Page 86 of The Lockdown Mann

He falls on top of me with a thud and whispers, “Is this as hot for you as it is for me?”

“I’m fucking dying,” I answer.

“Nice catch, asshole,” he manages to get out before one of their teammates pulls him off me.

We go into a quick huddle, where Juju calls another play. This one isn’t set up for me, but I can’t expect him to try to get the ball into my hands every time.

It’s still my job, though—fucking run, try to get free. Juju’s head shoots in different directions, trying to find the open guy, and then Oakley stumbles, and I know that it’s going to me.

Juju’s arm pulls back, and he throws the ball. Oak gets settled, heading for me again, my quick vision eyeing at least two other guys doing the same, but then the ball is in my hand, and I’m just fucking going, dodging players, spinning around others, nearly having a fucking heart attack, before I’m diving into the end zone!

Touchdown, baby!

I throw the ball to the ground, pumping and flexing my arm muscles.

When I glance over, Oakley is watching me, and damned if he doesn’t give me a small smile.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Oakley

As much as I hate to lose, I’m flying higher than I probably ever have after a game. I love playing against Des. I loved playing against him even before he and I became friends again and started dating, but all that enjoyment was at a whole new level playing against him now. It was sexy, like this secret, erotic dance he and I were doing, right in front of the world, and no one knew.

Every word spoken, every touch, every time our bodies collided, hell, even just every time I was near him, I felt like I could fucking fly, like we were flying together—in this other world that no one else was a part of.

It was incredible.

And seeing him cross into the end zone, the pure fucking joy radiating off him, I had to be happy for him. It was one of the sexiest things I’ve ever seen. I lived in that moment with Des, even though it was ultimately what made us lose the game.

Now I’m sitting in my car, driving to spend time with my family, whom I love, where the man I love will also be, yet they don’t know what Des is to me.

That’s not fair to him, but it’s not fair to my family either.

It’s not fair to Ree, to Tiana. What am I doing?

As soon as I pull up at Sanaa and Evander’s place, my daughter comes running out. I catch her as she jumps into my arms.

“This is a great welcome home, considering I lost. I thought you would have a whole list of things I did wrong,” I tease Tiana.

“I have notes, but I also still love you, and you played a good game, Daddy.”

I chuckle, kiss her cheek, then set her back on her feet. “I can’t wait to see those notes. You know I always value your opinion.”

“We’ll talk about it tomorrow,” she says before I look over to see Serena standing on the porch watching us. She gives me a smile, which I return.

“Oh! Des is here,” T says. “Can I go tell him congrats?”

“Go for it,” I reply as she runs over to him, and I move toward Ree on the porch. “Do you have notes for me too?” I joke.

“Maybe.” She nods toward Tiana and Des, who are standing on the sidewalk animatedly talking. “He’s good with her. She likes him.”

“Yeah, she does, and he is. Des is good with everyone.” It’s the kind of man he is. Everyone likes him. People are drawn to him.

I’m drawn to him.

“So are you, Oak. You might not see it, but you are. Your friendship—it makes sense.”

I pull my attention from Tiana and Des and give it back to Serena, brows drawn together as I try to figure out if there’s more to what she’s saying than what’s on the surface. Before I can think about it too much, Des and Tiana come toward us. I feel the shift in the air, all the molecules rearranging and drawing me to him.