Page 43 of Sidelining the Safety

“You got it.” Drew tugged Mac closer. “I’m going to kiss you, so if you don’t want it, tell me now.”

Mac grinned. “I want it.” He leaned right into Drew and kissed him hard, even adding a tickle of his tongue to Drew’s lips before pulling back.

Drew growled as he let Mac go. “I’ll see you later.”

“Not if I see you first.” Mac cackled as he headed into the back, and Drew did what he always did: rolled his eyes, smiled, and watched that fine ass strut away.

CHAPTER 31

LEE

All Lee thought about on the return flight was how he’d screwed up and how he wished he had the guys waiting for him at home. He needed a hug that wasn’t a bro-hug or a “shake-it-off-it’s-only-one-game” side-arm thing from his teammates.

He’d forgotten how good it was to come home to his mom and aunt after a tough outing. They’d barely let him wallow before attempting to cheer him up. Auntie Beth would hand him a spiked hot chocolate or some other bizarre drink, and his mom would bring over a grazing plate of meats, cheeses, and dried fruit. Sometimes it was cookie dough ice cream. It wasn’t healthy, but it always worked.

Missing his mom and aunt doubled when he turned off the airplane mode on his phone to a message from them. They knew he’d be upset and the cheerful video of them drinking wine and throwing popcorn at the television at the end of the game and finishing with them wishing him a good night brought a hint of a smile to his face and thawed the cold dread in his chest.

On the drive home from the airport, he thought about all the various chat threads he’d read through while on the plane. Drew and him, Mac and him, all three of them together. The ridiculous memes, the crazy patron stories, the elation when Drew landed the internship, and the fear for Mac’s sister, followed by the cute pics of Katy and Officer Daniels. Ever since she filed the restraining order and Carey Daniels started picking Katy up from work, they hadn’t seen hide nor hair of the ex. Though the crisis was averted, an underlying foreboding remained, keeping them all vigilant.

Since he’d met them, Drew and Mac had teased Lee about his “job,” cheered for his accomplishments, and sympathized with his failures. They’d become such an integral part of his life in such a short time. It was hard to believe it had only been two months since they’d met in the diner.

His worry about whether or not he would remain focused on his performance on the field if he had not just one boyfriend but two lay heavy on his mind. He’d started and stopped and erased half a dozen messages to them already, but as he stepped out of his car, he’d decided he had enough of them keeping their distance. They needed to talk about what happened and how they would proceed going forward because not having them around this week had been torture.

In his apartment lot, he leaned against his car, opened up their three-way thread, and sent:

We need to talk. When can I see you?

Drew:

Soon

Tomorrow?

Lee didn’t want to leave it another minute, but it was late, and Mac probably had to be up early tomorrow for work. He didn’t have to report until one for game review and a light workout.

Mac:

Soon

Lee frowned. It seemed like he wouldn’t get much more out of them. Maybe they wanted to coordinate without him first… Hefting his bag, he headed toward his apartment. In the elevator, he sent:

I don’t want to lose you guys.

Drew:

You won’t. We’re ready to talk.

Lee sighed, a rush of relief loosening the tight curl he’d harbored in his gut. He hadn’t realized how much he feared them walking away. The elevator doors opened, he stepped out, and froze at the sight of Drew and Mac standing by his door.

“Thank fuck.” Lee strode toward them, dropped his bag, and wrapped them in his arms. “I’m sorry I skipped out on you guys last week. I let my fear of failure get the best of me.”

Drew touched Lee’s jaw. “Let’s go inside.” Mac smiled at Lee, then went to grab his bag while he got the door open.

In the apartment, Lee’s nerves flared. For the past week, Mac and Drew had certainly talked to each other, seen each other. They wouldn’t let what happened affect their friendship. Based on Drew’s succinct message—You won’t—they didn’t want to let Lee slip away, either.

Mac closed the door behind him and stashed Lee’s overnight bag in the bedroom before joining them in the living room area. Drew pushed Lee to sit in the middle of the couch while they sat side by side on the coffee table in front of him.

“Tough game today,” Drew said.

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