Page 40 of Hidden Plays (Desert Football #1)

NINETEEN

JORDAN (JJ)

T he next morning, I left Holden to sleep while I rummaged around his kitchen, checking out what he had for breakfast food.

So far, I’d found eggs and whole-grain bread.

Yeah, it was eggs in a basket time, JJ style.

Which meant I’d add the cheese slices I found in the refrigerator and serve it with salsa.

Cheese and salsa made everything better, didn’t they?

I smirked as I set all the ingredients on the counter. We had nothing to do today besides watch a ball game, thanks to our schedule, which put the holiday weekend game day on a regular Saturday. We’d play the U of A in Tucson, and I’d be sure to bring the Territorial Cup home to Tempe.

After finding a frying pan, I set it on the glass stovetop and threw a few pats of butter into it.

We weren’t doing healthy today. We were going for comfort.

As the butter melted, I tore a hole in a slice of bread and set it in the pan, then cracked an egg into it.

As the aroma of butter and eggs filled the air, I breathed it in and made a second round.

While the eggs and bread cooked, I set the dinette and made a carafe of coffee. My baby deserved the full treatment from me today, and I was happy to give it .

As I finished four sets of eggs in a blanket, melted in cheese, movement caught my eye.

Holden stood at the end of the kitchen, his hair a mop of tangled waves, sweats hanging low on his hips. “What are you doing?” He sniffed at the air, and a grin played over his lips.

“Making my baby breakfast.” I plated the food. “You’re just in time.” I brought the food to the table. “If you want some coffee, it’s already made.”

“Damn, this is nice.” He padded into the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee. “Do you need some coffee?”

“Yes, please.” I stepped toward him, hugged him from behind and kissed him under his earlobe. He was the most adorable thing I’d ever seen. “We need salsa.” I grabbed a jar of salsa from the refrigerator and added it to the table.

He poured creamer into the coffees and stepped to the dinette. “JJ, this looks delicious.” He sat in a chair.

“Thank you.” I dropped in next to him and poured salsa onto my plate. I didn’t want to put it on top and make my bread soggy. “How are you doing today?”

“I’m better.” His brows furrowed. “I think I had nightmares about Noel though.” Shaking his head with a huff, he said, “I can’t get the look on his face out of my head when he called you a fuckboy.” He focused on me. “I’m sorry you had to hear that.”

I choked back a laugh. “It’s not the first time I’ve been called a fuckboy.” I cut into my food and ate a bite, the cheese melty and butter soaked into the toasted bread. Yeah, this was what we needed.

“But you’re not a fuckboy. You don’t enjoy hooking up.” He ate a bite of egg and bread and moaned softly. “Oh, fuck, JJ, I didn’t know you could cook.”

“I can when I want to. Just don’t like to and Eli enjoys it more.

” I drank some coffee. “So today, I was thinking I’d call my dad to get started on intervention specialists for your parents and maybe watch some football?

” I peered at him. Would he want to return to the hospital?

“Or we can see how your brother’s doing? ” His parents might need a break.

He rocked once, pressing his lips together. “I’ll call Mom later, and we’ll play it by ear.” He poured some juice and drank it. “I’d love to watch a game, though.”

“Sounds good. I’ll call my dad after breakfast to get the ball rolling, and you can call your mom when you feel up to it.” I ate another bite of food, this time with salsa. “Today it’s all about you, babe.”

He squeezed my forearm, resting next to my plate. “Thank you, JJ. This means so much to me.”

“I know.” I gave him a cheeky smile. “It’s what boyfriends do for each other.” Leaning across the table, I kissed him. “Now, eat up.”

I cleaned the dishes while Holden relaxed on the couch, scrolling through his phone. Today was his day, so I’d chased him out of the kitchen when he’d tried to help. Was I over the top? I didn’t care. He needed me, and I’d be there for him in every way.

When the dishes were done, I slipped my phone from the pocket of my jeans and called Dad while stepping into the main room.

After one ring, Dad said, “Hi, Jordan. I was wondering when you’d call.”

“Yeah?” I glanced at Holden and fell in beside him. “Do you know why I’m calling, then?” I’d almost lost my shit when Dad acknowledged the space between us. Would things be different now?

“I have a feeling you’re looking for recommendations for a good rehab center?

” He asked. “I called the hospital this morning to get an update on Noel’s condition.

” His voice lowered. “He’s been argumentative with the staff.

He needs help, and so does his family, Jordan.

I’ll do everything in my power to provide them with any information I can. ”

“Thanks, Dad. It means a lot to me.” I glanced at Holden, frowning and fixated on me.

“I’ve made some calls as a referring physician after speaking with the staff and have a list of providers ready who can take him. Do you want me to email them to you?”

Damn, Dad was on this. I should have known. He was as driven in his job as I was with football. “Yes, email them to me, and we’ll get them to Holden’s parents.”

Holden squeezed my thigh and snuggled into my side, resting his head on my shoulder. “Tell him thank you from me.”

“I heard.” Dad chuckled as I set the phone on speaker.

“You’re on speaker now, Dad.” No point in being the messenger. I kissed Holden’s head.

“It’s no problem, Holden. Your parents have a challenge ahead of them, but with the help of a professional, you’ll all overcome it.”

“I read there are only three outcomes for an addict—incarceration, sobriety or death.” Holden’s breath hitched.

“I’d say that’s about right. Recovery will be a long road, but remember, addiction is a disease, like any other. It can be treated, Holden. There is hope.”

Holden sniffled and wiped his eyes. “Thank you, Dr. Matthews. I’m so grateful for everything.”

“It’s my pleasure, son. Take care of yourself, and make sure you take care of your mother,” Dad said.

“Yes, I’ll call her soon.” Holden lifted his head. “We might need to spend some time at the hospital today.”

I nodded. “Anything you need, babe.” Shifting my attention to the phone, I said, “Email me the list and I’ll forward it on.” Warmth spread across my heart. My dad came through for me, and it brought me closer to him than I’d been in years. “Thank you, Dad. Love you.”

“Love you too, son. We’ll talk soon. ”

“We will. Bye now.” I ended the call and sighed, threading my fingers through my bangs. “When do you want to call your mom?”

“Let’s get showered and dressed, and then I’ll do it.” He lifted off the couch and held his hand out. “Come on, I have some clothes you can wear.” He smirked at me.

“I’m sure they’ll be short and baggy on me.” With a soft snort, I grabbed his hand and let him haul me up.

We took a long-ass shower, because I had to soap Holden’s dick for him, which led to him soaping my dick and pretty soon, there were orgasms to be had.

When we finally dried off, I stepped into his room, naked and satiated.

“What do you have for me to wear today?” I could go home and change, but this was more fun.

Holden dug into his dresser drawer. “I could give you team sweats, but that would be too easy.” He freed a soft snort. “Here’s some cheap-ass underwear from Target.” He held out a pair of black boxer briefs.

“Okay, but they look like they’d chafe.” I slid them up my legs. The fit wasn’t too bad.

“They don’t chafe.” With a scoff, he pulled out a pair of black Adidas joggers. “Here, these are pretty snug on me.”

“Okay.” I slipped them on and pulled the string at the waist tight. “Good thing there’s a string, so they don’t fall off.” This was too much fun.

Arching a brow, Holden swayed, examining me. “There’s no way they’re falling past your ass. You know you’ve got quite a bubble butt?”

“Me? Are you saying my ass is fat?” I faked a scoff and tapped my ass, wiggling it at him. “I’ve worked hard for this ass.”

Rubbing his eyes and chuckling, Holden said, “It’s a fine ass, JJ. Now stop it.”

I’d made him laugh. Mission accomplished. “Okay, now what shirt? I want a hoodie. It’s a little cold outside.” Yeah, sixties in the desert might as well be below freezing for a Zonie.

“I have one you can wear in my closet.” He strode to his closet and slid the mirrored doors open. “Here.” As a sly smile crossed his lips, he held a white hoodie with a U of A logo on it. “Here, it’s a large.”

“Oh, hell no. Have you considered how messed up it is with the big rivalry game tomorrow?” Crossing my arms over my bare chest, I harrumphed. “Where the hell did you get that?”

He shrugged. “An old girlfriend gave it to me. She mistakenly thought I was attending U of A and not ASU.”

“She wasn’t very smart, was she?” I shook my head. “Find me something else.” An oversized hoodie wasn’t so bad.

“Here.” He tore another hoodie off a hanger and handed it to me. “This one says Dad Bod on it.” He snickered.

“Jesus.” With a broken laugh, I slipped it over my head. I had a sense of humor. I could wear it. “Where’d you get this one?”

“My mom. She discovered it in a shop in Sedona and thought it was hilarious because of how hard I like to work out.” Shaking his head, he said, “It’s pretty funny having it on you.”

“Or you.” I poked him in the ribs. “My hot trainer boyfriend.” Maybe at the hospital, it could serve as comic relief if shit went down.

Instead of calling, Holden opted to text his mother. She’d gone home overnight, but had taken off work to be back at the hospital today while his father worked on the list of specialists my father had sent me. Holden figured he should get the update on his brother in person.