Tad
As I head onto the field, I glance back to see Bryce andDarren chatting in their VIP seats at the front of the stands with Carson andKiernan.
I can’t help but look over everyso often. As he stands there in his suit, wearing the new Maui Jims he bought afew weeks ago, he’s distracting. Kiernan hates distractions, but I’ve justfound the motherlode of all of them in the very person who’s supposed to behelping me keep my life together. Although, as far as distractions go, now thatwe’re a regular thing, it’s improved my game. Since that day I got the penaltyfor fucking with Roger Kennings, I haven’t had any issues with Kiernan or Mallybecause I’ve been on top of my game, and now we’re 8-4 with a shot of leadingour division if we can beat out the Giants’ 9-3 standing.
I credit Bryce for our success.Good as the fucking has been, it’s been more than that. We order Chinese foodand watch movies in the hotel room. He likes horror movies, something Jordancould never stand, so we have a few laughs watching everything from a crappyB-movie to an epic psychological horror that blows our fucking minds.
It’s been wonderful. No PR issuesto deal with. No CEOs freaking out over one of my perceived antics. And Kiernansure as fuck isn’t complaining.
The only one who seems annoyedabout everything is Darren, who’s continuing to push with Bryce and doesn’tseem to get the hint.
I feel bad. He should’ve been theone to get with him. And every time I see him and Bryce standing together, Iknow they would make a cute couple. Hell, they make more sense together than wedo.
Overtime. The Packers’ widereceiver races down the field, and as I try to get to him, one of their guardsrushes in front of him and knocks into my arm so sharply that I go falling tothe side.
Fuck.
While I fall, I watch as Chase,playing cornerback, tackles their wide receiver.
As Chase and the wide receiverfall to the ground, the ball slips out of the receiver’s hands and flies rightat me.
I snatch the ball and bounce ontomy feet. I race down the field, looking side to side, noticing just a few ofthe Packers’ guys coming toward me, but they’re too far behind to catch me now.And soon, I’m right on top of the end zone, slamming the ball down inexcitement as the roar of applause comes from the stadium seats.
Sweat rushes down my face quickly,and my teammates are jumping up and down. Chase and several of my otherteammates race to me to pat me on the back and shout out their own excitement.
It’s clear by the Packers’positions on the field that they had hardly tried to stop me. By the time theyrealized I’d caught the fumble, it must’ve been too late for them to do much.
I cry out the way I would after agreat fuck with Bryce.
This is my fucking moment. Thiswas what it felt like when I was on top of the world last year.
For once in a very long time, Ifeel like a champion. Like things in my life might just start going my wayagain.
***
I head through the back hall, toward the locker rooms when Ispot Bryce and Darren standing side-by-side, waiting for me like they usuallydo after games.
I hurry to them and throw my arms aroundDarren. Lifting him in the air, I spin him around. Darren’s face is bright redas he laughs hysterically.
The other guys from the team pass,patting me on the back as they make their way through the hall, offeringgenerous compliments—incredibly generous considering how they hated my fuckingguts just a few months earlier during our early losing streak.
“Nice job!” Darren exclaims as I sethim down and look to Bryce. He has a slight five o’clock shadow and his hair’sstarting to get a little long. He’s complained that he needs to get it cut, buthe hasn’t because I keep telling him I like the way he shapes his arched bangsnow. And there’s just a streak of gray hair that I demand he never dye becauseit’s hot as fuck.
His brown eyes sparkle with an eagernessto see me, the sort of look I was used to seeing in the early days with Jordan.
I want to plant a big fat kiss on hisadorable face and feel his five o’clock shadow on my cheeks, but I’m not atotal moron. It would be nice if we could shatter this pretense. If we couldact on how we really were in public, but I knew what I was signing up for whenwe started this, so I can’t complain.
“Nice work,” Bryce says, smilingat me in a way that I know means he’s far more excited for the play than he’swilling to show right now.
I’m amazed that Kiernan and Darrenhaven’t suspected anything. I was never this happy before Bryce. I feel like Idid when I kissed my first boyfriend in the woods of the school park after weslipped away from our cross country practice and I learned about how good itfelt to have a guy’s lips on mine and around my cock. I’ve developed a crush.It’s a shitty idea, and I know better. I know that I can’t consider anythingbetween us because of what he does, but a guy can dream.
“I think I’m gonna head to thebathroom real quick,” I say to Darren, hoping Bryce will catch on that I wantto sneak a moment with him. “Why don’t you head out and meet Kiernan and Carsonat the car. We’ll see you out there.”
“Cool, cool,” Darren says beforeheading off.
I guide Bryce around the cornerinto another hallway. There’s no bathroom down this hall, but it’s just privateenough.
I turn into another hallway andturn back to Bryce. I rush him and kiss him hard—with the passion that we’dhave if we were alone in my hotel room together. He pushes me back against thewall and our kisses are so frenzied someone who didn’t know us would think we’dbeen separated for months rather than a few hours. Although, it’s been dayssince we fucked, and I need it so badly right now.
