Page 55 of Fate in Motion
Nate replies fast:I mean, you had a reason to be nervous. Football players tend to be dicks. Your team though, is amazing. Hopefully, Josh and Marcus helped out.
I message:They always have my back. I love them. Babe, I really want a new contract with this team. Tonight solidified it. I need this to be my team of the future.
Then I send:Heading out. Can’t wait to celebrate with you. Sex maybe?
Ping! I check my phone and read:Oh, I’m going to celebrate your body alright. GET THE FUCK HOME NOW!
I’m grinning like an idiot when Coach walks over and pulls me into a hug. It’s strong, steady, the kind that says more than words.
With sincere eyes, he says, “I’m so glad the team treated you with respect and kindness. I had no doubt they would, but you never know with these big, jacked behemoth idiots.”
I chuckle.
“Next week, you’re starting,” he continues. “We’ve got another home game. Florida Vipers. Tough matchup. We need you at your best. And don’t forget the following week, we play your old team.”
I nod. “Thanks for being an amazing coach and for having my back. I promise one touchdown, minimum, with over 100 scrimmage yards. I got you. I got the team. Don’t worry, we are going to destroy Florida and Boston. ”
He smiles, pats my shoulder, and heads out the locker room door.
I follow, still buzzing, heart full, body high on adrenaline, and head already spinning with thoughts of Nate and the next few games.
In a dream-like state, I think how pumped I am to visit Boston and play against my old teammates. My family lives in Framingham and will definitely make the trip to see me play. They are die-hard Boston fans, so it will be even more satisfying to beat them. Maybe this might be the time to tell them about Nate, or even bring Nate along.
***
After my mid-afternoon game, I rush to the pizza place down the block and pick up a chicken parmesan pizza. It’s the best of both worlds: pizza and chicken parm pieces loaded on top. I take the elevator up to my apartment, box in hand, and step through the front door.
I hear Nate’s voice before I see him. He’s in one of the guest rooms, playing his guitar and singing some Ed Sheeran song. His usual go-to. He’s told me before that Ed Sheeran's music makes him feel good. It’s easy to sing, he says, and it always settles and relaxes him.
I walk in, and he looks up from the guitar with a grin, immediately opening his arms for a hug. I don’t hesitate. I jump on him, arms around his neck, and kiss him with extreme eagerness.
“What a day,” I say against his lips. “I played the best game of my career, and I told the guys. I feel like I’m high.”
Nate grins. “I’m glad you’re feeling good. I’m glad you’re happy. You ready for your big gay awakening coming-out party?” He’s clearly joking and already laughing before I can respond.
I roll my eyes. “You know I’m not doing any of that. And if the Hawks PR team comes to me and asks me to do an announcement, I will laugh in their face,” I pause. “Charlie Dodds once told me they pushed him to do some kind ofannouncement, and he did it. But that’s not me. I’m not doing a press release about my personal life. It is so irrelevant to football, like who the fuck would even care?”
Nate nods. “You don’t have to. There’s no reason to do anything like that.”
I smile. “You know what I'm gonna do? Just walk down the street with you and start making out. Let people assume whatever the hell they want.”
Nate raises his eyebrows and belts, “Yassss! You go, girl.”
I laugh and dive into another kiss, this one deeper. Tongues, hands, warmth. It’s messy in the best way. How has it only been a couple of months? This guy feels like my whole life already.
I pull back just enough to say, “I wish I had never gone up those stairs with that girl, Sarah. I never even saw her again. I could’ve talked to you that night. We could’ve had four more years together.”
Nate strokes my cheek, calm and steady. “We’re still young. Mid-twenties, babe. We’ve got so much time.”
I smile, kiss him again, and let my hand slide down his pants, cupping his warm, perfect ass. God, I love this man’s butt. So peachy and plump. I joke as I tease a finger toward the forbidden zone.
“Fuck off,” he says, smacking my hand with a laugh. “You’re not going there.”
I crack up. “Fine. Then take off your pants.”
Nate looks at me and grins. “I’m feeling lazy. Let’s try something new. I want to try this position, which is kind of like spooning. You’re the little spoon, and we just go from there. You down?”
I raise an eyebrow. “What’s the position even called?”
