Page 63 of His Secret Santa
Holden laughed quietly and averted his eyes. “Yeah, he… he asked me to stay the night with him.”
Jamie glanced at the quarterback standing a few feet away, his eyes darting repeatedly to Holden. Jamie smirked. “And you said he was out of your league.” He pfted. “Looks to me like he’s the one feeling fortunate for you.”
Warmth washed through Holden; Lincoln had pretty much said the same thing.
Holden made his call. His mom answered and Holden explained he wouldn’t be home till morning, and that he was staying with a friend for tonight.
“A friend?” Jamie smiled when the call ended.
Holden shrugged. “They don’t need the details. They don’t want the details, trust me. The less I tell them about my lifestyle, the better things are at home.”
“But you and Lincoln are together now,” Jamie said. “Are you going to tell them you have a boyfriend?”
“Yeah… eventually.” Holden sighed. “We’re sort of making progress… at least, I think we are… and I don’t want to disrupt that.”
“Do you think Lincoln will want to meet them?”
“I think… I hope… he’ll let me decide when to make the introductions.”
Jamie chuckled. “I’m pretty sure he won’t be pressuring you about anything right now. He’s at your mercy and, for the time being, I think you’re in full control.”
Holden shivered at the thought as his mind went straight to the bedroom. Honestly? He kind of hoped Lincoln would take control in the bedroom. Holden was inexperienced. He didn’t know if Lincoln had engaged in gay sex before, but he had a lot of experience in straight sex, which surely counted for something.
“How are things progressing with you and Abby?” Holden asked.
“We’re… taking it slow,” Jamie said. “I’m crazy about her and, yes, I’ve had some fantasies about us. But I’m not gonna pressure her into something she isn’t ready for. It’s kind of nice just hanging out. I mean, we hold hands and kiss—which is really nice. I get the feeling she wants to do more, but I’m in no rush. We’ll get to it when we get to it.”
Holden chewed his lower lip. “Do you think I’m rushing things with Lincoln?”
“No,” Jamie replied without hesitation. “It isn’t the same with you guys. You’ve been in love with him this whole time and, I think, he’s been in love with you for almost as long. And you guys have already done some hot sexy stuff together.” He grinned. “So, no, you’re not rushing anything. Go, have a great time tonight. You fucking deserve it, more than anyone.”
Holden smiled small. “Thanks,” he murmured. “For everything. You always have my back. Especially tonight.”
“Lincoln was the hero tonight.” Jamie smiled.
“Not just Lincoln,” Holden whispered. “You didn’t hesitate to try and help me. And that’s everything to me.”
Jamie grinned and hugged him. “I’d jump into a pit of poisonous snakes for you.”
And he would, Holden knew without a doubt.
• • •
Lincoln parked the Trans Am in the driveway. “My dad won’t be back until sometime tomorrow.” He exhaled slowly and looked at the large home. “So, we’ll have the place to ourselves.”
“Okay,” Holden whispered. He sat anxiously in the passenger seat looking as nervous as Lincoln felt.
At the club, behind the anonymity of the mask, Lincoln had surged with confidence. But the mask was gone… there was no more hiding. It was just him and Holden… and no secrets between them. Whatever happened now—happened out in the open. And that fact scared the hell out of him. What if he fucked up? He’d promised Holden he would never hurt him again and he had no intentions of doing so. But what if he couldn’t stand up to the bigotry when they returned to school? McKenna wasn’t wrong about how things would be once everyone knew the truth.
Lincoln looked at Holden—and suffered instant guilt and shame for his thoughts. Holden came to school every day and faced up to the bullshit, somehow managing to keep his head above water. You’re so much tougher than you think—tougher than me. While Lincoln hid away, Holden walked through the fire. The young man was to be admired, someone to draw strength and inspiration from. And Lincoln did. For Holden, he would walk into that school with his head held high and proud of who he was.
And for Sam.
Quietly clearing his throat, Lincoln opened the car door. “Ready for tonight?”
Holden gazed at him in a way which warmed Lincoln in all the right ways. “I’ve been ready for four years.”
Leaning over, Lincoln kissed him deeply. “Me, too.”