Rookie Move (Playing for Keeps #1)(61)

“Good, just getting this knee stronger and trying to figure out what in the hell I want to do next.”

We were in a private booth at an upscale Denver club, nursing beers, finger foods on the table between us. I wondered what Garrett and Cross were doing.

“Sucks, man,” Tucker said. “We miss you out there. Baby G’s doing good, but it’s not the same as having you.”

Houston took a drink, then set his bottle down. Tucker didn’t seem to notice his discomfort, so I made an attempt to change the subject and asked Tucker, “Is your family flying out for the holidays?” He was from Florida. We didn’t have a lot of time off, so Tucker’s mom and three sisters often came to see him.

Thanksgiving was a couple of weeks away, and we didn’t have a game on the holiday this year. I was expected at the McRaes’ and couldn’t help wondering how different it would be this time—you know, since their son now secretly put his dick in my ass and I did the same to him.

“They’re hoping to.” Tucker rambled on about his family for a while, then asked me what I was doing. “You know you’re welcome with me,” he said. It was shitty being the resident stray sometimes, but I was lucky to have friends who cared.

“I’ll be with McRae…s. The McRaes, I mean.”

His brows drew together slightly, I was sure because of how I’d fumbled my response, but he didn’t call me on it. Houston, on the other hand, stifled a laugh.

Three women approached us then, all of them incredibly gorgeous, showing all sorts of leg and flashing us smiles.

“You’re Houston McRae, aren’t you?” the blonde asked. “And Warner Ramsey and Malik Tucker?”

“Yeah, we are,” Tuck replied. “And who do we have the pleasure of speaking to?”

They gave their names.

Before Garrett had turned my life upside down, I would have been stoked, but now I was just trying to figure out how to get out of this situation.

“Do you guys want to dance?” Lydia, the woman with dark braids asked, gaze shooting to Tucker.

He stood and held his hand out for her. “I would love to dance with you.” He turned to Houston and me. Neither of us had moved. I didn’t know what kept Houston from standing, but I had a man I was hoping would find his way to my bed tonight. A man who was only supposed to be my friend with benefits.

“Thank you for asking, but I’m going to have to pass tonight.” Think, think, think. It shouldn’t have been this hard for me to come up with a quick story. “I’m, um…seeing someone,” I stuttered.

Houston’s head whipped my direction like he couldn’t believe I’d said it. He was right. I probably should have come up with a lie. Now there would be speculation and rumors about whom I was dating. People would look into my life even more, unless I got lucky enough and the women didn’t talk.

“My knee is acting up,” Houston said. Tucker’s stare shot between the two of us, but when all three women gave him their attention, he was effectively distracted.

“Shall we, ladies?” Tucker said, and they seemed to be down for all three of them to dance with him. They grabbed him and tugged him to the dance floor.

“Ramsey.”

“I know. I should have come up with a better excuse.”

“You like him, don’t you? Like him, like him.”

“It’s just sex,” I lied because that was the easiest thing to do. It was hard to admit I went and caught feelings, especially to Garrett’s brother. Though I guessed that wasn’t as bad as talking about fucking him.

“Gross. Can we not?”

“What? Talk about how hot you know who is in the sack?” I teased, and he gave me the finger.

“You like him,” Houston said again, and I knew he wouldn’t let this go.

“It’s fucked up, right? I can’t believe this happened. I don’t know what he did to me, but it’s a mess. I’m a mess. This shit doesn’t happen to me, but now it has, and it’s all his fault.”

Houston was clearly trying to fight laughter…and failed when it burst through his lips.

“Shut up. I hate you.”

“It’s so weird to hear you talk about anyone like this, but this is my little brother. The world has gone mad.”

“No, not the world. Just me.” I ran a hand through my hair. “I’m freaking the fuck out. We’re NFL players, on the same team, in a league where they pretend to be open but there’s still plenty of homophobia. You know me, Houston. I don’t want to deal with that shit. I don’t want my career turned into gossip or anything other than how I play the game. I’m not ready, and now with Coach finding out—”

“Wait. What? You didn’t tell me that. What happened?”

I relayed the conversation, and he sat there, staring at me with his mouth hanging open. “Are you broken or what?”

“You offered to be traded so you can keep being boyfriends with my brother?”

Oh…shit. I was usually better at this. “We’re not boyfriends. And don’t tell him that part. It’ll piss him off I told Coach that. He’ll feel guilty.”

“Who are you, and what did you do with Warner Ramsey?”

“I’ve been asking myself that question for weeks.” Catching feelings messed with a guy’s head.