Page 77 of Show Me

“He’s a great piece of ass, but I’m sure—”

Whatever Reid had been about to say next was lost to the breeze, possibly along with a tooth or two as Sam’s fist connected with his jaw. Chaos erupted and I got jostled and shoved as teammates, coaching assistants, and a ref surged forward to break them up.

I stumbled backward, the spots of heat in my cheeks becoming a lake of fire.

Something bumped against the side of my face, and I whipped a look aside to find the reporter, his mic an inch from my lips. His smile was falsely apologetic even as he asked, “Any comment?”

“Fuck off,” I said, and then stepped around him and fought my way through the crowd as I sped toward the other side of the field, desperate to get away from everyone’s stares. The logical part of my brain said that none of this was my fault, but the other half, the larger one said I’d made a scene. Sadly, another thing I’d learned over the years was that you could run away from a lot, but it was impossible to outrun your own humiliation. That didn’t mean I wouldn’t give it the ol’ college try.

29

Sam

Right after the clock ran down at the end of the game, I’d started toward Jesse as he streamed onto the field with everyone else. Then I’d gotten sideswiped in a tackle by my brother Tanner. Despite being half a foot shorter than me, he tried to noogie me as he wrestled me to the ground.

“Stop, dude, stop. I have to—”

“Samson.” My dad’s voice boomed out, pride heaped in his tone. “Looking strong.”

“Th—”

My mom was right on his heels. “I brought your favorite brownies.”

“Oh gr—”

“Can I run around the field?” Tanner shouted.

“No!” came a chorus of three voices, including mine.

This was what a big family was like: speaking in short bursts because inevitably someone would interrupt. I’d had grand plans to introduce my folks to Jesse in a less boisterous setting earlier as a prelude to hopefully introducing him as my boyfriend at some point, but the fresh new cast on Cassie’s arm had thrown a wrench in that.

Suddenly I was surrounded by all of my family members, which was usually great and supportive and all, except when I was trying to get to the guy who’d given me such a huge, sweet smile in the third quarter that I’d almost fumbled a pass with the realization that I really needed him to know, for better or worse, that I’d fallen for him.

“I have to—”

“And I’ve got fried chicken. Enough for all your roommates, too. I left it in the car. I figured we’d drive over and get it all set up while you wrap up,” Mom droned, and I nodded absently, looking around to see where Jesse had gone.

From the corner of my eye, I spotted Reid with his arm around Jesse.

Oh hell no.The same infusion of adrenaline that’d fueled me through multiple pile-ups, three completed receptions, and a half dozen first downs during the game earlier surged through me with renewed force, filling me with the irrepressible desire to punt Reid in the direction of the goalposts.

“I’m in love with my roommate, and I have to go make sure he understands that,” I said barked out. “Make way.” I shouldered through my two brothers and started after Jesse.

Later I’d have time to appreciate how utterly still and quiet everyone got at once for literally the first time since I’d been alive.

“We love you, honey!” my mom called from behind me.

“Is he gay?” I heard Tanner ask as I trotted off.

And then everything had gone sideways.

* * *

Coach’sscowling face was suddenly in mine as I was hauled from the ground, Reid next to me.

“Whose fault is it?” Coach shouted between us. “Never mind, I don’t give a good goddamn whose fault it is. We still have games left and if you two don’t pull your heads out of your asses and act right, I’ll bench both of you for the rest of the season.”

No way he’d bench Reid, but I wasn’t about to say that. Me, it was 50/50 either way.