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This will be the first time I’ve been with all of them since Tiana’s game, when I went there afterward. It’s not exactly what I had in mind, mostly because Oakley and I don’t get much time together and we’ll have to hide, but I like his family. I love being around Tiana. Evander reminds me of my dad in some ways. Serena is great. I understand why she’s Oakley’s best friend, and there’s not a doubt in my mind that Sanaa loves Oakley as though she’s really his mom.

Me: They the only ones who want me there?

Oakley: No. I do too. I want you everywhere I am, Des.

Fuck, this man. Every time he speaks, all he does is get me more and more wrapped up in him.

Me: You gonna be okay being around me after we kick your ass in the game?

Oakley: Not gonna happen.

Me: We’ll see…and yeah. I’ll be there.

*

My heart slams against my chest. The crowd is going wild.

There’s something unique to the experience of being the home team when your opponent is the home team as well. It’s a sharper pulse of energy to the space, the ground vibrating in ways I’ve never experienced, like every single thing around us is alive and throbbing with pent-up adrenaline.

“We’re playing a good, solid game out there,” Coach tells us at halftime. We’re tied at thirteen going into the third. Oakley is definitely doing his job, staying on my ass. I’ve had two carries, but neither amounted to much, and they were a bitch to get into my hands.

Both of us are feeling it today—feeling the desire to win, but also the pleasure and joy that comes from playing each other, knowing how the other moves on the football field, but also in other aspects of our lives.

For the first time in my life, football feels a whole lot like sex. It’s the most intense form of foreplay I’ve ever felt, and every instinct inside of me wants to tug him to the turf and fuck him right there.

Definitely not what I should be thinking about as Coach talks to us about what’s expected going into the second half.

I can’t keep still, pleasure, excitement, and energy jolting through me as we make our way back onto the field.

“You good?” Juju asks, the two of us jogging side by side.

“Best I’ve ever been,” I admit, unable to keep the smile off my face. “Know what will make it better?” I ask.

“Winning this game?” he replies.

“Fuck yes.”

“Let’s do it, then.”

We bump chests, and then the defense is running onto the field. The Pulse are receiving, so we’re on D. I can’t pull my attention from the field. Hunter is out there doing his damnedest for his team, and if I weren’t biased, I’d admit the Pulse offense is a beautiful thing to watch.

Even though on paper, our team isn’t as good as theirs, we’re no slouches on offense, and we’re able to play good man-on-man D. They end up with no choice but to settle for another field goal after the drive, putting the Pulse up by three points.

The momentum stays evenly matched through the third, and we again end that quarter with a tied game.

Going into the fourth, we’re getting the ball first, and even though just a little while ago I thought my heart couldn’t beat any harder, I was wrong.

It’s close to breaking through my chest as we take the field again.

After the first kick, we take the knee, and Juju lets us know the play we’re going to run—eyes on me. I nod, and then we’re on the line, and he’s calling out our cadence. The second I can, I shoot across the line of scrimmage, feeling like I’m going so fast there’s a trail of fire left behind.

Oakley is right there, anticipating each move, hot on my heels.

Their defense has stepped up another level, coverage on every guy. Juju gets sacked, and then we’re heading back for a second down.

“Again,” he tells me, and I know that even though he’s going to try getting the ball to me, if the play is there for someone else, that’s where it’s going.

The second I’m running again, something feels different about this play. Oak is still there, and I swear I can smell him in ways I don’t other players. I feel him, the heat of his body and this aura he always has around him, and that does something for me. I make a quick turn, changing direction. Juju launches the ball my direction. Oak is there, and I have to jump to make the catch, but I get it, ball in hand, coming down and just making it a couple of yards before he takes me down.