Page 136 of The Play

But if Deacon went in that direction, Jem wouldn’t stop, and that was another kind of problem. He didn’t have an unlimited amount of time before he got to the practice facility and there was something he wanted to discuss with his best friend.

“You were, and it’s okay. I know it doesn’t sit easy on you, all this public attention.”

“The idea is it’ll eventually kill all this public attention,” Deacon grumbled.

“I don’t know, you two are awfully cute. I wouldn’t be surprised if you keep going viral.”

“Speaking of cute, are you and Murphy willing to leave your love nest? I thought I should meet this guy of yours, and you should be here for the last game.” My last game.

“You’re playing the Piranhas, yeah?” Jem asked. “But you’re in Miami for it.”

“Yep.” Deacon didn’t need to go into detail about why it was such an important game. Not only were the Piranhas a division rival, but they’d lost to them earlier this year. And it was seeming more and more likely that if the Condors wanted that playoff spot, they’d need to win that game.

Really, they’d need to win the next two games. But the hard one was going to be the Piranhas, no question.

“I’ll ask Murph, but I can’t imagine he wouldn’t want to come. He wants to meet you, too, you know,” Jem said.

“Well, the feeling’s mutual.”

“I know, even though you didn’t say it.” Jem sounded pleased. “You’re both important to me. The last thing I want is for y’all to not know each other.”

“Talk to him. But I’ll get you tickets, to one of the suites, yeah? Unless you want to be on the sideline.”

Jem sighed.

Deacon knew what he really wanted was to be on the field. It was where Deacon wanted him, too. But they both knew it wasn’t going to happen.

It was time to accept it.

“No, I think it’d be harder . . .”

“Think about it,” Deacon said firmly. “You don’t have to decide right now.”

“Alright. But count us in for the game, at least. I want to be there, and I know he’ll want to meet you. I’ve talked about you enough.”

“Good things, I hope,” Deacon said.

Jem laughed. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Deacon was nearly changed for practice when Carter swanned into the locker room, a wild grin on his face that did not bode well.

Deacon gave him a glance and then a second glance. And yep, he was carrying a bunch of printed-off pages.

He braced himself, because he knew exactly what was coming.

“And,” Carter said, raising his voice to be heard over the low rumbling of chatter in the locker room, “watching the two of them sit together, holding hands like they’re each other’s lifeline, I’m surprised to learn this relationship they’re in is a fairly new development.”

“Carter,” Riley warned, but he was smiling, and next to him, Landry was openly laughing.

“I asked them, bluntly, if they felt this way about each other for so long, why they didn’t do anything about it.” Carter lowered the pages and skewered Deacon with a look. “I’ll tell Marlene Jeffries,” he continued in his own voice, clearly not reading the profile any longer, “we tried to make both of you do something about it.”

Deacon waved. “No, no, it’s alright. Roast away. I don’t mind.”

“It’s all out of love,” Riley said loyally, putting a hand on his shoulder. “We love both of you.”

“Yeah, honestly, we’re real happy for you guys,” Beck said.

The corner of Carter’s mouth quirked up. “I’m a little disappointed she didn’t manage to get out of you two when you actually got together.”

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