Page 9 of Go Deep

“And you’re choosing to live in fear every day. That’s not the hard ass quarterback I know. That guy never backs down from a challenge. He never runs when the enemy comes charging at him.”

“Well,” I smirk. “Sometimes I have to if that asshole Jase Maxwell isn’t doing his job.” Jase is a tight end and supposed to have my back on the field no matter what. Except he’s an egotistical jerkoff who doesn’t like when the spotlight shines on anyone but him. He’s also a raging homophobe. To say we’re not friends is the understatement of the century.

Colin snickers. “Truth.”

I lie back down on the table and push my hair back. “I already have the media breathing down my neck.”

“So why not just bite the bullet and take the damn test? Forget the owners, your teammates, and the fans. Do it for yourself and for your family.”

A loud groan erupts from my throat. “Ignorance is bliss, Doc, haven’t you heard?”

He gives my leg a slap. “Think about it. Don’t be so quick to dismiss this.” The door to the locker room slams shut as Colin heads back out to the field. But I lie still, my flushed skin tingling from the cool breeze blowing over it.

I risked a hell of a lot by coming out to the whole world. I was tired of hiding. I wanted to be free.

How ironic that after dealing with the whole media storm, one single test may yank that life…and freedom…away from me.

Chapter 5

Vince

“Come on, don’t be a little bitch. Faster!”

Zack, my sadistic personal trainer, tears past me. If he were pitted against a herd of gazelles, my money would be on him to lap their hairy asses. Zack reminds me of The Flash. Here one second, gone the next and then…fuck, he’s back.

At least it’s early. I prefer not to have spectators hanging around when he drills me into the ground during my early morning workouts. The sun peeks over the horizon, and the only thing sharing the park with us are cops, animals, and the occasional drunk.

Sweat pours down my face. I mop it up with the edge of my t-shirt, all too familiar with the dreaded words he’s about to scream. I just may have a heart attack on the spot. It’d serve him right if he had to carry me back to civilization.

“One-legged burpees with a tuck jump. Drop and give me twenty. Move!”

My head drops between my knees, my breath coming out in sharp gasps. “I…fucking…hate…you.”

Zack cocks his head and speaks with an exaggerated southern twang. “Really? That makes me sad because I just love you so dang much, Vinnie.”

I manage to flip him off before hitting the ground. My arms and quads are on fire, and a tiny part of me is afraid they may give out. It wouldn’t be the first time my body has betrayed me.

No, it betrayed me plenty yesterday when Gabe Kelly signed on the dotted line and became my latest client. And after he left, I spent the better part of the afternoon imagining the things I wanted to do with him in that conference room, on my desk, against the windows…

Jesus.

One meeting. A single hour.

That was all it took for him to hook me.

I’d been fantasizing before he crashed into my life.

And now?

I’m obsessed. And so fucking repressed.

Good God, I’m a mess.

Ever since Gabe walked out of my office, I haven’t been able to think of much else besides his muscular arms, deep and soulful eyes, and that perfect, tight ass.

Speaking of asses…

“I don’t want to see those dainty little jumps, either, Vinnie. I want your ass airborne.”

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