Rookie Move (Playing for Keeps, #1)

by Riley Hart

As far as I knew, I was the only person Houston had come out to. He’d told me at the beginning of last summer and made me swear not to tell anyone, not even Mom and Dad.

Warner Ramsey was the Rush’s quarterback, and an undeniably great one. Also, my brother’s best friend.

Because another undeniable thing about him was that he was even hotter in person. Tall, leanly built, with a stubbled square jaw, dark hair, and the kind of blue eyes that could pierce you even from the far end of a hallway. Which they were definitely doing now.

“This is Houston’s brother, Garrett. He’s a starting wide receiver at Silver Ridge U. Garrett, this is Ashley, my girlfriend.”

I’d learned two things tonight. One: these were my people. Or at least, I wanted them to be, and I was hell-bent on spending the next four years getting there. And two: I was most definitely bi.

In the beginning, when he was cleared to train after the knee injury that ended his career,

Houston was humble while Garrett wanted the whole fucking world to know how great he was. He wasn’t wrong either, the little bastard.

My father had blown his NFL career in just a few years—not from an injury he couldn’t prevent, like Houston, but with bad decisions, a bad attitude, and a coke habit.

I’m there, we win. We can head out back if you want some pointers.” “Aw, so cute. Baby G thinks he’s better than me.”

Even though my bisexuality was uncharted territory, if I weren’t closeted and Garrett wasn’t Houston’s sibling, I’d definitely explore every inch of his body.

“Is everyone going to ignore the fact that we need a wide receiver?” Houston asked, and the room went quiet. I was pretty sure everyone did plan on ignoring that fact, because who wanted to think about the Rush replacing Houston with his little brother?

hell, I could’ve accepted the football commissioner’s offer to be flown to New York—which I’d not told anyone about.

“Pfft. I’m calling bullshit. What boxers was I wearing, then?” Ramsey smirked. “Those stupid candy-cane ones.”

I was gunning for San Fran, though. Or even Philly. Anywhere, really, besides the Rush. Not that I planned to tell anyone that either.

What do you think about playing for the Denver Rush this year?” Every eye in the room was on me as my heart sank to my knees. I forced a grin by sheer willpower, even as I felt, once again, like an ungrateful little shit.

I caught him under the arms to keep him stable. “Fucking knee,” he muttered, then in the same breath shook his head, still smiling broadly at me. “I’m so goddamn proud of you right now, G. I hope you know that. The Rush is lucky as hell to have you.” I could see the pride in his smile, hear it in his voice, even if it was tinged with a bit of wistfulness. Houston never begrudged anyone anything, and I pushed aside my guilt to hug him fiercely before releasing him.

When Ramsey closed in, he flashed me a mischievous wink before hooking my neck and drawing me in, our chests smashing together. “Did you know?” I asked. “Nope. You know we’re in the dark too. But they made a solid choice.” I was briefly overwhelmed by the sensation of his body against mine. The firmness, his scent. I realized I’d never been hugged by him before, and God, it was enormously distracting. And also, too short. The next moment, he let me go.

He chuckled as he slid onto the seat next to me, and I had to physically bite back the instinct to tell him he smelled good. I shot a look sideways as he smirked and muttered, “Thanks.” Wait, did I actually say it aloud? “Yes, you said that aloud,” he answered, confirming that somehow my inner monologue had turned inside out. Crap. How do I make it go back inside? “You could start by shutting your mouth. Usually works for me.”

“I just can’t figure out how one human can contain so much genetic lottery winnings. It seems like even nature would say, ‘That’s not fair. Let’s give him a weird eye or ears that stick out.’ Something. Some flaw.”

Garrett McRae was ridiculously fucking hot too. I liked knowing he thought that about me. I’d liked hearing it even more.

“Guess you kinda feel like my little brother too.” Totally not true, though stepbrother porn was hot. I’d be down for some roleplay if he was.

“Fine. Imightlikeyoualittle,” I rushed out. Now he grinned that cocky, mischievous smile I’d gotten so used to. “Oh shit. Warner Ramsey is obsessed with me. I can’t take my brother’s best friend.” “I said I like you a little. And would you look at that, I don’t anymore.” “Liar.” He winked.

Did his cheeks flush like that when he came? Chill the fuck out. Get it together. The motherfucker had me talking to myself. What the hell was it about Garrett?

“Damn. You figured me out. Annoying-ass people are my kink, and you’re top of the list.”

I kept my mouth shut. I didn’t know why I kept my sexuality to myself with him. I trusted Garrett. Maybe it was just because sometimes I didn’t feel like I had the right to claim the bi label since I’d never experimented with a man. Logically, I knew that was bullshit, but I still felt it.

“What, is this like the sexuality version of if-a-tree-falls-in-the-forest argument? If a guy gives you wood and no one is around to see it, you’ve still got wood. So fuck yeah you can be bi without having ever touched another guy.

“Dude, I came less than an hour ago.” Garrett’s brown eyes darkened, heat whooshing off him and wrapping around me, making us feel even closer, before settling in my balls. “You…in there…just now?” I shrugged at his question. “Fuuuuuck…” I laughed. “What?” “Nothing. Fucking Warner goddamned Ramsey,” he mumbled, then a few more things even lower that I couldn’t make out. “I still think we should consider water conservation when we’re rooming together, that’s all I’m sayin’.” “You wish, Rookie.” What he didn’t know was I wished too.

Garrett jumped at me, the crazy motherfucker wrapping his legs around my waist, arms around my shoulders.

We’d done it. We’d won our first preseason game, and I was pretty sure Garrett was flying. Damn, did I like to see him soar.

I didn’t know what the fuck I was doing, or where I was going, or why I suddenly wanted him so much, it was hard to breathe. Yeah, I’d always been attracted to him. He amused the shit out of me. I loved how he never stopped giving me hell, but this craving for him was different. The second we were around the backside of the building, alone in an alley that, unfortunately, stank like trash, I pushed him against the wall and took his mouth with mine.

“Yeah. Nance doesn’t seem to like me very much, but whatever. He’ll get over it eventually.”

We could work out the Houston part a whole lot easier than we could the teammate part.

“Neither of us wants more. Neither of us will talk about it. No risk of drama, stalkers, or any of that other shit that can get in the way.”

How did a guy even do this? Hey, I’m exploring my sexuality by hooking up with your little bro. There’s nothing like the sight of him on his knees, draining my balls. Is this what you had in mind when you asked me to keep an eye on him? Somehow, I didn’t think that would go over well. Fucking Garrett—that was my new catchphrase.

But what came out was, “I want to fuck Garrett.” Followed by, “Shit. That’s not what I was supposed to say.” Houston’s eyeballs damn near popped out of his head. “You wanna back up and start over? Because I’m pretty sure I missed a step.” I leaned forward, rubbed a hand over my face, and groaned. This definitely wasn’t going as planned. “Let’s pretend I didn’t just say that—” “You wanting to stick your dick in my brother? Bet. I’m down with scrubbing that from my brain.”

“I hate you.” “You love me.” I wrapped an arm around Houston, tugged him close, and kissed his temple. “Gross. You’ve had your lips on my brother. Don’t touch me with those things.”

We can hang and watch reruns of that dumbass show you and Ramsey love.” A funny expression crossed his face, but it vanished quickly.

“Sure you didn’t splurge for the upgraded tub after all? My ego’s already feeling a little better.” “Don’t you dare give the hot tub credit for my skills, jackass.”

“I wanna feel your cock stretching me open, fucking me hard and deep until I come all over you.” “Jesus, McRae.” Ramsey’s eyes blinked half-open, a lust-filled glaze shading them a darker blue as they narrowed. “Get your ass in the bedroom, then.”

“Stop being an asshole.” “Get inside my asshole.”

“Stop.” He kissed my shoulder. “It’s okay to be upset. And she wouldn’t have…been disappointed in you, I mean.” “You never knew her.” He dropped his forehead between my shoulder blades and whispered, “But I know you,” before his arms dropped away. He closed and locked the door. “Come on, Rams. Let’s go back to bed. Maybe in the morning, I’ll let you fuck me again.” “Who said I want to?” I teased, but we both knew I did. Garrett took my hand, and I followed him up.

“Fuck, part of me knows it’s none of my business, but the other part hates the idea that one of you might hurt the other. How the hell am I gonna know whose ass to kick?”

Jesus, now that I think about it, it’s been, like, years of foreplay between you two.”

“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.

“So trade me,”

“If the issue isn’t homophobia or us being on the same team, then let it go unless there’s an issue. And if it becomes a problem, trade me.”

Let’s keep this under wraps at least until the end of the season, and then we’ll take it from there.” “And at the end of this season? If we’re still…” Doing whatever the hell it was we were doing. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Unfortunately, I can’t make you any promises.” That sounded really fucking bad. Still, I nodded. “Yeah, Coach. We’ll be careful.” We both wanted to keep this a secret anyway. How hard could it be?

“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.

“Wow…you’re going to marry my baby brother.” “No I’m not.” “And have his babies.” “Ha-ha.” “You’ll adopt a bunch of them, fill that big-ass house of yours, buy a minivan with stick figures on the back windshield.”

“I’m pretty sure Garrett’s wanted a minivan and ten kids with you for years.” That shouldn’t have made me smile—I didn’t even want children—but it did.