Page 36 of Hidden Plays
“Jesus, JJ.” His eyelids hooded, and he swiped his tongue across his lips. “That feels?—”
Loud knocking echoed through the room. “Sir, it’s Harvey Weiss, the hotel manager.”
“Shit.” He put weight on his bad leg and limped to the door. “Just a minute.” Scanning the room, his gaze stopped at me and in a harsh whisper, he said, “Can you tidy up a little?”
“Sure,” I said before wandering through the room, tossing his shirt and the washcloth into the closet, and then straightening the bed. He cared what the hotel manager saw? I planted my hands on my hips.
Swinging the door open, he said, “Hi, what can I do for you?”
Harvey stepped into the room, peered at me and then facedHolden. “I wanted to know how your knee was doing. Will you need your dinner brought to your room, or will you be joining your team?” He flicked his gaze toward Holden’s braced knee and back up.
“I’ll be joining my team.” He offered a thin-lipped grin. “Thank you for checking on me.” He placed a hand on the doorknob.
“Oh, of course.” Harvey strode to the entryway. “Let us know if there’s anything we can do for you.” Throwing a glance my way, he left.
Holden shut the door. “He thinks I’m going to sue them.” He limped toward me. “Frankly, I don’t have time for that shit.”
“You’d probably get a decent settlement.” His knee didn’t seem too bad, though. I stepped toward him. I had to get back to Casey. He’d wonder where I was and might come looking for me. “I should go back to my room. Can I do anything for you before I leave?”
“Kiss me.” With a smirk, he cupped my cheeks and pressed his lips against mine for a toe-curling kiss. “I’ll see you at dinner.” He patted my shoulder.
Breathless, I said, “Yeah, see you.” With my head swirling, I left.
EIGHT
HOLDEN
Iwas in deep with JJ. I had to give this my all, but was unsure where to begin. How did you date the same sex? Were there different rules? I ambled to my bed and sat on the edge, my knee protesting. Would my therapist know anything about it? I didn’t have anyone to talk to, and the other queer guys on the team were off limits unless I wanted to out myself. I wasn’t ready for that.
As I fell onto the bed on my back and stared at the ceiling, an idea formed in my head. I’d been a fake boyfriend, maybe I could talk to one of the queer players on the team under the guise of having a friend who was having a queer awakening?Holden, you’re a genius.
But which one? I pushed my lips sideways. “Eli.” A smirk crept across my face. Eli was kind, open and not as close to JJ as Casey was. Plus, he was a linebacker and not someone I trained directly.
Aching floated across my knee. I had to update the coaching staff about what happened. I’d do it at dinner and rest until then.
An hour later,I shuffled into the conference room the hotel had set up for our team dinner.
The coaching staff sat at one round table, along with the other trainers and medic. Coach Bowden caught my eye and stood. “Holden?”
“Yeah, Coach.” I did my best to walk without a limp, but still hobbled a little. As I passed JJ, warmth filled my chest, and I gave him a knowing grin.
“What happened?” Coach Barlow turned and looked me up and down.
“I slipped on some water in the lobby and overextended my knee. It’ll be okay, just needs a few days of rest and ice.” I dropped into a chair at the table.
“Are you sure? Maybe you should have it looked at.” Coach Bowden lowered his brows and wiped his hands on a napkin.
“No, it’s fine.” In fact, I’d endured worse after slipping since the surgeries. I eyed the food laid out on long silver platters on the tables along the wall. Fuck, I’d have to stand up again.
JJ appeared at my side, his hand on my chair back and leaning in close. “What can I get you to eat?” Worrying his lower lip, he glanced toward my knee brace. “There’s chicken or steak, salad, asparagus, a pasta dish and?—”
“Chicken and pasta with a little salad, please?” I peeked around the table. Did this look weird to them? But they assigned me to JJ, so maybe not.
“Sure.” He strode to the food table and grabbed a plate from the stack.
Unfolding my linen napkin, I placed it on my lap.
“Looks like you’ve settled things with Matthews.” Coach Bowden sipped some water from a glass.
