Rookie Move (Playing for Keeps, #1)

by Riley Hart

I’d gotten to know the family pretty well over the years.

and I tended to end up with the McRaes most of the important holidays.

Growing up, I’d always wondered what it would be like to have a brother, if for no other reason than to help shoulder some of Dad’s drama, but nope, all that motherfucker’s shit had been heaped on me. It was better that way, I guessed. I wouldn’t wish growing up with Mike Ramsey on my worst enemy.

Damn

“Also, Mom wants you to come over for the draft. She said family, and for the last few years, that includes your dumb ass.”

I didn’t really need four bedrooms, six bathrooms, and four thousand square feet of space.

Sheesh

I tried to minimize my contact with him. I was just starting to get to the point where people didn’t mention my father in interviews, but he never stayed away for long. He didn’t understand boundaries. It was all about what he wanted and when he wanted it, and when it came to me, what he normally wanted was cash. He’d show up whenever he got a hair up his ass to try and get it too.

Like Houston had ever so astutely—and annoyingly—pointed out earlier, the Rush needed a new wide receiver, and if they decided to focus on their offense, there was no way I wasn’t in the running. I was gunning for San Fran, though. Or even Philly. Anywhere, really, besides the Rush. Not that I planned to tell anyone that either.

Even my hermit-ass uncle Mick on my dad’s side had driven in from his cave in Durango.

Lol

Everything hurt, and my life was a lie. Play for the NFL, they said. It’ll be fun, they said.

Lol

the past couple of days I’d caught glimpses of what Ramsey was working with below the belt, and it definitely fell into the could-tear-an-ass-up camp.

“Being from Denver, and considering your brother played for the Rush, were you hoping they’d draft you too? Keep it in the family, so to speak?” Ugh. There it was. I instantly hated the guy’s casual chuckle that followed.

He shook his head with a chuckle. “Christ. You’re definitely Houston’s brother. Both of you say ‘yessir’ the same way.”

“You’re jinxing my ass is what that is. I know I’m the shit, but you’re not supposed to tell me how I’ll have my way with them the night before the fucking game. Goddammit, Ramsey.”

“I didn’t know you and your dad still spoke.” “We don’t. It’s usually just him telling me how ungrateful I am because I wouldn’t be where I am without him, how I ruined his life, and oh, that he’s a better player than I ever could be, followed by, You got some cash I can borrow, you ungrateful little shit?”

“Jesus, I feel like I can’t fucking stay still.” Garrett slid up beside me. “Like I’m going to burst out of my skin.” “Yeah, great, isn’t it? I love the adrenaline of a game, and the high that comes with winning.”

All we need is another pregnancy scare like he had in high school.”

What

Sometimes I felt like the media was waiting for me to screw up, waiting for me to show I was like my father. But walking out on his own team, fighting with coaches, the DUIs, and getting caught snorting coke off a hooker at a party, that was all different from having mutual sex with your teammate…or

And then Dad chimed in. “They’ll get theirs. They think they’re hot shit with that Whitt asshole. Pfft. Just wait.”

Omg lol

My doorbell rang three more times before the banging started. “It’s my dad.” I flipped on the lamp and looked at my phone. It was after two in the morning.

“Fuck you, Warner. I raised you. I gave you everything. I put food on the table and a roof over your head. You wouldn’t be shit if it wasn’t for me, and you sure as hell wouldn’t be in the NFL. You have a career because I built you!”

“Sometimes I can’t believe you’re my son. Your mother would have been disappointed.”

“Don’t get started. We don’t wanna hear about how you take it up the ass,” Nance sneered, making my blood run hot and spots dance around in my vision.

“You’re both fined twenty thousand dollars.” Coach looked at Nance. “We’re a team, and I expect you to act like it. Keep your opinions to yourself.” Then to me. “You don’t put your hands on my players.

Whoa, hold on

“Couple of things just came open in Cedar Grove. Not too big, not too small. They could be good contenders.”

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.

Hm…maybe I should give this guy a chance. With a little work, he could be totally fucking hot…oh shit. I think I’m bi. The end.”

Lol

“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.”

Smh lol

“I ran into some trouble…owe a few people some money.”

Was G fucking someone else? It’d been three weeks, after all. He had every right to, but the thought made me ragey. Like I was going to go all psycho on him and lock him in my basement because if I couldn’t have him, no one could. I didn’t even have a basement.

“Did we win?” Garrett asked. “I love you,” slipped out of my mouth and…what the fuck was that?

“How can we guarantee Ramsey will be fair? He’s our fucking quarterback. How do we know he won’t set McRae up for more plays, try to help his little boyfriend get ahead?”

What are you talking about, you weirdo?