Page 12 of Rookie Moves

His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows hard. Taking a step closer, he erases the distance between us until I can feel the breath of his whispered words against my skin.

“Are you…” He shakes his head, like he’s shaking the words aside before he gives me an understanding smile. “Thank you. For telling me. I promise I’ll take it to the grave.”

A sense of relief washes over me, and my lips twitch in a lopsided smile as my breath comes out in a rush.

One challenge down, just one more to go.

I straighten my spine, take another deep breath, and muster up all the confidence a projected first overall draft pick should own and confess, “I don’t want you to be my wingman to find someone. I want it to be you.”

CHAPTER FOUR

TYLER

There haven’t been many times I’ve been rendered speechless, to the point where all other thoughts cease to exist in my brain. In fact, everything ceases to exist in my brain right now except those six little words Colby just dropped on me, startling me like one of those pop-up greeting cards with a confetti explosion.

I’m unable to do anything except stare at Colby. It’s like I’ve forgotten how to breathe. All I can do is blink at him as I try to figure out whether he’s playing some kind of trick on me.

He’s never given any indication of his sexual orientation before. Not a single clue. But I know not everyone is out like I am. This sport isn’t exactly the most welcoming. I’m fortunate that I haven’t experienced much shit since I came out as bisexual in high school, and on my very first day here at Whilton U, I walked into Coach Vaughn’s office and told him I was bi, and I was going to tell my teammates the first opportunity I got. I didn’t think twice about what would happen if he tried to talk me out of it. I’m thankful he didn’t, and none of my teammates over the years have had a problem with me either.

But while there’s never been an issue for me, I can understand why Colby would keep it close to his chest, especially given the attention and pressure he’s constantly under.

Not everyone is as lucky as I’ve been, and it sucks that it’s the society we live in.

“I don’t know,” I say honestly after what feels like forever.

His entire body slumps like a deflated balloon, and I’m instantly hit with a wave of guilt. The need to make things right, even though I don’t know how, or what, or why.

“I don’t mean it, like, personally. I find you hotter than hell, Colbs, but it has potential to get messy, you know? We’re teammates. What if someone saw us?”

He shakes his head, averting his gaze to look anywhere except at me.

And I hate it.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. It was a stupid idea,” he mutters.

He goes to step around me, but I grab onto his arm to stop him.

“Hey, look at me.”

He doesn’t.

“Colby, please,” I plead, a hint of desperation in my voice.

When he lifts his head, the glint in those hazel eyes is like a sucker punch to the jugular, and I feel like a grade-A asshole for putting that look of rejection there.

“It’s not a stupid idea. I just—” My strained laugh comes out in a hiccup. “Fuck, Colby, you’ve just come out to me and asked me to take your virginity in the space of, like, a minute. It might not seem like it, but that’s a big deal, so I’m a little surprised.”

A wave of awkward silence cloaks over us again, and I can practically hear the gears grinding overtime in Colby’s brain. The flush of embarrassment on his cheeks has lessened slightly, but his nerves are still evident by how he’s chewing the inside of his cheek.

I hate that I’ve potentially made this worse. I wasn’t kidding when I said I’d do anything for Colby, but taking his virginity?

Why me?

Before my mind can spiral into a pit of self-doubt, my attention returns to Colby. His tongue sweeps across his bottom lip, and I’m unable to tear my eyes away.

Does he know what he does to me? Is that why he’s asking me to do this massive fucking honor?

“Can I have some time to think about it?” I find myself asking.