Dean pulled his face back enough to look at him.
Colton raised an eyebrow. “We’ve got to make up for lost time.”
“Yes, we do.” Dean giggled and smashed their lips together.
Chapter 44
Colton
The locker room, the whole practice facility, brimmed with vibrant energy.
In what felt like the blink of an eye, the football season had flown by and was nearing its end. And after a tough, tense playoff run, the Niners were headed to the championship game next weekend. Preparing for the biggest game of the year, practices were grueling, but the team buzzed with excitement. This was their year to win it all. The entire team could feel it.
Colton sat in front of his locker, getting dressed after practice. He realized he was humming. He never hummed. And on top of that, he was humming one of Dean’s songs.
Dean is a bad influence.He thought with a smile.
“Merrick! Coach wants to see you!” an assistant coach bellowed from across the locker room.
Colton quickly closed his locker and trotted upstairs to Coach Shepherd’s office.
“You wanted to see me, Coach?” Colton rapped his knuckles on the door frame. Coach Shepherd sat at his desk, looking through images of practice on his tablet.
“Come in, Merrick. Have a seat…and close the door.”
Colton swallowed hard.
Fuck.
Closed-door meetings were never good. He dropped into one of the leather club chairs in front of the desk and waited for Coach Shepherd to speak.
“I’m afraid I have some bad news, Colton.” Coach Shepherd began, dropping his tablet onto his desk. Colton nervously shifted in his chair, immediately thinking he was going to be traded or cut from the team.
“I was just on the phone with the commissioner. The board of trustees has decided that you can’t bring Dean to the awards ceremony.”
Colton felt a lump form in his throat. Suddenly, he could hardly swallow or breathe. “What?”
“They said you can’t bring Dean to the awards ceremony. They feel it would be a distraction.” Coach sighed. “I tried to reason with them, but they would not budge.” Coach Shepherd stood and walked over to Colton, placing his hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, kid. I know this must be hard for you.”
“How would Dean be a distraction at the ceremony?” Colton furrowed his brows. “I don’t understand, Coach.”
“Honestly, I don’t understand it either, Colton.” Coach leaned against his desk in front of him. “I mean, none of the other wives or dates were ever a distraction. And there have been some crazy bitches at that ceremony. I said as much to the commissioner, but he said this was different,” Coach explained.
Colton squeezed the arms of the chair hard enough that the leather groaned and squeaked underneath his hands.
“Yeah, it’s different because he’s a man, and they’re a bunch of fucking homophobic pricks!” Colton shouted, feeling the blood rushing to his temples.
“I know, son, I know. But there was no reasoning with them. I’m really, really sorry Colton.” Coach scowled, his sorrow for the situation apparent.
“Can I go now, Coach?” Colton steamed in his chair, doing his level best to not lose his shit in front of his coach.
“Yes, Colton…dismissed.”
Colton returned to the locker room, which was practically empty by that point. He sat in front of his locker, buried his face in his towel, and struggled in vain to control his sobs.
How am I going to tell Dean?
Colton couldn’t believe this was happening. He hoped this was just a bad dream. Any minute he’d wake up in Dean’s arms and this nightmare would be over.
