Page 30 of B is for Baby Me (Classes in Kink #1)

Chapter twenty-nine

The Coach’s Playbook

Fletcher

“Keep up, Mr. Malik.” As I stride through the glass doorways of the hospital, Josh hurries alongside me carrying an armload of supplies. He’s quite competent as an assistant, to tell you the truth. When I came to pick up the young man from the tiny apartment he and JR share, he’d already gathered everything from my list: toiletries, a few changes of clothing, JR’s laptop, and other odds and ends. Even with an extra stop at WLL, we’d made it to St. Joseph’s sooner than I’d planned.

“There’s JR!” Josh rushes to where his roommate is staring blankly out a window. “Hey, buddy—we brought you coffee.”

The football player blinks, shaking himself out of his daze. “Josh, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in class?”

I join the pair, handing JR a Kashmiruccino. “We thought you could use some caffeine. How are you feeling?”

“Better,” he admits. “Dad’s tube is out. He talked a little.”

“Thank god.” Josh hands him a takeout bag with a Rock ’n Cinnamon Roll in it. “I made an offering to Lord Vishnu last night for Uncle SR’s protection. It couldn’t hurt, right?”

JR nods as he dives into the food.

“We’re the first shift,” I tell him. “Andy and Leah will be here in the afternoon, and Simon and the boys will come in the evening.”

He glances up at me, swallowing the bite in his mouth. “But I don’t want to leave the hospital yet. What if my dad needs me?”

“You and I are staying, Ben.” I pass him the overnight bag his roommate had put together. “Your friends are taking shifts to act as our support. They’ll bring us whatever we need from home and school while we focus on your father’s care.”

“Oh. Wow.” His eyes get wet. “I don’t know what to say.”

Josh sits down next to the football player. “I’ll be here until noon. We can study together, if you’d like.”

“I don’t think I’ll have time to do schoolwork,” JR tells him. “There’s too much going on with my dad. I swear, a dozen people came into his room while I was there and I couldn’t tell what any of them were doing.”

“That’s my job.” I pull a notebook out of my leather briefcase. “I’ll be in charge of meeting the healthcare team—asking questions and relaying the information to you and your father. With your permission..?”

JR gazes at me with a stunned expression. “That would be amazing. Thank you.”

I give him a little wink before heading toward the nurses’ station, notebook in hand. It’s time to put my medical degree to good use—outside of the classroom and lab, that is.

“May I help you?” The nurse looks up from his computer screen.

“Yes, I’m Dr. Thomas Fletcher—a close friend of George Bennett Senior, a patient in ICU. I’d like to act as a point of contact, with Mr. Bennett’s consent.”

The nurse types something on his keyboard, adjusting his glasses while he checks the screen. “It looks like his doctor is making rounds now. If Mr. Bennett gives his authorization, I’ll see if Dr. Foster is available to speak with you.”

Excellent. I nod in thanks, taking a seat close by while I wait. There’s nothing worse than being overwhelmed by medical jargon, especially when you’re as stressed as my sub currently is. I’m more than happy to take this load off JR’s shoulders. That’s what you do for the people you love.

Love… me? I can’t believe it, after all this time. I never thought that I would ever fall in love, much less with someone like George Bennett Junior. Kind-hearted. Sweet-natured. The submissive yin to my dominant yang. Simon’s right—JR was made for me. But was I made for him?

God knows what JR sees in me—short-tempered, arrogant, an old man compared to his vibrant youth. I’ll be getting the better half of the bargain, if my sub will have me… though I may be getting ahead of myself. Who’s to say that he’ll agree to a committed relationship, especially after I told him that I wasn’t interested in dating? Just because I’ve changed my mind doesn’t mean that JR has.

It’s obvious that he cares for me, but that might be infatuation—the excitement of exploring his sexual identity and the joys of BDSM. He could grow out of his feelings, though I never will. The love I feel for him runs deep in my bones.

“Dr. Fletcher?” A voice interrupts my thoughts. “Mr. Bennett has given us consent to disclose medical information to you. His surgeon is available, if you come this way.”

I glance up at the nurse, then over to JR. He’s resting in a chair with his eyes closed. “Thank you, William,” I say, looking at his nametag before jotting it down in my notebook. Standing, I follow him to a small room where I wait to speak with Dr. Foster.

She arrives moments later. “Good morning, Dr. Fletcher. You’re here bright and early. Is Mr. Bennett’s son going to join us?”

“He’s resting, Dr. Foster.” I rise to shake her hand. “The Bennett family has allowed me to receive information on their behalf. Do you have an update on George Senior?

The doctor gestures for me to sit down while she looks at the notes on her chart. “Yes, he’s doing quite well so far—as good as one could expect following a heart attack and quadruple bypass. There doesn’t appear to be any damage to his heart tissue. No signs of blood clots… no drop in blood pressure… His heartbeat is regular, so a pacemaker is unnecessary at this point. All told, I’m pleased with his progress.”

“How long do you expect for George to be in the ICU?” I ask while I write down a few notes.

“If he remains stable, he can be moved to a regular room as early as tomorrow morning,” she says. “If all goes well, he should be released from the hospital within a week.”

Hope springs to life in my chest. I can’t wait to share this news with JR. “Once he goes home, is there anything we should watch for? Any medications he should take?”

“We’ll go over a list of instructions when he’s ready for release.” Dr. Foster gives me an encouraging smile. “The first thirty days following open-heart surgery are often the most dangerous. After that, the survival rate is close to that of the general population. As long as Mr. Bennett follows his cardiac rehabilitation program, which includes medication and lifestyle changes, there’s no reason he shouldn’t thrive.”

I stand up, reaching out my hand to the surgeon. “Thank you again for your expert care. George means the world to us.”

She nods her head. “It’s my pleasure, Doctor. Best of luck.”

My steps are light as we leave the consultation room, each going our separate ways. I hurry down the hallway toward my sleeping sub, anxious to share the good news with him. I need to temper my enthusiasm—I don’t want to spread false hope—yet I’m desperate to put a smile on his face. JR’s been through so much over the past day and night. He deserves to have his spirits lifted.

When I round the corner into the hospital lobby, my footsteps slow. JR and Josh are engrossed in conversation. They aren’t even aware that I’m there. I step back to give them privacy. I don’t mean to eavesdrop, but…

“I still can’t believe it. You and Fletcher? “ Josh’s voice sounds both astonished and revolted.

“I’m sorry, buddy,” JR says in an apologetic tone. “I didn’t mean to keep it from you. I never thought it would go on for so long.”

His roommate snorts. “At least I know now why you said your hook-up wasn’t boyfriend material.”

“Right?” My sub lets out a short laugh. “Can you imagine me with someone like him?”

His words feel like a blow. Not that I blame him for feeling that way—I was having similar thoughts myself just a short time ago. Even so, I can’t help but be hurt by his offhand comment. I’m nothing more than a hook-up to him?

“I can see why you didn’t tell anyone,” Josh keeps talking. “It’s hard enough coming out to your family, much less…”

JR lets out a deep sigh. “I know. Can you imagine if my teammates found out?”

Oh, no. Fuck fuck fuck .

When I peek around the corner, Josh’s shoulders are hunched, his face twisted in a cringe. “Uh… I think they already know.”

“What d’ya mean?” JR asks. “Yesterday was a blur. Did I say anything? Did I do anything?”

“It was kind of obvious,” his roommate says. “The way the professor was holding you… kissing you… Everyone could tell that you’re more than just friends.”

“ Everyone? I’m out to the whole team?“ JR lets out a low groan.

“Coach Becker, too,” Josh mumbles.

I hear another groan and a muttered curse. When I glance around the corner, the football player’s head is buried in his hands. “ Shit ,“ he moans again.

Just hearing the pain in his voice makes my stomach sink to my feet. I did this to him. This is my fault. No wonder he doesn’t want to be with someone like me. I’ve taken his trust and broken it—at the worst possible time, when he needed me the most. How can I possibly make this up to him? Is it too late to fix what I’ve done?

I brush away my selfish thoughts. I’ve got to focus on JR’s needs, not my own feelings of guilt. How can I help him now? What can I do for him? I take a deep breath and square my shoulders. Painting a smile on my face, I make some noise before bustling around the corner, pretending to be unaware of what just transpired between the two young men. “There you are! I’ve got good news.”

JR lifts his head, misery etched into every feature. “Is it about my dad?”

“Yes, Ben… uh, Bennett. I’ve just spoken to Dr. Foster.” I fill them in on the surgeon’s words and her optimistic outlook on George’s recovery. By the time I’ve finished, there’s a smile on JR’s face and he’s sitting up tall once again.

“Do you really think he’ll make it?” He searches my eyes.

I answer as truthfully as I can. “I’ll do everything within my power to see that he does. Just relax, both of you. I’ll be back once I speak to the nurses again.” I turn and walk away, my throat tight and my eyes stinging.

Ignore the pain. Focus on a plan.

I grit my teeth as I get to work.

Later that evening…

Besides short visits with his father and quick chats with his friends, JR spends the rest of the day hiding behind his laptop. It’s a classic avoidance strategy—I recognize the signs all too well. I know what it’s like facing the loss of your only living family member.

That won’t happen, not if I have anything to say about it. I’ve spent the afternoon brainstorming ways to aid in George’s recovery. So far, I’ve come up with a substantial list. His hospital room has been upgraded to a private suite, the out-of-pocket costs charged to my personal card. Once SR is released from the ICU, he’ll spend the rest of his hospital stay in style.

But what about when he goes home? If the first thirty days after surgery are the most critical, then it’s vital that JR’s father receives ongoing professional care. I’ve made a list of the top home healthcare providers in the state, and I’m calling them each one by one. George will have the best care available, around the clock, no matter what it might cost. My Ben only has one father, and you can’t put a price tag on that.

Food delivery services. Physical therapy centers. I’ve even checked in with SR’s job. Though he may return to work in as little as a month, they should expect his recovery period to last from six to twelve weeks. Knowing that George has their full support and well wishes eases my mind, as it hopefully will his.

What else? Simon, thank god, has volunteered to feed the troops during the length of the hospital stay. He’s already brought a healthy lunch to JR, as well as a home-cooked dinner for everyone. The Golden Gladiators are still cleaning their plates. I’ll eat later. There’s more to do.

I’ve spoken with each of JR’s professors, explaining the situation. We’ve devised plans for him to catch up on his classwork once he’s able to return to Spartacus. With graduation only a few short months away, I don’t want him to get behind in his studies or to worry if his degree is in jeopardy. The less stress that he faces, the more he can focus on the next stage of his life.

Which leads me to the last item on my list, the one I’ve been dreading the most. I take out my phone as I walk along a path in the hospital’s courtyard. If this is the right thing to do, why does it have to hurt so much?

“Andy? It’s Tom,” I say when Coach Becker answers the phone. “No, everything’s fine—no changes since you were here this afternoon. I’d like to speak with you in private, if you have a moment.”

“Sure thing, Tom,” the coach responds. “What can I do for you?”

“I want you to urge JR to join the NFL.” I’ve got to do what’s best for my sub. I won’t hold him back any longer. Even though it’s killing me to let him go, I love him too much to make him stay.

“I’ve already talked to him,” Andy tells me. “He’s made his decision.”

I let out a breath, wiping a hand down my face. “Which team does he hope to join?” I’ll support him, no matter where he chooses to go. I’ll even visit him, if he’ll allow it. Just as friends, of course—it’s time to let him move on, to find someone who is ‘boyfriend material’. To enjoy the freedom of his youth and the athletic success he so richly deserves.

Coach Becker snorts in my ear. “He chose Team Fletcher. The kid’s crazy about you! Don’t you know that?”

I shake my head as I stand alone outside. “I’ll hold a spot for him in my graduate program. If he ever decides to continue his studies, I’ll make certain he has a place at Spartacus.” Not that I hold out much hope that he’ll return. With the fame and riches the NFL has to offer, he may realize that it’s the right choice for him, after all. And if he decides to return to academic life? Well, he won’t need my help getting in. Every university in the nation would welcome him with open arms.

“Forget school, Tom. JR’s chosen you ,“ the coach says. “Sure, he loves science—but even that comes in second place.”

“His father comes first,” I insist. “I’ll make sure that SR has everything that he needs. JR won’t have to worry about anything while he’s gone.”

“You’re not listening,” Andy grumbles in my ear. “I know that you love him as much as he loves you. Anyone with eyes can see it! So stop acting stupid, Dr. Fletcher , and tell me what this is really about.”

“This is about JR and what’s best for him,” I snap.

“Then show him some respect,” he barks back. “JR’s smart enough to make his own decisions. He doesn’t need anyone to tell him what to do. And don’t ‘bow out gracefully’ or whatever bullshit idea you come up with next. I’m your friend, Tom—but if you lie to JR about how you feel, I’m gonna kick your ass.”

I glance at my phone. Good lord, I thought Andy Becker was the submissive partner in his marriage. Then again, being submissive isn’t the same thing as being passive. Haven’t I told my sub that he holds a position of power in our relationship?

“You’re right,” I say, blowing out a breath. “I respect JR’s intelligence too much to try to deceive him. But I’ve never been in love before. I don’t know what I should do.”

“I’ll tell you what I tell my players—and I’ve coached the Number One college football team in the nation,” he brags. “ Fight , and don’t you dare give up! You’re a winner. Now is the time to prove it.”

The despair I’ve been feeling all day battles against a rising hope. “Fight for JR?” I ask, wanting to believe that it’s still possible.

“For JR and for love,” Andy tells me. “I’m backing both of you for the win.”

Perhaps I should take a page out of the coach’s playbook. All hope may not be lost just yet. I narrow my eyes as I formulate a plan.

It’s time to fight for the man that I love.