a knot churning in my gut, I swung my gaze to JJ. “Um…” Was Noel right about this? Would Dad cut me off financially? What would Mom say about it? She didn’t like Dad giving Noel money…
JJ squeezed my hand, shook his head and in a soft voice said, “Don’t listen to him. He doesn’t know.”
“What’s that?” Noel swayed around me to throw a glare at JJ. “Dude, I know my family better than you do. I’ve seen the worst of it.” He bumped his shoulder against mine. “Golden Boy hasn’t. He’s always been the favorite, playing football and going to college for a fancy fucking degree. Finding out he’s queer will send my dad over the edge.” He pointed at JJ. “You watch.” He gave us a crooked grin. “You’re better off keeping that shit a secret.”
I threw my napkin on my half-eaten burger as my stomach lurched. I couldn’t eat any more. I wished I could go home and hide. Fuck this.
“Mind you, I don’t give a shit what you do. It’s not my fucking life.” He ate more of his burger, drank the rest of his beer and flagged Margaret for another round.
He was about to have the sixth drink since he’d gotten here.Six. And he thought he could drive home? “Hey, shouldn’t you slow down?”
“What? I’m just getting started.” He ate some fries. “I’m not a lightweight.” He glanced at JJ. “I can hold my liquor.”
But how much weed had he smoked on top of it? I sighed and rubbed my temple. The situation was a mess. “I can drive you home.”
“You don’t need to.” As Margaret left another set of drinks for him, Noel threw the shot back.
“You’re still paying off a DUI. Do you really want another?” And what about the risk to others after he got behind the wheel? I pushed my plate toward the back of the bar. “I’ll drive you home.”
“What about your boyfriend?” He sipped some beer. “Don’t you want to go home with him tonight?”
Pursing my lips, I flashed my eyes toward JJ. I did, but what did driving Noel home have to do with it?
“I thought you had a game tomorrow. You said you didn’t want to stay late, and I’m staying for the band. I’m not working tomorrow.” With a smirk, Noel hooked a brow. “I’m not leaving early. Fuck that.”
“Fine, do what you want.” I breathed through the pinch in my chest. If something happened to him tonight and Mom knew we were together, she’d blame me.
“I will.” Noel ate the last of his burger.
My mind rummaged through the conversation about Dad. “Don’t tell Mom and Dad about JJ.” Pain tore through my chest. This was fucked up. I loved JJ. He was important to me, and now I had to hide him from my parents. I slumped on my stool, wrapping my forearms around my beer.
JJ slid an arm over my shoulders and came in close, whispering in my ear. “Hey, don’t worry about this. We’ll work through it.”
“I wouldn’t tell on you. I’m not a snitch.” With a scoff, Noel dunked fries in a pool of ketchup and ate them. “So, JJ, where did you grow up?” He wiped his fingers on a napkin.
“In Scottsdale. I went to the same high school as you.” JJ straightened his spine and puffed his chest.
“Yeah? I suppose you played football on our team, too. Did you play with Holden?” Noel shoved his plate away and narrowed his eyes. “Were you there when the great Holden Cox busted his knee so bad he’d never play again?”
“I was.” His gaze met Noel’s head on. “It was awful. Were you there?”
“Hell no. I’d graduated and gotten a job in construction by then.” He tsked. “According to our parents, I had to either stop drinking or move out and support myself.” He shrugged. “So, I moved out.” He picked up his beer, studied it for a beat and drank it. “This shit makes my life livable, you know?” His gazeflicked to mine. “Especially with Mom and Dad always doting on Holden.”
