Page 36 of Tumbling the Cornerback

I nodded, desperate to see him suddenly, Moreso than just a few minutes before. I needed confirmation. Anchoring. Proof, for myself more than anything, this was really happening. "Do you... do you want to come over this weekend? I have Sunday afternoon free."

He nodded. "Unless something comes up. Four? I can make you dinner?"

I smiled. "It's a date."

CHAPTER 12

COOPER

If we didn't have to lock our phones up during practice, I'd have reverted to high school Cooper, staring at it and grinning like a goofball all morning. Instead, I daydreamed between scrimmages, wondering what Lucas was up to. Wondering how many times I could mention him in an interview before it got suspicious. Just that morning, ESPN asked me about my ties with Queering Sports, and I might have sung Lucas's praises a bit more than would be considered professional admiration. Phil had given me a stern, short lecture about focus and don't fuck things up for anyone involved, Coop once the chat ended.

I really was trying my best.

I had to—not only my reputation but Lucas's entire career was riding on me not being a lovesick twit.

Love...okay, easy there, Coop. I don't know if we're even close to being there yet.

But maybe?

My parents had known just weeks after meeting each other, according to my mom. Hours, according to Dad.

But then there was Heloise. Within a month of meeting David, she'd thought it was true love, but he turned out to be the human equivalent of that wad of hair in the shower drain, leaving her when she was seven months pregnant with Greggy. He hid out until she hired a PI to track him down and get child support arranged.

To this day, almost five years later, he was fighting her on it, and Heloise was soured on the whole true love thing.

Which was why I found myself calling her during a break in training, fishing my phone out while the other guys grabbed drinks and grouped up to hash out plays or just bullshit for a few minutes before they blew the whistle on us.

"Who's dead?" Heloise said by way of greeting. "I know you're at practice, so something major had to have happened for you to call. It's not Mom, I just got off the phone with her. Is it Uncle Sammy? Oh my god, it's David, right? If it's David, call me back in like an hour. I have to order a cake and some party platters."

"No, you vengeful Valkyrie, no one is dead. Though to be fair, I'd arrange the party for you if it was David."

"Because you're a good brother."

"The best. But seriously, I need to ask your advice, and I think I could ask our folks, but they'd definitely be biased."

She put me on hold for a second or two so she could go back to her office while one of the clerks staffed the counter. "Okay, talk to me. If you don't want to ask Mom and Dad about it, that means it's either about a guy, about your career, or you're in trouble."

"Maybe all three," I muttered.

"Cooper Stephen Howard, what did you do?" Heloise growled. "Oh my god, are you going to be on the news again? Swear to god, if that Byrne guy sets one foot in my shop?—"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa—Byrne was at your place? What the hell, Ouisie?" I shot to my feet, pacing. A few of the guys nearby fell quiet, watching. I lowered my voice. "When was this? What did he want? Jesus, Ouisie, you shouldn't talk to that asshole!"

"Easy there, killer." I could practically hear her eye roll. "I told him I had nothing to say, I have zero idea what you're doing, and I thought his job was to interview athletes and not booksellers."

"I need to talk to Phil and Cait," I muttered. "Get on his ass about being shady. What did he want?"

"No idea. He just asked me if you were legit working with Queering Sports, and I cut him off," she said, exasperated. "What's going on? Is this anything to do with that gossip mess?"

"No... maybe? I don't know." The whistle shrilled, and I groaned. "Gotta go."

"Wait! You didn't ask your question!"

"Shit." The team was jogging back into place, and Coach gave me one of his death glares, the get your ass in line, Howard look I'd become very familiar with over the past few years. "How did you figure out you were wrong about David?"

"Huh? How did... Cooper..."

"Howard! Now!"

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