Page 44 of Sidelining the Safety

Lee nodded. “Yeah. Missing that tackle. Shouldn’t have happened.”

“I think you’re being too hard on yourself. I watched the replay. He was fast and got lucky. It’s the nature of the game.”

“Maybe,” Lee muttered.

“I watched the whole game, too. You played well. We’re proud of you.”

“You did?” Considering Mac didn’t normally watch any sports, Lee was impressed.

“Yeah.” Mac shrugged. “My boyfriend was playing. I kinda had to.”

Mac’s bright smile filled Lee with tentative joy, but he wasn’t sure how to respond in words, so he gave them a small grin. Boyfriends? They hadn’t made any declarations. In fact, he’d pushed them off, telling them both that he couldn’t right now, not with the pressure of playing professionally.

“We understand your reasons for waiting,” Drew said, “but we don’t want to wait. Mac and I think we can slow down, though. Ease you into the relationship… If that’s what you still want…?”

Lee looked from one man to the other before noticing how their fingers were lightly threaded together between them. Were they a couple now? Had they…? Okay, so while he really wanted the answer to that question, it wouldn’t affect his decision. He wanted in, slow or fast, that was certain.

“Have you two… you know?”

They laughed lightly. “Just kissing,” Mac answered. “And holding hands. Momma and Dad know. Probably Katy by now.” Lee narrowed his eyes, making Mac laugh louder. “Your mom and aunt spilled the tea to my mom.”

Lee groaned, face-palming, his cheeks burning. Spilling the tea… ugh. Mom had obviously been spending too much time hanging around the college help.

“It was pretty funny seeing your dad’s confusion,” Drew added.

Lee chuckled, imagining the scene. He’d gotten to know Ken pretty well with his frequent trips to the diner. Mac’s dad was always ready to talk football. But what exactly did they know? “Should I ask what kind of T it was?”

“Just the usual boy drama: you, me, and Drew, and how they could help get us together. We don’t need their help, though. Drew and I talked Sunday after you ditched us.”

“I’m so, so sorry,” Lee begged. “When you were kissing, I got all up in my head. You looked good together, and I figured?—”

“You figured we’d be better off without you,” Drew finished. “Well, we don’t agree.” He reached for Lee with his free hand as Mac did the same.

Lee grabbed onto them like a lifeline. These two amazing men, best friends who had been in love with each other for years, wanted him. Well, he wouldn’t reject them again. He brought their hands to his mouth, kissing their knuckles, then the inside of their wrists. “I’m glad you’re both stubborn assholes who know when to push. I’ve been miserable this past week.” Standing, he gave them an upright tug. They stood in a tight triangle, holding hands. “I’ve missed you both.”

“We missed you.” Mac leaned in, his gaze shifting from Lee’s eyes down.

Yes. That’s what he wanted. Lee met Mac halfway, their noses bumping lightly, heads tilting to find the right angle for their mouths to meet in a caress of lips.

Without the fog of alcohol clouding his senses, Lee absorbed the feel and pulse of Mackenzie Connor. The lingering touch to his wandering fingertips, the soft press of his mouth to Lee’s, the quiet moan of desire.

When they paused, Lee turned toward Drew, again letting his senses well with the subtle nuances between the men even as he cataloged the hard press of lips, the firm grip on his bicep, the deeper register of groan.

“I’m a fool,” Lee whispered when they separated. “We could have been doing this for weeks—months—already.”

“No,” Drew said, shaking his head, “you weren’t ready, and we weren’t either. Mac and I… we wouldn’t be here without you; that’s why we waited. Maybe Fate or Lady Luck had a hand in it, who knows.” Drew shot him a cocky grin. “We’ll never know, and we don’t have to. We only have to know that this feels right between the three of us. You feel it, too, yeah?”

“I do.” Lee kissed Drew again, then gave Mac a turn, loving how he swallowed the sounds of their pleasure.

The thrill of having these two back in his life ebbed as they stood exchanging kisses and sweet caresses and the long day caught up with Lee. He ducked his head to hide his yawn, not wanting to appear bored or unexcited. Thankfully, both men understood and hustled him into the bedroom.

“Do you want to stay?” He glanced at his queen-sized bed. There was enough room… just. Lee chuckled at the stray thought of what his mom would say about him replacing the queen for a king already. Two kings for me.

He giggled at his ridiculousness. “Oh fuck, I’m really tired.”

“Must be, ’cause that was weird hearing you giggle like a little kid.” Drew’s eyebrows went up, and Mac laughed. “You need to sleep. How about we meet up on Tuesday since you’re technically off? I have to be on campus for a class and to meet with my advisor, but I’ll be done by two. Mac?”

“We have enough staff and managers that they can do without me. I can be here by two, too.”

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