“Remind me to tell her how much I love her later.”
Ed smiled. “She told me what really happened and how awful Marcus felt because he forced you to make the choice. She also said you both agreed to lose rather than risk hurting me.”
Jack looked down again.
“Honestly, I was hurt,” Ed said, “but it was more that I was mad that you weren’t here to meet me. I kept thinking you knew how much I didn’t want to be on campus, how could you make me wait? Then when Harper told me why you weren’t here, I way overreacted.” He ducked his head until Jack looked at him. “She’s right about you. You’re too good for me, but I hope you’ll give me a second chance.”
“You want me to give you a second chance?” There went the spiel he was working out on the fly. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”
“Nope, you already apologized for being late on Thursday, and that’s about the only thing you did wrong. Everything else was all me.”
He couldn’t think of anything else to say and stuttered.
Ed wrapped his hands around Jack’s waist and pulled them closer. And then Ed was kissing him. Lips whispered against his and hands roamed up Jack’s back, and then Ed kissed him harder, deeper, like in that instant he wanted the entire world to know Jack belonged to him. When they pulled back for air, a cheer surrounded them.
“I think they know you’re gay now,” Jack said breathlessly.
Ed kissed him lightly this time. “My dad said I have to have the courage to be myself, otherwise I’m no one.”
“You talked to your dad about this?” The sting was small, tempered by the surprise that Ed talked about this to his father.
“He struggled more with not telling me what a jerk I was than with the fact we were talking about me dating a guy. He told me to fuck finances, that between us all we’d find a way, but he could never live with himself if I compromised myself for the family.”
“Have I told you how much I like your dad?”
“He is a good man.”
Ed cupped Jack’s cheek, brushing a thumb over his lips. “Will you still dance with me?”
Jack waggled his eyebrows, and Ed chuckled. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”
They drew into a slow dance, foreheads pressed, noses lightly bumping. Ed’s shaky breath feathered over Jack’s lips. “What you said before….”
Jack tensed and looked him in the eye. “I meant it. I love you.”
“Good.”
“Just good?”
“Amazing. Incredible. The best.” Ed brushed their lips together. “Because I love you too.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jack turned off the engine and glanced at Ed. “Thanks for coming today.”
An easy smile played across Ed’s lips. “Been a while since I’ve played real football, however. I hope no one is expecting a star wide receiver.”
“You’re definitely a tight end, not a wide receiver.” He winked and jumped out before Ed could answer. “Not that I’m one to kiss and tell, mind you.”
Ed got out the other side, visibly blushing, but there was a grin there too. “Of course not.”
Jack hesitated before reaching for Ed’s hand. They’d kissed inside the house, in front of all his brothers. Holding hands should be no big deal. Ed seemed tentative at first, but then he squeezed tightly.
Neither commented, but Jack knew his smile said it all. They were almost to the door when he spotted a couple of his fraternity brothers, dressed for the game, heading around from the back door. He immediately pulled his hand away.
“What…?” Ed started, but Jack motioned with his eyes. Ed froze. There, coming down the house steps, were Ben and Ed’s coworker, Cole.
Cole looked their way and then turned to the others.
“I’ll catch up with you.” Cole trotted over to Jack and Ed. “Hey.”
“Hey, Cole.” Ed held out his hand, but his voice shook.
Cole turned toward Jack. “I’m going to guess Jack isn’t really your cousin?”
“He’s my boyfriend.”
Cole held out his hand. “Cole Jenkins. I’ve worked the last two summers with Ed.”
“Nice to meet you.” Jack hoped it was, at least. “Ed’s told me a little about you.”
“Don’t believe all of it.” Cole’s smile seemed real enough. “I’m the boss’s son. I’m either an arrogant, entitled asshole or I’m talked up in hopes of getting on good with my dad.”
“Actually, he was more neutral, said you were a decent guy.”
He laughed, but Ed’s rigid posture hadn’t eased any. “I’ll take that.”
“You playing today?” Jack eyed Cole up and down.
“Yeah, Ben said you needed a cover guy. I played safety in high school, and I hear there’s beer after the game.”
“Yeah, loser buys. We had to spot them four touchdowns, but I still think we can win.”
“Four? Wow. Ben said you were good, but that’s a lot of points.”
Jack nodded toward Ed. “I brought along a secret weapon.”
“Right.” Cole’s expression changed, but Jack didn’t think it looked hostile. “For what it’s worth, you’ve nothing to worry about at work. My cousin Gerald is gay, and he’s my dad’s favorite nephew by a long shot. You met him. Worked the last two summers with us.”
Ed swallowed. “Wait. Gerald, the guy who looked like he could snap a two-by-four in half with his bare hands?”
Cole snorted softly. “That’s Gerry. He’s coming back again this summer. Starts next week I think.”
“I had no idea.”
“Dad and I had no idea about you either.” Cole’s smile morphed into a wicked grin. “Don’t say anything to Gerry right away. He’s always on about how he can tell ‘his kind’ and all. I’m sure he has no idea about you.”
“Your dad knows?” Ed’s face lost all color, and Jack thought he might get sick.
“Yeah, I told him after Ben mentioned you came as Jack’s date to the formal.”
Jack was sure Ed had stopped breathing, but before he could say anything, Cole spoke again.
“Don’t look so worried. Like I said, Dad doesn’t care, so long as you do your work. And he won’t allow anyone to harass you either. Just let him know if it happens and he’ll deal with it, assuming Gerry doesn’t snap them in two first.”
“Others seemed to mind when they found out about Wayne,” Ed said. “At least that’s how it seemed.”
“Yeah, there were a couple assholes who said a few things they shouldn’t have. Dad dealt with them and it stopped.”
“Wayne left a couple days after it started.”
“Not because of that.” Cole’s face screwed up for a second, and he looked away. “I probably shouldn’t say this, but he got arrested on a drug charge a week after his old boyfriend started coming to the shop. He and his ex were doing something shady and he got caught. Dad let him go when he couldn’t make bond. Didn’t want the liability of sending him into people’s houses knowing what he knew.”