Page 50 of Rule 1: Never Accidentally Marry Your Teammate

He blinks, then leans back. “Oh.”

Sounds from outside fill the car because we’re not speaking. The car wheels swish over the pavement, and the right turn signal clicks as he turns toward Cambridge.

I don’t squirm in the seat. I’m absolutely still, as the knowledge that I’ve inconvenienced Finn yet again slides over me as effectively as any compaction roller.

“Hey...” Finn ducks his head toward me. “It’s totally cool, dude. No worries. You’ll give your parents your room, and we’ll bunk up.”

“I don’t want to take your room.”

Hurt flickers over his face for a moment. I’m handling this all wrong.

“I mean, I don’t want to be a bother.”

“A bother? Are we talking like grannies now?”

I blink.

“We roomed together for away games. I’m sure we’re going to keep on rooming together on away groups, because no one wants to separate the newlyweds.”

“I don’t want to encroach on your space.”

There’s a slight awkwardness. I walked in on him jerking off yesterday.

“It’s going to be great,” Finn promises. “Besides, I have a TV in my bedroom. We’ll have a blast.”

“So the TV can cover up the sounds of all the noisy sex we’re not having?”

Finn’s eyes dilate for a moment, and a car behind honks.

“Shit. Sorry.” Finn tightens his grip on the wheel, and I decide not to distract him anymore.

There are other things to think about. Like what my parents will think about meeting my husband. And then I remember that theyarecoming to visit. Even though I’m married to a man. Even though I’m sure they don’t know another gay couple in real life and have always been disapproving.

I find myself smiling into the wet, cloudy day.

Finn’s lips twitch. “It’s going to be awesome. You’ll see.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Finn

It’s possible I slightly exaggerated my enthusiasm for Noah’s parents’ visit. The knot in my stomach doesn’t feel awesome.

Noah has moved his clothes and things into my bedroom, where, frankly, they belong.

Now I’m pacing the kitchen, waiting to buzz Noah’s parents up.

I haven’t met anyone’s parents before, and I check and recheck that everything is ready. I’ve never been introduced as someone’s boyfriend before, and now I’m being introduced as someone’s husband.

And it’s a lie.

Whoever these people are, I’m going to be lying to them. A year from now, they’re going to learn Noah and I are divorcing, and they’ll hate me.

And God, they’ll be right. I swallow down the acrid taste in my throat.

Then the door buzzes. Shortly after, they’re on their way.

“Noah! Your parents are almost here!”