Unnecessary Roughness (6 page)

“All right.” Kyle rolled his eyes. “Get dressed. We have practice today.”

Spinning around, Connor headed to his room to get dressed, all the while wishing he could stop pretending. That’s what he was. One big, horrible phony.

Kyle covered his face with both hands and then ran them back through his hair. He knew he’d slipped up and prayed he’d think before he spoke next time. If he made a sexual overture and Connor wasn’t gay, Kyle was certain he’d lose him as both a friend and roommate. He finished getting ready, making sure he had his key and cell phone.

In a few moments Connor returned, still smiling. “Ready, cutie-pie!”

“Okay, wiseass.” A smile edged out Kyle’s dower mood. Connor was so attractive, it wasn’t easy to stay upset. Especially when Connor was such a tease.

“Ha! Cutie-pie! Cutie-pie!” Connor flew out their door and bounded down the stairs noisily, his laughter echoing behind him.

Locking the door as he left, Kyle shook his head at that tight butt and long, rock star head of hair as he disappeared out of his view.

They parked Kyle’s car in the lot and pushed a shopping cart down the aisles of the mega store. Connor offered to drive the trolley while Kyle investigated everything they needed. The cart was piled high by the time they headed to the check-out. As Kyle watched, several young women tried to catch Connor’s eye, but he never seemed to notice them.

His brain working on overdrive when it came to this man, Kyle just couldn’t figure out all the mixed signals.

When the total was calculated they both cringed. Connor wrote out a check since Kyle had put the down payment on the apartment. They carted the items out and Connor said, “I hope my mother gets me the money by Monday or that check will bounce.”

Arranging the items in the back seat and trunk of the Ford, Kyle replied, “Maybe we need to work part time.”

“Oh, fuck that! And school? And sports? When? In the middle of the night?”

“We can rob a bank.” Kyle smiled.

“Don’t worry. Just let me call home.”

Once the car was loaded, Kyle asked, “Do you want me to wait outside the car while you call?”

Digging his mobile phone out of his pocket, Connor shook his head. “Sit tight.” He gestured he’d be right back.

Kyle nodded.

Connor walked a few feet away from the car, then put his phone to his ear.

As he gazed at Kyle slouching behind the wheel, someone answered the phone. “Hello? Lawrence? Is Mom available?”

“Yes, Master Connor. One moment.”

“Hello? Connor?”

“Mom? Hi, how are you doing? You okay?”

“Yes, things are fine. How is school? Are you doing well in your studies?”

“Yes, very well. Uh, I moved out of the dorm though.”

“You did? Why?”

“Low class atmosphere. You know what I mean? It’s worse this year because I’m a senior. It’s very promiscuous,” he elaborated to sell it, knowing his mother was the consummate religious prude.

“Smart boy. You don’t need that to interfere with your work. Where are you living?”

“A teammate and I got a small apartment right off campus. Could you send some cash to help us with sheets and towels and stuff?”

“How much do you need?”

Oh, ten thousand would be fine. The change in Dad’s pockets.
“If you could spare a couple hundred. And I’m paying half the rent. So, it’s four hundred a month. Don’t pay for the dorm anymore if you get a bill.”

“Okay. I’ve paid in advance for the quarter. Will you get a refund?”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Let me know. And I’ll transfer money into your account. Do you have the address of your apartment for me?”

It was too easy. She was being too nice. Connor assumed she must have had another run-in with his dad. Caught him cheating again? “Yes, you ready?” He took the frayed ad out of his wallet and read it to her. “You miss me? Mom?”

“Of course, dear. Do you ever keep your cell phone on? I always get voicemail.”

“No. Not really. It goes off constantly. I can’t stand it.”

Silence followed, then his mother said, “I’ll get the money to you soon. Goodbye, dear.”

He heard the line disconnect. “Mom? Hello?” Connor disconnected the call and noticed he had voicemail and text messages. He shut off the tiny phone not bothering to check them. Connor muttered bitterly, “You’re there for the cash but not the love, right, Mother dearest?”

Slumped in the front seat, listening to one of his favorite Peter Gabriel CDs, Kyle stared at Connor and studied his body language closely. Just the sight of Connor’s brown hair blowing in the warm breeze, his tanned skin, and his glowing light eyes made Kyle hot. He began rubbing the mound between his legs as it throbbed.

Connor’s posture changed a few times, from nervousness to relief and then back to apprehension. It matched the expressions on his face. When Connor hung up he stared at the phone for a few moments as if gathering his thoughts. Kyle grew concerned. They hadn’t delved into family history yet, so he had no idea what dynamics governed the Worthington household. Connor finally raised his head and started walking to the car.

In a surreal moment, during
Red Rain’s
chorus repeating in the background, Kyle’s focused was glued to that bulge between Connor’s legs. The way it moved when he walked, right to left, hypnotizing him. The amount he wanted to fuck Connor was driving him insane. Before Connor came too close, Kyle pressed his palm onto his crotch, pushing it down, trying to tame it.

Connor opened the passenger’s side of the Ford Taurus and climbed in. Kyle asked, “Any luck?” 

“Yes, she’s giving me money.”

“Good.” Kyle started the engine. “Then why aren’t you smiling?”

Without a word in reply, Connor put his seatbelt on and leaned on the passenger’s door to stare out of the window.

Having a bad feeling about Connor’s home life, Kyle tried to change the subject. “Practice in an hour. Let’s unload and get something to eat quickly. My treat.”

Connor turned to look at him distractedly. “Cool.”

Kyle left him alone to his thoughts. Whatever was going on, it wasn’t good.

After a few trips up and down the stairs, Connor dumped the packages in the middle of the floor in the living room and headed back out. Still running on empty, Kyle drove them to a pancake house and they finally got their much needed coffee.

“You up for our date tonight?” When the waitress approached with a pot of coffee, Connor raised his empty cup so she could refill it.

Kyle curled his lip.

“Are you ready to order?” the waitress asked.

“Give us a minute.” Connor smiled sweetly at her. When the woman left, Connor whispered, “What? Oh, relax, will ya?” Connor tipped cream into his cup. When Kyle still hadn’t responded Connor exhaled loudly. “Is it because it’s a blind date?”

“Yes!”

“Will you calm down?” Connor didn’t want to go either but felt like he had to date. If he wasn’t seen with a woman, especially after moving in with Kyle, the rumors in the locker room would be cruel, and that didn’t even begin to describe the punishment he’d endure if word reached home he didn’t see women. Ever.

As if avoiding the conversation, Kyle picked up his menu.

Trying to figure out why he was reacting so badly, Connor reached to lower it as it acted as a wall between them. “Are you upset about this double date?” Kyle didn’t answer. Connor tried to analyze why. “Kyle, if you really don’t want to go, then I’ll call Hannah and tell her I’ll go alone.”

“I can’t decide between the waffles or pancakes.”

“Kyle!” Feeling exasperated, Connor wanted a straight answer and wasn’t getting one. “Quit the bullshit!”

The waitress returned. “Are you ready to order?”

Grumbling under his breath, Connor exhaled and checked the selections. “How about two eggs, poached, toast with butter on the side, and home fries.”

Kyle muttered, “First a veggie burger, now you’re on a diet.”

“Shut up and order,” Connor grumbled, throwing the menu down. He had no idea why Kyle had become hostile.

“I’ll take a stack of buttermilk pancakes, a side of sausages, and an egg, over medium.” After Kyle handed the waitress the menus, he leaned his chin on his palm staring at Connor. “Who the hell are you? Long hair? Diet food? What the hell? Next thing you’ll tell me is you do yoga.”

“Oh, fuck you.” Hating the taunting, Connor pouted, crossing his arms over his chest.

Imitating Connor’s expression, sticking out his lower lip at him, Kyle cracked up.

“Stop laughing at me, Baker!” 

Kyle sipped his coffee, staring at him.

His cheeks burned in humiliation. Connor peeked up at him. “You done abusing me?” Connor had taken so much painful tormenting at home he was very thinned skinned.

“Abusing you? I was only teasing. Take a chill pill.”

“You take a chill pill, you asshole!”

“Jesus!” Kyle flinched.

Connor slouched and focused on his coffee cup.

“I can’t win.” Kyle rubbed his forehead. “I’m just playing around with you, Connor.”

“No. You can’t win that game with me. So don’t try.”

They sat in total silence until their meals arrived. Kyle covered his plate with plenty of butter and maple syrup.

“You’ll turn into a Baby Huey eating like that.”

“I work out. I can’t eat like you do. Jesus, I’d starve. You eat like a fucking girl.” Kyle laughed.

Connor cringed.

“What? Oh, you can kid me, but I can’t kid you?”

Hating being compared to a woman, Connor turned his attention to his plate.

“Fine. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it, Connor.” Kyle waited for a reply. When none came he stuck his fork into his pancake and held it up. “Taste? As a peace offering?”

Feeling sorry for himself, Connor blinked his eyelashes and noticed the fork hovering before him with a delicious bite of pancake and sweet syrup. As if he were doing something naughty, Connor scanned the area first before he leaned forward, opening his lips.

Kyle fed him the bite. “Well?”

“It is good.” Connor smiled as he chewed.

“You’re welcome to more.”

“You want some of mine?”

“The potatoes, when you don’t finish them.” Kyle grinned.

Connor choked on a laugh. “Holy fuck. Two days and you know me that well? That’s fucking scary.”
I’m beginning to adore you too much.

In return Kyle gave him an affectionate smile. 

Drenched in sweat from a grueling practice, Connor and Kyle showered side by side. Kyle kept up small talk to keep his mind and view from Connor’s fabulous body as Connor rubbed bubbly suds all over himself.

Once they were dry and getting dressed, he and Connor discussed the game with a few of the other players when they were standing in front of their lockers.

“Fucking Donald kept hogging the ball,” Kevin Brown said.

“He spends way too much time cradling and not enough time passing,” Dick Lang said.

Kyle didn’t know why Donald was getting such a bad rap. He didn’t think the guy had done anything wrong.

“And you, Worthington!” Arnold Walski pointed. “Nice hair.”

Ross Cartmen laughed. “If you’re trying to look gay, it’s working.”

Connor flinched at the jab. The rest of the guys laughed in a riot.

Head Coach Banks called Connor’s name as Connor tucked his shirt into his jeans. As his coach approached, Connor gave Kyle a quick look as if to see if Kyle was listening in.

“Connor, I’ve had a talk with Stu Knox, the assistant coach, and we want you to be a captain.”

Instantly Kyle grabbed Connor’s shoulder to shake him. “Are you kidding? Connor! That’s fantastic!”

Connor took a moment to absorb it, staring at each player as if judging their reaction to the announcement. Kyle was the only teammate who seemed pleased at the news.

“Good job, buddy!” Coach Banks patted Connor’s bottom and left.

Connor finished getting dressed in silence, his damp hair hiding his face.

Kyle was confused by Connor’s lack of excitement and even more perplexed to see the rest of the players disperse without so much as a congratulations or a pat on the back.

Once he and Connor were on their way out of the locker room to the parking lot, Kyle put his arm around Connor’s shoulder as they walked. “I am so proud of you.”

When they arrived at the car, Kyle unlocked the doors and climbed into the driver’s seat. While Connor sat quietly, deep in thought, Kyle fastened his seatbelt, ignited the engine, and turned down the radio. “Connor?” The urge to cup Connor’s face in affection was overwhelming.

“Hmm?” 

“Well?” Kyle gestured for him to say something.

Connor replied, “I really don’t want to be a captain. I’m already overloaded with too many credits. I shouldn’t even be playing at all.”

“Are you for real? Do you know how many guys would cream themselves for that honor?”

Connor shrugged. “I don’t care. It’s just more shit to deal with.”

Kyle sighed as he backed out of the parking space. “I just can’t figure you out, Worthington.”

On the drive home Connor stared into space and Kyle left him alone in his thoughts. Kyle wondered if Connor’s family life was horrible and that’s where the insecurity originated from. He knew what his response would be if he was selected captain of a Western Collegiate Lacrosse League team.

As they drew near their apartment complex, Kyle took another look at Connor’s profile. He could read a dark depression engulfing him. It didn’t take a shrink to see something was troubling Connor. Tears were standing in his eyes, about to overflow. Kyle felt so much pity for him it was painful. How could a man who had Connor’s incomparable beauty, charm, and intelligence be so riddled with sadness?  

Once they parked and climbed the stairs to their unit, they came through the door to a pile of parcels still littering the floor. Without a word, Connor stepped over them to go to his room.

After staring at the heap of items for a minute, Kyle started sorting through them.

Connor emerged, changed into a black pair of slacks and v-neck t-shirt, headed to the bathroom. He whispered, “Let’s do that tomorrow. We need to get ready.”