The Jock (The Team, #1)

by Tal Bauer

“Mon amour, tu as mon coeur pour toujours.”

“Some days, I don’t believe you’re real, mon cowboy.”

Swans fluttered on the disquiet waters of his soul, cast ripples across the hollows of his heart.

He was made to love the white swan.

Wes liked Western music, and when Justin asked if he liked Garth Brooks and Florida Georgia Line, Wes had given him a look of horror.

Who am I when you love me? Who am I when I fall in love with you?

“Tu es mon plus grand amour.” You are the love of my life.

Eventually, he came out of Colton’s hold. With Justin at his side, Colton in front of him, and his team all around, for the first time in his life, all the parts and pieces of the man Wes was came together. He took a deep breath and felt whole. One man. The man he was meant to become. The man he’d always wanted to be.

“All right!” Colton threw his arms up. “Not bad for an old man!” He held his hands out for Nick to throw the ball back. “Nick isn’t old. And Orlando said he almost kicked your ass.” “What?” Colton stumbled, glancing between Nick and Wes as Nick launched the ball back at him.

Wes grinned. “Think Justin will say yes when I ask?” “Does a bear shit in the woods?”

Wes dropped to one knee in the grass. “I promise you, Justin, that I will love you and cherish you as hard as I play this game. Harder, even.” He grinned. “I want to spend every day for the rest of my life loving you. What do you say? Can I be yours? And will you be mine?” He dropped to his knees in front of Wes and kissed him. “Bien sûr, cowboy,” he said, beaming. “Forever.”