Calling the Play (10 page)

Then Brian was lowering her legs, pulling her hips down, and his dick was pushing inside her and she forgot everything but how good he felt. “Oh, yeah,” she moaned. “Fuck me. Just like that. So good.” She pumped her hips, loving the way he felt moving within her.

“Wrap your legs around me,” Brian said roughly, rising onto his knees to make it easier for her. As soon as she did, Ty was plastered to her back again, his hands on her waist, supporting her. She felt Ty’s dick sliding in between her legs as he thrust against her in time with Brian. Brian groaned.

“Damn, I’m going to come all over you both,” Ty said breathlessly. She knew then that he was hitting Brian’s dick with the tip of his as Brian fucked her. It was hot as hell. They were all fucking, not just Brian and Randi, or Randi and Ty, or Brian and Ty. That was how Randi thought it would be, all of them taking turns. Not like this. Not all of them so hot, stuck together, grinding and fucking and sweating and swearing.

“Fuck, Ty,” Brian said between clenched teeth. “That feels good.” He fucked Randi with abandon, holding her with both arms wrapped around her, one hand gripping her shoulder as he held her in place and thrust up into her. A frisson of unbridled lust shivered down her spine.

Ty came first, all over them as he’d promised. He cried out when he did, right before she felt the warm splash of his come on her thighs. As he slammed into her, Brian’s hand gripped her so hard that she knew she’d have bruises on her shoulder. She came then, came at his bruising grip, at the sight of him biting his lip, cheeks flushed, groaning as Ty came on his dick. Her climax unlocked his restraint and it only took two more rough thrusts before he came with a harsh indrawn breath and a growl, holding her so tightly against him she could barely breathe. She didn’t want to breathe. She wanted to stay just like this, locked in sweaty, sticky abandon with the two of them on this patio forever. And that scared her more than anything.

She’d learned the hard way not to want what she couldn’t have. She clung a bit tighter to Brian for just a moment and then let him go. It was time to leave; time to let go of Ty and Brian and stupid ideas like forever, because those things didn’t happen for girls like her.

“So, Randi left so fast last night you’d think her hair was on fire,” Ty casually observed when he and Brian were left alone at last. They’d been in meetings all morning with the coaching staff and a few carefully chosen players. He was frustrated as hell, not just at Randi’s abrupt departure last night, but also at the unspoken elephant in the room at the meetings this morning—his poor performance last season and at minicamp. He wasn’t looking for a fight…well, maybe he was. Brian was a convenient target.

“She did,” Brian answered in a neutral voice, uncapping a fresh bottle of water, not looking at Ty.

“So did you,” Ty said, and he was only a little sorry it came out like an accusation.

“Did you really want me to stay?” Brian asked. “After I scared her off?” He took a long drink of water.

“What?” Ty asked, confused.

“Look,” Brian snapped, turning to face Ty. He looked guilty and mad. “We both know I was the reason she took off. I never should have stayed. I should have left when it started to get out of hand.”

“ ‘Out of hand’?” Ty asked. “Is that what it was? Because I was there and I’ve got to tell you it was pretty tame compared to some of the shit we’ve done together.”

“Maybe for you and me,” Brian said, “but not for Randi. You heard her. She never had a threesome before. And I knew right then that it was too soon, but I ignored the warning bells in my head, and let the little head lead the way.”

“The sex is not what scared Randi away,” Ty argued. “Trust me, she’s a big girl. When she said she wanted it, she wasn’t lying.”

“Then what was it?” Brian asked, as if he were challenging Ty.

“I don’t know,” Ty said through a tight jaw. “But knowing her, it had something to do with emotions. She can handle sex. She can’t handle the emotions that come with it.”

“And you know this how?” Brian asked. “You’ve known her for all of three days.” He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. “I’m sorry. That’s unfair. You know her better than I do.” He laughed, but it sounded unhappy. “Jesus, Ty, I’m sorry. I hope I haven’t ruined it for you.”

“Ruined what?” Ty asked, trying to stay afloat in the conversation and keep his mad on.

“What you and Randi have. Could have.” Brian sighed again. “I could see it that first night, and then at your house on Saturday. You two were made for each other.”

Whoa
. That took Ty aback. “I thought you came back for me?” he blurted out, then wished he could take the words back.

Brian was watching him closely. “I did. But then when I saw you with Randi…Look, I know I made you really unhappy. That’s on me. Randi makes you happy. That’s what I want for you, Ty.”

“So you ran away last night because you want me to be happy?” Ty asked carefully.

Brian nodded. “Yes.”

“God damn it,” Ty said quietly, furious. “You’re doing it again. You’re deciding what would be best for me without asking me at all. Well, you know what? Randi does make me happy. But she’s as fucked up as the rest of us are. I have no idea where we’re going or what’s going to happen, but I can tell you this: you better damn well let me figure out my own life, whether it concerns Randi, you, or someone else.”

Brian stood there stoically, taking Ty’s anger without defending himself. “You’re right.”

“You’re not going to argue, are you?” Ty said. “You’re just going to stand there and let me yell because in some fucked-up way you think you deserve it. What, because you left all those years ago? Because my life tanked after that? Because my girl ran off last night? All that’s on you, right?”

“Yes,” Brian said, staring off over Ty’s left shoulder.

“Bullshit,” Ty spat at him. “That’s bullshit. I was there, Brian. I was the one living my life, not you. I made the choices; maybe not the one for you to leave, but everything that came after. And I made the decision last night, too, remember? I wanted it. God damn it, I missed it. I missed that with you.” He turned away and wiped a hand across his mouth, regretting that he’d admitted that. He grabbed a bottle of water off the table and viciously twisted the lid off and took a drink.

“Ty,” Brian began, his voice soft. Ty waved him off.

“No,” Ty said. “I can’t. Not here, not now.” He faced Brian. “But if you can’t treat me like a grown man, then maybe you shouldn’t be here.”

“What does that mean?” Brian asked incredulously. “Of course I treat you like a grown man.”

“No, you don’t. Or you wouldn’t attribute all my actions to your behavior. Eight years ago, maybe you were right. I thought I was in love with you, thought I’d do anything to have you and I’d die without you. What a fucking drama it all was. Now I’m all grown up and I know better. So get that through your fat head, Brian. I. Make. My. Own. Choices. Good, bad, ugly, whatever. Got it?”

“Got it,” Brian said tightly.

“I got it, too,” Shannon Ludwig, Rebels head coach, said from behind him. Ty spun around to see him standing with his back up against the door, arms crossed. The other coaches were out in the hall, staring anywhere but into the room. Cass and Marian were out there, too, but Cass, of course, was watching Ty and Brian with a scowl on his face.

“Sorry,” Ty mumbled. “We needed to talk.”

“No problem,” Shannon said with a forced smile. “Was there something you apparently forgot to mention when we approached you about the new coaching position, Mr. Mason?”

“No,” Brian said flatly. “Ty and I had a relationship in college, but that’s ancient history.”

“Is it?” Shannon asked, looking at Ty. “What about you? Is it ancient history for you?”

“Yes,” Ty said clearly, glaring at Brian. “It is. Because whatever is happening between us now is not the same. Older and wiser, right, Shannon?” He glanced over at his coach, belligerent as hell and hoping Shannon would wipe the floor with his ass. No one was giving him a good fight today.

Shannon met his stare calmly. “Your life, as you so clearly pointed out to Brian. But don’t bring your teenage-girl drama to this house. Can you work together?”

“Yes,” Brian said firmly.

“Ty?” Shannon prompted.

“Yes,” Ty said, and he meant it. He needed Brian, and that just pissed him off more.

“Are we good now?” Shannon asked. The man was unflappable.

“Good,” Brian said.

“Fine,” Ty said, feeling anything but.

Without another word Shannon opened the door and Ty was left impotently fuming as the other coaches filed in.

Ty came into his office and slammed the door. Brian wasn’t startled. He’d seen him coming through the office windows. What a fucking awkward day it had been. His first full day here at work, and by ten a.m. pretty much everyone knew he and Ty were involved. Although involved in what, he wasn’t sure. Way to make a good impression. The unspoken comments, hinted at all day, about Ty’s performance last season and at minicamp had only escalated both his and Ty’s tension.

“When I fucking want a fight, you give me a fight,” Ty started in right away. “I’ve spent this whole fucking day holding all my shit together and an outlet would have been nice.”

“My job is to get you ready to play,” Brian said. “It’s not to be your whipping boy.”

“Your job is to get my head on straight,” Ty countered. “Because we both know that’s my fucking problem.”

“I’m not a psychiatrist, Ty,” Brian said, throwing his pen down on his desk. “I can’t even get my own head straight.”

“Then figure it out,” Ty said, stepping over to the window to glare out at the empty hallway, his arms crossed and his feet planted wide.

Brian sighed. Ty looked bigger. He’d put on weight, most of it muscle. He was taller, too. He had grown up. Brian had the irrational desire to snap a photo of him because he looked so perfect standing there, broad shoulders emphasized by his crossed arms, narrowing down to a tapered waist and compact ass, with ridiculously long legs. Ty made him wish he was taller. He wasn’t actually sure how they were going to fit together. The thought made a hot flush rush through him, and he cleared his throat, sitting up straighter.

“Of course,” he said sarcastically. “I’ll get right on that. Anything else I can do for you?”

“Yes,” Ty said, not turning around. Brian waited but he didn’t say anything else.

“Okay,” Brian said. “Why are you back here? Didn’t I see you leave earlier with everyone else? What time is it, anyway?” He looked at his watch. Shit, it was already nine o’clock. No wonder the place was deserted.

“I left. Then I came back.” Ty turned around to face him, leaning against the window with his arms still crossed. “I knew you’d still be here.”

Brian rubbed both hands over his face. “I’m going through the playbook, play by play.” He sat back, his hands folded over his stomach. “How much input did you have on that playbook?”

“Enough,” Ty said with a frown. “Why?”

“Because it seems to play to everyone’s strengths but yours,” Brian told him flatly. “Based on game tape from last year and this playbook, you’ve got to get better at calling the plays, Ty. Stop playing everyone else’s game, and focus on your own.” Ty started to respond, but Brian waved him off. “We’ll talk about it later, when I’m done with it. What about Parris? Was he involved?” Marlon Parris, their backup quarterback, was pretty new to the game. He’d come to them from the Jaguars, where he’d been backup for only two years. He and the Jaguars star player hadn’t gotten along well. Apparently Parris was having an affair with his wife, and when everyone found out he was out of there.

“Not much,” Ty said. “He’s putting in his time here, I think. He’s not much of a Rebel.” He smiled weakly at his play on words.

“Great,” Brian said. “Just great. That’s just what I need, a paycheck player.”

“Look,” Ty said, “I don’t want to talk about the playbook.”

“That’s right,” Brian snapped. “You want to fight. Okay, get on with it.” He crossed his arms and glared at Ty. He was tired and frustrated and just about ready to fight, too.

Ty uncrossed his arms and slumped against the window for a second or two before he shuffled across the office and sat down on Brian’s desk, right beside his chair. “I’m not kidding, Bri. My head is fucked up.”

Brian sat up with alarm. “What are you talking about? Concussion?”
God, not that
, Brian thought. With all the new awareness of traumatic brain injury and concussion protocols, Ty could be out for the season, for good, even.

“Not physically, idiot,” Ty said impatiently. “What you said. Psychologically.”

Brian smiled with relief. “Is that all? Ty, you’re no more fucked up than anybody else.”

“I’m lonely, Bri.” Ty sighed and picked at a string on his shorts. “Crazy, right? Ty Oakes, who’s never alone, is lonely. What a joke.” He rose before Brian could say anything and walked aimlessly over to desultorily look through boxes that Brian hadn’t unpacked yet, stacked on a low bookcase that ran across the entire back wall of his office.

“Is that why…last night?” Brian asked, trying to keep the hurt out of his voice. He felt shattered inside and didn’t want Ty to know it. It wasn’t Ty’s fault. Really, it wasn’t. Brian had done a number on him eight years ago. No one, least of all Brian, could expect him to get over it, to forgive and forget and offer Brian his heart again. That was never going to happen, and Brian had known it. Last night was more than he’d ever thought he’d get. “I mean, it’s okay. You can tell me. Look, we were friends first, right? We can be that again. I’d like to be that again.”

“I guess that’s why I said okay last night,” Ty said slowly. “You were probably right. It was too soon.” Ty turned to face him and propped his ass on the bookshelf. “You’re always right. Don’t you get sick of that?”

“No,” Brian said honestly. “It’s a good fallback position.”

Ty laughed, his smile genuine. “I would imagine it is a definite advantage.”

“Tell me about the lonely,” Brian said. He was incredulous. Ty was one of the most liked players he’d ever worked with. People gravitated to him, they trusted him, sought him out. He was right. He was never alone. Surely in all the crowds of admirers he had someone he could go to?

“It’s stupid,” Ty said briskly, standing up. “Sorry. I’m just feeling sorry for myself. Randi won’t return my calls.”

“Maybe she was just busy. How many times have you called her today?” Brian asked. He’d wanted to call her, but she hadn’t given him her number. If she wanted to hear from him, she would have. Brian was smart enough to do the math.

“Five.” Ty wrinkled his nose sheepishly. “I’m turning into a stalker.”

Brian laughed. “I think it takes more than five calls. Did she say she didn’t want to talk to you?”

“She won’t return my calls or texts,” Ty said. “I guess that’s that. She got what she wanted and now she’s gone. I get that a lot.”

“Get what a lot?” Brian asked, standing up and walking over to lean against the desk, facing Ty across his office.

“The brush-off. I’m great for a night or two and some cheap thrills, but I’m not a long-haul prospect.” He shrugged. “I’m used to it. I get brought in as a third, or a way to start the party, but when the party’s over, it’s so long, Ty. Thanks for the memories. You know how it is, right?”

The accusation stung, because in some ways, it was on the mark. “It wasn’t like that. And I’ve already said I’m sorry. But if you need to hear it again, if you need to hear it a hundred times, I’ll say it.”

“Nah,” Ty said dismissively. “You’re right. Sorry done and accepted. We were young once, and stupid. Shit happens. Builds character, am I right?” He was wandering again, picking through Brian’s belongings. He stopped and pulled a picture out. It was Brian and Janine, on vacation in the Bahamas. Right before their divorce, as a matter of fact. Ty held it up and turned to Brian. “She still looks good.”

“That was about four years ago. But, yeah, she still looks good.”

“What happened?” Ty asked curiously, setting the photo up on the top of the bookshelf. “I mean, besides her penchant for college quarterbacks.”

Brian laughed. “That was about it, actually. We married for the wrong reasons. It was never going to last and I think we knew it from the start, but we had a good ride.”