Chapter 32

Head coach Shannon Ludwig paced around his office, his face a thundercloud, while Sam, King, Tom, and Danny sat in front of him, squirming. King had no idea how they were going to get out of this. Two days since the pictures hit the Internet and the scandal hadn’t died down yet.

“All over the Internet,” Shannon barked again. “Were you filming a porn video? Is that what you set out to do? Threesomes”—he pointed at Danny—“gay sex”—he pointed at Tom—“and yet another Rebel ménage,” he said, pointing at Sam and King. “Three sex acts for the price of admission to one party. Congratulations, gentlemen, that’s going to earn you some sort of prize on the Internet, I think.” He laughed bitterly. “Boy, Cass and Beau were wondering when people would get over their sex tape. You guys have blown it out of the water. Cass and Beau are practically vanilla now.”

“Well,” Cass said in his Texas drawl, from the corner where he’d been sitting quietly as he listened to Shannon’s tirade, “I wouldn’t say that.”

“Okay, the fact that you even know what vanilla means astonishes me,” Tom said to Shannon. King could not believe the balls on this kid. “But, listen, coach, it wasn’t that bad. No one was actually fucking.”

Danny slowly raised his hand. “No, actually I was. Sorry.” He winced. “But you couldn’t see it that clearly because she was sitting on my lap, riding me. You know?”

“Oh, yes, that makes it so much better,” Shannon said. “That devalues the entire video. Good thing everyone can tell that King is jacking Sam off while Sam has his hands down his girlfriend’s pants, or everyone would be seriously disappointed in this amateur porn video. All”—he checked his phone—“three million people who have watched it on YouTube, not to mention the several hundred thousand who have seen snippets on various gossip sites.” He scrolled down. “Oh, I especially like this comment. ‘If the Rebels ain’t doing sex shows at halftime, I ain’t paying the price of a ticket, ’cause dick is the only reason to go see this team.’ ”

“Now, see, I don’t think they’ve been following us this season,” Danny argued. “We’ve got a winning record.” The glare Shannon shot his way shut Danny’s mouth.

“Your teammates and I,” Shannon said calmly, indicating Cass and DeShawn Brown, who was sitting in as players’ rep, “have been working our asses off to change the image of this team and its individual players. We want the world to see us as a solid, winning football team, with serious athletes and a dedicated work ethic. With one party”—he shook his phone at Tom—“you gentlemen have managed to undermine three years of work. People are demanding the NFL disband the franchise. There’s a Christian evangelical group calling for a boycott of Rebels games, and petitions online for your suspension. What do you have to say for yourselves?”

Sam covered his face with his hands. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled. King pressed his lips together, not wanting to disrespect Shannon. Sam wiped his hands down his face. “You’re right,” he continued. “We screwed up. We acted stupid.”

Fuck keeping quiet, King thought. “I’m not sorry,” he said, standing up angrily. “I’m in love with Sammy and with Jane. What we have isn’t porn, or something we should be ashamed of. I’m not going to apologize.” He looked over at Sam, who was staring at him, openmouthed with shock. “Sorry,” he said. “I guess I should have saved that for a little privacy.” He turned back to Shannon. “Maybe we didn’t use our best judgment out there on the dance floor, but I can tell you that what we were doing was an act of love and not some quick pussy and dick on the side.” He turned to Tom and Danny. “No offense.”

“None taken,” Tom said. “Go ahead.” Danny nodded, looking unhappy.

“What I expect from my team and my teammates,” King said, “is support. Our privacy was violated. They are dragging Jane’s name through the mud. She won’t even talk to us or see us, and she’s on leave at work because people won’t leave her alone. If it was Marian, would you treat her like that? Leave her to fend for herself?”

“Marian and Cass and Beau have conducted their relationship quietly and discreetly,” Shannon said.

“What about Ty and Brian and Randi?” King asked. “They’re always hanging on each other out in public. But the team issues statements about what a great ‘family’ they are, and how Randi is a hero because she’s a cop and shit.”

“They are a family,” Cass snapped. “They live together. His mother moved to Birmingham to be with them. They’re pictured with her, and with Randi’s family. The same as me and Beau and Marian. This is the first time we’ve heard of Jane.”

“So we can’t keep our personal lives separate from you guys?” Sam asked, standing, too. “We have to ask permission? It’s no secret I have issues. Well, guess what? They extend to the bedroom. Jane and King are more important to me than anyone else. They pulled me out of my private hell and made me start living again. They’ve accepted my faults, and my friends, and they’ve made me realize that I don’t have to keep apologizing for who I am or where I am or what I’m doing. You know what?” he said to Shannon. “I take it back. I’m not sorry.” Hearing what Sam was saying, what he was admitting, had King’s heart bursting with pride. King knew how hard it was for him to talk about himself and his feelings.

Shannon sighed and looked up at the ceiling, as if praying for patience. “I don’t expect you to apologize for being who you are, Sam,” he said. “Look, I don’t care who you love. I mean, I do, but it doesn’t bother me.” He sighed again. “What I’m trying to say is, you can have a relationship with King and this Jane person. But for the team’s image and the sake of your teammates who are working hard to change their own images and reputations, could we please keep the sex out of the public eye?”

“What about Jane?” King demanded. “She’s bearing the brunt of this, and it’s not fair. Sam and I have tried to take the blame, tried to keep them away from her, and it’s not working.” He sat down, suddenly tired and dejected. “We ruined her fucking life, man.”

Sam sat down next to him and put his arm around King’s shoulders. King would have been elated at this public display of affection if it were under different circumstances.

“I don’t know what we can do,” Shannon said helplessly. “Go see Melody Ann and see if you guys can brainstorm some kind of strategy that will help.” He sat down, looking as tired as King felt. “I wish the press would leave all you boys alone.”

“We promise to do a better job,” Tom said earnestly. “I swear. No more wild parties, no more sexcapades. Just solid football. You and the guys can count on us. Right, Danny?” he asked, nudging his roommate.

“Sure,” Danny said. “We’re solid.”

“Get out of here,” Shannon said impatiently. “Go see Marian. She’s got some new drills. And you,” he said, turning to Sam and King. “Go see Melody Ann.”

They left Shannon’s office, the two groups turning in opposite directions. It was as if Tom and Danny knew King and Sam needed some privacy.

“Love, huh?” Sam asked, walking at King’s side to the elevator, his hands shoved in his pockets.

“Yeah,” King said, staring up at the lighted numbers as they changed. “I guess my timing was bad.”

Sam bumped him with his shoulder. “Nah,” he said. “It’s all good.” King looked over at him in surprise and Sam grinned.

“Yeah?” King asked, a smile breaking through his worry.

“Well, I guess if we were alone I could show you,” Sam said. “So there is that. But, you know. Whatever.”

“Right,” King said, stepping into the elevator. He reached out and tugged Sam inside. “We have a few seconds. You can give me the abbreviated version.”

Sam laughed, pulling his hands out of his pockets and hitting the button for Melody Ann’s floor. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” He moved across the elevator from King as the doors closed. “I might be able to hide an erection, but you? No way.” He pointed at himself. “Me, here.” He pointed at King with the other hand. “You, there. Tonight”—he wrapped the fingers together—“this.”

“You make a compelling argument,” King said. “Also, we need to focus on coming up with some kind of plan to save Jane’s reputation, get her back, and live happily ever after.”

“No sweat,” Sam said dejectedly. “That’s right up there on the easy scale with winning a war in Southeast Asia and licking your elbow.”

“Exactly,” King said, undeterred. “Easy. Come on.” He led Sam down the hall to Melody Ann’s office. Before knocking, he turned to Sam. “Happiness is this close, Sammy,” he said, holding his fingers a millimeter apart. “All we have to do is sacrifice our pride and our privacy. For Jane.”

“Yeah. For Jane,” Sam said, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. “I’m ready. Let’s go.”