Schooling the Jock (Nerds Vs Jocks #1) - - Eli Easton Page 0,86

totally fair.”

He reached for me, but I took an instinctive step back. “Wait. You came out to your parents, but what about your football scholarship? And your house? It seemed like Rex wasn’t buying what you were selling at the motel.”

The idea of lying and hiding for another year at school did not sit well with me.

He dropped his hands, but his chin lifted defiantly. “Last night, my parents and I looked over the scholarship paperwork I have. There’s a section with terms of dismissal, and none of them have to do with my sexuality. We checked the Badgers Athletics site, too, and there’s a whole page about their dedication to diversity including LGBTQ athletes. So, I may be in for a lot of shit from my teammates, and they can bench me if they want, but they can’t take away my scholarship. Dad says we can get a lawyer if they try. And that’s all I really care about. I just want to finish my nursing degree.”

My eyes widened. “Your parents helped you with all that?”

He nodded and smiled fondly. “I guess I should have known they’d support me. They’ve always supported Eli and Micah, no matter what. It was unfair to think they’d do less for me.” His voice hitched a little on that, but he cleared his throat and went on. “I called Rand too. He said he’ll put the ALA guys in their place if they get too nasty about it.”

“You told Rand?” I whispered.

He looked abashed. “Yeah. Is that okay? I guess I should have asked you—oof!”

I threw myself at him, grabbed his head, and kissed him hard right there in the hallway at the Marriott in Chicago.

Jesse’s arms went around me, and he held me tight. When I came up for air, he gave a shaky sigh and smiled. “I know what I did was really terrible, and I know you’re going to have to remind me a hundred times that I’m okay being out, and I don’t have to freak every time somebody looks at us sideways. It took a lot of practice to get this messed up.” He flashed that Jesse-irresistible grin. “But I sure would appreciate being forgiven.”

My heart was singing an aria in my chest, but I glowered at him. “You are playing Quiz Bowl this morning, right?”

“Um, Dobbs, I just drove five hours to get here. In the middle of the night. Of course, I’m playing.”

“Then I forgive you. And, also, I kind of love you.” I winced but only a little. It felt so easy to say.

Jesse’s smile could have lit up every buzzer in the tournament. “I love you too.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Jesse

Holy freaking hell. Talk about a trial by fire. I just kissed a guy in the hall of the Marriott Hotel surrounded by an army of Quiz Bowl nerds! Oh yeah, and for a chaser, I thought I’d tell Dobbs I loved him. Pure exhaustion must have been getting to me because I laughed.

I looked around the hall and saw some grins and a few embarrassed frowns, but I didn’t spontaneously combust. In fact, I felt—light. Like somebody just pulled a sack of rocks off my shoulders.

Dobbs—uh yeah, that would be the guy I was in love with—was looking at his watch and frowning.

A bolt of adrenaline shot through me. “What?”

“We’ve got to go register ASAP. We’re in the first round.”

I nodded because I couldn’t get enough air in my lungs to answer. A trickle of the icy fear from Milwaukee crept into my brain. My stomach tightened, and I clenched my fists to keep from shaking. No! No way. If I was going to do that again, they’d be better off with Jax and—

Dobbs wrapped his hands around mine. “Stop! Do not psych yourself out. You’re a very good Quiz Bowl player. Amazing, really, for the short time you’ve been in. Come on, Jesse. I’ve been competing in Quiz Bowl since I was thirteen. You’ve had a month. Lighten up. Even if we lose, we meet Robberts’s requirements and both our houses stay open. That’s what counts.”

I gave him a look. “I know Jeff Dobson did not just say even if we lose.”

“Well, I’d rather not lose,” he said dryly. “Just saying, it’s not—Christ—it’s not life or death. No use putting pressure on yourself.”

I cocked a grin at him. “At least Robberts can’t say we didn’t work together.” I dropped my voice to a whisper. “Although I doubt he expected me to know what your cum