Page 29

quinn

J T and I present our science project to the class on Monday morning. We’re the first team to present since JT wanted to get it out of the way and I will give my boyfriend literally anything he wants. Which is why we’re standing out the front of the classroom, JT looking all sorts of edible in his navy blazer and those delicious grey pants, as we talk through the findings of our little algae experiment.

We spent the weekend rehearsing and putting the finishing touches on the assignment we handed in today along with the presentation. All I can say is it’s a good thing we were super organised because JT was not joking when he said he wanted to have sex all night on Friday night. Lucky he’s so hot because I’m not sure I was quite prepared to set those personal records with him when he pounced on me the second Mum left for work.

I’m trying really hard to put memories of that night out of my head as JT talks through the chart on biofuel extraction efficiencies produced by our algae. Algae is not sexy in any way, shape or form and I try to think about the disgusting green matter instead of the way those grey pants mould themselves to JT’s athletic ass.

JT glances at me and I remember that’s my cue to jump in about the efficiencies we discovered in biomass yield and biofuel production over different types of waste. The graphs we produced to demonstrate our findings are really quite impressive.

We end on a discussion about the environmental benefits of using algae biofuel as a renewable energy source, focusing on how algae can be farmed in large quantities which brings its own incredible benefits to the world as both a source of ozone protection and methane combatant, making ours the renewable of choice.

Mr Peters looks actually quite stunned by the end of our presentation while the rest of the class are shooting worried glances between themselves. I try not to look too smug, but I think we chose the right topic for our project.

“Wow, boys,” Mr Peters finally says. “That was some impressive work there and fantastic findings on the experiment you conducted. Great effort.”

JT looks so happy I wish I could take him out to the broom closet and show him exactly how happy I am with him but instead we sit down at our desk side by side. JT takes my hand under the desk, and I squeeze him to let him know how impressed I am with him.

As I fully anticipated, we are the only team who present on biomass. The rest of the presentations are mostly duplicates on solar and wind power. Catherine Lowe’s group tackle hydropower and I will give her some credit as it’s actually good—but not as good as our project. Even if I do say so myself.

Trey and Millie Bourke are comically underprepared as they hash their way through their solar power presentation. JT informed me they spent most of their project time having sex so that’s hardly a surprise. Although it’s not like JT and I can really talk but we did manage our time reasonably effectively. It also looks like Millie and Trey’s time in paradise was short lived if the loathsome glares Millie is shooting JT’s cousin are any indication.

JT gives them an enthusiastic clap at the end of their painful presentation and fist bumps Trey on his way back to his seat. My sweet boyfriend is nothing if not loyal.

“Nailed it,” JT comments while Trey nods back at him, pleased as punch with his efforts for some reason I’ll never understand.

It takes nearly the whole double lesson before the presentations finish and Mr Peters gives the class an early minute. I pack my bag and wait for JT who slots his hand back into mine right where it belongs. We’re passing Mr Peters’ desk when he calls us over.

“I’m honestly really impressed with your project, boys,” he repeats. “I haven’t read the paper yet, but I just wanted to let you know you’ll both be getting perfect marks for the presentation component.”

“What? Really?” JT asks, jaw dropping to the floor. “I’ve never had perfect marks before.”

“Well, I suspect it won’t be a complete shock for Mr Dayton,” Mr Peters says with a wry grin and I just shrug. No, perfect marks are fairly standard in my academic career, but I have to say I am super pleased I am here for JT’s first.

“Of course not,” JT returns easily. “Quinn’s perfect. But I’m certainly not so this is quite a thrill for me.”

“I’m glad,” Mr Peters replies. “You deserve it. I’ll let you both go but I’m hoping everything is going okay with you, JT?” I wait for JT to answer, really pleased that Mr Peters cares enough to ask about my boyfriend’s welfare. I’m aware these check ins are better asked by someone outside our private bubble. Besides, Mr Peters is the main reason why JT and I got together so at this point I literally owe the man everything.

“Yeah. It’s going okay,” JT replies only a little hesitantly.

“I did mean it about checking out the school’s counselling service. They are really good at dealing with the kind of issues you might be facing.”

“Yeah. I will, sir,” JT agrees. I feel immense relief at that. It’s not that I ever want to push JT into doing something he’s not prepared for or interested in, but I honestly think some kind of counselling will really help him. I also know I’m not the best person to push for it, so I send Mr Peters a grateful smile and head into the corridor with JT.

He's quiet as we walk slowly down the hallway, obviously deep in thought. He stops when we near the exit and I glance across at him.

“I think I will do it,” he finally says.

“The school counselling?” I prompt.

“Yeah.”

“I think that’s a great idea, JT,” I encourage. “I wish I could help you more with what’s going on in your head, but I really think talking to a professional will be good for you.”

“You do help me, Quinn,” JT replies seriously. “More than you will ever know. You make me believe it’s okay to love you and I can’t ever be more grateful for that.”

A wave of emotions hits me square in the chest and I have to take a moment before I reply. I’ve never been an overly emotional guy, but JT just brings out all the feelings in me.

“I’ll always be here for you,” I promise him as soon as the wedge is removed from my throat.

“I love you,” he sighs. I can’t stop myself from leaning down that inch that separates us and pressing a kiss to his lips. I don’t care that we’re in the middle of a school corridor. All I care about is JT and making sure he knows how much I love him.

“I love you too,” I tell him when I break the kiss. He rests his forehead against mine and I just breathe him in until the school bell chimes, and we break apart.

***

I have just managed to work JT’s blazer off his arms, my tongue pressing down his throat when his phone starts ringing, loud and obnoxious. He groans but ignores it while I press my thigh between his legs and start on his shirt buttons.

The phone stops ringing but starts up again immediately and JT swears and drops his head.

“Just let me see,” he says as he reaches into his bag and pulls out his phone. I know if it’s his parents he’ll silence the call but the name on display is Trey’s and I know he’s going to answer. He grimaces at me as he answers the call, holding the phone to his ear.

Trey is so loud I have no difficulty hearing him as he calls enthusiastically down the line. “Bro, did you get an offer letter from the NBL1 scout?”

JT sits up in a hurry, our make out session instantly forgotten as I sigh and try to hide my disappointment. “What? No, I haven’t been home yet.”

“Well get home immediately, cuz, cos I am sure if I’ve got an offer, you do too.”

“Seriously?” JT asks. “Who is it with? Oh, we have to be on the same team or I’m going to rage.”

Trey names the team he has an offer for which has no meaning to me as I am not even remotely aware of the national semi-professional league. Or the actual professional league for that matter. Maybe I should dust up on my knowledge because I have a growing feeling it’s going to become a big presence in my future.

JT hangs up the phone and glances down at me as I sit up and straighten my tie.

“Yes, I heard. Let’s go then,” I say, standing to my feet and hauling him up with me, valiantly ignoring the ache between my legs.

“I don’t know if I want to go,” he says, doubt filling his eyes. “What if I don’t get an offer?”

I lift his chin so I can look into those deep green eyes. “Why would you not get an offer? Aren’t you the league MVP?”

“Yes but that doesn’t mean I’m what a team is looking for. What if they need a tall player instead of a point guard? What if they want someone more like Trey who can work the rebounds? What if they — ”

“Stop, babe,” I tell him, pressing my finger to his lips. “We won’t know unless we go to your house and check the letterbox. There’s no harm in doing that is there?”

“I suppose not,” he says in a quiet voice. “But Quinn. This is my life. What if — ”

“JT. Jethro ,” I say, waiting until those anxious green eyes collide with mine. “Life is full of what ifs . Here’s another one for you. What if there is an offer waiting in your letterbox for you? What if we’re standing around here worrying while your future is waiting for you at home?”

“What if you just kiss me again so I can stop worrying?” he prompts, lips quirked into a smile. So I give him what he wants, holding his jaw as I angle his face up to mine, planting my lips on his and sucking out all his worry.

He’s breathless and his eyes are glazed when I break from him, and I have to I try extra hard not to think about what we were doing before his cousin’s untimely phone call. But this is important to my boyfriend so it’s important to me. I watch as JT steels his resolve before nodding at me and I reach for my car keys.

The drive to JT’s house is a silent one and I squeeze my hand onto his jiggling thigh while he chews on his bottom lip. I know how important this is to him. I know it and I’m inwardly praying to the God JT still believes in as I drive to the suburban home where he lives. I’m not sure whether to park around the corner or not but JT nods at me to keep going so it’s with only a small amount of trepidation that I roll to a stop in front of the cream brick house where JT lives.

He sucks in a breath, not moving until I squeeze his thigh again and he nods.

“Wait for me?” he asks.

“Of course.” I watch as he climbs out of the car and heads straight for the old-fashioned letterbox at the front of the house. He comes up empty handed, and I try not to read too much into that. It doesn’t mean there’s no letter for him. I can see his family are home, so chances are the mailbox has already been checked. JT must come to the same conclusion as he points at the front door and then heads inside.

I wait an anxious few moments until the front door opens again and JT is bounding down the front lawn to my car. He’s clutching a large white envelope, and his eyes are wild and excited as he pulls open the car door and slides inside.

“Go,” he prompts, obviously not wanting his parents to look out the window and see who he’s here with. I don’t hesitate, pushing the car into drive and speeding away.

“Where to, babe?” I ask.

“Um, your house,” he says in a quiet voice. “It’s where I feel most at home.”

Damn, there he goes again, choking me up with feelings. I swallow down the sudden wave of emotions as I step on the gas and head back towards my house.

It’s not that I’m surprised by my emotions because it’s JT. And JT is as sweet as sugar pie. But I always thought I’d cruise through life, making bank on my good academic record, dating guys like Devon off and on, guys that never meant all that much to me but who I’d put up with for sex. I never thought I’d meet someone who literally takes my breath away, who makes me feel things the way JT does. The way I would do literally anything for him. The way he makes me want to spend all my money on stupid shit for him because it’s worth it just to see his smile. The way I will sit and watch an entire game of sport and actually care about the outcome. The way he makes me think about things like the future and that elusive m word I never thought would be part of mine given the wreckage I witnessed of my parents’ marriage. Nope, JT makes me feel everything and I love that about us.

It’s a ten-minute drive and I am feeling like I have a stomach full of butterflies as I pull up in the driveway and turn to face JT. He’s clutching the envelope to his chest, nerves pouring off him in waves.

I wait to see if he’s going to open the letter in the car but he goes for the door handle, so I follow behind him, all the way up the stairs until I’m closing my bedroom door behind us.

“Go ahead,” I encourage, standing in front of him as he lets out a whoosh of air. He rips the envelope open, and I wait as his eyes dart over the information, unable to read any emotions from him. “Well?”

“It’s an offer from Eastern Greys — the local team. Same team as Trey,” he says, biting on his lip as he looks up at me with his big, wide eyes.

“I knew it,” I say quietly. “I’m so proud of you.”

He gulps in a few big breaths, eyes misty again until he drops the envelope on the bed and reaches for me. I go easily, not stopping him as he plants a kiss on my mouth, his desperation evident in the slight tremble to his hands.

His fingers go straight for my shirt buttons, and I don’t stop him. I know what he wants, and I know how to give it to him as I help him out of his clothes, pushing him in the direction of my ensuite where I can lock the door behind the two of us. I know my mum will be home any minute and so far, I have mostly tried to not have sex with JT while she’s in the house. But I can read my boyfriend’s need for this, and I am not one to deny him.

I shuck him free of his clothes and set the water running, JT’s lips never leaving mine. As soon as the water’s warm enough I push him inside and he pulls me along with him, warm hands grappling smooth skin.

“Tell me what you want, JT,” I murmur, kissing my way down his neck. “You want me on my knees for you to show you how proud of you I am?”

“Yes. That,” he breathes. I quirk a smile as I slowly sink to my knees before him, lining myself up at the perfect height. And then I give my boyfriend exactly what he needs, my mouth slotting perfectly around his dick.

He’s thoroughly wrecked by the time I finish with him as he stares down at me with full, glassy eyes.

I grin as I rise to my full height, trailing my fingers up his chest as he comes down from his high. His eyes trail down my body, taking on a predatory tilt as he cocks his head and reaches for my dick. It’s my turn to moan into his neck then as his beautiful, soft hand shows me how much he loves me, making my knees tremble. It takes an embarrassingly short amount of time before I spill onto his stomach, joining him on the other side, and it is all over for me.

“I love you so much, JT,” I say, head still buried in his neck. “And I’m so proud of you.”

“I love you too,” he sighs. We stand under the hot water stream just breathing until we’re both recovered enough, and I turn the water off.

“Let’s go celebrate you,” I say, throwing him the spare towel I keep up here for when he stays.

“I should call Trey,” he suddenly remembers, pausing with the towel around his back.

“Probably,” I snort out on a laugh.

Selfishly, I’m glad that Trey was a secondary thought to me. That I was the one JT wanted to celebrate with. Selfish yeah, but I can’t help it. I actually love JT’s relationship with his cousin, and I won’t ever stand in the way of that. But I also want to be the guy he turns to first for everything. All the little wins in his life. Even the losses. Even the basketball stuff I don’t fully understand.

And if tonight is any indication, I’m pretty sure I might be winning that unofficial contest. And that doesn’t make me half smug at all.