Page 28

NOAH

A Callum and Steph situation

“How many times is too many to jerk off in a day?”

I rub my hand over my face at Mack’s question, lying down in the gym’s stretch section with a groan.

Callum led the four of us through a gruelling boxing circuit this morning, with particular focus on me.

Whilst Callum eases up on my training in the off-season, he never lets me slack off.

Having fitness year-round is essential if I want to be at the top of my game.

“It depends.” Callum looks thoughtful as he processes Mack’s question. “Are you jerking off to excessive amounts of porn?”

Mack whips his towel in my direction, beads of sweat flicking over me. “The regular amount.”

I grimace, wiping the droplets off me. “Get away from me.”

“How often are you having sex?” Callum probes.

Mack shrugs. “Few times a week.”

Callum nods. “And how often are you having a J-Arthur Rank?”

Mack tilts his head. “Few times a day?”

Dan sits on a bench, sweat pouring down his face. “It’s like babysitting a fucking teenager with you sometimes.”

“It’s a fair question,” Mack argues. “I want to know if I have a problem.”

“See a doctor,” Dan grunts, wiping a towel behind his neck. “King, make sure you stretch out your hamstring.”

I nod as I mull over Mack’s question. I don’t know how to answer it, because I’ve been doing a fair bit of it myself the past few days.

Ever since Millie kissed me at the surf club, I’ve been getting hard-ons at the most random times whenever I re-live it.

At the beach, at the gym, on the couch with the boys.

I’m taking care of myself every time I’m in the shower.

The kiss was electrifying. I thought I was imagining things when Millie grabbed my shirt, frantically trying to read her expression as she pulled my mouth to hers.

But once we made contact, I stopped thinking, completely and utterly consumed by the taste of her.

She tasted like strawberry lip balm and sea salt, her lips gentle and soft.

When her tongue swept into my mouth, lightning shot to my dick, and it took every ounce of self-control to not scoop her out of that room and take her home. It was the best kiss of my life.

Millie and I haven’t talked about the kiss, and I know she’s avoiding me.

I was meant to drive her home after lunch at the surf club, but she cut things short and headed home before I had the chance.

It’s been four days since then. She’s not answering calls, and her texts are clipped.

I’ve made a concerted effort to keep my phone charged in case she reaches out, but so far, it’s been like pulling teeth.

To be fair, I’m not sure how to proceed either, so I haven’t pushed it.

Mack looks between the three of us, his hands on his hips. “Don’t act like what I’m asking is weird. At least I’m honest about my sex life. You three assholes aren’t as suave as you think you are.” He holds an arm out in Dan’s direction. “Dan hasn’t so much as looked at another woman since Sarah.”

Dan’s jaw clenches shut, but he doesn’t argue the point. His gaze flickers to me and I shake my head, urging him to ignore Mack.

“Noah and Millie’s relationship looks way too perfect to be real,” he adds. “Any suggestion they’re banging non-stop is almost certainly bullshit.” I do my best to school my expression, praying Mack and Callum don’t notice the guilt plastered on my face.

“Callum’s been leading Steph on for an eternity,” Mack continues. “I can’t believe that woman lets you use her as a booty call when you’re in a drought. She’s a goddess.”

“Steph and I have an understanding,” Callum snaps.

Mack snorts. “Sure, and like all other understandings, it’s going to end with no one getting hurt. You’ll be friends forever.”

Callum glowers at Mack and I dip my head in shame. Mack’s got a point. Understandings rarely end amicably, as well-intentioned as they start out.

“Your sex roster is endless. Maybe you’re not doing the job right if you feel the constant need to jerk off.” Callum clicks his fingers at me without taking his gaze off Mack. “King, hamstring .”

“Impossible.” Mack leans against the wall as I move my legs to stretch out my hamstring that always gets tight. As two gym-bunnies walk past and smile at him, he winks without shame. He’ll probably get their numbers before we leave the facility.

“Dan’s right, go see a doctor,” Callum spits. “I’ve got to take a piss. Meet you at the car.” He marches off without waiting for a response.

Mack frowns after him. “What’s his problem?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone as oblivious as you,” Dan grumbles, standing up. “Get your shit. We’re leaving.”

Dan stalks off, his enormous frame clenched as he lumbers towards the foyer.

Mack looks perplexed. “What’d I say?”

I stand and clap him on the shoulder. “I love you, mate, but sometimes, you don’t think before you open your mouth.”

“What else is new?” He turns to me with an earnest look on his face. “Tell me one bit of what I said that wasn’t true.”

Another fair point from the big talker of the group.

He touched on sensitive topics for each of us and hit the nail on the head each time.

Dan’s been hung up on his ex-girlfriend for well over a year.

He refuses to talk about how Sarah up and left, shattering his heart into a million pieces.

I can’t remember the last time I saw Dan hook up with anyone.

Callum knows he’s stringing Steph along and won’t admit there’s anything else there. He insists she feels the same way, that staying casual is what they both want, but I’ve seen the way she looks at him. Like he walks on water, surfboard or no.

And then there’s the shit Millie and I are trying to pull. We do look too good to be real, because it’s not real. If I didn’t know better?—

I clock Mack watching me and see the glint in his eye. “What?”

“I know , King.” He raises his eyebrows. “Don’t try to deny it.”

I gulp. “You know what?”

“I said don’t try to deny it,” he hisses. “I know you and Millie are faking it. Your little stunt at the surf club may have convinced everyone else, but I saw through that shit from the barbecue. You went with my idea, didn’t you?”

I almost fight him on it, but I’m sick of not talking about it. Dan refuses to engage in any conversation because he’s against the idea and Callum seems oblivious.

“Okay, yes.” I slap the back of his head.

Mack smacks me back on the arm. “What was that for?”

“I don’t know. It’s a really frustrating situation to be in.” I run a hand through my sweaty hair, tempted to pull at the roots to cause a bit of pain as a distraction.

Mack’s mouth drops. “Oh, wait. You’re not getting any? I thought you’d figured out a Callum and Steph situation.”

“No. It’s strictly platonic. Kind of.”

Mack shakes his head. “Oh, my little darling. What have you done?”

“I don’t know,” I sigh. “But I need to figure it out before we go camping next weekend.”

Mack puts his arm around my shoulders as we head towards the exit. “Fear not, my na?ve prince. I shall have your back and help you solve any problems that may arise.”

“Do me a favour, Mack? Don’t ever help me again.”