Page 65 of Provoking the Punter

“About how to kick me out politely?”

That hadn’t crossed his mind. “About asking you to stay.” Would he? Or was that too much? The offer was out there now.

“I have to get up early, but I can make you breakfast?”

Chester laughed. “You only want me for my kitchen.”

Garrett rolled onto his side, taking Chester with him, tangling their legs. “I was playing a long game for your stove?—”

Chester claimed his lips, and for a few minutes it was far too easy to imagine Garrett living there. Sleeping in his bed and making breakfast. For this to become their normal… not an aberration.

Garrett’s nose brushed against his. “I’m probably rushing, or doing this wrong, but I like you a lot. I want to keep seeing you, and I know you don’t want to hide, and neither do I. I want to hold your hand in public. Addy and Cal are dating, and they didn’t announce it or anything. Maybe… maybe we can do that at the end of the season.”

“Are you asking me to be your boyfriend?”

Garrett was quiet for several seconds. “Only if you’re going to say yes.”

“Are you allowed to do that?”

“Addy and Cal are the quarterbacks. If they can, I can.”

“I know who they are.” It was hard not to. “I meant because of the other issue.” If it was just them, and it wasn’t anything else to consider, then it would be easier. But because of the potential scandal, this situation was a little more delicate.

“By then, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“So you’re no longer freaking out that they’ll kick you off the team for being gay?”

“This team won’t.”

“Well, if you’re going to be my boyfriend, you need to be here, so you’d better be the best damn punter the Troopers have ever seen.”

“So you’re saying yes to being my boyfriend?”

Chester nodded his head. “Yes. And we can figure the whole coming out thing as we go.”

“Are you sure?”

“I would much rather wait for you than not have you.” Which was the truth, and it was kind of terrifying, because he had slipped off the edge and fallen. He didn’t like Garrett. He loved him and couldn’t imagine a life without him, even though it had only been a few weeks.

Garrett brought an energy and fun Chester hadn’t felt in years. Garrett reminded him how to play, something he’d forgotten how to do when he’d realized how hard he needed to work to get out of the town and the situation he’d been born into.

“And I would much rather risk coming out than not having you. You make it all seem easy, like it’s not something I need to hide to be successful… but I have no idea what this looks like or how it works.”

“Neither do I. I guess we’ll make it up as we go.” They could, and would, take the adventure together. His lips curved as his heart did that little flip again. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt like this… Happy.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-TWO

Garrett untangled himself from Chester and turned off his alarm. All he wanted to do was roll over and go back to sleep. But it was Monday, and he couldn’t.

Chester opened one eye and mumbled, “Tell me you set that an hour too early.”

“I wish. I’m assuming you need coffee to get going in the morning.”

Chester made a noise that was probably agreement, but it could’ve also been a warning that he was about to kill him.

Garrett kissed his cheek and slid out of bed. If he lingered, he might fall back asleep and then he’d get his ass kicked, which isn’t what he wanted from the coaches today. “I’ll find the kitchen and put the coffee on.”

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