Rookie Move (Playing for Keeps #1)(55)

It was…different. Not that I hadn’t had women sleep over at my place—exhibit A: the stalker, sleeping photos—but not on the regular like G had been. It had always made me slightly uneasy with others, so I’d kept it to a minimum to avoid mixed messages. But I actually liked it when it came to Garrett. I wanted him here, liked cuddling with him, working out with him, feeling the bed shift because he couldn’t stay still. He also did this cute thing right before he fell asleep where he’d sigh deeply, then almost whimper, before snuggling in like he was the most comfortable he’d ever been.

God, I was being all gross over this guy. I wasn’t sure what to make of it.

“I can hear you thinking hard,” he broke the silence.

“Just wondering how you got so lucky as to land me.”

Garrett barked out a laugh. “First, it’s the other way around. Second, I’ve landed you?”

He had a point, since we hadn’t defined the relationship. “You know what I mean. You’re lucky my dick lands in your ass.”

He laughed again. “That one wasn’t even good. You don’t have to try so hard to be funny. I still like you even though your sense of humor sucks.”

“Speaking of sucking…I know how you can put your mouth to better use,” I teased, our quiet chuckles dancing together, before we playfully wrestled around in bed. I let Garrett get the best of me. That was my story, and I was sticking to it. He ended up on top, straddling me, holding my arms down.

“I win.”

“I beg to differ.” I jerked a hand free and reached up, gripped his nape, and pulled him down for a kiss. Kissing Garrett was hot. It made my pulse speed up, and not just in that wanna-fuck? way, but one that should make me a whole lot more nervous than it did.

We made out for a while, licking and touching, tasting and teasing, like we’d spent years doing this. When he settled in beside me again, he asked, “You okay? You seem a little off tonight.”

I felt a little off, but I was still surprised he’d noticed. I was typically pretty good at hiding my shit. I looked up through the skylight above my bed. There was a remote to slide the blinds in place or to open them. The view was unobstructed tonight, dots of light spread out along the dark sky.

“My mom didn’t want me to play football,” I found myself saying.

Garrett rolled over, slid his arm around my waist, and kissed my chest, like he felt the heaviness of my statement. “Why not?”

“She was with my dad since college and into the pros. It took its toll on her. Plus, she blamed the game for my dad’s issues, even though they were his fault. It was hard on her, though…the cheating, the drugs, his attitude; having to pick up and move when he’d get traded nearly every other year because he couldn’t keep his shit together and ruined every opportunity he had. She used to tell me she wanted me to help people, but even though we’re just playing a game, we do that, ya know? We bring people entertainment, make them happy. And our visit with Jared in the hospital…we fucking made his day. Not to mention, he made mine too when he gave you shit.”

“Because of course he did,” G replied.

“Anyway, at some point, no teams would sign him, and he got worse. He put all his energy into me, and I was still so fucking young. I remember one day, my parents were fighting about me playing, and I felt guilty because I didn’t want to let my mom down, but I also fucking loved the game, ya know? And I knew I could do it, play and not be him. But then she got sick and died. It was fucking worse with him, of course. He went off the deep end. I wonder sometimes, though, if she’d be proud of me…that I’m doing this without being like him.”

“Hell yeah, she would. You’re Warner fucking Ramsey.”

“Good point,” I teased, then tugged him closer and kissed his temple. “Ignore me. It’s her birthday. I think that’s why I’ve been all up in my feels this week.”

“Shit, you should have said something. Is that why your phone was blowing up all day? Your dad?”

“Bingo.” I hoped that didn’t mean he was going to do one of his drop-in visits. I wasn’t in the mood to see him.

“I really hate him.”

“That makes two of us.”

Garrett leaned down, nuzzled my neck, and whispered, “She’s proud of you, Rams. How can she not be?”

I swiped at my eyes. “Thanks. Now talk to me about something else before I get embarrassed about how I acted.”

“Um…what do you want to discuss?”

I wanted to know everything about him, but I settled on, “Hm…I don’t know. When did you realize you’re bi?” Since him teaching me the ropes had been how this whole thing with us started, I figured it made sense to wonder about it.

“Nope. Not going there.” Garrett tried to pull away, but I wrapped my arms around him, holding his hard body to mine.

“Fuck that noise. Now you have to tell me.”

“I won’t do it, and you can’t make me.”

“Please?”

“No.”

“Baby…” I begged—and we both froze. What the shit? “I have no idea what that was.”

“Umm, you’re in love with me. That’s what that was.”

“Ew. Gross. Now tell me.” I swatted his ass.