Page 32 of Futbolista
“Which was what she thought was best for her. I can’t fault her for it. And itisfor the best. Really. I’m calling it here: no more girls for the rest of the season.”
“I’ll keep them in my thoughts and prayers. And I’m just saying, if I had a shot with a star futbolista who’s smart, nice, looking how you look, I’d lock that down immediately. Priorities be damned.”
I let out a quiet laugh, shaking my head. “Thanks for the ego boost. In another world, I’d happily be locked down by you.”
“You’re already my lock screen, so we’re basically halfway there.”
“True.” I could be happy sticking with that. Who needs a girl when I’m Vale’s lockscreen? “Maybe I’ll make you mine too. Just to keep the girls away.”
“I wouldn’t want whatever pro player you’ve probably got on your phone to feel like he’s being replaced. But, am I keeping you from something? Having a friend group that’s always doing spontaneous FaceTimes has me forgetting that some people might—”
“Nah. It’s cool. I’m not doing anything. I promise.”
“Good. I mean, I’m glad. Not that you’re not doing anything, but that I’m not interrupting anything.”
“I got that.”
“Cool.” He sighs, landing on the sofa I caught him and Leana on not so long ago. “Oh, we still on for tomorrow?”
“Yeah. Claro quésí. Whenever you want to come by, I’ll be here, and we’ll get our philosophy on.”
“It sounded almost like saying those words caused you pain.”
This time I let out an actual laugh. “Yeah. It did. But I’ll let you go, so you can finish over there. And I’m guessing you’re expected at Eta Tau’s soon too.”
“I was told to make an appearance, yes. I can find a reason not to, though. If you need someone to deliver a honey butter chicken biscuit in about half an hour, I don’t mind swinging by Whataburger for you.”
“As nice as that sounds, go. Have fun. I’m sure Leana could use someone to distract her right now too. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow, Gabi. Have as good of a night as you can.”
“Thanks, Vale.”
14
MY HAND HOLDS LEANA’Shair back as she goes down on me. Everything’s still fresh enough that I can easily remember what that feels like. The last time I touched her was only, what? Hours ago? Tonight’s got my sleeping all erratic, only getting ninety, thirty minutes even at a time. The sun will be up in a couple hours at this point. I figure I might as well see if letting some needs be met tires me out at all. Or, at the very least, my brain.
I imagine her coming up for air, kissing her, flipping us over so I’m lying on top of her. My fingers playing with her exactly how she likes while her hands are all over me, scratching at my back, my arms. I think about what it feels like to be in her, hearing how her breathing goes wild and she moans my name.
Except that’s not Leana’s voice. That’s not her moan.
I look up and see short, dark brown hair and wavy bangs. Pretty eyes and the prettiest smile. Lips I haven’t kissed in reallife since that Saturday in some fraternity house backyard. I hear a quiet, needy “Gabi” leave his mouth, sounding so clearly like him.
And I keep going.
I could shake Vale away. I could stop for two minutes and go to one of the tabs I keep open on my phone, replace him with another face. A girl’s face. But, instead, I think about how good that kiss was. I think about kissing him again while I’m rearranging his insides. Him bent in half underneath me. Breathy moans coming out of our mouths as he tells me, “Right there,” and “I’m so close,” and“Gabi.”It’s got me feral. So close too. And I can’t help it. I—
“Fuck.”
As I wipe myself clean and toss the damp hand towel on the floor, my brain’s even more wired than it was before I tugged down my underwear and started beating my meat. Instead of knocking me out, I’m stuck in a limbo that’s somewhere between post-nut relaxation and fully losing my mind because—because Vale.
I’ve had dreams about guy friends. And I’ve had dreams about guy friends where I’m fully blowing their backs out. Who hasn’t?Right?It would’ve been easier if this was a dream. I can’t control my dreams. Instead, I was wide awake, and I chose to let Vale stay because … because it felt good. Definitely not any worse than when it was his best friend in my head.
And I’m vulnerable right now. Obviously my post-breakup horny brain, as bored as it was and as pent up asIwas in the moment, went to the easiest solution: to think about the last person I talked to. If Pérez had stayed and we ended up playing video games, I’d probably have imagined blowing his back out while he was dressed like Wonder Woman.
So it’s whatever that it felt good. That I maybe liked what was happening there. Liked it enough to bust a nut over it.
“It doesn’t … it’s whatever,” I mutter to myself as I fall back on my mattress and stare at the ceiling. “It’s whatever. Everything’s fine. I’m just tired.”
