Page 95 of First Down Promise

“All this shit with Pete will blow over. Everything sucks for him right now,” Dane replies.

“Things suck for us, too,” Josh adds.

Dane makes a face and cracks his neck. “I’m okay with a shorter season. I toss and turn all night. Can’t get comfortable.” After sleeping next to Josh a few times now, I know exactly what Dane means.

“Hey, we’re retiring together, and I’m not done yet,” Josh says.

“Fuck me,” Dane mumbles under his breath.

“You don’t want to be next?” I ask him. “To find someone.”

Dane’s expression goes flat. “Nah. I like it casual, but my personal affairs are no one’s business.”

Josh just rolls his eyes. “Yes, you’re a drag, Dane,” he teases. “Coop doesn’t talk about his dating life either.”

“Because he has none?” Dane deadpans.

“You guys are the worst gossips,” I interject.

“I prefer observant,” Dane says. He puts his hands on his knees and winces as he stands. “I’ll leave you guys to do whatever boring couple shit you’re up to. Got an episode of The Bachelor to catch?”

“Oh, shut up, you shit-talker,” Josh says. They laugh together, and Josh gets up to see Dane out.

“Hey, happy New Year, Abby,” Dane calls out over his shoulder.

“You, too!” I reply.

A pinch of guilt hits me for leaving Pete alone tonight, but at least Dane’s heading over there. Maybe he’ll have better luck cracking through his mood than I did.

When Josh comes back, he picks up our empty bowls from the coffee table. “Are we boring?” I ask, making him pause mid-motion.

“No, we’re settled?” Josh answers.

“So, boring?”

He sets the bowls back down on the coffee table. “Alright, Ab. I’ll see your ‘boring’ and raise you,” Josh says, toying with the drawstrings of his sweatpants. “Get on your knees.”

My eyes dart upward to his dark eyes. “You’re propositioning me for a blowjob? In the living room?” Then, I glance toward the front of the house. “Has Dane even pulled out of the driveway yet?”

He crosses his arms over his chest. “Don’t care. Show me how not boring you are,” he says with the cockiest smirk plastered on his face.

“I mean, alright.” I throw the blanket off my legs. “But you know I’m new to this,” I add.

“Might as well practice, right?” Josh jokes.

“I heard it makes it perfect,” I say, running my hands up his thighs.

Later, I reach for my phone on the nightstand. “We missed midnight by two minutes,” I say, putting it back face down.

He kisses the side of my shoulder and rolls on top of me, supporting his weight on his arms. “Hardly. Maybe your phone runs fast,” he replies, tucking his index finger under my chin. His chest is sweaty against my bare skin as he kisses me. “Happy New Year,” Josh whispers against my lips.

I press my forehead to his. “Happy New Year.”

I wish getting here hadn’t hurt Pete, but I can’t wish away what I have with Josh.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Josh