Page 25 of Sidelining the Safety

Lee shook his head. “Nah. I only drink it in the morning or if I’m at one of my mom’s parties.”

“Your mom is a partier?”

Lee chuckled at Mac’s big eyes. “Party planner and caterer.” He explained his mother’s business and how he sometimes got corralled into working the events.

“So I can get you to fill in here if needed?” Mac teased, bumping their arms together. He wanted to linger, inch closer, but three dings meant their food was ready. “Hold that thought. Food’s up.”

Momma met him at the pass. “Another dinner date?” she asked as Mac collected their plates from the pass-through window.

He shrugged one shoulder. “Not a date.”

“You sure? Looks cozy between the three of you.”

“Momma,” Mac harshly whispered, “leave it. Drew told me that Lee’s not looking. He needs to focus on his performance.”

She stifled her laughter, and Mac rolled his eyes, realizing what he’d said. “You’re so bad.”

“But you love me.”

“I do.” He carefully leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Let me eat so you and Dad can head home.”

She touched his arm. “Thank you. Take your time. Enjoy your meal.” She nudged him along and then returned to her customers seated along the diner’s long counter.

“Momma Connor cornered you, huh?” Drew said with a pursing grin, his eyes alight with humor as Mac laid each plate down and then retook his place beside Lee.

“What can I say? I’m well-loved. We’re lucky; the three of us, I mean. Loving families. Not many can say that.”

“Truth,” Drew said, holding up a fist for Mac to bump.

Lee leaned against Mac. “One hundred percent.”

Lee’s breath blew hot against Mac’s neck, and he shivered slightly, his dick plumping as erotic images flowed through his mind. He wanted that silky baritone to talk dirty to him in bed. Maybe he wouldn’t have it now, but he could wait. Lee was worth waiting for.

His gaze cut to Drew. He’d been worth waiting for, too. But maybe “their” maybe had passed them by. Unfortunately, that thought dampened his mood for the rest of the night.

CHAPTER 19

PRESEASON BEGINS

Other than texts and a brief wave at Drew before or after practice, Lee didn’t have time for social gatherings the rest of the week. They had their first preseason game on Sunday, away in Atlanta. East Coast, but too far from Jersey for his mom and aunt to attend.

It felt surreal. Sure, he’d taken a few plane trips to other universities with Rutgers, but business class took a backseat to a private catered airline painted with their team colors and logo. Every seat was first-class luxury. As soon as the seatbelt sign went off, half the team was standing and moving around the cabin. The airline attendants stood ready to answer any calls for drinks or snacks, but otherwise stayed out of the way.

Lee hooked up to the plane’s Wi-Fi and snapped a couple of pics of the plane, the team, and a selfie of himself all dressed up. He sent them to his family, Drew, and Mac. He was undecided about the fact that Drew wasn’t with them, but the time away would have added too many hours to his internship, plus something to do with school insurance.

Drew sent:

**wolf whistle**

Mac added:

What he said.

“No sexting with your boy on the plane, Lee,” Yowie teased from across the aisle.

“Boys, and they like suit porn,” Lee sassed back. “Unlike you, with your glowing white sweatsuit with gold trim and ten pounds of bling. Do the ladies like that?”

Yowie and Jakes, sitting beside him in a black and gold-accented tracksuit, ran their hands slowly over their matching braids, then peered at him and said simultaneously, “Yes.”

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