Burn Zone (Hotshots 1)

A startled noise, part squeak, part cough, made them break apart in a hurry. Jacob’s mom was there in the doorway, and just like that all their cozy intimacy evaporated. Jacob sprang back to his chair like he’d been yanked by an imaginary arm. Then he was up again, grabbing the second chair, and babbling as he motioned his mom forward.

“Sorry. Uh. That...yeah. Chair? What are you doing here? At this hour?”

“I couldn’t sleep. Not a wink.” Jenna waved Jacob’s questions away and ignored the offer of a chair. “I kept picturing you hurt and alone...both of you... But then...what’s the meaning of this? Lincoln, explain.”

It didn’t escape his notice that she’d asked him, not Jacob, to explain. He was the older one, the one who was supposed to be in charge, to know better, and to not be kissing her youngest in a hospital room or any other place. And all damn spring and summer, he’d dreaded this moment, being caught, all their secrecy for naught. And now that it was here, he was...

Calm. Relieved even. No more waiting for the inevitable confrontation. But in his relief, he took too long to reply and Jacob made a frustrated sound.

“It was nothing.”

“It was too,” Linc corrected him while meeting Jenna’s scandalized gaze. “I’m sorry you had to find out like this—”

“Find out what precisely?” Her voice rose, then fell as she seemingly remembered where they were.

“Noth—”

“We’re together.” He shot Jacob a “please be quiet” look as he answered Jenna. “We’ve been...seeing each other.”

The euphemism was the best he could do. He didn’t want to declare them in love when Jacob hadn’t exactly welcomed that sentiment from him earlier, and calling them a couple seemed similarly optimistic, but he was also done pretending and hiding.

“Seeing?” Her eyes went wide. “You’re gay? Or bisexual? Well, obviously I missed that piece of news. You didn’t think there was anything I needed to know the last twenty years or so, Lincoln?”

She sounded so hurt that Linc had to look away before he could answer. “I’m sorry. It wasn’t... Not that I didn’t want to. Just...complicated.”

“I’ll say. And Jacob? Exactly how long has this been going on?” Her tone made Linc’s jaw clench. He hated being right about her reaction and assumptions. And yeah, some of that was on him for sneaking around and her finding out like this, but still he’d warned Jacob she might not be thrilled.

“A...” Jacob shot a look at Linc which did nothing to make them look less guilty.

“Couple of months.” Might as well go with honesty, even if that horse had long since left the barn.

“Months?” Her mouth pursed. “Months and neither of you thought it might be a good idea... Well, never mind that. Obviously you weren’t thinking. About anyone. Or anything either. Your work? Wait.” She swiveled to Jacob. “Is that why you insisted on taking the job?”

“No.” Jacob sighed, disappointment at her reaction clear in his eyes. “You both tried to talk me out of that. At length. This was...after. And it was me who started it. Not Linc. I had a crush for...a long time. Wasn’t exactly a state secret.”

“It was both of us.” Linc wasn’t going to let him take the blame like that.

“Yes. I...suspected you had some sort of...puppy adoration thing going on. When you were a kid.”

“I wasn’t that young. I was nineteen the summer his dad died and I kinda got...obsessed. But nothing happened then anyway. And I’m not a kid now.”

“Yes, you sort of are. And this...it’s wrong.” Jenna shook her head and leaned on the back of the empty chair, still not sitting down.

“Wrong?” Jacob’s voice was low but deadly. “Wrong? You’ve been supportive of me since I came out. You really think it’s wrong of me to have a relationship? To care about someone?”

“Of course I support you. You’re my kid.” Worrying her lip with her teeth, she exhaled sharply. “I just mean...this. I’m not sure I can approve of this with Lincoln. The age difference alone—”

“Is nothing. I have friends with far greater gaps. And they’re happy. Why don’t you want me happy? You love Linc.”

Linc wasn’t so sure about that. He wasn’t one of her kids, wasn’t owed any loyalty. The most loyal person in his life other than the dogs might well be Jacob, and even then, Linc wasn’t sure he deserved him as a champion.

“I do want you happy.” Jenna sounded more exasperated than sincere. “But... I just don’t know. I need time. You almost died today. Both of you. Don’t ask me to deal with this now.”

“Not asking for your approval.” It was one of the hardest sentences Linc had ever had to utter, but it was true. He was past needing permission to care about Jacob. “Not gonna lie, it would be nice. But I love him. I’m not giving up this thing we’ve found together without a fight.”