Page 97 of Catch
“Shit, I’m sorry.” He drops his hands and looks around. “But fuck, I can’t help it.”
“Try.”
“I don’t know, Jett. Asking me not to touch you is like asking me to stop breathing. I can’t do it.”
Lord help me, I’m in so much trouble with this man.
“If I say no, are you going to follow me back to the dorm?”
“What do you think?”
My lip twitches, but I manage to hold in my grin.
“Help me finish the cleanup first.”
A slow smile graces Ethan’s lips. It’s wicked, seductive.
I’m totally fucked.
If I’m gonna fall, I might as well go all the way.
CHAPTER 22
ETHAN
THREE DAYS LATER
Halfway through NCAC week and things are getting intense. Not only because the competitions are underway and we’re busier than ever, but because I can’t go one day without Jett. I’ve met hundreds of students, taken so many selfies that I’m seeing spots, and have been flirted with more times than I can count. If this was me a month ago, I’d be fucking a different student every night. Probably more than one. But now, well, no one holds my attention.
No one except Jett.
It’s all I can do to keep my hands off him in public, and I’m this close to saying fuck it, who cares if the students see us? At some point, I’m going to formally come out to my entire hockey team, to all my frat brothers, to everyone. Why not here, now? I’ve seen plenty of queer couples this week and not only those in my inner circle.
Couples. Right. But Jett and I aren’t that. We’re fuck friends. That’s all.
Keeping this, whatever it is, on the DL is smarter for bothof us because it’ll be less awkward when it ends. And it will end. That’s inevitable. I think. Even if the very idea that he’ll move on and have sex with other guys makes me sick to my stomach and kind of panicky. I’m so nervous it takes me three tries to tie my skates.
“Why are you so quiet lately?” Silas asks as he sits down beside me. “It’s not like you. What’s up?”
We’re in our locker room, getting ready for a game. If we win today, we move on to the semi-final tomorrow. I should be pumped up, but I’m too much in my head. And I haven’t done any partying lately, because I’m either helping corral students or running from my game to watch Jett’s races.
Like yesterday, when the Crew had a match against U Cal, Seattle, and Washington College. Sutton came in second. It was a tight race, and they only lost by fractions of a second. Losing by such a short margin made the loss that much harder, though, and Jett was upset. I’d have felt in the same in his shoes. All I could do was comfort him in the only way I was able, and yes, that meant he slept overnight again at mine. My sheets, my pillow, hell, even my towels, my clothes, all smell like him now. He’s taken to stealing my T-shirts to wear, and I more than like it, even if it scares me at the same time.
“I’ve got a lot on my mind,” I mutter. “It’s been a hectic week so far.”
“Students seem to be having fun. I’ve heard nothing but positive stuff.”
“Yeah, so far, so good.”
I run an agitated hand over my head. My hair is still too short, but I’m not sure if I actually have the patience to grow it out again. Jett seems to like it no matter what. Fuck, I shiver when I think about him. Every time we kiss or touch, hell, every time he looks at me, it’s like lightning racing through my veins…
“So, you’re tired. Is that all?” Silas whispers. “Does this have something to do with you and Jett?”
“Me and Jett?”
“You’ve been spending all your time with him, and not partying or flirting with anyone else. You’re also not shooting your mouth off every second of the day, which, no complaints, but man, it’s fucking weird.”
I offer up a rude gesture in response. Silas chuckles and nudges me.
