Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2024 19:57:16 -0500 From: Parker Henderson Subject: My Best Friend's Little Brother- Chapter 5 All characters and events in this story are fictional. This story was written for entertainment purposes only. Feedback is always appreciated parkerhen76@gmail.com If you're enjoying this story, or any of the other wonderful stories on the site, donate to Nifty @ https://donate.nifty.org/. My Best Friend's Little Brother Chapter 5: A Truth So Loud You Can't Ignore Pickleball has been my favorite hobby for the last couple years. I loved it so much that when I finally decided to ditch the downtown life last year and buy a house in the suburbs, I made it a priority to get a house near a court. When I finally found the perfect bungalow, right across the street from pickleball courts, I was ecstatic. When I told the previous owners that a big reason I bought the place was because of the courts, they thought I was insane. The loud noises from the courts was the reason they were selling! Tanner also loves playing pickleball, although he doesn't get to play too often with his busy family schedule. When we were making plans for the trip we knew that we were going to play at least one night during our weekend together. Noah made fun of us saying that pickleball was a game for boomers. Maybe he was right, but that doesn't change the fact it's a fun game. He reluctantly agreed to play with us back then, and I was glad when he did. When we got back to Tanner's, Noah was playing with the twins in the living room.He was already dressed in his pickleball clothes, short black shorts and a tight white athletic shirt. He looked so cute. When he saw us walk in he lit up. "You guys ready for pickleball?" Noah said excitedly. "I thought pickleball was for boomers" I shot back sarcastically. "It is. But I'm gonna show you boomers how it's done." Noah said with a laugh. I just chuckled and shook my head. I went upstairs and got changed into my pickleball clothes. Oddly enough the clothes I brought were pretty much the same as Noah's. Short black shorts and a tight white athletic shirt. The only difference was what I put on underneath, a neon yellow Trophy Boy Andrew Christian jock, which showed off my manly meat nicely. When I went downstairs I found Noah sitting on the couch in the living room alone. "We're matching!!" Noah said loudly with the biggest smile on his face when he saw me. "Well you know what they say about great minds..." I said as I returned the smile. "They dress alike?" "Obviously," I said, laughing, "Where is everybody?" "Tanner's getting changed and Emma is getting the twins ready to go over to their friends for a play date." I looked around to make sure we were alone as I walked quickly towards Noah. I knew it was risky, but I couldn't resist him. When I reached him I bent over and kissed him passionately. This kiss lasted longer than it should have, but as our tongues intertwined neither of us wanted to pull away. "You look so cute today, Noah" I whispered as I finally found the strength to pull away. "I know." Noah said as he smiled confidently. I bent down again, this time just giving him a quick peck on the lips. I ruffled his beautiful dirty blonde hair and sat down next to him on the couch. I had no sooner sat down when Tanner walked in, closely followed by his whole family. We were almost caught. "You guys ready to go?" Tanner said as he looked over at the two of us sitting closely on the couch. I was paranoid by the look on his face that he thought it was weird how closely we were sitting next to each other, practically touching, so I quickly got up. "Yup," I said as I stood "I'll drive". We said our goodbyes to Emma and the twins and headed outside. "Shotgun!" Noah yelled as soon as we stepped outside. "Get in the back, Noah." Tanner said annoyed. "No, I called shotgun!" Tanner and Noah continued to bicker like brothers as we approached my car. "Tell him to get in the back, Stephen" Tanner said like a little kid begging. "Wellllll," I said as I looked back and forth between the two brothers, "rules are rules, buddy. Noah called it." Noah smiled and jumped in the passenger seat. Tanner rolled his eyes and begrudgingly got in the backseat. The truth was I wanted Noah in the passenger seat, he was my boy. "Can we not listen to your old man music this time? Eight hours of it yesterday was enough" Noah said as soon as we got inside the vehicle. "I don't listen to old man music," I shot back "I listen to the same music as Tanner pretty much" "Exactly." Noah said with a smirk. "You did play one good song though." Noah said as he scrolled through my Spotify on the car radio. He played YOUTH by Troye Sivan. The song started to play as we pulled out of the driveway. None of us talked as the song played. Noah and I intently listened to the song, while Tanner just played on his phone ignoring us and the song. I loved that Noah liked this song. The chorus came around and Noah started to sing along. I kept one eye on him and one eye on the road. "My youth, my youth is yours, a truth so loud you can't ignore" Noah sang along as he looked at me. I took both eyes off the road to look at him. We gazed longingly at each other. Tanner was oblivious to it, still playing on his phone in the back seat, but Noah and I were falling even harder for each other. Noah sang every word of the chorus directly to me, I could tell he meant every word. Noah wasn't a great singer, but he sounded perfect to me. "That's my favorite song!" Noah exclaimed when the song ended. "Mine, too." I whispered quiet enough so only Noah could hear. "Can we play some of that `old man' music now?" Tanner said from the backseat while still looking down at his phone. I smiled at Noah, I wanted to listen to whatever Noah wanted to listen to. He was my perfect "passenger princess", he controlled the music now. "Fineeeee" Noah sighed as he changed songs. It didn't really matter what song he chose anyways, because we were only a few minutes away from the courts. When we pulled up to the courts, the courts were about half full. We found an empty court in the corner and put our stuff down. Tanner handed Noah one of his crappy Amazon paddles. "Here, Noah," I said as I squatted down and reached into my pickleball backpack for my back up paddle, "use this. It's much better." "You never let me use your fancy paddles," Tanner said bluntly "That's cause you can afford your own, but bought those pieces of crap instead" I said laughing as I handed the paddle to Noah. "Thanks," Noah said as he grabbed the paddle from me "you're so kind to me" I looked up at Noah and we shared a smile. "Of course." We warmed up a little, explaining the rules to Noah. I was on one side of the net, the two brothers on the other. "This game really is for boomers," Noah said as we volleyed the ball back and forth, "it's easy as heck." "Okay, let's play then" I said, "me vs you first, kid" "Easy W." Noah gloated. It was an "easy W", but not for him. I had the novice Noah running all over the court and won easily 11-2. "You'll get the hang of it soon enough, kid." I said to him as we met at the net. "You got lucky." Noah said as he smiled at me. We rotated playing singles between the three of us for about an hour or so. It was my turn to sit out, and as I did, I watched Noah. He was picking up the game pretty quickly. He looked so good as he worked up a sweat, his smooth skin glistening. Whenever he made a really good shot, his face would get red, like he was embarrassed for being good, it was so cute. "You guys need a fourth?" I heard someone say, breaking up my day dream. Tanner, Noah and I look at each other, unsure if we want to keep playing with just ourselves, then Noah suddenly smiled. "I'M ON STEPHEN'S TEAM!" Noah shouted before anything could be said. "What about the Finch brothers?" Tanner said with a hint of betrayal. "Stephen is better," Noah said flatly, "plus we match. We have to be on the same team. "Fine." Tanner replied sadly. I got up and joined Noah on his side of the court. The stranger, who was an older gentleman, probably in his mid 50's, joined Tanner. "I told you this game was for boomers," Noah said quietly to me as I approached. "Careful. Boomers can play." I responded. It's true, I have gotten beat by many-a-boomers in my day. I could tell by his expensive paddle that this boomer was probably good, or at least played enough to be decent. We got started and sure enough this boomer could play. It was a struggle all match, but Noah and I won 11-9 on a wonderful shot by Noah. After he hit it he ran up to me. "LET'S GOOOOO!!" Noah cheered. "Great shot, No" I said as I reached out my hand to give him a high five. Instead, Noah grabbed my hand and pulled himself close to me in a half hug. He smelled like sweat and his old spice deodorant. It was enough to give me a semi. "I love when you call me No," Noah whispered low enough so only I could hear as he patted my back with his paddle, "You smell so sexy" "Not as sexy as you" I replied in the same whisper as I took a deep whiff of his wonderful boy scent. We pulled away from each other quickly then went to the net to say good game to Tanner and the stranger. The four of us decided to keep playing, and keep the same teams, because it was such an even match. We played for another hour or so, before we decided to play one last game. The last game ended in our first defeat, 11-13, when Noah returned an easy serve right into the net. Noah was crushed. "I'm sorry" Noah said, dejected as he turned to look at me. "It's okay. It happens." "Yeah, but I should have made it!" Noah said as I approached him. Noah had his hands on his knees and his head down while he stood on the back line. I walked up to him, gently lifted his chin up using my paddle. "Head up, No. You played great for your first time." I said as our eyes locked. Noah surprised me by throwing his arms around me in a hug. "I'm sorry," Noah whispered into my ear, "I'll make it up to you tonight" He had nothing to make up for, but I was excited to see what he had in mind. We went to the net to congratulate Tanner and the stranger. The stranger thanked us for letting him play with us and left. As we packed up our things Noah went to hand me back my paddle. "Keep it." "Really?!?!!!" Noah said excitedly. "Yeah, it's just my back up. You'll need it to spread the pickleball gospel to your friends, show them pickleball isn't just for boomers." I said laughing while putting on my pickleball backpack. Noah wrapped his sweaty skinny arms around my back and rested his head on my chest as he gave me the biggest hug I had ever received. I gently patted his back as Noah squeezed me hard. I wanted the world to freeze at this moment, it was perfect, but I knew Tanner was watching. "Thanks." Noah whispered. "It's no problem, bro" I awkwardly responded. Noah pulled away quickly, and I could tell by the look on his face he was mad at me for calling him "bro". The truth was I'd rather call him a hundred names instead; Baby, Beautiful, Mine, but Tanner was watching. I realized that hiding my feelings for Noah was just going to continue to get harder, the harder we fell for each other. Noah stormed to the car in front of Tanner and I. "You really shouldn't have given him that paddle." Tanner said, turning to me as we lagged far behind Noah. "Why not?" "You're gonna make him fall even more in love with you." Tanner said as he laughed. The world stopped. I froze. We were caught. I searched for words. "You're crazy" is the best I could come up with. I was shook. How did Tanner know that Noah and I were falling for each other? Did we really make it that obvious? I had never been more nervous. A million thoughts crossed my mind immediately. "No, really, he has a huge crush on you. Isn't it obvious?" He said, still chuckling. Yes is what I thought, but "No. I don't think so" is what I said. "We've known he was gay for the last couple years, but he still hasn't told any of us," Tanner said, getting serious, "He didn't mention anything to you did he?" I don't respond so We thought he might open up to you, or something, because he knows you're gay. Didn't expect him to catch feelings for you though. At least we know his type now: stupid" Tanner said as he nudged me with his elbow, trying to break the tension, it didn't work. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Even if nothing happened between us, I would have never outed Noah to Tanner. I would never break his trust. We were quickly approaching my car. "Well if you stay up late with him again maybe he will open up to you" Tanner stated quietly as we got to my car. If only Tanner knew how much Noah opened up to me last night. As I looked at my car I noticed Noah was already inside, in the backseat, making it perfectly clear he was mad at me. Not a single word was said on the short drive back to Tanner's house. The three of us sat in an uncomfortable silence, each lost in our own minds. The only positive thought on my mind was that Tanner seemingly thought the attraction only went one way. If only he knew how wrong he was.