Page 121 of The No Try Zone
He sighs. “I need to keep my head in the game.”
I raise an eyebrow and gesture at my body. “What was this?”
A devilish grin crosses his face. “That was absolutely getting my head in the game.”
A snort escapes me. “Sure it was.”
He grows serious. “Sam.”
My chest squeezes as he tosses the phone on the bed and faces me.
“You know I might not have a job after this.”
“You didn’t have to –” I start.
“I absolutely had to,” he interrupts. “I’m not hiding what we have. Not anymore. Not ever again.” A side of his lips hooks up. “I only mention the no-job thing because you might be the breadwinner for a bit.”
I look at him archly. “You better not have a problem with that.”
He holds a palm to his bare chest and lowers his head. “It would be my honor to be a kept man,” he says reverently.
I laugh and sit up, catching the time on the clock. “We need to go. Text him at least, yeah?”
“Yeah,” he agrees, wrapping his hands around my ankles and pulling me toward him. “After I fuck you in the shower.”
Chapter43
Colin
THE TEXT I send Scott is straightforward enough.
I know we need to talk. But right now I have a match to win.
My office first thing Monday morning.
I give it a thumbs up and turn the phone off. I’ve had enough of it between Scott, my sister and mom, and my assistant coaches. I’m sure Kari’s having a time of it with the sports media and whatever’s happening online. I may hate the stuff, but I’m no fool. I know what this looks like on the outside. The problem, if there even is one, is that I can’t find it in myself to care.
Ryan and Elliott stare at my and Sam’s clasped hands as we exit the casino’s doors and make our way to the bus waiting to take the team to the stadium.
“You’re really diving in here,” Sam murmurs as Ansel turns to us, his own gaze falling immediately on our hands.
“Ripping the bandage off,” I mutter back, thumbing at the metal band on my ring finger. I squeeze her hand and she looks at me, her teeth worrying her lower lip. “You made me put the ring on; you can’t back out now,” I tease.
She throws her shoulders back. “You’re right.”
“Can you say that again into a microphone?” I ask with a chuckle, taking her good-natured swat and releasing her hand as we reach my assistant coaches.
“So it’s true,” Ryan says.
“Did a whole press conference and everything,” I deadpan. “But it’s time to focus on the match.”
“Good luck with that,” Ansel says, nodding toward Ollie as his long strides eat up the distance.
I brace myself for a punch, figuring I might deserve it.
But then Ollie’s face splits into a wide smile, and he pulls me into a bear hug. “Welcome to the family, Coach!”
I struggle to breathe as he lifts me off the ground. “Ollie,” I gasp, legitimately worried at the lack of oxygen.
