18
MASON
In the locker room before the big game against the Titans, I looked around nervously, eyes toward Ryder, then Kingston.
Ryder and I had decided not to broach the subject until after the game. There was some kind of silent agreement through practices and workouts that we wouldn’t talk about it. We talked about normal shit, about the game, about practices, about the weather and how hard Coach was riding our asses, but we didn’t go near the subject of Keely with a ten-foot pole.
But that was okay really. We had plenty to focus on without thinking about Keely, and it seemed like she understood. I had to hope she did. But I knew that a week was a long time and if her brother wanted to, he had plenty of dirt on us to ruin everything.
“This is it, boys,” Coach said, standing at the front of the locker room, his chest swollen with pride. “This is what we’ve all been working on. For some of you, this will be the first of many championship games you’ll play in your career, for others, this may be the last. But what matters is today. Right now. You are a team. A team that has been through thick and thin. A team that has busted their asses to get this far. It’s been one hell of a season, so let’s end it the right way!”
“And show those Titan pussies that last time was a fluke,” Ryder added with a grin. The whole team chuckled, then cheered, the yelling and whooping getting louder and louder, echoing down the tunnel as we ran out onto the field.
The whole stadium was filled to the brim, a wall of sound slamming into me the moment we crossed through the tunnel entrance. It was amazing and unbelievable. I felt absolutely miniature down on the field surrounded by eighty-thousand screaming fanatics.
Ryder looked my way and grinned.
I wiped my sweaty palms on my thighs and looked over to Kingston.
He was grinning too, but he was also pointing. He shoved Ryder on the shoulder and pointed again, making us both look up into the stands, squinting against all the bright lights and camera flashes.
But then I saw her. I saw her and my whole world tilted upside down, my heart jumping into my throat, everything went silent while my bear went wild.
I looked to Kingston, pure confusion written on my face. Then back to Keely. How was she here?
I looked over to Ryder and saw him looking as confused as I felt.
“You didn’t know?” I asked him, shouting over the din of the crowd. He shook his head, grinning from ear to ear as he waved at her.
Then I noticed something. She was wearing a Livermore jersey. I grinned even harder. Too bad it was Kingston’s number. But then I spotted the painted numbers on her cheeks, mine on one cheek, Ryder’s on the other. It was the most adorable thing I’d ever seen and I just wanted to jump into the stands and sweep her into a kiss.
But there would be time for that later. We had a game to win first.
I looked to Kingston at the same time Ryder did, both of us with a question in our gaze.
Kingston sighed and clapped a hand on either of our shoulders.
“I don’t ever want to hear about your sex life again, got it?” he said, the sparkle of a smile twinkling in his eyes.
“Does that mean…?” I asked, not even wanting to say it out loud. The thought that we could be with Keely, that we could have her and Kingston’s blessing was almost too much to process. It seemed too good to be true. But I still held onto hope. I still wanted it to be true.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Ryder asked, nearly jumping out of his skin, grinning so broadly I thought he might split his face.
Kingston sighed again and shook his head. “I don’t get it, and I don’t understand it, but Keely tells me that you guys have something that feels real. If you’re really not in it just for a quick fuck—” I saw Ryder’s expression darken the same time my hand tightened to a fist. Keely was so much more than that. And I wouldn’t hesitate to lay out anyone that suggested otherwise. My bear roared in agreement. She had captivated both of us.
“Calm down,” he said quickly, noticing the change in us. “I’m saying, if you’re really in it for real—”
“We are,” Ryder growled.
“—Then you have my blessing,” Kingston said, seeming more than a little uncertain about that decision.
I waved Keely down, encouraging her to go right up to the edge of the barrier. And then I ran and jumped, leaping at least three feet off the ground to grab the handrail where she was standing. I pulled myself up, thankful for all those dumb competitions at the gym with Ryder, and kissed her for all I was worth.
“What was that for?” she asked, grinning and breathless.
“Because I’m kind of crazy about you,” I said, lurching forward for another quick kiss, my arms shaking from the exertion of holding myself up like this.
“Enjoy the show. This one’s for you,” I said, grinning as I dropped down to the ground again.
“Show off,” Ryder said, laughing as he clapped me on the back.
“Jealous,” I said. Even for a wide receiver like me, a three-plus foot jump was kind of impressive. For a quarterback, it was nearly impossible, he’d never have been able to pull the move I just did.
“Maybe,” he admitted.
“You’ll get your chance later,” I said, not an ounce of jealousy in me. I didn’t know how it was possible, but I was just as happy that Ryder had found happiness as I was for myself. And the fact that it was with the same girl didn’t actually change anything.
“All right boys, let’s put our dicks away and go kick some ass,” Kingston said, smacking us both on the back.
I turned and gave Keely one last grin before I headed out onto the field, not a worry or care in the world because I knew I had the best thing waiting for me when I got back.