The End Zone (Atlanta Lightning 2)

“Oh God.” Jeremy fell to the bed beside me. “That was…”

“Fucking badass.”

He rolled over and looked at me. “It sounds like you just said I have a bad booty.”

I snickered. “No.” I crooked my finger to tell him to come to me. Jeremy lay on top of me, his hard body against mine. “It was incredible.” I kissed the top of his head, and he nuzzled in, burying his face in my neck.

Moments like this were so perfect…so easy. I was able to forget that the outside world held what felt like a million obstacles for us.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Jeremy

Darren was in a better mood over the next few days. He’d even started asking me his silly questions again: Beach or mountains? East Coast or West? If I could only top or bottom for the rest of my life, which would I choose?

His arm was healing well, the swelling nearly completely down. The brace was open near the incisions. The stitches would come out soon and he’d get a cast. I was surprised that he would likely only wear the brace for about four weeks, depending on how things healed. From there it would be a lot of physical therapy and strengthening. He was hoping he could get on the football field earlier, but we’d had an appointment with his ortho the day before, and he’d warned Darren about the risks if he reinjured his arm before he’d healed completely.

It was hard at his appointment when Darren was trying to figure out a way to play this season, because I couldn’t show his doctor just how much I cared. I’d been the buddy, helping him out while he was injured. I’d wanted to tell him I’d tie him naked to the bed if he tried to go back for the playoffs and never let him leave, but I’d had to settle for…That’s a big risk, man. You have to think of what’s best in the long run.

It wasn’t anything new in a lot of ways. Queer people often had to fake it. I knew a couple who’d been together over five years, and anytime they went to events with extended family, they were still friends, even though everyone knew that wasn’t what they were to each other.

I didn’t know how long Darren planned to play, but I wondered if it would be that way for us. If we’d have a bubble where we were safe and spaces where we weren’t.

That would be…really fucking hard. I could do it for now, and I would, but I wasn’t sure I was cut out for living that way for an endless amount of time.

“What are you thinking about?” Darren asked, startling me. I hadn’t heard him come into the kitchen, where I stood.

“Dinner at your mom’s,” I lied. Well, kind of lied. That was in the back of my head too. I’d seen Jada a few more times after the hospital, but this would be different. She’d asked us over, since Thanksgiving dinner hadn’t happened.

“It’ll be fine. You just show her how much you try to take care of her baby boy, and she’ll fucking love you. I swear, I thought you were going to punch the doc in the face when you thought he was too rough with me.”

“I could have taken him,” I joked. “Hopefully he keeps that in mind for next time.”

“My hero.” Darren tugged me to him and put his arm around me. “Why isn’t this weirder for me?”

“Don’t know,” I replied, but was really glad it wasn’t.

“Just another way I’m so awesome, I guess.” He swatted me on the ass. “Do you want to drive the Aston?”

“Do you think there will ever be a time when I say no to that question?”

“That’s what I thought. See? I fucking rock this boyfriend shit. I always know how to put a smile on your face.”

He did, and it had nothing to do with the car.

Darren gave me directions. My nerves hitched up another notch the closer we got to Jada’s house. Once I’d parked, I said, “Okay, I’ll pick you up later!”

“Ha, ha. Let’s go, Angel.”

We got out and went to the door. Before I had the chance to knock, it was pulled open. “Hey, baby.” Jada hugged him.

“Hey, Momma.”

When they let go of each other, I was surprised when Jada hugged me too. “It’s good to see you again, Jeremy.”

“Thank you. It’s good to see you too.”

We went inside. She led us past the living room and into a downstairs area that was like a family room. There was a large TV on the wall, couches and chairs, but also a pool table, air hockey, and foosball.

Darren groaned. “I miss my arm.”

“You have to be good,” I told him. “I know you, and you’re gonna want to try and play just like you to try and do everything at home. I’ll personally hold you down if I think you’re trying to do too much.”