Blindsided (Fake Boyfriend 4)

Me, on the other hand, I’m hoping to hell he doesn’t look down and see how much I’m enjoying the view.

Guilt gnaws at me. Not over last night but the three years we were pulling this type of shit in college. I fear he’ll figure me out—that I like sharing with him way more than I should. Keeping my secret from him is a betrayal of the utmost degree. Yeah, I like women, but Talon helped me discover all those years ago that I like men too. And after he graduated, I spent a year figuring out exactly what that meant. After experimenting with a few other guys, I came to the conclusion I really like one man in particular. The guys in college proved to me I was bi, but I think I’m technically pan. I fell for Talon because of who he is, not because he’s a guy.

“I know your momma told you to share as a child, but I think that’s taking it a bit too far.”

I hate that my voice comes out croaky, but it’s taking all my energy to make words work at all.

“It’s … I dunno … better when there’s more than two people.” He looks at me for confirmation of that.

I dry off and wrap my towel around me, hoping Talon can’t see the tent in it. “One of the girls kept moaning your full name, even when she was with me. She probably only agreed to a four-way so she could say she bagged Marcus Talon. Trust when I say my name and … that other girl’s will not be in the retelling of her story.”

“I guess that’s for the best,” Talon says. “Maybe we should get them to sign NDAs beforehand.”

I snort. “Hey, ladies, you can’t see my dick until I see a signature. Classy as fuck.”

Talon laughs.

“But that won’t matter anyway. It, uh, shouldn’t happen again.”

Talon slumps. “Not you too.”

“You’ve seen what the media has put Jackson through the last few months. Can you imagine if this got out? People are freaking out because he has a guy in his bed. One guy. What will they think when they find out what we’re doing? We’re not in college anymore, NDAs aren’t foolproof, and if the league—”

“It’s not like we’re … like Jackson.”

“Gay, you mean? You think the media will care about technicalities? You and I have shared a bed on more than one occasion. Yes, there are other people involved, and to us, it’s not a big deal, but I don’t think that makes it any less scandalous. It probably makes it more.” I won’t mention contemplating taking magician classes to make the girls disappear—that’s a whole other issue.

“Okay, I get it, but it still sucks. We should be able to do whatever the hell we want off the field.”

I scoff. “How about you whine to Jackson about that. He’ll probably punch you out after what he’s been through.”

Being the first out guy in the league, Jackson hasn’t had it easy.

I go to walk out of the bathroom but pause in the doorway. I shouldn’t ask, but the question comes out anyway. “Would you really want a relationship with more than one person? Like … a permanent arrangement?”

My heart stutters, preparing for an answer I’m not sure I want. A yes would give me hope there was some sort of future with him, but it would also mean I’d continue to make the same mistakes again and again, and nothing between us would change. I’d still be with him but not with him.

“What, not for you?”

The fact Talon’s deflected and hasn’t answered my question isn’t lost on me.

I shake my head. “Nah, I couldn’t do it. Like you said, this is fun and all, but if I was serious about someone, it’d be just them.”

“Oh, to have that type of attention span,” Talon says with wistfulness in his tone.

I can’t help laughing at the big idiot, and now I’m back where I was six years ago—in his bed but not allowed to touch him. And until last night, I was blissfully unaware of how much I’ve missed him.

Talk about fucking torture.

Chapter Three

TALON

Miller is ignoring me. Me. None of my other friends could get away with that, but Miller’s not like anyone else in my life. He’s … I don’t know what he is. He’s like a brother to me, but that label feels wrong—especially after the shit we’ve done.

I haven’t seen him since the night we took those two women home, and it’s been weeks. It hasn’t been for lack of trying on my part. I haven’t doubted myself this much since I was a freshman and actually had to work to get a girl’s attention, and I don’t know why it’s getting to me so much.

I had expectations signing with the Warriors. Miller and me back together again, us against the world, and winning the Super Bowl and living out our almost decade-long fantasy of holding that trophy up together.