Page 72 of Fair Catch

“Let’s walk before we run, okay?” he counters, chuckling softly. “I haven’t even introduced you to your prostate yet, so we’ve got quite a few lessons to go.”

“Oh, more lessons, you say? Better be careful, Lancaster, or I might think you like me.”

“Keep being a smartass and maybe I’ll have to change my mind.”

“Better a smartass than a dumbass,” I counter.

He rolls his eyes and makes a move to get up, but I wrap my arms around the small of his back to keep him from escaping.

“Fine, fine, you win. Don’t go,” I plead with a laugh, and I have to admit, I could get used to this. The fun, playful side of Hayes I haven’t seen a whole lot of.

“Can I just say, this is one class I can definitely get behind,” I tell him before adding, “Pun intended.”

It’s his turn to laugh, amusement and something a little filthier lighting up his eyes.

“You remember that when I decide to give you homework.”

Eighteen

Kason

“Knock, knock. Anyone in there?” someone says beside me, knocking on the helmet I’m wearing as I stretch on the sidelines.

Blinking a couple times, I glance over to find Holden beside me, grinning from beneath his own helmet. He’s bouncing with energy like a literal golden retriever, and it’s a wonder how anyone doesn’t think he’s cracked out when he sets foot on the field.

“Do you think I’m just some airheaded himbo or something?” I ask. “I have a brain in here, you know.”

“Considering I said your name twice and you didn’t answer…” He trails off, still smirking. “Just wanna make sure you’re not so deep in mushy la la land that you won’t be able to kick some ass today.”

He has a point; my head is most definitely in a thousand other places, and each one of them involves Hayes instead of football. And honestly? I’m not all that mad about it.

We’ve fallen into a bit of a routine as of late, and it’s both comfortable and exciting all at the same time. Sometimes it’ll be dates out to Pixel Palace, others it will be movie nights on the couch with the kitchen counter covered in dishes from cooking together or the occasional take-out containers. The nights we stay in are my favorite, usually ending with the two of us at least semi-naked on whatever horizontal surface we can both fit on.

Still, I know I’ve become a bit of a bad influence when it comes to how much time we’re spendingnotdoing the one thing we’re in college to do: complete coursework to earn our degree.

Part of me feels guilty for it, but I’m growing more and more addicted to the attention Hayes is willingly giving me now. So much so, apparently I’m daydreaming about it on the field when I should be in game mode.

Whoops.

“And there you go again.”

I frown. “What?”

“Stop thinking about your roommate’s dick, and start thinking about the game. Otherwise I’m gonna make sure he stops putting out.”

“How do you even know about—”

“You’re really asking that right now?” Holden interrupts, his gaze flicking from my eyes to the stands behind me. “I think you’re smart enough to figure it out.”

Turning to follow his gaze, I find Phoenix sitting in his usual spot near the fifty-yard line, eyes cast down on his cell.

I should’ve assumed Phoenix would’ve put two and two together by now when it comes to me and Hayes. After all, Hayes has been at every home game since the one where they first met, and no roommate isthatgood of a roommate if there isn’t something else going on.

Though, I would’ve thought he’d assume we became friends, not something more.

“Dude. Do you go deaf when your eyes are working overtime?”

Shaking my head, I turn back to Holden to find him smirking. “I’m good, I promise. You don’t need to worry about me.”

---