Page 55 of Before You (Reckless Love #2)
JJ and I are the last ones to arrive at the stadium, and I didn’t think it would be obvious until we stepped into the box and every single person in the room turned to stare. This time, the box doesn’t only consist of JJ’s family—I was prepared to be surrounded by people, but not this many people.
“JJ, who are all these people, and why is everyone staring at us? We made it before the game started,” I whisper through my smile, willing it to stay in place instead of shrinking under the weight of everyone’s stares.
“Because everyone thought you were a blow-up doll I was toting around in public.”
My head snaps quickly to look at him. “I’m sorry, what?”
JJ laughs, his smile bright as he looks down at me. “I’m kidding, sweetheart.”
“Damn, I thought you wouldn’t show until after the game started,” a tall man says, walking up to us. I recognize him from some of the pictures around JJ’s parents’ house, but I can’t put a name to the face.
“It’s good to see you too,” JJ jokes, removing his hand resting on my lower back to hug him. “Marley, this is my uncle. Uncle Owen, meet my girlfriend, Marley.”
The name sparks in my brain, and my anxiety becomes an afterthought as I gasp. “You’re the one who came up with the name JJ!”
His green eyes light up as he grins. “I couldn’t let my nephew go by Jonathan Jacob for the rest of his life. Could you imagine how awful it would be?” he teases, and JJ groans.
“I can’t imagine,” JJ drawls sarcastically.
“Well, you owe me twenty dollars, so let me know how you want to send it to me. I take cash, check, Bitcoin, and I think there’s a ne—” Uncle Owen starts counting off with his fingers, and I laugh as JJ looks at him, confused.
“I’m sorry, what exactly do I owe you money for?
” JJ asks, pulling me back to his side, this time slipping his hand into the back pocket of my jeans.
My breath catches at the simple touch and I turn to look up at him, tempted to pull him somewhere private so we can continue what we started back at the house.
“There was a betting pool on when you would show up, and because you got here before the game started, I’m out twenty bucks.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure you don’t need my money after your contract renewal last year. Who won?”
“Me,” Thalia chimes in, winking at me. With them standing next to each other, the family resemblance is undeniable.
“I see you still haven’t called animal control for the squirrel hiding on your face.
Do you need me to?” she asks, looking up at her brother who is as tall as JJ is, but lacks the muscle mass.
I cough, trying to cover my laugh as JJ sighs next to me, and I think it’s safe to assume this is a frequent occurrence.
He touches his short beard, frowning. “What is so bad about me growing facial hair? Bash also has one for No Shave November, and I haven’t heard you threatening to call animal control on him.”
“Can’t you just accept you’re not meant to have facial hair?”
“Mom, be nice,” JJ chides, but I think this is hilarious.
“Blake likes it,” his uncle argues, and Thalia crosses her arms over her chest.
“Does she?”
“Okay, we’re going somewhere else now before your bickering can scare Marley off,” JJ says, pulling me in the opposite direction.
“I’m sorry, my family is ridiculous, but my uncle was kidding about borrowing money from me.
He’s one of the highest paid head football coaches in the league and was giving me shit because he thinks he’s funny. ”
“Who all do you think was in on this betting pool?” I ask, and a set of arms wraps around my shoulders, recognizing the scent of Mirabelle’s signature vanilla perfume a moment after.
“Every single person in this room. I put money on you not making it at all, but I’m happy you’re here,” Mirabelle says, pulling us toward where Henry and a few other guys are sitting.
“Marley, obviously you know Henry, but this is Wilson and his boyfriend, Jason. Henry and Wilson play for my uncle, but Jason is a left wing for the Carolina Dolphins.”
“It’s nice to meet you, but I’m not sure why anyone thought we wouldn’t make it?” I ask, and she smirks, glancing from JJ to me, and in the process, I can feel my face burn, absolutely giving away what JJ and I were doing before leaving the house.
Mirabelle laughs, moving to sit next to Henry. “Don’t worry about it. As long as they don’t walk in on you, no one’s going to complain about consenting adults doing consensual adult activities .”
JJ swears under his breath, and my eyes bug at the thought of someone walking in on me giving JJ a blowjob.
“Um . . .” I trail off, stalling until I figure out what I’m supposed to say here.
Henry grimaces, resting a hand on her knee. “Mira,” he warns, “maybe let’s not talk about this in a room full of people?”
“Are you telling me you weren’t doing something along the lines of whatever it is we all suspect you were doing?” Mirabelle continues, looking to JJ while his face turns as red as mine. Oh my god, we’re never going to live this down.
“I think I would die,” I mumble under my breath.
“Don’t worry. It’s pretty fucking awkward to be the one walking in on it too. I lived with Henry, and I’m convinced they were trying to see how many times they could get caught,” Wilson says, laughing, and for the first time, I see Mirabelle’s cheeks tint.
“I’m officially team Jason,” Mirabelle adds, sticking out her tongue at the handsome man as he turns to look at the blond man sitting beside him, his warm brown features softening in the process.
“I really can’t blame you since I’m also team Jason.”
“You’re being mean. Cut them some slack. Mira didn’t make fun of me when I showed up to Pilates last week already out of breath,” he says, and Wilson smiles, chuckling.
“Jace, you have no idea what it was like to live with them. I’m surprised my eyes still work, but nothing was as bad as walking her parents out to the pool and finding them naked.”
“No.” I gasp, covering my mouth.
“This is my version of hell,” JJ says, grimacing, and I seriously can’t imagine. I would never be able to look JJ’s parents in the eyes again.
“I don’t know how many more times I can apologize for the pool.” Henry groans, and Mirabelle snorts.
“The answer is you can never apologize too many times for the pool.”
“What about a pool?” A tall girl who seems around my age appears on the other side of me, her honey eyes lighting up as they meet mine. “Hey, you guys made it. I’m Kaitlyn.”
I return her smile, noting the similarities between her and Henry. “Marley,” I say, noting a small spatter of what looks like orange paint in her brown hair. I brush it out without thinking twice, catching her by surprise, and my face heats. “Sorry, you had some paint in your hair.”
She laughs, combing her fingers through her hair. “All good. That’s actually pretty normal for me these days. Painting is a new hobby I’m trying out, but I haven’t quite figured out how to keep the paint on the canvas and off me.”
“I think that’s really cool you’re trying new things,” I say, and she shrugs.
“I guess it’s a perk of not knowing what you want to do with your life, but since you guys are here now, I think it means Thalia won the bet,” Kaitlyn says, turning back to Henry. “Why do you need to apologize about a pool?”
Mirabelle goes to open her mouth, but Henry covers it with his hand quickly before she can say anything. “Mirabelle thought she saw a mermaid in the pool. I didn’t tell you about it?” he asks, giving Mira a look as she bats her eyelashes innocently at him.
JJ turns, leaning down to whisper in my ear, “I’m so sorry about them.”
“A mermaid? Why are we—” Kaitlyn tilts her head before her eyes widen. “Ew, gross. Forget I asked, I don’t want to know.”
“Si tu veux vraiment me faire taire, je peux penser à autre chose que je préférerais dans ma bouche, mon c?ur,” 25 Mirabelle says and JJ scoffs.
“Sérieusement? La moitié de cette salle parle francais!” 26
The roar of the stadium becomes almost deafening as fireworks go off and the teams take the field, all the attention in the box moving toward the game.
“Oh thank god, I thought the game was never going to start,” JJ says, taking the opportunity to pull me away from everyone else. “Are you okay? I’m sorry about, well, everyone actually.”
“Flustered and slightly mortified, but I’ll survive.” I reach for JJ’s hands, his much larger ones engulfing mine as he exhales, and I search his face for any sign of the mask he so easily slips into. “You okay?” I ask, trying to be careful with my words.
“I’m good, I promise,” he reassures me, leaning down to kiss the corner of my mouth. “Thank you for being here.”
“Of course,” I say, wishing more than anything I could have turned my cheek to kiss him directly. “We better go back and make sure everyone can see us before they suspect we’re doing something else over here.” JJ’s smile meets his green eyes, crinkling at the corners, and I smile right back.
“They can think whatever they want, but I’ve been looking forward to explaining football to you.
Might even be a test later,” he whispers, and my heart thumps erratically in my chest at the suggestion.
This time, his soft lips graze over mine with the gentlest touch and the promise of more.
“I’m eager to show you just how well I’ve been paying attention. ”
“Remind me again how long games last?” I ask, my breath catching.
“Long enough to make the wait worth it.”