The Little Things [Book 1]

Chapter Forty-Two: Hard man

"So, how come Jack didn't join you?" Thomas asked, a bottle of water still in his hand while sitting on the bench right between Dean and Mark.

"I'm sorry... what?" Mark asked back, looking sideways at Thomas.

"You were with him all day long. Why didn't you invite him to come to the match? At the very least he would have had a fun, little family reunion," Thomas replied, sipping on some water.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Mark snapped at him, jumping up and angrily staring at Thomas. Thomas looked up at him innocently and Dean took in a sharp breath, bracing himself for a fight. A few other players of the team also turned to look at Mark with a questioning gaze.

Seeing as Thomas wasn't about to start speaking, Mark grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him a little further away from the rest of his teammates. There were still a few people near them, but as long as neither rose their voices they wouldn't be able to listen in on their conversation.

"What's your fucking problem? I didn't invite Ashton for two reasons. Firstly, he is currently on a flight to Los Angeles. And secondly, I didn't invite him, because Hal didn't attack only me," Mark said between gritted teeth.

"Hal hit Jack... sorry, Ashton?" Thomas muttered.

"Why else do you think he left without telling me anything?" Mark replied, then, he sighed. "It wasn't as bad as when he hit me, but it was his brother..." He seemed to calm down after saying that, and he looked at Thomas almost apologetically. "What is eating you up?"

"Nothing," Thomas muttered again, taking his eyes away from Mark.

"Come on, Thomas, just say it."

"Nice hickey you got there..." Thomas finally said, looking up through half-lidded eyes. Mark frowned at that and then he remembered the hickey he had seen on his neck that morning.

"Yeah, you did a good job," Mark said with a snort.

"I did?" Thomas replied and raised eyebrow.

"Yes. At the library. Yesterday..." Mark said slowly. Then, he started to smile. "Did you think Ashton did it do me? Has that been eating you up?" he asked with a devious grin.

"What? No," Thomas snapped and looked away, a blush creeping up his face. Mark let out a bark of laughter.

"Were you jealous Thomas?" he asked, not easing up the teasing.

"No. Why would I be? We're not together... right?" Thomas replied, looking at Mark with a pointed look.

"Right, you don't have the time," Mark muttered, lowering his gaze.

"You don't have the time –no. Neither of us does, right?"

"I told you that you could call me your boyfriend..." Mark said in a low tone.

"Yes, because I couldn't introduce you to my parents as the guy who has been fucking me," Thomas said, leaning forward a bit. Mark frowned.

"Is that all that I am-"

"Are you trying to turn Thomas too?" Hal's voice cut off Mark and he took in a sharp exhale. Are you fucking kidding me?

"Excuse me? Turn him into what?" he growled and slowly turned around, a dangerous glint in his eyes. From afar, noticing Mark and Hal being alarmingly close Dean shot up and nudged Blake and Bryan to follow him.

"A fucking queer, like you did with-"

Hal never got to finish that sentence as Mark's fist connected with Hal's face. He hit right onto his nose, causing Hal to stumble backward as he lost his balance. Pain spread out his face and then he felt blood oozing out, but he had only a matter of a second to react as Mark was on him once again.