Page 33 of Make the Play
“Well then maybe he has another reason for not taking you up on the offer.” Andrew's tone shifts into that big brother one where he’s going to tell Jason something he doesn’t want to hear. “You know you can’t fix everyone’s problems. Maybe?—”
“Oh wow I have to go,” Jason blurts. “One of my players is waving me over.”
“Jason.”
“I’ll talk to you later, Andrew.”
“Alright but—you know I love you no matter what, right? That nothing could change that?”
It’s a weird thing to say right now, but Andrew has always been like that with Jason and Alec. Protective. Demonstrative. Making sure they’re okay.
“Sure, of course. I love you too,” Jason tells him, realizing maybe he doesn’t say it enough to Andrew. “I really do gotta go. He's coming over right now. Bye!”
Taking the chicken shit way out, Jason hangs up to avoid any other brotherly advice, pocketing his phone before heading back to his office. At least his conversation with Andrew made one thing clear: there is a problem, and Jason is determined to fix it somehow.
Emerson is his friend, and friends take care of each other. Jason is just being a good friend, nothing less and nothing more.
* * *
The conversationwith Andrew lingers in the back of Jason’s mind. As much as he wants to barrel into the situation like he might with Theo or one of his brothers, he knows that approach won’t work with Emerson. He needs a gentler hand, a more patient approach. Jason doesn’t want to overstep either, hesitant to make Emerson uncomfortable, which is the only thing that holds him back.
Casually as he can, Jason drops hints about picking up Emerson on Thursday when the bus is late again. Emerson doesn’t pick up on it, so he tries again on Friday, but that too fails. By the following week when not even his hints over text on the weekend work, he realizes that direct communication is the only way to go with Emerson. Yet even knowing this, Jason hesitates, not wanting to put Emerson on the spot in case there is some reason he doesn’t want to ride with Jason.
Not that Jason can think of a good reason. He knows now without a doubt that Emerson doesn’t like the bus. He also knows Emerson enjoys his company because he’s taken to smiling when he sees Jason waiting by his truck in the mornings, which makes Jason very happy. That first smile from Emerson in the morning is enough to fuel him through the long day of teaching and practice.
Something about knowing he’s the only one on campus who gets Emerson’s unmasked smile, that he’s the one who Emerson shares lunch with and laughter with, makes Jason feel ten feet tall. He can’t quite understand why everyone else isn’t clamoring to hang out with Emerson when he’s so obviously the smartest, most interesting person on campus, but it’s their loss. Besides, Emerson has made it clear the only person he’s interested in spending prolonged periods of time with outside of his teaching is Jason, another thing that floods him with pride.
He might have plenty of friends at work, but none of those friendships come close to being as satisfying as the one he shares with Emerson. Somehow, over early morning conversations and shared lunches, Emerson has become someone Jason can’t imagine going a single day without talking to. Luckily for him, he doesn’t have to since they’ve easily fallen into a routine of texting at night when Jason gets home from practice and on the weekends when they don’t get to see each other at work.
It’s strange because it’s so unlike his friendship with Theo, not stronger or better just—different. Comparing his friendship with Emerson to the one with Theo is a train of thought Jason doesn’t want to go down. Mostly because it’s kind of confusing and he’d rather focus on things that are more tangible, like figuring out how to get Emerson to take him up on his offer to drive him to work.
Incidentally, this is exactly how Jason finds himself driving to work ten minutes after he would normally already be at work.
Nearing Emerson’s apartment building he taps his break, slowing his truck down enough that the person behind him lays on their horn within a nanosecond. They haul ass around him at which point Jason offers them a smile, only to receive a middle finger in return.
He slows down further, not wanting to pass the bus stop without being sure Emerson made it to work on time. Judging by the cluster of people milling around, he hasn’t. Flipping his blinker on, he pulls up to the curb a few car lengths back wanting to be positive. It only takes him a few seconds to spot the familiar head of red hair. Emerson’s hunched forward, leg bouncing as he taps on it. Jason slowly inches his truck forward to get a better look, catching sight of Emerson’s ear defenders pushing his hair off his face and highlighting the sharpness of his high cheekbones.
The sight of him makes Jason smile, though this is quickly followed by a wave of guilt. If Emerson is still here, then his bus is late. While it’s not going to make him late for work, it’s enough to mess with his schedule. This will be the fourth time this week it’s happened. Jason knows, even without Emerson complaining, because he waits for his arrival every morning.
Some of the people around him turn to stare, likely because Jason is now pulled halfway into the loading zone, but since the bus still isn’t here, he doesn’t care much. He waits a few seconds and is rewarded when Emerson lifts his head, meeting Jason’s gaze head on. There’s a flicker of surprise, then his lips turn up in the corner that way they do when he’s genuinely pleased and yeah, Jason feels ten fucking feet tall. This was definitely the right choice. He’s so glad he didn’t listen to Andrew.
Emerson rises from the bench, shouldering his bag and walking towards Jason.
“What a coincidence running into you here.”
The space between Emerson’s pale eyebrows furrows. “How is it a coincidence? Don’t you drive this way every day?”
“I do,” Jason confirms. Where he might tease Theo or his brothers, something infinitely softer comes out when he’s around Emerson. “Bus is late again.”
“It is,” Emerson sighs, turning to look down the street. There’s no sign of the bus.
“Let me give you a ride to work,” Jason offers, already leaning sideways to grab the handle. “Hop in.”
“Are you sure?” Emerson asks.
“I wouldn’t say it if I wasn’t sure,” Jason tells him. “Get in the truck, Emerson.”
This is clearly the right thing to say because Emerson hurries into the truck, tossing his bag on the seat for Jason to move before hefting himself inside. He stretches out his long legs, pushing his ear defenders off and around his neck before running a hand through his hair. It’s in absolute chaos this morning. It’s honestly kind of adorable.
