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35

Caleb

I t’s natural how we fall into each other. I’m not sure what changed tonight, but it’s different. We don’t rush things, and I savor the taste of him and every sound he makes. In the confines of our tiny dorm room, there’s only me and him, and nothing else is important.

“Good boy,” I tease when he pushes me down between the shoulder blades. Nick huffs a laugh, probably because of the ridiculousness of me calling him that when he’s manhandling me to get me where he wants.

My teasing devolves into soft moans when he thrusts into me. My cheek pressed against the pillow, I mutter his name again and again, and he shudders against me.

And afterwards, when we’re panting down and coming down from the high, I put an arm around his waist. I kiss his temple, like I so often do every time we do this, and then murmur incoherent words against his cheek.

“What’s that?” he asks.

“We need Morgan.”

Nick wheezes. “I don’t think I’m that adventurous. I told you I don’t share… not even with Rhys.”

“Huh?” I pinch him and lift my head to glower at him. “Okay, funny guy. I meant because you’re going to do the whole free agent thing. You need a plan, and the guy’s a micromanage—”

“He’s organized,” he corrects.

“Right, that. He’s a lot more organized than both of us. He can help you.”

He runs fingers through my hair. “Okay, but not tonight.”

“Of course not.” I reach over him to take my phone from where I threw it at my desk, and the screen lights as I send a quick text to Rhys. When I put my phone away, I grab him by the jaw and kiss him. I don’t stop until we’re both breathless, and when he pulls away, I dive in again.

I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of him.

***

“Seriously?” I poke at the list of names Rhys has jotted down. Afternoon practice ended a half hour back and we’re at Stella’s, trying to come up with a game plan for Nick. The café’s busy and even if I’m not on shift, I still feel bad I can’t help—though right now, I’m much more focused on Nick’s needs.

“Yeah, according to Coach, these are the three agents that have been trying to get in touch with Nick,” Rhys says. He gestures for me to give the list back, and I slide it across the table to him. Beside me, Nick is quiet.

My jaw drops. Three. That’s how in demand my amazing boyfriend is, and I realize he’s been downplaying his opportunities all this time. Or maybe he’s been completely ignoring it because he truly didn’t think he deserved it.

On top of the list is Aleks Polinski’s name, which Rhys has underlined twice. According to Nick, he’s the one he likes the most. He was also my uncle’s agent, so I know he’s a good choice.

“So I’ve done a bit of research, though Jennings probably knows more than me,” Rhys says. “But the teams who would want to sign you will probably ask you to do a professional tryout first or join their training camp this summer. If they really, really like you though, they’ll offer you a contract straight away. You want to play for Buffalo with Jennings, right?”

Nick stares at him, expression blank. I can tell he’s getting overwhelmed by all this, and I reach over and pinch his knee, and he yelps and swats at me.

“Focus,” I tell him.

“Yeah, I want to play with Buffalo. With Caleb,” he mumbles, and I grin and puff out my chest. Yes. “Aleks said they’ll want me, but who knows?”

“Ask Coach to set up a meeting with him right now,” Rhys says, then jots down a to-do list right below his list of names. He even puts dates beside the list.

I arc my eyebrows at Rhys. When I called him a micromanager, I was serious—I always got that impression from him from how controlled he is as a captain, and how he insists on having everything in its correct place. Once, his sports drink wasn’t where it was, and he almost lost his mind.

Maybe that’s why he and Nick get along so well—they’re both control freaks. While Nick controls every aspect of himself, Rhys likes to control everything else.

Weirdos.

Nick buries himself in his cellphone, and my uncle responds to his text quickly. It’s almost as if he was waiting for Nick’s text.

“He’s going to set a meeting with Aleks this week,” Nick mumbles.

“Here.” Rhys gives him the to-do list he was working on. I peer at the comprehensive and monstrous thing, and know I was right to get Rhys included in this. He knows Nick more than I do and even included a reminder to call his dad.

Wow.

“Hey!” Schultz suddenly appears next to our table, and he pushes Rhys into the booth and sits beside him. “You all ready for tomorrow’s game?”

“Duh,” I tell him. “You’d better up your defense. The Falcons’ forwards are insane.”

“Not as insane as you, Jennings.”

I grin because he’s right.

Our table devolves into chaos, with Rhys and Schultz arguing about tomorrow’s strategy, Rhys saying that Schultz totally misunderstood my uncle’s briefing this afternoon.

In the end, Schultz gets Vega and Walters to come over, and even Nick gets heated as they argue. It seems like everyone has their own understandings of the many things my uncle said today, and I’m trying not to laugh because we’re a fucking mess.

Can’t blame them—if we win tomorrow, then we have a sure ticket to the quarterfinals.

Of course, nobody actually points that out. No way anybody’s going to jinx it. While this mess of a conversation goes on, Nick’s hand lands on my thigh and he absently rubs his thumb against me. I let him be, even when he searches for my hand and intertwines our fingers.

“No, shit, listen,” Schultz demands, pulling out his phone and opening the notes app. He scribbles a play on it, lamenting about how nobody else notices how predictable the Falcons are when it comes to their offensive plays. “Sandoval, see, their center often goes this way, right?”

Nodding his head, Nick makes a move to point where exactly, but he seems to have forgotten that he’s got my hand in his. He pulls my hand from under the table and only lets go to tap Schultz’s screen.

All around us, eyes bug out.

“Wait, wait, hold up,” Vega gestures between Nick and I. “What’s that about?”

“What?” Schultz asks.

“These two are holding hands now? You two are together?”

Nick startles. He turns to me with wide eyes and a parted mouth, and I can’t help but snicker. Feeling bold, I grab his hand again and lean my shoulder against his.

We’ve talked about this. He said he doesn’t mind the rest of the team finding out, so it’s fine. Besides, he was the one who exposed us.

“Yup,” I say plainly. Schultz sits up straight as if proud, and the corner of Rhys’s mouth lifts in a half smile.

Walters, the ass who’s never really warmed up to me, grimaces. “Seriously, Sandoval? Seriously!? This guy?”

Immediately, I find my hackles rising. “What? You have a problem with two dudes dating?”

Without missing a beat, Walters waves me off. “Get over yourself, Jennings. I don’t care if you’re both into guys. We literally have a gay coach. What pisses me off is that Sandoval decided to date you, specifically. Sandoval, you sure about this? I’ve a frat brother I think you’ll hit it off with.”

I… well. Okay, that should piss me off too, but instead I slacken my shoulders and smirk. That’s funny and sounds like something I’d say to someone he’s seeing if the roles were reversed.

“Lay off them.” Vega nudges Walters, who groans but concedes. Walters gives a jerky nod and leans back. Grinning, Vega adds, “I think it’s cute. Didn’t see it coming, but happy for you two.”

Nick gets that goofy smile of his, and his grip around my hand tightens. He tilts his chin to his chest and chuckles, and despite this being his doing, I can tell he feels shy about being the center of attention anyway.

And because as his doting boyfriend who will never give him any peace, I lean in and kiss him on the temple. “We really are cute, babe.”

Except for Schultz who bursts out laughing, everyone else groans in disapproval.

I grin, noting the way Nick’s blush deepens. A small part of me instantly feels bad for maybe making it worse for him, but then he turns and mimics me, pressing his lips against my hair. My heart speeds up rapidly that I’m almost concerned about it.

Rhys throws a balled-up napkin at him, deadpanning, “Booo.”

It only earns a smile from Nick, and for once, I’m the one who’s speechless as I scrub my face and let out a surprised laugh.