Page 38 of Sidelining the Safety

“Alright,” she relented. “Go on.”

“It was an epic celebration. The place was packed with the team and staff. Before I knew it, I was tossing back shots like they were water.”

“Let me guess…” Auntie Beth interjected. “You drank on an empty stomach.”

Lee sighed. “Yeah, and you know I don’t have much of a tolerance for alcohol as it is. By the time Drew showed up with Mac—holding his hand—I was already pretty well in my cups.”

His mom laughed like he knew she would. She loved that ridiculous phrase, so Lee tried to use it whenever he could. “Don’t distract me. We heard you emphasize them holding hands. That’s a new development?” Her arched brow questioned what he’d left out of their previous conversations.

“Yes and no. They’re both pretty tactile, but not usually like that. More brotherly…”

“But…”

Lee wobbled his head. “But I knew that they both harbored feelings for each other. They’re in love. On the surface, it looks platonic, but it’s not.”

“So you knew this already, and are what… jealous? Did you cause a scene?”

Lee threw his hands in the air as he huffed. “Yeah, kinda, but not in the way you’re thinking. First I kissed Drew, then I kissed Mac, then I suggested to Mac that he kiss Drew and, my God…” Lee rolled his head to stare at his mom. “Hot.”

Mom laughed, as did Auntie Beth. When he came out to them, they’d done their research and then embarrassed the hell out of him talking about gay porn stars and LGBTQIA+ authors and their ever-increasing library of erotic gay romances. He’d learned quickly that he could talk about boys and men without them holding their own failed hetero-romances against his romantic interests. They’d even met his college boyfriend—more like friends with benefits, but that was neither here nor there—and hadn’t batted an eye except to say he was nice.

When they’d calmed down, Mom said, “You came out to the team in spectacular fashion. Did Mac and Drew get mad? Is that what’s got you upset?”

Lee frowned. “I’ve no clue. I saw them together, and my mind just said, ‘Time to go.’ So I left.”

“Time to go?” Beth sat forward in her chair. “Why? This sounds like the start of an epic menage romance. Why would you leave?”

“And without saying anything?” Mom interjected. “They’re probably worried they hurt you.”

“I know. Fuck, I know.” Lee rubbed his eyes, not even surprised to find them damp. He’d gotten attached to them, and he’d probably thrown their friendship in the toilet by taking off without explanation. He was so fucking stupid. They’d looked perfect together, and he couldn’t get between them when they’d finally figured their shit out. God, how he wanted… but he just… couldn’t.

Mom hugged him from the side, and then the space on the other side of him dipped, and Lee was double-hugged. He let a few tears fall before pulling himself together and patting their arms. “Thanks, but I’m okay. I’ll live. I’ll deal.”

“Of course you will, kiddo, but I think you need to talk to them. Losing them as friends… that’s not what you want.”

“Of course it’s not, Mom, but I screwed up. This is where I circle back to blaming the alcohol.”

His mom hummed. “Alcohol definitely had a hand in it, and seeing them together was hot, but that’s not why you left.”

Ugh. Moms. They always knew when you weren’t telling the whole truth. Lee wiped his face and took a few deep breaths. They were probably going to think it was dumb, but he needed to secure his spot. Only… maybe… there were two spots: one on and one off the field of play. Whatever happened, though, Lee knew he couldn’t let love sideline him from being the best safety the NFL had ever seen.

CHAPTER 28

MAC

Mac stared at Drew like his best friend had two heads. Maybe he did because Mac couldn’t figure out if Drew was the smartest or dumbest person in the world at that moment.

“You want us to go to his apartment after practice tomorrow and confront him? Did you conveniently forget that his mom and aunt are still there and not leaving until Wednesday?”

Drew shook his head. “We can’t let this sit. We made our initial play. Now we have to see it through.”

“We got like three yards and then got hit with a ten-yard penalty, D.” Mac lifted the half-full bottle of beer he held to his lips, drank it down, and then gazed at Drew sitting on the other side of the couch. They both had their feet up on the cushions, their legs slotted together.

Drew tipped his bottle in Mac’s direction. “Nice sports analogy. Didn’t think you had it in you.”

Mac offered him a wry grin and a one-shouldered shrug. “Figured I’d better brush up on the game if I was going to be dating a pro player. Dad’s been full of helpful tips.”

“Aw, shit. Don’t tell your family about this fuck-up, okay? Not until we fix it.”

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