Page 86 of Make the Play
Irritation prickles at Jason.He knows they’re here to chaperone. He knows someone needing him is part of what he signed up for. It’s just that when he volunteered, he hadn’t realized his feelings for Emerson were more than platonic or that Emerson would end up at homecoming with him. Picking Emerson up had been the most glorious torture, the sight of him in his stylish green suit enough to convince Jason that he is definitely not straight and that he wanted to kiss Emerson, possibly more than he’d ever wanted to kiss anyone in his entire life.
Knowing Emerson’s lack of experience in the way of romance and intimacy, he’d done his best to be both upfront about his feelings while taking things slow and being a gentleman. But fuck it all if Emerson’s trusting gaze and pretty eyes hadn’t made Jason feel like a horny, lovesick teenager. Then Emerson had gone and uttered three words that had irrevocably changed something in him—Jason and Emmy. Their names spoken together like that, as if the two of them were a pair. Aside from Theo, he’d never wanted to be a pair with anyone. Sure, he’d had girlfriends, but most of them had lost interest when they realized Jason wasn’t going to ditch football or Theo for them.
For years, it's been a non-issue. He’d tried to date but never felt a real spark with anyone, nor had he ever met someone who’d wanted to join their life with his without changing the most important parts to Jason, such as his relationship with Theo and football. After his last girlfriend cheated on him, he figured maybe he should lay off relationships entirely because he clearly wasn’t going to find the right girl. Then came Emerson, with his adorable resting frowny face and his endless opinions on everything, from books to the shape toast should be cut into, making Jason feelthings. Emerson, who gets along with his best friend in a way no one else ever has. Emerson, who exchanged emails with his older brother to trade book recs and made Alec laugh with a deadpan joke about hobbits that Jason still doesn’t understand. Emerson, who doesn’t even like football but delights in sharing in Jason’s stories about games and practice.
Emerson Miller, the man who makes Jason want things he’s never wanted with anyone. Despite all their differences, Emerson has situated himself in Jason’s life in ways that make it impossible for him to remember what it’d been like before he came along. How is Jason supposed to go back out to the dance now? How is he even supposed to function now that he’s kissed a man, knows what that man tastes like, and what kinds of sounds he makes when he’s aroused?
“I’m still waiting.”
The groan Jason lets out is loud. This cannot be happening.
“Caldwell,” Jason yells, flinging the door open while plastering on the fakest smile possible. “What are you doing here? Didn’t you make Emerson chaperone in your place?”
“That’s not really any of your concern, Mr. King.”
Irritation makes Jason grit his teeth. Caldwell is such an ass.
“Well, to what do I owe this unexpected…visit?”
Caldwell’s entire face twitches. “You aren’t controlling your players.”
“What are they doing?” Jason asks, immediately switching into teacher mode.
“They’re being rambunctious,” Caldwell says, spitting with the force of it as if their exuberance has offended him. “Control them.”
“I’m sure they’re just having fun,” Jason offers, relaxing now that he knows it's nothing major. “We won last night you know and?—”
“I don’t care if your players win the Super Bowl?—”
“That’s the NFL, not high school,” Jason points out.
Caldwell appears deeply annoyed at being corrected. “I do not care, Mr. King. The point stands. You should be out there ensuring?—”
“Ensuring what?” Jason asks when he stops speaking.
“Ensuring your players don’t do something improper,” Caldwell finishes, words directed to Jason even as his gaze focuses behind him. Jason doesn’t need to turn around to know exactly what, or more accurately who, he’s staring at. “Mr. Miller, I’m surprised to find you here. Given recent transgressions I assumed you’d take this more seriously.”
“I wasn’t?—”
“Regardless,” Caldwell interrupts, not even letting Emerson finish. “I’m sure you’ll return to the dance and ensure you set a good example for the students. Perhaps being new here you don’t quite understand the implications of all your actions. If you gentlemen will excuse me, I have a job to do. I expect you’ll both do yours as well.”
With that he departs, leaving Jason staring at his back and Emerson groaning behind him.
“Recent transgressions,” Emerson repeats, his offense palpable. “I don’t have any! They already finished the investigation and Mrs. Hernandez agreed we did nothing wrong. Was getting me to chaperone just some kind of power play? I don’t understand, Jason. I didn’t do anything.”
“I know, Emmy.” Jason moves to pull him into a hug. Emerson is stiff, agitation rolling off him in waves, but Jason just squeezes him tightly the way he knows Emerson likes. “Don’t take it personally. Caldwell is a cranky son of a bitch. We don’t give headspace to people like him.”
“When you say ‘we’, I know you don’t mean me,” Emerson replies, sagging in Jason’s hold. “My brain gives headspace to everyone. I’ll probably go over this conversation in my head for the next ten years.”
“I could give you something else to think about for the next ten years,” Jason suggests, offering Emerson a wide smile when he pulls out of the hug.
“Are you flirting?” Emerson asks. “Or trying to distract me? I can’t tell.”
“Both,” Jason laughs, his annoyance with Caldwell fading now that he’s once again alone with Emerson. He meant what he said. He’s pissed at Caldwell, but given the choice between thinking about him or Emerson, it’s no contest. Jason will pick Emerson every time.
“We can’t,” Emerson protests, though it pleases Jason to note the disappointment in his tone. “You heard Caldwell. We have a job to do.”
“We do,” Jason agrees. As much as he wants to stay hidden away with Emerson, he also knows he’s the best man for the job to reel in his kids' excitement without trampling their spirits. “But uh, before we go out there I need to ask you one thing.”
