Page 81 of Off the Rim
"How many out NBA players do you know of?" Spencer challenges.
"I mean, I don't know of any, but I'm not really paying attention to all that. Doesn't the NBA have, like, pride nights and stuff, though?"
"The Clippers definitely do pride night. It says here that like eighty percent of NBA teams have them." I recognize the slightEuropean accent as being Wyatt, one of the sophomore guards. Considering his family is originally from overseas, it doesn't surprise me that he's the one defending gay athletes. They seem a little more relaxed about things like sexuality over there. "It also says the NBA is one of the most supportive American pro-sports organizations for LGBTQ inclusion."
"Huh. That's cool," Chase says, sounding impressed.
Dustin scoffs. "Well, maybe the butt buddies will have a chance after all. But I'm still pissed they're going to take all the focus."
"It's not like they weren't getting the team national attention anyway. You're just jealous, dude."
I've decided Wyatt is my new favorite teammate.
The guys finally leave after a bit more chatter about a party at the Alpha Omega Psi house, and only one mention about whether or not Ashton and I will show up. Apparently, Ash's little standoff with Anderson and Preston has made its way through the rumor mill and has of course, been exaggerated. Although, I guess Ashdidtechnically threaten Anderson with significant bodily harm.
Finally able to relax, I give Ashton a scathing look, to which he grins and winks at me before heading into a shower stall to clean off. I seriously consider following him in there and punishing him, but I'm not sure I'll be able to get it up again for at least an hour. As I'm about to walk into the next stall over, Ash steps out and hooks me around my waist, dragging me into the shower with him.
CHAPTER 36
ASHTON
"Are you nervous?"
"Nervous about what?" I say, feigning nonchalance. "Nervous to go back to GSU and play against my former team? Or nervous because Coach told us there would definitely be a scout from the Clippers there?"
"Yeah, you're right. Why would you be nervous? That'd be fucking dumb."
His chest shakes with laughter, making the top part of my body that's currently sprawled over him shake, too.
"Whether we win this one or not, we've still made it to the first round," Marcus points out. "The team has been on fire the last couple of months."
He's right. The Cougars are on a record win streak for the school, dominating the brackets and soaring us to the top ten college teams in the nation. It's like the whole team came back with a new outlook and determination that was missing before. Or maybe it's my own outlook that's changing how I see everyone else.
Since the night we confronted my father, he's stuck to his end of the bargain. I haven't seen or heard from him once since Christmas Eve, and it's been a much-needed breath of relief. I feel lighter and freer than I ever have. This is the feeling I was chasing when I moved across the country to play for Golden State University. Even in just a couple months, I've proved to myself that I can stand on my own and accomplish everything I want. My grades are better than they've probably ever been, thanks to Marcus. Who knew that blowjobs were such an effective study technique? And let's not forget the day I aced an important test and came running to him like a kid with a finger painting to wave through the air and show off. In probably our second riskiest foray into public sex so far, Marcus bent me over the table in a study room and railed me so hard that someone knocked on the door to check that we were alright. I had to stand behind the door, pants around my ankles, while Marcus zipped up his fly and pulled open the door with a stoney-faced expression. He actually asked what all the noise was and complained that he was trying to study.
I chuckle at the memory.
School has been fantastic, not just because of the awesome study incentives, but also because I have a new interest in the business classes I've been taking. Basketball has been even more amazing than I could have hoped for. With the exception of one player, the team seems to have accepted Marcus, at least on the court. Most of them have accepted him outside of the team also, even inviting him to parties he'll likely never attend. We did go to a team dinner, and Marcus paid thanks to his first ever endorsement deal with a brand of earbuds designed for runners and athletes. The vast majority of the team was really excited for him, and Marcus took the good-natured jabs at his first endorsement being about his ears with humor.
"They're his second biggest asset," I said to hoots and hollers from the team that got so rowdy, the manager had to come out and warn us to settle down before they had to kick us out. Marcus' ears turned so red that it started another round of laughter that he couldn't help but join in on.
Life is perfect right now. And I don't want to sit here and wait for the other shoe to drop. I just want to enjoy this happy place we're in.
"Do you have any plans for the break?"
"I mostly intend to stay buried nine inches deep in my boyfriend for most of the break," Marcus answers. I can hear his smile. It took a little while for us to get used to the boyfriend idea. I'd used the word in front of my parents, but at that point we weren't actually official. Although that night was definitely pivotal. It's only been recently that we've been saying it out loud, trying it on for size. It feels like a silly, trivial word. But it's huge at the same time.
"That sounds like a perfect plan," I say, rolling over onto my stomach and kissing his stomach. "But how about we do it somewhere different?"
"I'm not fucking you on the court, Ash. We've talked about this. Maybe after we win the championship, so we can't get kicked off the team if or when we get caught."
I snort. "Noted, but I was talking about maybe spending our three days off in a vacation rental house somewhere secluded so we can play out some of our wild man fantasies?"
"Wild man fantasies?" His laugh is interrupted by a groan as I lick across the dips of his obliques.
"You know, getting chased through the woods and fucked in the dirt sort of stuff."
"That doesn't sound like you at all."
