Page 68 of Tight End

Gunner: Oh, you don’t. You sit behind the desk while other people actually bust their ass. My bad. Don’t know what I was thinking.

Dean: Chances are, you weren’t.

Gordon: Ryan, you better not be leaving me in this chat with thesetwo children.

Ryan: Sorry, Ryan is currently unavailable at the moment, but he will have a chance to address your questions and concerns at the game, which is really no longer a game. See you fucks tonight.

Gordon: You’re a dick.

Dean: You’ve got some explaining to do.

Gunner: What are you, his dad?

Dean: I’m his actual family. What’s your excuse?

Gunner: Fuck off.

Dean:

THIRTY-ONE

Ryan

Turnsout Gunner wasn’t exaggerating when he said he had a big following. My phone has been buzzing nonstop since we left the yoga studio. I’ve had hundreds of texts and social media messages, everything from strangers to old teammates to my mom.

She thinks I’ve had one too many concussions, but the joke is on her. I haven’t had any lately.

The reporters camped outside my house, along with several of the ladies at the science center, think I’m romantic. June doesn’t think so yet, but she will. Nick, my agent, thinks I’m brilliant, but I don’t have the heart to tell him none of it was faked.

And Dean? Well, with the sour look he gives me as I open the door, I’d say he doesn’t think I’m romantic either. He should consider himself lucky I asked him to come in early to meet the fam.

“Brother.” I greet him with a nod, waving him into the penthouse.

He snorts a laugh, patting me on the chest. “Busting outthe B word already? Does June know about our blood relation?”

Jesus. Blood relation. Doesn’t sound creepy or anything. Leave it to Mr. Fancy Suit to ruin a good time.

“Yep.” I nod, jamming my hands in my pockets, keeping my eyes trained on the ground. If he doesn’t ruin a good time, bringing up the D word sure will. And no, I’m not referring to my dick. “I told her about our dad too. There’s a chance he doesn’t know about Oliver yet, but I wanted her to know in case he ever decided to reach out.”

“There’s no way he doesn’t know.” When I simply stand there and blink at him, he sighs, obviously exasperated with me already. “Your escapades from this morning are everywhere. Your Instagram is blowing up, you’ve gone viral on TikTok, and you’re trending on Twitter or X, whatever it’s called now. It even made the local news.”

“I didn’t know you were keeping such close tabs on me.” I hold my hand over my heart and tilt my head to the side, giving him my best smile. His frown deepens. He’s into it. “You’re so caring.”

“I have people that report to me.” He huffs a breath, adjusting his cuffs. “Maybe you should start paying more attention to what your GM is doing.”

“Probably, but the guy is a weirdo. I think he sneaks in at night and sniffs the dirty jockstraps.”

“That’s . . . disgusting.”

It is, no argument there, but whatever floats his boat. “Nick’s got a boner over all this attention. I bet he’s so happy glitter is shooting out his ass like it’s a birthday party.”

“Remind me not to come to any of your birthday parties.”

I chuckle, nudging him with my elbow, and damn I’m gladhe ended up back in Nashville. It’s been great having my brother back. “Are you ready to meet your nephew?”

“Well, I ...” Dean meets my eyes and the lightheartedness from seconds ago is gone, replaced with ... uncertainty? “Can I ... ? I’m sorry, this is really shitty timing, but there’s something I’m thinking about doing that may affect you and the family you’re building. I just ... I know you have your contract renewal this year, and I completely understand if you need me to keep my distance.”

I rack my brain, trying to think back to see if there was something I missed, some negative press, anything, but I come up empty. “What’s going on?”

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