The Not-So-Little Brother

It was Friday evening and God and Day were on their way to watch one of Genesis’s football practices. God was so excited to be able to actually watch from up close and even talk with his brother’s coach. He looked over and smiled at his partner, currently downing a huge cup of coffee from a convenience store.

“I’m really excited, babe. You should see him play, he’s crazy good,” God boasted.

Day looked over and smiled at him. “I’m really glad this is working out so well. I’ve wanted this for you. You and Gen are already doing so good. You guys talk on the phone for like an hour every night.”

“There’s a lot for us to catch up on. He told me last night that there’s a tight end on his team that’s been flirting with him, and he asked me what he should do.” God couldn’t wipe the wide grin off his face if he tried. His brother was asking him for dating advice.

“Hell, he’s a tight end… there’s only one thing he needs to do. Pound that tight ass. Did you tell him that?” Day smirked and took another large gulp.

“You are incorrigible. Damn,” God said and wacked him in his shoulder.

“You should see the look on your face right now. I was at Jenkins’s desk going over some interrogation notes with him this morning and he said that half the department hardly recognizes you now.” Day chuckled.

“What does that mean?” God frowned.

“In a good way, babe. For years you looked so unapproachable and angry all the time. But now they said you look like—” Day stopped and laughed loudly.

“What? Spit it out!” God yelled.

“You look like a big, tattooed teddy bear.” Day doubled over laughing.

God smiled. He didn’t mind being called that. He was never mean and unapproachable; he just didn’t have a ton of things to smile about back then. God pulled into the school parking lot and he and Day went to the far end of the football field. As they walked along the track that surrounded the field, heads began to turn, especially the cheerleaders that were there practicing too.

“Uhh, I think they’re looking at you,” Cash mumbled.

“Why me?”

“Because you look sexy as fuck today, that’s why.” God scanned Day’s fit body lustfully.

“They’re looking at you, brute, or those big-ass guns sticking out from under your coat.” Day laughed.

They both looked like they were coming to arrest someone. God’s gold badge hung from his neck, and Day’s was attached to his hip.

Day had his leather coat in his hand, so his chrome 9mm handguns holstered under his arms glinted in the setting sun. His tight black turtleneck hugged his firm pecs and molded against his trim waist. The black, studded leather belt Day wore wasn’t to keep his jeans up since they were tight enough. His dirty blond hair was free of product today, so after running his hands through it all day, its wayward strands only made him look even hotter.

God smiled when Day caught him ogling him for the millionth time today.

“What?” Day laughed.

“I’m gonna fuck you against the wall in the shower when we get home… that’s what,” God said, his voice deep and sexy.

“Fuck,” Day moaned. “God, stop. I don’t want to spring wood while I’m standing in front of a bunch of high school cheerleaders, dude.”

God cracked up laughing again. “Sorry,” he said with little sincerity.

The cheerleaders were waving and giggling as they walked down the track. Most of the players had turned from their coach’s lecture to stare at them.

“Yo, someone’s about to get arrested,” one of the players yelled, making the players start ribbing and horse playing.

God saw when Gen turned and noticed them. His eyes went wide and a huge smile appeared on his face. God swore he’d never get tired of that for the rest of his life. Gen took off his helmet and started to jog over to them.

When Genesis was in earshot he called out to them. “What are you guys doing here?” He gave God a one-armed hug and did the same to Day before stepping back.

“Came to see your practice and see if you wanted to grab a bite with us tonight,” Day said.

“Cool. Heck yeah. Practice is only another hour. I’ll meet you guys out front after I shower.” Genesis beamed.

“Hey, Gen, you cool man?”

The three of them turned around at the deep voice. A tall kid a couple inches shorter than Genesis was standing a few feet away with more than a little concern on his face. He had his dark hair pulled back into a ponytail, and despite the sweat and grime on his ivory face, anyone could see the guy was beautiful in an almost androgynous way.

“Yeah, Terry. It’s my big brother, man,” Genesis yelled back to him.

The kid’s brow creased but he nodded and ran back to the huddle.

When Genesis turned back, the almost sweet smile he wore said it all.

“Is that him?” God asked the question anyway.

“Yeah, that’s him,” he said shyly.

Day shrugged and shook his head. “Not bad, Gen. He’s hot in a twink kind of way.”

God and Gen both groaned.

“Jeez. You really have no filter do you, Leo?” Genesis asked around a grin.

“No,” God and Day responded in unison.

“Whittmen, get your ass back over here. I didn’t say this was stop and chat time,” one of the assistant coaches yelled.

God slapped Genesis's shoulder pads and nudged him. “You better go before you’re running laps the rest of the practice."

“Can’t you guys just wave your guns around or something to scare them?” Genesis joked.

God laughed and shoved him harder. “Get your ass back over there. Let me see what you got.”

“You got it.” Genesis snapped his helmet back on and jogged to join his teammates.

Day and God went up a few rows on the cold metal bleachers and watched the rest of the practice. He already knew Genesis was phenomenal but seeing him up close like this was unbelievable. God and Day didn’t embarrass him by cheering him on, but they were barely able to contain their shouts every time Genesis completed a pass. His brother’s tight end crush was a beast too. He and Genesis were almost in sync as he blocked for him on certain plays to get Genesis into the end zone.

At the end of the practice Genesis waved to them as he followed the other players into the locker room. Day and God were almost to the bottom of the bleachers when a man carrying a clipboard, wearing a white polo shirt and khakis approached them.

“Excuse me, detectives.”

God and Day both turned and the older gentleman stuck his hand out to them. They both shook his hand and God saw the black-and-red “G” emblem on his shirt.

“My name is Joseph Myers and I’m the assistant coach for the University of Georgia Bulldogs. Are you family of Genesis Whittmen?”

“I’m his brother Cashel Godfrey and this is my partner Leonidis Day.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you both. If you’re waiting for Genesis, maybe I can have a couple minutes to talk with you men about Genesis’s future.”

While they sat in Henry’s eating wings and drinking sodas, Genesis explained to him that there were always scouts in the stands watching him.

“If you guys come to the homecoming game next week, you’ll see a ton of them.”

“And they're only there to see you?” Day asked.

“Me, Terry, and one of our full backs are the ones they keep approaching. Terry already decided that he’s going to his dad’s alma mater, which is Virginia Tech, but Gibbs and I are still undecided. Coach shields me pretty good, ever since a scout from Florida tried to get me to take some money in exchange for signing a contract.” Genesis wiped sauce from his hands and mouth. “I just want to get into a good school that has a great engineering program, football would be second. Besides, I need to stay close to mom; I’m all she’s got.” Genesis froze when he realized what he’d said, looking apologetically at him.

God was so proud of him he could’ve burst. God smiled to let Genesis know that he understood… things were different now, and it was going to take some getting used to.

“Aren’t you a junior?” Day asked.

“No, he’s a senior. He graduates in June. He took summer school classes for three years so he could graduate early,” God answered first.

Genesis mouth was wide open. He shook his head with an expression of wonder on his face. “How did you know that?” he said so low God almost didn’t hear him.

He looked into Genesis’s moist eyes.

“I told you I’ve never left. Each year I buy the yearbook from your school and I get your school's newsletter too, which you’re featured in just about every month. Then of course there’s Facebook.”

Genesis gasped. “You’re one of my friends on Facebook?”

God looked a little uncomfortable. “Yeah, I am. I never post anything though. I just read yours.”

Genesis just shook his head in amazement. He pulled out his cell phone and God knew he was opening his Facebook app. Then God saw him snap his head up and hold his smart phone out.

“Are you… do you pay for this too?” Genesis whispered.

“Yeah, Gen, I do,” God said.

Things were real quiet for a little while as God watched the emotions play across his brother’s handsome face. Sorrow, hurt, regret and maybe even betrayal all flashed quickly and God didn’t know what else to say. So leave it to Day to break the tension.

“Okay, girls, let’s not get your panties in a bunch. Stop all this pouting, get your asses up, and let’s play some pool.”

God and Genesis laughed while they inched their large frames out of the booth. Genesis fell in behind Day.

“I like you, Leo,” Genesis said.

“Everyone likes me.” Day winked.

“When you’re ready for a real man, dump Cash and come find me.” Genesis laughed hysterically when he couldn’t dodge God’s grasp quick enough and was wrapped in a tight headlock.