After The Snap (14 page)

Chapter Ten

Seth bent low, stretching his hamstrings as he thought about Colby and the night they’d spent. He was sore and the twinge in his ass made him smile. They’d spent an awesome time together, wrapped in each other’s arms. No matter how incredible he thought their night was, Seth had to remember it hadn’t really meant anything to Colby. The man hadn’t even asked for his phone number and that had hurt. But could he blame Colby? They’d met, fucked, and that was it. The only promise they’d made was Colby had agreed to call him if he came to town again. That didn’t mean Colby would, just that he’d said he would.

Coach Maddox yelled and Seth moved to another stretch, leaning to his right side, stretching out his adductors. He winced, then smiled as the sting from Colby and the night before surfaced again. Twisted together, they’d spent one hell of a night getting hot and sweaty.

“What are you smiling about, Mercer?” Maddox spat out as he walked past.

“The thought of our line crushing the Raiders this weekend, sir.”

The other players near him yelled and Seth gave a hearty hooyah. No one could know the truth. It could ruin his career if he were out. He’d spent years lying about his sexuality and the sexy guy he’d fucked last night wouldn’t pull him out of the closet. Maybe it was best that Colby didn’t show up again. He didn’t want a relationship.

“Offensive line, Mercer thinks you are going to crush the Raiders. Do you think you can do that?”

The guys whooped again, words of encouragement for each other were mixed with the raunchy bravado many of the men displayed. He loved his job, at least he did now because they were winning. His team was on top of their game, their plays strong. They had a good chance of beating the Raiders this Sunday, but he wouldn’t take anything for granted. The win was a possibility because they worked hard.

“So, Mercer, do you think we should take it easy on the team like the pansies you all are?” Maddox yelled.

Being on a sports team for most of his life, Seth didn’t pay attention to the derogatory talk. Trash talk was just part of the game, but sometimes he wanted to challenge people’s perspectives. But to challenge them, he’d have to be out, which he wasn’t ready for.

“No, sir, bring out the whips and make us work for our dinner,” Seth yelled, knowing that that type of response would get him respect.

Some of the guys groaned, others growled. The team wanted the wins and the successes. They were willing to put in the time required to be better than the rest. Seth moved to another stretch, rolling his eyes as his thoughts turned to Colby. Fuck, the man had been special. The one night had seemed like days together, not just hours. He needed to keep his head in the game and forget the fantasies running through his mind, but try as he might, thoughts of Colby broke through his concentration as he threw passes, ran plays, and worked hard to improve. By some miracle, the memories didn’t distract him, instead thoughts of Colby made him want to win even more.

After practice, he noticed a few reporters standing on the path to the field house. He wasn’t looking forward to talking to them, but he needed to play nice since everyone in the league expected him to be a good boy and play their game. Talking to the reporters and putting his face on TV would increase the chance of him being found out. It was risky going to gay bars. Before he became the starting quarterback, he’d been unknown. The next time Colby came to town, Seth hoped he actually wanted to get together because picking up new guys would increase the chances of him getting caught with his pants down, so to speak. Dealing with coming out and being starting quarterback would be too much. Already the press’s questions were almost too much, if they knew he was gay, he couldn’t imagine the shit storm the reporters would dig up. And if anyone found out he’d been sleeping with Channing, his college coach, it would spell disaster for them both. Add to it the fact that Channing had lied about being married, and the story got even more sordid. He’d been fucking a married man who was his coach in college, talk about headlines.

Seth fell into bed a little after eight thirty. Exhaustion filled him but that didn’t stop him from jacking to thoughts of Colby. When he woke, dissatisfaction tinged his happiness. Having a warm body next to him had been amazing. Only after graduation for a few short weeks had he experienced living with someone he cared for, and that had ended way too quickly. Would Colby call him or leave him hanging? He should have insisted on getting Colby’s number before they’d parted but he hadn’t wanted to press. It had been a major mistake to think he could just walk away and not need contact with the sexy man.

The team worked out hard again, focusing on their plan for winning. Maddox had some great ideas, the guys on the offensive line chimed in and Seth agreed with their take on the game. It would be tough, but if they kept their heads, they could win.

Thursday night was spent at home, going to bed early. They were playing at one on Sunday and he felt they were ready. While he was lying in bed, thinking about his time with Colby, he once again regretted not getting Colby’s number. Sleep came fast but didn’t stay with him so he woke early on Friday morning and decided that cleaning his place would keep him occupied. After sweeping, vacuuming, wiping, and scrubbing his two-bedroom condo, he drove to the field house for practice. He took care of a few pregame items after practice and headed home wishing he didn’t have so much time on his hand, instead he wanted his hands all over Colby.

Seth grabbed a quick dinner on the way home, then pulled out a few of his favorite car chase movies to watch. One of them was a movie he and Channing had watched together and midway through the flick he realized he hated the film now. He stopped that movie and put in the first of The Lord of the Rings films, relaxing on his couch. The sun had gone down and he was half horny thinking about Colby as he imagined Legolas going down on Boromir. His phone rang, sending excitement buzzing through him until he saw that it was Channing who had called and not Colby.

Seth stared at the phone for a long moment, wondering if he should answer. The call fell to voicemail and he breathed out a sigh of relief. Since being with Colby, he hadn’t thought of Channing other than to be angry with him. It was a little disturbing that he could be so interested in a stranger and have abandoned all of his feelings for Channing so easily. It was true, he’d fallen hard for his coach, but that was over. With Channing being the first guy he’d ever done anything with it was easy to fall, but the man had still been married and had lied to Seth again and again. He needed more than the scraps of a relationship. The reality was that he’d been dissatisfied with Channing for a few months and the photos of Channing with his wife had hit him hard, twisting a knife in his heart.

His phone rang again. It was Channing. This time he answered, deciding that he was enough of an adult to confront the man or at least have a conversation with him.

“Seth, I was worried you wouldn’t answer. Listen, I’m in town and was wondering if you wanted to get together?”

A week ago he might have taken Channing up on his offer if the divorce had gone through, but after his sleepless night with Colby, and last night’s tossing and turning, he needed his rest.

“Hey Channing, how have you been?” Seth asked.

“Great. So, I’m at the Hyatt near the marina. I think you need to come around. We could maybe figure some stuff out, you know, talk things through.”

Seth stared down at his lap. He’d been toying with his dick while watching the movie. The Colby, Legolas, Boromir fantasy had been hot and he’d been hard. Truth was, his dick had deflated a little since seeing Channing’s name pop up on his phone screen. “I have a game on Sunday and I need my sleep.”

“Oh, come on. I know you want it. I’ll suck you.” Channing’s voice went low as he tried to sound sexy, but it wasn’t sexy to Seth, not anymore.

“Sorry, Channing. I really have to be in bed soon. This weekend is big and I’m tired. I hope you enjoy your time in San Diego, but I have a job that takes a lot of my time and I need the sleep.”

Channing huffed like he did when he was angry. Seth almost wanted to laugh. “There’s no reason to be this way. Really, Seth, come on. I swear Samantha is gone this time. I really am getting a divorce.”

His anger spiked. “Channing, until I see the divorce decree I won’t believe you.”

“I swear it’s over with my wife. Please, I want to feel you underneath me.” Channing was whining and Seth felt agitated.

“Really? You were over before. Why should I believe you? Did we mean nothing?”

“No, you mean everything to me, Seth. Come on, I just want to talk. Can’t we just talk? You need to eat, right?”

Maybe he was being an asshole just for asshole sake, but he felt used. Seth shook his head, wondering why he was starting to feel sorry for Channing. Those feelings were dangerous and he needed to stop. “I’ve already eaten.”

“Let me come see you,” Channing begged.

Channing had been his focus for so long and he’d wanted more back then, but Channing had lied to him, there wasn’t another way to put it. Maybe if everything had been different he would be interested, but he couldn’t do that, not tonight.

“Channing, I appreciate what we had, but I need to rest tonight. I have a big game on Sunday. Maybe next time if you give me some advanced notice, but I’m tired and I have to sleep.”

“Seth, I really want to see you, to hold you. I’ve missed kissing you. What about tomorrow?” Channing asked.

Seth blew out a breath, wishing he could say he felt nothing at all. Channing had been his first and though he wasn’t even contemplating going back with Channing at all, he missed what he’d thought they had. Being with Channing had been comfortable. Fucking Colby had been amazing, but he and Channing had shared things that he’d never shared with another, and that counted for something.

“You can’t tell me that you don’t miss the way I make love to you? We had something special, Seth, you don’t want to ruin it.”

The boiling rage from being lied to and being forced into the roll of a cheater rose and he straightened his spine, pressing his lips together before he spoke. “Channing, you’re pushing it. You were the one who was still married. I believed you back then when you said you were divorced.”

“Our marriage is just for show. It’s you, Seth, it’s always been you.”

“I can’t. I’ve got to head to bed and tomorrow I have to run through plays and then I have bed check. We have a tough game and that comes first. I’ll talk to you later.”

Seth hung up, then sighed when Channing called right back. He wasn’t going to answer, wasn’t going to cave. He switched on the privacy feature on his phone and set it on the coffee table face down, wondering what would have happened if he and Colby hadn’t hooked up. He knew without a doubt he’d be at Channing’s hotel and in his bed, fucking all night long even with his game on Sunday and his need for rest. He would have jumped at the chance to be in Channing’s arms again.

“Fuck me,” Seth groaned. He turned off the TV, saving his Boromir and Legolas fantasies for another night.

On Saturday morning he was antsy, his mind going a million different ways. He was starting quarterback and he needed to get his shit together. He drove to the field house, parking in the players’ lot. From the number of cars around him it looked like half the team was there and all of the coaches had arrived.

They had their meetings, and he talked with Maddox and the offensive line. After a bit of food, they dressed in shorts and T-shirts, no pads and walked through the game. Security was tight, making sure no one other than team members and staff were near the practice field.

That night he checked into the team hotel, surprised to see Channing in the lobby. Anger swirled with fear as he fought to keep his cool. Channing was chatting with one of the coaches and some of the other players. His ex looked up, his gaze settling on Seth. There was recognition and fake shock before he called Seth over.

“My goodness, you’re starting quarterback on your first year out. That’s amazing.” Channing reached out to shake Seth’s hand and pulled him in for a quick hug.

“It is. Thanks to coach Maddox I feel ready for the challenge,” Seth said as he stepped back and stood beside Maddox.

Channing’s eyes narrowed and Seth knew what he was thinking. The last thing he needed was a jealous ex assuming he could mark his territory. Seth looked at Maddox and angled his head to the elevators.

“I’m checking in and going to sleep. I’ve had a long week and need the rest. I’ll see you all at breakfast in the morning.”

“Can’t you stay up later?” Channing asked. “I’d like the chance to catch up with you.”

Seth shrugged and shook his head. “Sorry. I have to be in my room in about twenty minutes anyway. Coach, could you give me my packet and I’ll go up.”

“Sure, Mercer. You feeling okay?”

“Yeah, I need to focus for tomorrow. I’m going up.” He saw Will and Wayne and waved. “Hey guys, you two headed up?”

“Yeah, come on, Seth,” Wayne called out.

“I’ll see you all later. Coach Harris, it was nice seeing you again. Enjoy your vacation.”

Seth jogged after the two other players, glad that the team employed excellent security so he wasn’t trapped on the elevator with Channing. It would be impossible for Channing to figure out what room he was in unless he followed Seth and he hadn’t.