Page 69 of Tamed (The Courtside King Duology 1)

Charlie shook his head. “One can’t worry too much in the playoffs. If we lose either game this weekend, we’reout.”

“Wow. Thanks for pointing out the obvious,” Breck chuckled. Lifting his hand, he rolled the ball down his arm, then across his chest and down his other arm. He caught it with a self-assured grin. “We got this, ladies.”

Charlie laughed. “Your confidence precedes you.”

Jegs snorted and snagged his ball back. “You mean his big head. It’s so big, I can barely see his sparkly tiara.”

Breck laughed, tugging off his jersey as they arrived at their lockers. “Just keep puttin’ it in the hole, my man. Just keep puttin’ it in the hole.”

“That’s what she said,” Charlie snickered.

Jegs laughed. “She and her two bangin’ friends.”

Breck’s lips quirked. Stripping down, he headed for the showers, their sex-laden banter getting his mind going all over again. Not about girls, though. Or even Kai. Instead, it had him thinking back to yesterday, when his other two friends had been talking about sex. Specifically, when the three of them had stopped by Tad’s apartment. God, Ned and Jay had been shameless, relentlessly grilling Tad about sex with Scott. Huge props to Tad. Although embarrassed, he’d taken it in stride.

Breck smiled, feeling good that he’d never once jumped on that bandwagon. Never ribbed Tad at all during their visit. Just let the guy be. Because he’d still been riding the high of Saturday night’s win? Maybe. Although, deep down he suspected it’d had more to do with empathy. Similar plights in some roundabout, convoluted way.

At one point, looking as though he’d needed a break from the razzing, Tad had pulled Breck aside, needing to ‘give him his belated birthday present.’ He’d brought Breck into his bedroom and swiped a paper bag off his desk…

“Here. Green Apple Smirnoff.” Tad handed it over with a smile. “Because friends don’t let friends destroy their livers with crappy, cheap stuff.”

“Thanks,” Breck laughed. “My favorite. And I take supplements, remember? So I’m good.”

Tad nodded and glanced away, looking sheepish.

Breck grinned. “What.”

“Nothing.”

Breck lifted a brow.

Tad fidgeted, then stifled a laugh. “Confession time. This is actually your birthday present take two.”

Breck canted his head, confused. “Take two?”

“Yeah. I… kinda drank the first one… When I got home… after bailing from the club.”

“You drank the whole thing? All by yourself?”

“Yeah,” Tad muttered. “Hence our matching hangovers yesterday.”

“Damn,” Breck chuckled. He regarded the bottle. “Why the hell would you drink so fucking much?”

“I… was pissed.”

Breck eyed him. “At who?”

Tad shrugged a little. “Myself… And Scott. The way he was hanging out with those guys. I just… wanted to be with him so fucking bad… but I didn’t know how.”

Before Breck could stop himself, he thought of Kai, instantly relating. “I’m glad you two worked it out.”

Tad met his gaze and smiled. “Me, too.”

He looked so happy.

Breck’s heart thumped. “Can I ask you something?”

Tad’s smile wavered. He probably thought Breck was readying to razz him, too.

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