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quinn

I spend Sunday afternoon scrapping to finish my Legal Studies assignment. I’d reluctantly dropped JT back home after taking him to basketball training earlier and ended up sitting in the stadium, watching as the coach drilled the team. Trey is right, JT is definitely Coach’s favourite which sure had me smiling. There’s just something about JT and I’m glad I’m not the only one affected.

I can’t stop thinking about him. I hope he’s okay back home with his family where I expect he’ll be getting a punishment he does not deserve. Where I can’t be there to stand up for him the way he does deserve.

I sigh as I try to concentrate on my paper. I know I only have myself to blame but honestly JT is such a draw to me that I know I’ll always choose him over studying. But now I’m in a pickle because I need this grade to be good and I had originally anticipated having the entire weekend to work on my assignment.

Do I have any regrets as to how I spent my weekend instead? Spending time at the duck pond with JT? Our first real date at the restaurant and later at the cinema under the stars? Our two nights spent wrapped up in each other? That would be a big fat no.

JT is fast becoming everything to me. I’m aware that the timing of this relationship is probably not the best with final exams looming on the horizon, but I can’t stop it now. I’m addicted to him.

Especially since he brought up having sex on Saturday night. To absolutely nobody’s surprise, that is now all I can think about. Hell, I’ve been thinking about it for weeks but now I know it’s something JT actually wants I’m kind of wondering how I’m supposed to hold back the reins on this thing before it gets out of control.

Then again, is it really just on me to hold it back? I know I told JT I was keeping things slow for both of our benefits, but I know I’m really doing it for his. If he wants to progress things between us, then what’s really the hold up?

Ah, moral dilemmas. They’re really not helping me focus on this assignment. I have, of course, chosen the most difficult subject to focus on and now I’m feeling just a tinge of regret. A review on the ethos of legal pluralism was really not the wisest choice to make but I guess I hadn’t expected my head to be so full of JT when I’d started down this path.

I sigh and pull my textbook and the various articles I need towards me, knowing I have a long night ahead of me if I want to get the grade I need for this subject.

***

I am exhausted by the time Monday morning rolls around and I regret that Jace no longer brings me coffees to start my day. Although that is undoubtedly for the best, but I do feel every minute of the midnight oil I burned last night as I traipse into science class that morning. JT is already there, and I feel his sweet gaze land on me as I take the seat beside him.

“Morning,” I say, stifling a yawn.

“Hey,” he replies, concern taking over his excitement to see me. “Did you stay up all night studying?”

I shrug, not wanting to make him feel bad. “Had a Legal Studies assignment due today.”

JT’s shoulders slump. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have taken up all your time on the weekend.”

“You have absolutely nothing to apologise for. You know I wanted to spend the weekend with you.”

“I know but I feel like I’m not upholding my end of the agreement with your mum. The one about putting school first.”

“Oh really?” I smirk, leaning in closer. “I thought you meant the one about safe sex.”

His cheeks darken which was my plan all along and he shoots me a heated glare. “You know exactly what I meant.”

“I did. I just wanted to see you squirm.”

“You’re mean,” he grumps back at me.

“And you’re so cute when you’re flustered.”

Mr Peters enters the classroom then and we quieten down. “Mr Sterling,” I hear him sigh, pleased it’s not my Mr Sterling he’s addressing. “I have left my patience hat at home today. Please do not test me.”

JT shares a grin with his weirdly smug cousin before he leans back across to me. “But I am serious, Quinn. Grades are really important to you and I don’t want to be the reason you don’t get into law school. So if we do have another weekend like this one, I want you to tell me if you need to study. I can just read or watch TV or go for a walk to see the ducks.”

“Or you could study too,” I point out helpfully. He just grins and shrugs at that apparently wild suggestion while I chuckle to myself.

However, a minor solution presents itself to me later that afternoon when I drive down my street towards home. One of my neighbours three doors down is rolling out a basketball hoop towards what is obviously a hard rubbish collection on the street verge. I pull the car to a stop and reverse.

“Afternoon, Mike,” I call out as I roll the window down. “Are you getting rid of that basketball hoop?”

“Sadly yes,” Mike replies. “The kids are all gone now and it’s just taking up space from the wife’s garden. Why? You want it?”

“Yeah, I do want it.”

“I’d love it to go to someone who’ll use it,” he says. “Gave my kids lots of years of enjoyment.”

“Well, I can’t say I will be the one using it but my boyfriend certainly will.”

“Jump out and help me wheel it down to your house then,” he grins at me. I don’t hesitate to park the car and then Mike and I wheel the basketball hoop down the footpath to my driveway.

“You want it here or out the back?” Mike asks.

“I’m thinking my mum will prefer it out the back,” I admit. “But I’m sure I can manage if you need to head home.”

“It’s no problem at all,” Mike returns. “Got to keep your boyfriend happy, huh?”

“He does love basketball,” I smile as we attempt to manoeuvre the hoop down the side of the house. We have a paved area out here that we absolutely never use so I know Mum won’t mind that a nice, second-hand basketball hoop has suddenly made itself at home out here. Especially if it’s for JT.

The two of us manage to move it into position and Mike shows me how to fill up the base with water to anchor it down before he shakes my hand and leaves.

I get the hose running to fill the base, suddenly excited to see what JT will think when he sees it.

***

JT is excited about the basketball hoop. Really excited. More excited than I could have really anticipated as I cover his eyes with my hands and walk us out to the backyard after school on Tuesday. He then proceeds to show me exactly how happy he is when he pushes me up against the wall and drops to his knees for me and thanks me in the best way he knows how.

“You are the fucking best,” JT says afterwards as he rises to his feet, leaving me a complete wreck.

“I got you a basketball too,” I tell him, nodding towards the new ball I bought from the sports store last night. He just grabs me around the nape of my neck and leans in to kiss me, forcing his tongue straight into my mouth while I’m still recovering. I like this forceful side of JT a lot.

I want to tell him how much I love him, but I just show it to him instead, letting him take control as he presses himself against me and kisses me with abandon out here in my backyard. He finally pulls back, those filthy lips of his now swollen and puffy and looking like the best thing I’ve ever seen.

JT presses his forehead against mine, excitement replaced with some new emotion weaving its way through the both of us as my heart pounds in a strange, new way.

“How are you so perfect?” he whispers.

“I’m not perfect. Just motivated strongly by a desire to make you happy.”

JT chuckles. “There you go being perfect again.”

“Well, let me be completely transparent and admit that I didn’t get the basketball hoop just for you,” I tease.

“No?”

“No. It’s just as much for my benefit because I get to watch you get all hot and sweaty and show off for me.” I slide my hands down his back to cup his ass. JT’s grin is real as he looks across at me, head cocked to the side.

“You want me to show off for you?”

“You know I do.”

“Okay then. Why don’t you go sit back over there and watch to your little gay heart’s content,” he smirks. He loosens his school tie before pulling it over his head and unbuttons the top two buttons of his shirt as my mouth dries out. He knows what he does to me and the smirk he shoots my way tells me everything.

But I dutifully sit on the outdoor sofa and watch as JT manages to make playing basketball solo look like a skill in itself, ignoring the way my body heats up for him like it always does.

JT comes to sit by me after a bit, a light sheen of sweat on his forehead and his purely masculine scent absorbing me.

“Thank you,” he says, serious for the moment. “I’ve never had my own basketball hoop.” I am somehow dismayed yet not surprised by this information, but I try not to let it show.

“Well now you do,” I tell him, pecking a quick kiss to his lips.

“Should we go work on our science project?” JT suggests.

“Aw look at you, growing up so fast,” I gush which has him rolling his eyes at me.

“A certain part of me is growing up really fast so the sooner we get this homework done, the sooner he can come out and play with you.”

“Mmm. What did you do with my shy boy?” I return as he pulls me to my feet, his grin making me smile.

“You bought him a basketball hoop and he went insane.”

“I’ll buy you a hundred more in that case.” We just grin at each other, both of us lost in whatever this is between us. JT looks away first.

“Oh um, I forgot to mention,” he begins, eyes on the ground as he scuffs his shoe on the paver. “My uncle and aunt wanted to know if you would come around for a family barbecue on Saturday at their place?” He sounds nervous and I grin internally as I reach out to hold his hand.

“I’m assuming your parents won’t be there?”

“Oh heck no,” he replies, eyes on me. “Just the cool Sterlings only.”

“I’d love to come meet the cool Sterlings,” I tell him, watching as his smile takes over his face.

“Good cos my grandma is going crazy that she hasn’t seen you yet.”

“Tell her she can look at me all she wants on Saturday.”

“Thank you,” he smiles, sucking on his lower lip. “You’re honestly the best.”

***

JT’s ‘cool’ family are an absolute riot. I see where Trey gets his exuberant personality from because they are pretty much all like that and it’s kind of overwhelming at first. JT is the quietest one of the lot and that’s saying something because he’s really not all that quiet in comparison to most people.

I’ve already met Alec, and he introduces me to his wife, Billie, who gushes over me and JT as he stands clasping onto my hand like his life depends on it. I’m cognisant of the fact this is the first time he’s let anyone else into our little private bubble and I squeeze his hand reassuringly before he shoots me a smile.

JT’s grandma, Jean Sterling, is the sweetest woman ever with her silver hair and knowing smile which I discover is a very clever cover for her cheeky personality. She pulls JT into a hug, eyes on me as she says loudly enough for everyone in proximity to hear, “Well done, grandson. You’ve brought us home a real stud.”

JT’s cheeks flame pink as he snorts out a laugh before introducing me to his grandma and his grandpa, Joe. We sit down to eat the barbecue around the outdoor table while JT’s grandparents pretend to grill me about my intentions and JT pleads with them to be nice.

“I think we’re being very nice,” Grandma Jean huffs after I’ve told her about growing up with just my mum around.

“You should probably know that Quinn is the smartest person in our year level,” JT adds loyally. “He’s planning on going to law school next year.”

“Is that so?” Grandpa Joe mulls, eyeing me from the other side of the table. “What on earth are you doing with our scallywag grandson in that case?”

The whole table erupts in laughter while JT looks on with indignation on his face and I slide a hand onto his thigh.

“I think they like me,” I say, loud enough for everyone to hear.

“You’re doing great,” he returns, just as loud. “Just don’t make them like you more than they like me.”

“Try going to law school and maybe you’ll move up a notch,” Grandpa Joe adds with a wink at JT.

“Did JT tell you that he and Trey are being scouted by one of the local NBL1 teams?” Alec cuts in, naming the second-tier national competition that sits under the top level NBL. I’m pretty sure that’s a big deal.

“No, JT did not tell me this news,” I reply, eyes on a suddenly quiet JT.

“I forgot in the excitement of winning our quarter final. And it’s not like we have an offer or anything,” JT replies.

“I’m happy for you either way. You two definitely deserve it,” I say.

“They do cause a whole lot of trouble when they’re out on court together,” Grandma Jean adds. “Always have done though so that’s hardly a shock.”

“The Sterling Double Trouble,” Archie hollers in a very loud voice which makes us all laugh again.

“Someone must have overheard me saying that because I’ve been calling them that for years,” chuffs Jean.

“But you love us, Grandma,” Trey returns, batting his lashes at her.

“Occasionally you shock and do something mildly good,” she shrugs.

“So,” JT says, turning to me. “This is my family. Please still like me.”

We all laugh again. I just grin and pick up JT’s hand, pressing a kiss to his knuckles which makes him bite on his lip while Billie gushes from the other side of the table.

We all help pack away after the meal and then I find myself sitting beside JT’s grandma while he and his three cousins start a game of basketball on the backyard court. It looks like they’ve done this a million times before and I watch on with a smile on my face as the younger cousins demand JT and Trey be split up.

“He’s a good boy,” Grandma Jean says softly, eyes trained on JT.

“I know,” I tell her.

“He needs someone to keep an eye on him,” she continues, eyes not leaving her grandson. “He’s been very sheltered. Never had to live in the real world before. He’s never been allowed. I think he needs you in his life a lot more than either of you realise.”

“I plan on being there for him,” I reply.

“You seem like a good sort, Quinn. I’m glad JT found you. Makes me worry a whole lot less about him—in some ways at least. You’ve certainly thrown a spanner in the works if you don’t mind me saying but I do mean that in a good way.”

I don’t know why but I love having Grandma Jean’s approval. It means all the more to me knowing I won’t have it from JT’s immediate family, but it still makes me happy.

We watch the basketball game unfold which seems to be more of an occasion to spout friendly insults at each other while occasionally playing actual basketball, but I find myself smiling, seeing JT in his natural environs. The Dukes had a bye last night on account of their quarter final win so I expect JT needs the athletic outlet. And I certainly don’t mind watching.

JT leaves the game at some point and comes and sits a lot closer to me on the couch than I expected, reaching out a shy hand to thread through my fingers. Oh . I feel that thing thud deep in my chest as he sends me that sweetest of his smiles.

We spend the whole afternoon at Alec and Billie’s home and it’s with some regret when it’s time to leave. Grandma Jean calls JT over to where she is sitting with Billie and shoves an envelope into his hand.

“What’s this?” he asks.

“That will cover you to sit your driver’s license test,” she tells him in a no-nonsense tone. “I know Quinn’s been giving you lessons.”

“I can’t expect you to pay for that,” JT replies.

“Of course you can. You’re my grandson,” she says, somewhat indignantly.

“Thank you, Grandma,” JT just answers, folding her into a hug. He looks across at me and I note the sheen in his eyes, but we don’t look away. I love that he shows his feelings to me. It makes me feel special and like I’ve done something good to deserve having JT look at me the way he does. I don’t ever plan on taking that for granted.