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Jack’s breathing quickened, and he didn’t know how it happened, but the next thing he was aware of was parking in a gas station and Ed helping him off the bike.
The helmet came off, and Jack couldn’t stop swallowing.
“You okay?” Ed rubbed his shoulders, a frown pinching his brow. “Can I get you something? Need a drink?”
Jack nodded, and Ed ducked inside the store and came back out with a Gatorade. When Jack had drank more than half and the panic had subsided, he looked at Ed and gave him a sheepish smile. “The bike… it’s real intense. I love it, but yeah. Smells, sounds, the whole feel of it is ten times more sensitive than driving.”
Ed spoke softly. “Yeah. It can be really emotional too.”
“The wind that buffeted off that truck. It freaked me out and then… damn, that reaction took me by surprise.”
“Do you want me to call you a cab?”
Jack looked at the motorbike and back at Ed and shook his head. “No.” He needed to confront his fears head-on. He couldn’t let the past keep hindering his future. “I trust you, Ed, and I will get on again. Maybe we could just take a few minutes first?”
A warm smile lit Ed’s face, and he leaned in as if to kiss him, before remembering where they were and pulling back. “As long as you need. Then I’ll take you back home.”
Jack glanced at the clouds gathering in the distance. He wanted to protest. To tell Ed that no, they should definitely do dinner first, but…. “Ten minutes. Then head back before it rains.”
They sat next to each other, staring out at the cars on the road. Jack rubbed his palms over his jeans. “You had a big day, yesterday?”
A breath funneled out of Ed. “Yes.”
“Does it have anything to do with why you picked me up?” From Harrison grounds.
“Yes,” Ed whispered over his cheek. “My parents know.”
Jack closed his eyes. He’d suspected as much. His whole body coiled tight, waiting for Ed to continue.
“I got upset when you left. Mom looked at me and asked what happened between us, and I froze. I just froze, and she came forward and hugged me. Said I didn’t have to say anything, but that whatever I wasn’t saying, she and Dad loved me anyway.” Ed pinched his brow. “Those words unleashed everything I’ve been holding back. I told her I was gay. Told her you were my boyfriend. Told her everything about you because finally I could share it. Could tell someone about this amazing guy I’d met and how insanely happy I am and how that freaks me out, and how I was upset because I couldn’t just ask you to stay. Because when you left all I could imagine was you taking someone else to your formal. The thought made me feel sick and hurt and jealous, and I hated it.”
Ed trembled as he spoke, his voice cracking at the end.
Jack threw his arms around Ed and embraced him. Ed breathed heavily against his neck, grip tight on Jack’s back, like he wanted to pull him even closer.
Ed’s admission complicated his life, but this tender thing between them mattered. He couldn’t take someone else, knowing how that made Ed feel. He wouldn’t.
Jack pulled back. “I wish it didn’t matter where I kiss you.”
“I wish it didn’t matter either.”
“You picked me up tonight.”
“Baby steps.”
Ed drove them back to the frat house. Jack handed Ed the helmet. “Thanks for taking it slow on the way home.”
Jack bumped Ed’s shoulder, peeking at him, and Ed laughed softly and bumped back—
A crowd of hollering guys stumbled out the front door, and they stepped onto the lawn rather than be bowled over. Jack shrugged and tried to laugh it off. He wouldn’t be missing much if he left.
But Marcus would miss this.
Dad would have been disappointed.
Lightning blinked across the sky. Less than three counts and thunder rumbled over them, followed by the clouds opening. Rain had the guys swearing and racing down the path.
“Ed?” someone called.
Jack stilled, Ed doing the same at his side.
Two guys ducked out of the frat house and into the rain, opening umbrellas. Jack recognized the smaller one. Chem Ben, a year below him. Guess the other was a friend.
“Hey, man,” the other guy said, eyeing Jack.
“Hey, Cole,” Ed said, tight and short. He subtly moved away an inch as he explained, “Cole works with me.”
Cole nicked his head in hello. “Good to see you have a life outside work.”
Ed moved another inch and gestured to Jack, voice stuttering. “This is my… this is my cousin, Jack.”
The lightning and thunder hit at the same time, and Jack used it as an excuse to drag Ed to the porch, waving Cole and Ben off on Ed’s behalf.
The guys raced down the path to wherever they were heading for the night, and when they were alone, he stared at Ed. “You okay?”
