Page 89 of Fast Break
It will be sad parting ways with Coach after tonight’s game, but I know how happy he is for the both of us to have been recruited into the national NBL comp which is my actual dream come true.
I managed to stack on that extra inch of height in the past two years to put me just over six foot. Sadly, Quinn still pips me by a centimetre or two, but I still love him anyway.
I was lucky enough to sign with one of the two local NBL clubs in our city here which I’m over the moon about. I told the club about Quinn at our first meeting, mostly to test the waters, but also because I have nothing to hide. The talk went well though and we’ve since been in discussions about my role in next season’s pride round as I’m the first openly gay player on their list. I’m not the first in the league though which is encouraging.
Sadly for me, the Double Trouble is being split up as Trey is heading up north. Not going to lie, I am quietly devastated. Devastated enough to have shed a few tears when I heard the news, but Quinn wrapped me up in a nice, warm cuddle and then comforted me in ways only he is allowed. I’m hoping that down the track my new team will realise how good the Sterlings are together, and we can work to bring him back home.
The pregame clock ticks down to the last minute and that is when my eyes alight on the man I’ve been waiting for as Quinn steps into the stadium, Gran at his side wheeling her mobility aid. Gran has not missed a single home game in my entire Grey’s career. Amy is always here too whenever her shifts allow, and they are the absolute best family and supporters I could have wished for.
As per standard, Quinn looks way too classy for a sweaty sports stadium, stepping out in his grey woollen coat, black pants and a navy knit. Damn my man’s sexy.
I knew he was going to be late because he had moot court this afternoon and then had to dash over to pick up Gran. I’ve been to watch Quinn at moot court a few times now when my schedule permits and let me just say that watching my boyfriend stand up in front of a pretend court and tear the opposition’s arguments to shreds gets me hard. Very hard indeed.
Beside him, Gran is sporting the Grey’s team bomber jacket with the matching scarf wrapped around her neck. She gives me an enormous wave as she squeezes into the seat saved for her in the front row right alongside my grandma, Quinn on her other side.
Oh yes, now that is a friendship for the ages, Gran Dayton and Grandma Sterling. Speaking of double trouble, I’m pretty certain those two are giving me and Trey a run for our money for that moniker. They’re the absolute best of friends as I watch Grandma pass Gran a set of team pompoms which the cheer squad always save for them.
Honestly, the two of them are such a hoot with their savage commentary but they dish out as much shade on our team as they do the opposition. Just last week I missed an easy jump shot and from the front row came a sweet old voice saying, ‘Should have gone to Specsavers’.
The sweetness is an absolute façade, but they do have their useful moments too. It never ceases to amaze how often getting perved on by a pair of octogenarians puts a guy off his game.
“Stop making eyes at your man and listen for five seconds,” Trey eyerolls, knocking me with his elbow. I just grin and lean in closer. Lucky I’m still Coach’s favourite. Only I get away with making eyes at my boyfriend instead of focusing on every one of his words.
Quinn shoots me a wink and my stomach swoops as it always does in his vicinity. Although today I have more reason to be nervous than usual. I have something to talk to him about tonight and I’m more nervous about that than I am about the last game of my NBL1 career.
We celebrate our last win at a restaurant that Uncle Alec booked out for our team and supporters. Gran and Grandma are sitting huddled together nursing glasses with amber liquid that look suspiciously like Jack Daniel’s, no doubt in deep cahoots. Uncle Alec is laughing with a group of my friends from my church’s rainbow network who have come out for my last game. Dad is in some kind of serious discussion with Coach Vizard while Trey is looking mighty cosy with one of the girls from the cheer squad. Part of me wants to warn her she’ll be one of his many one-and-dones but the way she’s looking at him tells me she won’t mind too much.
Some things never change. And nor should they as I share a look with my boyfriend and know exactly what he’s thinking with those sparkling blue eyes of his. The ones I still frequently get lost in.
I grin as I reach out to take his hand and he threads his fingers through mine. I squeeze his hand once and we share a knowing smile. We slip out towards the door, eager to get home where we can be alone. Well, back to the home he still lives in with Amy but home all the same. It’s where I spend more than half my time so it’s practically my home these days too.
Which is precisely what I want to talk to Quinn about tonight.
But Quinn seems to have other ideas about tonight and instead of beelining for the car he tugs on my hand and pulls me in the other direction. It’s a cool night and the breeze is brisk, but I am still warm from the game not to mention the sizzling hot man at my side. The restaurant is on the boulevard right on the seafront and Quinn threads our fingers together as we wander down the boardwalk.
It's not all that often we get a chance to just be in the moment like this with our busy schedules and it’s nice to just walk with my boyfriend. The night air is salty from the ocean and there is a slight mist in the atmosphere which will no doubt send my curls crazy.
We reach a quiet lookout where the sea cliff drops dramatically to the beach below, the crash of the waves against the rock a steady soundtrack to the night. I lean against the railing, Quinn at my back providing all the warmth I will ever need. He’s always made me feel warm and loved, always provided me my safe place, and I relish the feel of his body against my back.
The cloudy night sky ensures there is not a whole lot to see from the lookout but the good thing about that is that we are secluded here, away from prying eyes for the moment. Quinn takes the opportunity to press soft kisses up my neck, instantly awakening the desire I have for him that always sits very close to the surface. Always buzzing away.
His other hand snakes up under my top to touch my smooth skin and I suddenly forget everything I wanted to talk to him about.
“Damn, Jethro,” Quinn murmurs contentedly. “This body.” Yeah, I spend a lot of time at the gym these days and I think my man quite likes the six pack and extra definition to my body. In fact, I know he likes it because he’s borderline obsessed with touching me.
“Mmm,” I murmur, knocking my head to the side as he kisses up my neck. “You’re making me forget what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“You want to talk?”
“Yes, but you’re kind of addling my brain a bit there,” I chuff.
“Want me to stop?” There’s a tease there in his voice.
“Yes? No?”
Quinn chuckles, his breath warm and ticklish on my neck. “Okay, let’s talk.” He withdraws his hand from tracing my abs, and I turn so that I’m leaning my back against the railing, Quinn in the space right between my legs. His dark hair has fallen across his blue eyes, and I get momentarily lost in him again. This is not unusual. He is still the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.
“Go ahead, babe,” he says, crooked smile out in full force. “Talk.”
