Page 100 of Playing Dirty

These two went from rivals—straight-up enemies—to the most disgustingly in love couple I’ve ever seen. And I know it’s really soon to have these thoughts, but…part of me thinks this could be what’s in store for me and Madden.

God, I feel insane eventhinkingthat.

“Okay, well, now I feel like I need to be caught up,” Oakley chides, despite his insinuation that his boyfriend is the biggest gossip.

I give him a quick rundown of what Quinton and I’ve discussed so far, then I find myself recounting everything that’s taken place between Madden and me since I called them last: the deep talks, game night with his friends, planning to see Vaughn’s show, and my feelings about exploring all facets of my sexuality. I edit the events as minimally as possible, only leaving out the most incriminating details—namely Madden’s identity—but when I accidentally slip up about the tree-sap incident, Quinton takes notice.

“Wait. Why wasn’t he just coming through the front door?”

I pause, trying to work through any kind of logical answer, but it’s not fast enough.

“God no, Theo!” Quinton slams his hand down on the counter animatedly. “We don’t do situationships, and we definitely don’t do secret flings!”

“Hilarious, coming from you,” I point out, arching a brow. “Need I remind you that I was there the nightyourlittle secret fling got out?”

“Yeah, so take it from us. Learn from our mistakes,” Oakley says insistently, very quickly backing Quinton up. “Neither of us are saying you have to come out tomorrow; that should happen on your own terms. But you need to be aware, if you’re sneaking around…there’s a chance it’ll happen anyway, and in a moment completely out of your control.”

Quinton nods in agreement, and I realize the night in question—all of us catching him in Oakley’s room—is exactly what he experienced firsthand.

And damn, if I don’t hate how much of a point they’re making.

My eyes sink closed while a disgruntled sigh leaves me, and I toss my hand out in front of me, utterly helpless.

“Well, it’s not like I can just drop the bi-bomb on them and start parading my stepbrother around the house after we just screwed eight ways to Sunday,” I retort in frustration. “The entire house would think I lost my damn mind.”

I realize my mistake as soon as I look back at the screen, finding both of them gaping at me like I’d just been speaking in tongues.

“I’m so fucking sorry. You just saidstepbrother,”Quinton nearly screeches.

Shit.

Oakley blinks a few times before his brows draw together, and he cocks his head. “Wait, doesn’t he play for Blackmore?”

Double shit.

My tongue rolls against the inside of my cheek before I answer both of their questions with a single nod.

There’s a moment of silence while the two of them digest this new information I’ve let slip, and I brace myself for this to go sideways. Because, while the rivalry isn’t as prevalent between any of the other sports programs at Leighton, it’s still there; ingrained in all of us to despise the Falcons on principle.

Oakley leans back and sighs before looking over at his boyfriend. “Yeah, you’re right. My friends have way better tea.”

Every fiber of my being relaxes, the panic subsiding to barely more than a tingling worry in the back of my mind.

A saccharine smile paints Quinton’s face at Oakley’s admission, only for it to sober when he murmurs, “So the issue here definitely isn’t that you’re not ready to come out, then.”

Truthfully, it’s not even on my radar anymore. If it were anyone besides Madden, I have no doubt I would’ve at least told Holden, Phoenix, and Cam by now.

But itisMadden. My rival, my stepbrother. The one person I shouldn’t fucking be with.

There are so many layers to this, and I can’t seem to find a clear path through them.

Blowing out a breath, I mutter, “Even if I was out to the entire human population, we’d still be in this exact same position.”

“Damn,” Quinton whispers and shakes his head. “Talk about a rock and a hard place.”

“Yeah,” I mumble. “But it doesn’t stop me from wanting him the way I do. I’m just terrified of what will happen if anyone finds out—especially the team.”

“We know all about that, don’t we?” Quinton muses, looking over at his boyfriend.