Page 12

Dev

Three years later

“Hey, Brody?” I was at the dining-room table, going over our finances. Through the years, I’d kept up with the ins and outs and ups and downs of Wall Street, and I was our designated investment adviser. I enjoyed a little day trading, and keeping an eye on fluctuations in the stock market had enabled our savings to grow exponentially with bonds, treasury bills, and real estate. I wouldn’t risk the bulk of our money, though, and had it in stable income funds. I was careful as it wasn’t only my future, but Brody’s and his mother’s as well.

Long ago I’d learned never to trust anyone with my money—I’d heard too many stories of players blindly entrusting their wealth to someone and regretting it. Every year, I made Brody sit with me, and we’d discuss where and in what to invest. Once a month I crunched the numbers. My parents might think I was wasting my life playing football, but I had to think about what happened when I retired. I didn’t want to be one of those players who waited too long and limped away. I wanted to go out on top and needed a plan for when my glory days were done.

“Yeah? What’s up?”

“Wanna review your mom’s statement with me? I think it’s time to move some of her money. She’s got a lot of cash from the life insurance after Theo’s death, and I think she should invest in tax-free munis or maybe mutual funds. Take a look.”

The year before, Theo had been killed in a construction accident. Brody had stayed with her the week after he died, helping her work through her grief. With me, Brody had cried, admitting he’d been wrong in never giving Theo the chance he deserved to be a father to him, and now it was too late.

Instead of answering me, Brody stared off into space, and I knew he wasn’t thinking about bank balances. I set the money talk aside for the moment. “It still bothers you, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah. You know…” Wetness glimmered in his blue eyes when they met mine. “I never had the chance to say I was sorry for how I treated him. I couldn’t even stay past the funeral, since we were in the playoffs, and Momma insisted I needed to be with the team.”

“Baby, you’ll find the right time to talk to her.” I squeezed his hand. “But you softened a lot toward him these past few years. I saw it, and I’m sure they did too.”

He lifted a shoulder. “Maybe. Now that she’s alone, I just wish she wasn’t so far away.”

With the payment from the insurance company, Brody had set up a trust for his mother and an investment account that I managed for her. He’d again made his argument for her to move up by us, but she refused. She’d come to the city plenty of times, and enjoyed herself, as far as I could tell, but she wouldn’t stay longer than a week.

“Visiting is enough for me. I have my life to live, and you boys have yours.”

“You’re the money man. I trust you to do what’s right. After all, you made her a ton of money on that IPO, and we’re all raking it in on that real estate investment trust and the shopping centers. I think we’re doing pretty good.”

I lazed back in the chair and rolled my neck. “Damn right we are. Let’s not forget the two Super Bowl wins in three years that dumped a huge chunk of change in our pockets. Plus, think of all the good stuff we’ve done—giving to teen shelters and food banks at the cities we play in. You’ve taught me to take care of those who aren’t as fortunate as us. So, pretty good? Fucking awesome is more like it.” I spun around in my chair and scanned the pictures on the wall. Me, throwing a forty-yard TD in the last minute in our first Super Bowl win. Brody making a catch and the absolute joy on his face with the ball in his arms in the second Super Bowl victory. Our team accepting the trophy. Brody hugging his mom. The whole team celebrating on the field and at the theme park. Meeting the President at the White House.

Scenes of our life together.

And absolutely nothing from my parents. I’d done the right thing and invited them to all the divisional playoff games, offering to fly them out and put them up at hotels every step of the way. I received a “Thank you, but no thanks.” Always the optimist, Brody pointed out that at least they answered and didn’t ignore me.

It hurt, but I had Brody by my side, and that was all that mattered.

“I was thinking that even though your mom doesn’t want to live here, we should buy an apartment in your building for her. Maybe one day she’ll change her mind.”

Brody’s lips twitched. “Excuse me, you’ve known Momma for close to ten years. How many times has she changed her mind?”

I huffed out a frustrated breath. Ms. Faith was the sweetest person but stubborn as the day was long. “I know, but real estate is always a good idea.” My phone buzzed and vibrated across the table. “It’s Ezra. Hey. How’s it going?”

“Good. You have a minute? Is Brody with you?”

There was restrained excitement in his voice, and while Ezra was always a little hyper, this time it was different. My curiosity piqued, I closed my laptop so I could focus on Ezra.

“Yeah, Brody’s with me. What’s going on?”

“Okay. You know after this year’s Super Bowl win, you’re the hottest commodity. Your contract is up, and I’ve got an incredible offer. The Cocoa Beach Rockets are looking for a quarterback, and they’re willing to pay you. A lot. ”

My gaze darted to Brody, who raised a brow.

“I’m gonna put you on speaker so Brody can hear.” I hit the screen. “So the Rockets approached you?”

“Yeah, and the contract is awesome,” Ezra said with barely restrained glee that promised a smashing deal. “Fifty million per year, five years. Two hundred fifty million, guaranteed.”

“Holy Mother of God,” Brody croaked, growing pale.

Even I, who didn’t care much about salary, to Ezra’s despair, had a hard time wrapping my head around those astronomical figures. I had trusts from my grandparents on both sides that paid me stupid money to live on, so I didn’t need to choose a team based on how much I’d make. It wasn’t anywhere close to this ridiculous amount the Rockets were offering, but more than enough for me, so I didn’t have to worry about anything and could buy whatever I wanted.

Unlike me, Brody still watched every penny he spent and didn’t believe in frivolous purchases. He didn’t own a car because he thought the price for parking in the city was a sin. One of the reasons I fell for him was his innate goodness and levelheadedness, which he’d carried with him from home to here. He made me a better man.

“Damn, Ezra. That’s some serious money.”

“Ya think?” He chuckled. “This last Super Bowl shot your star to the moon.”

“Yeah, well, it’s still a team effort. I’m not out there playing on my own.” While in college I could be a bit of a hot dog, once I hit the pros, I knew there was no way to win if I didn’t have the respect of all the players, and I worked damn hard to get it.

“You see? That’s why you’re a natural leader and such an asset to your team. You never take full credit. And I know it’s a team effort because I have an offer for Brody as well.”

“From the Rockets? I wouldn’t mind another team if we go together.”

Ezra cleared his throat. “Uh, well, no. For the Spokane Stars. Twelve million a year, three-year contract. I know it’s a lot less, but tight ends never get as much as quarterbacks.”

Cocoa Beach and Spokane? That didn’t bear thinking about. Not even waiting for Brody to answer, I said, “Count me out, Ezra,” shaking my head as if he could see me.

“But, Dev. That’s a ton of money to walk away from,” Ezra argued. “And it’s only five years.”

Struggling to control my temper, I rubbed my face and took a deep breath. “Only? Brody and I have been sneaking around for almost double that now. We’re finally in the same city, and I refuse to go back to seeing him only on the off-season or on the slim chance the leagues have us playing against each other. I’m tired of a piecemeal love affair, when we deserve a seat at the whole damn dinner table, like everyone else.”

“Yeah, Ezra,” Brody added. “I understand it’s a good opportunity, but I’d rather stay where I am.”

Ezra’s long-suffering sigh filled the room. “I hear you, and I figured you’d both feel this way, but I had to bring you the offers. And Dev? You know that’s not the only one. I’m getting calls from other teams as well.”

Over the years, I’d become more and more dissatisfied with having to hide our relationship, and it sometimes made me angry at the game for stealing my other joy.

“And you can give them the same answer. Unless Brody and I go together, I wouldn’t be interested, and I know you can’t say that without the rumor mill exploding, so please, let’s just keep the status quo. See what the Kings offer me, make it a little better for Brody too, and we’ll stay.”

Ezra hummed his disappointment. “Well, be prepared to have an answer for the press. They’ll come calling as to why you’re rejecting such a lucrative contract.”

“Maybe I should just tell them I got married, and I’m keeping it private, and that we don’t want to leave New York,” I mused.

“Talk about setting off a shit storm. You’d have every gossip rag coming after you to find out who, and don’t think they won’t speculate about your relationship with Brody, being as close as you are.”

“What do you mean? We’re discreet. We go out separately plenty of times.” I grimaced. “Including plenty of dates with women. It’s something we’re aware we need to do.”

“Hey, I’m not lecturing you guys. Listen, I feel for you. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to have to hide your love, and I know how deeply invested you are in your relationship. But you know the personal lives of athletes and celebrities have always been fodder for the gossip mills. Just be careful, is all I’m saying.”

It wasn’t Ezra’s fault the world sucked. “We are. And I didn’t mean to take it out on you. I’m not planning on playing football forever, and if it gets to the point where it becomes too much, I’ll retire. I’ve already accomplished my professional dream. I have no problem giving way to someone else to achieve theirs.”

“You’re a pretty special guy, Dev,” Ezra remarked.

I winked at Brody. “I know. Talk to you soon.”

Brody stared hard at me after I ended the call.

“What? You disagree with my decision?”

“No, of course not, but like Ezra said, that’s a hell of a lot of money to give up.”

I put my arms around him. “You’re worth more to me than a fat bank account. After a while, it all becomes obscene. You’ve seen our financials. We’re set for life. Neither of us wants for anything material. And the one thing we want, we can’t have until we give up the game.”

Brody’s hands massaged my back, and it felt so damn good, I arched into his touch. “I’m not ready to do that, Dev. I’m not even thirty. Is that gonna be a problem for you? I know we’ve got a couple of Super Bowls, but I wanna keep playin’.”

“Not a problem at all.” I kissed his neck, loving that he’d kept the tradition of growing his hair out in the off-season. The silky waves tickled my cheek. “I know you’re not ready to retire. Me neither.” Something Ezra had mentioned niggled on the edge of my brain. “It might be a wild idea…”

“Gee, when have I heard that before?” Brody chuckled, and I nipped his ear.

“I’m serious. Brody, let’s do it.” Excitement mounting, I rested my hands on his shoulders and gazed into his beautiful blue eyes.

His brow puckered. “Do what? Take the trades?”

I shoved him. “No.” Heart pumping madly, I hesitated, then blurted out, “Let’s get married.”

His lips kicked up in a grin. “Very funny.”

I dug my fingers into his shoulders, holding him steady. “Do you see me laughing?” I held his startled blue eyes with mine. “I’m serious. Marry me. I love you, and I want to finally know we’re together. Legally.”

Brody’s lips parted, his breaths coming in short puffs. “Dev…how…what…what’re you thinkin’? How the hell do you think we can get away with this and no one’s gonna find out?”

“We make everyone sign an NDA, and if necessary, pay them a ton of money to keep their mouths shut.”

“Bribe them?”

I couldn’t help smiling at Brody’s shock and kissed him.

“Don’t think of it as a bribe. It’s more like a payment for services rendered. Or, in this case, not speaking.” The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. “We can get a license and ask Ezra to handle the arrangements for us. It’ll be Ezra and Roe, and we’ll fly your mother in. We don’t need anyone else.”

“I—I don’t know what to say.”

The confusion in his face hurt, and I had to take a step back, gather my thoughts and not snap. “You don’t want to marry me?”

“Of course I do.” He grabbed my arm. “Just not in a way that we have to sneak around about it.”

Frustrated, I shook him off and walked away. “Don’t you think we’ll always have to? If we wait until we retire, then come out, we’ll still be hounded by the press, both good and bad. We won’t have a moment’s peace. If we do it this way, it’s a chance to have it quiet and keep it to ourselves as long as possible.”

Brody crossed the room and cupped my face in his hands. “You’re serious.”

“I am. But you’re not sure.” And it killed me.

He crushed his mouth to mine, kissing me until I lost my breath. “I’m sure I love you. I just need some time to think about the way we’re gonna do it.”

I brushed my lips to his. “Time is something we have plenty of.”

Instead of returning to our bank statements, I began to research marriage licenses. “I bet we can get married without having to file the certificate. That would solve all our problems.” I clicked on some links.

Brody peered over my shoulder and grunted, pointing at the screen. “Nope. Says here that in New York, if you don’t file the license, your marriage isn’t valid.”

“Well, gay marriage is legal in every state. Let’s look. One of the fifty has to work for us.”

The sun had inched toward the horizon by the time I finished. Brody set a beer in front of me, and I blew him a kiss and took a long grateful drink. He stretched his legs out.

“Find anything useful?” He put the bottle to his lips.

“Yeah. That it isn’t as easy as I thought it would be.”

He grinned. “Nothing worthwhile ever is.”

I arched a brow, still a little hurt by his earlier negativity. “So you’re on board with this now?”

Brody set his bottle on the table and took mine from me. “Baby, I was always on board. There’s nothing I want more than to spend the rest of my life with you as your husband.” His raspy cheek rubbed mine, and I breathed deep of his familiar scent that was as much a part of me as my own. “I love you, Dev.”

“I love you too.” My excitement rising, I pulled the laptop closer. “Feel like taking a trip to California?”