Small Town Boy

Chapter 26

"I don't mean to be rude, but why are you grinning like you won the lottery, it's weird as fuck." Calvin asked as he rooted through his bag for a change of clothes. 

"Who, me?" Owen asked as he mindlessly scrolled on his phone. 

"No, not you dumbass." Calvin rolled his eyes and pointed at me. "Him."

"Me?" I asked, doing my best to fake shock. 

"I don't see anyone else in the room right now." He smirked. "So what's up?" 

"I don't know, you tell me?" He raised an eyebrow. 

"Nothing is up." I insisted. 

"Sure buddy." He scoffed.

"Landon, I've known you long enough to know when you're lying." Owen interrupted, placing his phone on the bed. At the same time, Parker stepped out of the shower. 

"Who's next?" He asked. 

"Me, but I'll go once your brother spills the beans," Calvin answered. 

"Spills the beans on what?" Parker asked. 

"Look at him." Owen urged. "Look at him and tell me something isn't up." 

Parker looked me up and down while the other two watched, and then he began to nod slowly. Calvin exchanged a knowing nod with Owen. 

"Spill." Parker grinned. 

"What if I don't want to?" I asked. 

"You see, I think you actually do want to tell us." Parker shrugged. "You aren't usually this cocky whenever you decide something should stay a secret." 

"What is it about anyway?" Owen asked. "The game?"

I shook my head. 

"Football at all?" Calvin asked. 

I shook my head again. 

"I know," Parker smirked. "It's about your boyfriend, isn't it."

"It isn't!" I denied, way too quickly, cursing how well he knew me. 

"It so is." Parker shook his head. "Thank god you want to play football and not be a spy, they'd have you compromised within the hour." 

"Rude." I snorted. 

"So what about him?" Owen pressed. I didn't know how to respond. I wasn't ashamed of what I said. I meant it. Sure, I would have liked to have done it at a time when we could be together for a bit longer, but it kind of just slipped out. Still, explaining that all to my brother and his friends wasn't exactly something I had worked out yet. It felt private, and important because of the fact it was something only Wyatt and I shared. 

"Come on." Owen insisted. "Whatever it is you can tell us. Besides, you look happy, so it must be something good. But, like if it isn't good you can tell us as well." 

"It's good." I clarified. "I think." 

"So tell us," Calvin repeated. 

"Fine." I caved. "I told him I loved him." 

"And judging by how you've been acting, he said it back." Parker guessed. I nodded slowly, a grin forming on my face.

"Well, I'm proud of you." Parker grinned. "It makes me sound like an old fart, but you've grown up a lot this year."

"Yeah, the team will be in good hands next year." Calvin nodded. 

"Those two act like this is something they've only just noticed." Owen scoffed. "The moment you first stepped onto the field during the first game was the moment I knew you'd be alright."