Page 42 of Make the Play
This is followed by a deeper, calmer voice. “Should we come back, Jason?”
Jason turns his attention to Emerson who shakes his phone, sending one last text.
Emerson
You can let them in, but thank you. For everything. No one has ever done something like this for me.
Jason’s expression as he reads the message is unreadable, but he turns it into the all too familiar smile quickly. He rises to stand with an impressive amount of grace for someone so large, holding a hand out to Emerson who readily accepts the help. His own fingers curl around the width of Jason’s broad palm, squeezing tightly before Jason gives a tug and hefts him up. He blinks, startled to come face to face with Jason. Or as close to face to face as you can with someone who is six-foot-five.
“We got this, Emerson, and if you need a swift escape I’m just a text away.” He pats his pocket, shooting Emerson a wink before moving around him to unlock the front door.
Two men step inside, and Emerson quickly recognizes each of them from Jason’s photos in his office. Theo is tall, though not as tall as Jason, with broad shoulders and the bluest eyes half-hidden behind his thick glasses. Despite his size, his presence doesn’t command attention the way Jason’s does, easily falling into step behind Jason’s younger brother who, despite his much smaller stature, demands more attention than anyone in the room.
“Fucking finally. Thought you were gonna leave us out there all night,” Alec grumbles. He sucks on the straw in his large drink before shooting Jason the middle finger.
“I was busy,” is all Jason says, unruffled by Alec’s attitude. “Alec, Theo. This is Emerson. Be nice.”
“I am the nicest,” Alec retorts, shooting Emerson a charming smile. While they don’t look alike on the surface, when Alec smiles he looks so much like Jason, the shape of their happiness much the same. “Everyone loves me. Obviously Emerson will too. Right, Emerson?”
Emerson stiffens at the unexpected question. As if sensing his unease, Jason moves into his personal space and before Emerson knows what’s happening that big, warm hand of his settles at the back of his neck giving a gentle squeeze. He’s grateful for the contact, especially when Alec’s eyes dart between Emerson and his brother. Before Alec can say anything else Theo wraps an arm around Alec’s waist, lowering his chin to the top of Alec’s head and offering him a friendly smile. “Nice to meet you, Emerson. Sorry we’re late. This Coke addict needed a hit.”
“Yeah because someone,” he pauses, directing his glare at Jason, “filled the fridge with Dr. Pepper.”
Pleasure and discomfort rise in equal measure. Jason has kept Emerson’s favorite kind of pop in his mini fridge during lunch recently, but Emerson assumed he liked it too, even if Jason usually picks the green apple Gatorade and not the soda. The idea that he’s been buying it just for Emerson makes him feel warm in the cheeks, but the pleasure is short-lived because Alec looks decidedly annoyed by the prospect.
He opens his mouth, but the apology won’t come, and he bites his lip with a sigh. He’s off to a horrible start. Jason’s brother and best friend are going to hate him.
“You know you could bring your own Coke next time,” Jason points out.
“Fuck off,” Alec grumbles, chewing on the end of his straw. He meanders forward, setting his soda on the coffee table before throwing himself on the couch. Stella jumps up on top of him, licking his face and barking. “I know, your daddy is so annoying, isn’t he? Bet you’re so glad your favorite person is here, aren’t you?”
“Ignore Alec,” Jason tells Emerson in a mock whisper.
“I can literally hear you, asshole.”
Theo and Jason laugh at the same time, each of them grinning at Emerson like something is funny though he has no idea what.
“You want something to drink?” Jason asks Theo.
“You got any of that craft beer left?”
“I think I’ve got a can or two in the back of the fridge,” he tells Theo before turning his gaze on Emerson. “Are you thirsty?”
Emerson has no idea if he’s thirsty. He drank water a few hours ago. Usually he doesn’t notice he’s thirsty until a headache comes on. Either way, he nods because he could probably use a drink, and it affords him some way to participate in what’s happening.
“Why don’t you come with me to get the drinks,” Jason says in a way that manages to sound like a gentle command and not a question. It’s too easy to let Jason’s hand move from his neck to his shoulder, guiding him towards the kitchen. The warmth and weight of his hand on Emerson’s shoulder soothes away some of his deregulation, while making him ponder what it might feel like if Jason’s hand inched lower to his waist. His hand is huge, and with it touching him now, it’s all too easy to imagine what it would feel like to have that solid warmth somewhere else.
No one touches Emerson, and yeah maybe he’s a little touch starved—or a lot—but Jason is also handsome and kind, and Emerson is probably a horrible person for thinking about Jason touching him like that while Jason is just being a good friend.
It’s not until they’re alone in the kitchen, the sound of Theo and Alec’s voices fading into a low hum in the background that Emerson manages to find his voice. He holds the words in, watching Jason rummage around in the fridge pulling out a cold water bottle and a can of Dr. Pepper, which he passes to Emerson.
“Take both,” he says, not making Emerson choose.
He’s got his back turned to Emerson, chattering away about the beer he’s looking for that he picked up at some craft brewery last week when Emerson manages to speak.
“I’m sorry.”
Jason jerks, slamming his head on the shelf in his refrigerator. He curses softly under his breath turning to fix his frown on Emerson.
