Page 30 of Personal Foul (The San Diego Storm #3)

Colin

I’d traveled all over Europe and Southeast Asia with my club, but nothing compared to New York City. I wanted to see it all.

“How much sightseeing can we do over the next three days?” I asked as we rode from Manhattan toward the Brooklyn Bridge.

“Not very much, unfortunately, but we can squeeze in a few things. We can always come back.”

I didn’t want to remind him that our time was running out. My visa would expire in less than 60 days, and I still hadn’t received an offer from the Storm regarding next season. Without it, I would go back to Australia at the end of January.

“I’m not sure we are going to have that kind of time. It’s not like I can walk up to Coach and ask if he’s planning to resign me.”

He reached across the seat and placed his hand over mine. “No, but my father can, since he’s acting as your agent.”

I gazed out the window. “I hate to impose, especially since they’re still in London.”

Carson leaned across the seat until we were shoulder to shoulder. I turned my head to look at him. “Just send him a text, babe. He’ll be happy to check on things for you.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“But for tonight, let’s forget about the world and contracts and football games. I just want to enjoy the time we have here.”

His words reminded me of our first night together. The twenty-four hours that had changed everything for us. And he was right. There was nothing I could do about any of it tonight.

“Okay,” I whispered. “Nothing but us.”

After a harrowing cab ride that felt more like a carnival rollercoaster ride, we pulled up in front of a little restaurant tucked into the middle of an old brick building. Gino’s was supposed to have the best pizza in New York City, and I was starving.

After Carson paid the driver, he slipped out of the backseat, holding out his hand for mine. I stared at it a moment, then took it. We stood face to face on Brooklyn street as the cab sped away, my hand in his.

“Hungry?”

I nodded, staring at him. “Yes. Starved.”

Carson met me for a soft kiss as the world fell away. When he kissed me, nothing existed but him and me. When he pulled back, he kissed my forehead, then turned toward the restaurant.

Neither of us had noticed how long the line was or how frigid the wind was coming off the river. I wasn’t used to weather like that, and Carson knew it.

Wrapping his arms around me, he leaned in to speak into my ear. “It’s colder than I expected. We can go someplace else if you don’t want to wait.”

When he looked at me like my comfort was his only concern, I decided right then that I’d wait in a snow drift if it meant he continued that.

“I don’t mind waiting if you don’t.”

Carson smiled, making my stomach flutter. “We can take in the view while I hold your hand.”

I smiled as we leaned against the building, shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand.

We were almost under the Brooklyn Bridge, looking at Manhattan lit up in the night sky. Carson pointed out the iconic landmark skyscrapers that made up the New York City skyline.

I couldn’t take my eyes off his face, as his cheeks pinked from the cold wind off the East River. He was so much lighter now than the man I’d met five months ago at the airport. His smile lit up his handsome face, making his hazel eyes sparkle. I ached to keep him.

I leaned closer to him, wishing I could make time stand still.

Glancing around, I marveled at the people waiting in line and walking the streets. Couples of all sorts were out and about, and no one paid any attention to the two men who were huddled together out on a date on Friday night.

Tightening my hand around his, I leaned closer. “I just realized something.”

Carson looked at me with love-drunk eyes. “What’s that, babe?”

My stomach quivered when he called me that. “This is the first date I’ve ever been on that wasn’t scheduled on an app.”

I watched as his facial expression dimmed. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that last part. But unfortunately, it was true.

“Terrible, huh?”

I looked down at the sidewalk, then to where our hands were laced together.

“Hey,” he called, squeezing my hand. “There’s no shame in any of that. I’m just disappointed that I haven’t taken you out sooner.”

“It’s okay. Really, it is.”

Carson’s smile returned. “I think it’s safe to say we both know this thing between us is more than just attraction.

There are feelings and emotions involved now.

I consider myself the luckiest man in New York, and tonight is yet another opportunity to be your first again. And I’ll happily take all of them.”

He leaned in to kiss my cheek as I smiled faintly. Releasing my hand, Carson his put his arm around my waist and pulled me closer until I could feel his chest rise and fall with every breath.

“If I forget to say it later, this is the best real date I’ve ever had,” I murmured into his ear.

He smiled and lit my heart up brighter than New York. “Me too, babe. Me too.”

We got back to the hotel right before our 11 pm curfew. Staring at each other in the mirrored elevator doors, I took in his handsome face and the way he looked like he wanted to devour me.

Teasing him would be so easy, but that’s not how I wanted this night to end.

When we got to the room, Carson removed all our layers and pressed my back to the window overlooking the city.

My skin was so heated from being close to him, I didn’t register the cold.

With only the ambient lighting, he dropped to his knees and ran his hands all over my body.

And when he took me to the back of his throat, I closed my eyes and dreamed of a life with him.

After dismantling the Knights, 49-to-21, in west Siberia, I wasn’t sure I’d ever warm up. The one thing I was sure of was my balls would have recessed into my body had there not been a heated bench to keep us warm.

Not to mention, Lennox ran the offense up and down the field, eating up as much clock as possible. Every win put us closer to the playoffs and shortened my time here. One look at Carson said he felt it, too, and I wished time would slow down.

On the flight home Sunday night, Carson and I were thirty minutes into a movie that took us forever to settle on when Coach came and found me.

“Sorry to interrupt, but can I talk to you a moment?”

“Sure,” I said, getting up from my seat. I handed Carson the earbud I was wearing. My eyes found his as he winked, then patted the back of my leg.

I followed Coach back to where he was seated with Coach O’Neil. Sliding into the seat across from him, my leg bounced.

“Am I in trouble?” I joked nervously.

Coach Henderson smiled. “Of course not. I wanted to talk to you about next season.”

My breathing hitched as anxiety settled in, making my mouth dry. “Okay.”

“Let me start by saying your season has improved dramatically. You have more than lived up to my expectations and continue to make improvements.”

“Thank ya. That’s good to know.”

He tapped on the screen of his iPad, then turned it for me to look at.

“You lead the league in interceptions. Your instincts for where the ball is going are unmatched. We’ve never had a player to top that category, as well as return yardage.

I dare say I could put you in as a running back, and you’d excel. ”

“And as a punter,” Coach O’Neil added. “Have you seen him kick that ball, Craig? If Lundgren ever goes down, Colin’s our guy.”

I smiled, but looked at my hands. Being praised wasn’t something I was accustomed to. They usually only focused on what I mucked up.

“I think it was a stroke of genius to bring you onboard. You and Carson make an impervious secondary. And I have to give that credit to my little brother for hunting you down.”

My face was hot from all his good words.

“Thank ya, Coach. It’s been better than I ever imagined.

I expected to come here and give it my all, but I didn’t expect to like it as much as I do.

It’s no secret my time in rugby was challenging.

And now that I’ve been here, I have to agree with ya that football might be a better fit for me. ”

Coach beamed. “That’s what I wanted to hear. You need to find an American agent because we’re gonna offer you a lucrative extension for next season.”

I was ready to explode! I held out my hand. “Thank ya, sir, for everything. And especially for taking a chance on me because I’ve never been happier.”

“You’re welcome, Colin. Find that agent, or get George to help you out. I’m going to ask Marilyn to set up an appointment with Issac Gutierrez. He’s the immigration attorney Jayse used. He’ll make sure you get everything taken care of.”

“I will, sir. Thank ya again.”

I stood and made my way back to my seat. Carson looked up at me and read my face.

“What happened?”

I grinned, needing to fuck with him. “They’re offering me a contract extension for next season.”

His eyes widened, and his smile reached all the way to his beautiful eyes. “That’s great. That’s what we’ve been waiting for.”

“Yeah, but I turned it down. I told him I was tired of you bossing me around.”

Carson’s face fell as he rolled his eyes. “Sure you did.”

“What? You don’t believe me?”

“Nope,” he said. “You wouldn’t do that to me.”

I smirked. “Oh, I’d take your job if they offered it.” I wouldn’t.

He shook his head. “Not what I meant, and you can have the job.”

“Then what did you mean?” My heart was in my throat.

“You wouldn’t leave me and break my heart like that.”

My eyes dampened, and I had to look down. Carson squeezed my thigh.

“Want me to back it up to what you missed?”

I shook my head. “No. I’m good. Let’s keep going.”

Carson handed me the earbud back, then took my hand to continue watching as I looked down at yet another public display. The fear of losing everything I’d gained in five months crept through me like a dull ache.

Hope for a future here, and with him, was a dangerous weapon that could destroy what was left of me. I’d had it once before when I started playing professionally. And I didn’t want to lose again.