I’m obviously falling for him with no safety net or backup plan.
“That was…” He rests his forehead on mine at a loss for words.
I’m on a giddy high and belt out Tina Turner. “‘Simply the best. Better than all the rest. Better than anyone.’”
“Is that a song?” Theo pumps his half-hard dick in and out of me.
“Nope, I made the tune up just for you.” I laugh.
“Liar. Giggle for me again.” He untangles my legs from his shoulders to lie on me.
I chase his smile to kiss it when there’s a pounding on his door.
“Keefer, you coming to dinner?” Mav yells.
“No,” Theo hollers back, and kisses me again.
“You seen King?”
Theo closes his eyes. “Nope.”
“Later.”
Theo buries his face in my shoulder and vibrates with silent laughter.
“Good thing you didn’t lie.” I hook my legs around his knees to keep him in place.
“That’s why I closed my eyes. It’s against code to lie to a teammate.”
Our hearts beat wildly within our chests but sync together and slow as we lie there. Theo places a kiss on my shoulder, his lips lingering tenderly. The care he treats me with cracks my heart wide open.
Theo has never known love like I have. He’s had strings and conditions attached to it, and it’s hardened him. It strikes me as unbelievably brave to even consider being with me. People will have negative things to say. That’s an understatement. We’ll get regular homophobic hate, and on top of that, there will be disgust for being related and a mixed-race couple.
If my parents hadn’t given me love and strength, I wouldn’t have the courage to think about being with Theo, let alone act on it. His asshole behavior prevents him from getting close to people so he doesn’t feel their rejection.
I want to swaddle his heart in bubble wrap and fight off anyone who would hurt him. Theo’s life is lonely except for Sarah.
I won’t let his family destroy his brave soul. Never again will someone make him feel worthless.
“Will you promise me something?” I ask, hoping to pin him down while he’s sex drunk.
“Anything.”
“Stay with me until you find a place of your own.”
Chapter 30
Theo O'Keefe
I can’t go through with this because I’ll find a way to wreck it. Jamal thinks it’s a great idea, but he’s never dealt with John. John has been blowing up my phone ever since he realized my paycheck wasn’t deposited in the family account. That was four days ago, but nothing today, which makes me nervous. Jamal thinks John has given up, but I know better.
John can keep hating me, but if Jamal turns his back on me, I won’t recover. He expects me to be a nice person, and I don’t think I have it in me. Yeah, I can fake it for a while, but I can’t live with him. He won’t like the real me.
“Are you crashing out over getting your stuff or about the praise from Coach and Ace?” Jamal’s a respectable distance from me in the elevator because there are cameras.
“I’m great, and they know it, and you know it.” I step toward him to back him against the wall but look up at the spy in the corner. After we played, Coach gave me a shout-out as player of the game, and it should be amazing except I’m a fraud.
I pass more and act like a team player for Jamal, not because I want to do it. My goal has always been to individually make the most impact on the game. John drilled it into my head to worry about my individual stats and berated me for playing my defensive position.
