Chapter Twenty-Four
Dev
“So let’s go over this again,” I said to Kelsie, who cracked her gum.
“Dev, it’s not that hard. You want me to pretend to be a girl you’ve spent the night with.” She eyed me, her eyes twinkling. “You’re gay but outrageously hot. It’s not gonna be a problem for me. You’re the one who’s gonna have to fake it.”
“Listen, sweetheart. I’m gay, not dead. I still find a beautiful woman attractive and sexy.” I patted her cheek. “You’re gorgeous, and I don’t have to get it up, just make it seem as though I can’t keep my hands off you.”
She giggled. “I went to LaGuardia High School. It might have been years ago, but the acting skills are still there. And this beats the heck out of running errands for you. Not that I don’t love doing it, but it’s nice to mix it up, you know?”
Fallon had brought Kelsie in to help him with overflow work, and I trusted her to keep my secrets. She showed up looking like we’d had a rough night together—blond hair tousled, makeup smudged, tiny bike shorts, and a tube top that barely held her boobs in check.
I took her hand, and we got out of the car and headed to the hotel restaurant. “Showtime,” I murmured and slipped my hand around her small waist. It didn’t take long for people to notice me and take pictures and video. “Make it real, babe.”
She nuzzled me and kissed the side of my mouth. “ Mmm . You smell good.”
In the restaurant, I spied half the team, including Brody and his mother. I walked over to them, greeted Ms. Faith with a kiss, and slapped Brody on the shoulder.
“Blink. How’s it shaking?”
“Doing just fine.”
The hostess led us to a table near Luke and Marlon. Jonas was there with his little daughter and his wife. I grinned at them and pulled out the chair for Kelsie.
“Thanks, baby. You’re an angel.” She patted my cheek. “Makes up for last night when you were such a devil.”
“Takes two, baby.”
Instead of sitting across, I sat next to her, and we gazed into each other’s eyes, making sure people in the restaurant saw us. Brody sat with a smirk on his face. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zeke walk in. “Here he comes.” I gave Zeke my sunniest smile as he approached. “Morning,” I called out to him before turning my attention to Kelsie. “Hungry?”
“Yeah. This morning and last night made me work up an appetite, baby.” Kelsie tipped her head against mine. “What do you wanna eat?” She nibbled on my ear but made sure her voice carried. “I’ve already had a nice fat sausage this morning, so I’m a little stuffed.” Her hand trailed down my chest to my lap and disappeared under the tablecloth. I hummed loud enough for Zeke to hear and spread my legs. Kelsie deserved an Oscar for this performance.
Zeke’s eyes narrowed, and I bit the inside of my cheek. I slipped my arm around her shoulders, letting her settle into my chest as I played with the ends of her hair. My eyelids fluttered half-shut. Zeke scowled as he walked past but didn’t say anything.
Brody’s lips were pressed together, and I knew he was laughing at us. I was glad to see people had their phones out and that this was being recorded for posterity.
I could only imagine the headlines, but for once I’d be happy to be in the spotlight. The server brought us coffee and took our orders. Kelsie sipped hers. “I think that was pretty damn good, if I do say so myself.”
“You’re perfect. Remind me to give you a big fat raise.”
“After you dump me, maybe you can introduce me to your cute friend.”
She tipped her head, and I glanced at Luke and Marlon. “Which one?”
“Mr. Very Big, Very Dark, and Incredibly Sexy.”
I chuckled. “Marlon is pretty quiet. Not a real party guy. I know he’d like to meet someone and have kids.”
“That’s okay.” She eyed him. “I’m twenty-seven, too old to be in the party life anymore. I wouldn’t mind a stable guy who’d treat me right. I wanna have a home and a family.”
Our food came, and I drenched my pancakes in syrup. “You know it’s gonna be a while until I can say anything about my personal life. But if you wanna break up with me, I’ll be okay with that.”
“Tired of me so soon?” She ate her eggs. “It’s okay. I can wait. Just keep me on the radar.”
“You and Fallon are like my family—hell, you’re better than my real family. Anything you want, you can have.”
Serious now, she put her hand on mine. “Just being your friend and knowing you trust me is enough, Dev.”
I’d told Kelsie I was gay after Brody and I were married. I had that sense, like with Fallon and Ezra, that I could trust her with my most personal secrets. Little by little, I’d let people into my life, and they hadn’t proved me wrong.
“I do. And I don’t trust many people, as you can imagine.” We finished our meal and were drinking our coffee. I filled her in on our plans for after the hoopla of the win settled down and we finished all the required promotional work under our contracts, to retreat to the cabin for most of the winter for privacy.
“Excuse me, Mr. Summers?” I looked up to see a boy of about twelve standing with his parents. He wore a jersey with my number on it and was holding a football.
“Hi. What’s your name? And call me Dev.” I winked at his parents. “That’s what all my good friends call me.”
“My name’s Duncan. I’m sorry to interrupt, but can I have your autograph? You’re my favorite player. I’m a quarterback on my team.”
“You are? And my number-one fan? I think that deserves more than just my autograph. Hey, guys? C’mere. Duncan here is a big fan. Let’s take a picture.”
All the guys—even Zeke—came by, and with my arm around Duncan, his parents took several pictures with all of us and after with just myself and Duncan.
“Wow, thanks. That’s so awesome.” He looked at his parents’ phones.
“How about we go outside and play a little catch. Then we can sign your ball?”
I thought Duncan’s eyes would pop out of his head. “Su-sure. That’d be way cool.”
I took out my wallet and tossed two fifties onto the table. “Let’s boogie.”
For the next twenty minutes or so, we were in the parking lot, throwing the ball, and it might’ve just been me throwing to a child, but it was as good as being in the Super Bowl. My arm felt good, my shoulder was fine, and there was no problem with my vision or any headaches.
After we all signed the ball and Duncan left, I walked hand in hand with Kelsie to her car. Knowing everyone was watching, I gathered her close. “Put on a good show.”
“Ohh, baby,” she purred, and I grinned, tipping her chin up.
“I’ll talk to you later.”
We kissed, and I watched her leave, then retraced my steps to the restaurant, where Luke and Marlon waved me over. Brody and his mother were talking to Jonas, his wife, and his daughter.
“Man, she’s gorgeous.” Marlon sighed. “Where’d you meet her?”
“I’ve known her for a while. But it’s nothing serious. You know how it is.”
“Nah. Lemme tell you something. If I had a lady like that, I wouldn’t be sittin’ around with you jokers. I’d snatch her up and put a ring on it.”
Luke snickered. “You shoulda heard Marlon. He was sayin’ he wished she wasn’t your girl, that he’d go for her in a heartbeat.”
This would prove better for Kelsie than I thought. “She’s not my girl. We were just having fun. To tell you the truth, it got annoying ’cause she was kinda more into meeting you than being with me.” I shrugged, watching Marlon’s big brown eyes grow wide. “So if you want her number…”
“Say what? You looked really into her.”
“Kelsie’s a great girl, but I’m not into getting serious with anyone. She wants the whole family thing—house, kids. That’s not my style.” I grabbed a muffin from their basket. “I was gonna bow out, so if you’re interested…” I raised a brow.
“Hell, yeah,” Marlon declared.
“What about you, Luke? You have a girl?”
His cheeks turned pink. “Yeah, her name’s Dawn, and she’s a schoolteacher. She and I have been dating since high school. Her mom’s in a wheelchair, and Dawn takes care of her. That’s why she doesn’t come to the games.”
“Sounds like a special lady. You gonna get married, you think?”
Why I’d decided everyone needed to couple up now that Brody and I were married, I didn’t know, but I guessed when you were happy, you wanted all your friends to share in that joy.
He nodded, growing bright red. “Yeah. That’s always been the plan, but I wanted to wait to make sure I wasn’t gonna be cut.”
“I think it’s pretty obvious that’s not happening.”
Luke dipped his head. “I’m hoping.” He seemed nervous, and I wondered what was going on. “Can I tell you something?”
“Yeah, sure.” I glanced at Marlon, who shrugged.
“My agent called and said he’s gotten some calls already from teams wanting to make me their starter.”
Not unexpected. Luke had come in for me late in the games after we’d amassed a lead we couldn’t blow or after we’d secured a spot in the post-season. Or, simply if I needed to rest. Each time he grew more confident. And now that he’d led a Super Bowl team and was in his third year of the four-year rookie contract, it was natural after his spectacular play in the post-season for teams to want to snatch him up.
“What are you thinking?”
“I don’t know…I love the Kings organization, but I don’t want to be a backup forever.”
I understood. I was drafted because the Kings were in desperate need of a quarterback, and I was a player from day one. I couldn’t imagine the frustration of being a second-round pick like Luke had been and then being forced to sit on the sidelines for three seasons, only filling in when we were far enough ahead.
“You do what’s best for you, but I’m sure the Kings are gonna do whatever they can to try and keep you.”
“Except make me the starter,” Luke stated frankly.
“Yeah, well, that’s kind of taken at the moment.” Ezra and I hadn’t yet begun to discuss renegotiation of my contract, but maybe I needed to think about it.
“Why’s everyone lookin’ so serious over here?” Brody and his mother came by our table.
“Just talking shop.” I rose to my feet. “How was your breakfast?”
“Just fine, thank you. Are we all goin’ to the parks today? I haven’t ridden a roller coaster in years.”
I rubbed my hands together. “I’m ready.”
As we left the restaurant, Brody pulled me aside. “Do you think you should be goin’?”
My brow puckered. “What’re you talking about? Why not? Is it because I didn’t play?”
“Of course not.” The concern in his face was real. “But it’s only a few weeks since the concussion. You should still be recoverin’.”
I beat my chest in mock play. “Look at me. I’m fine.” My eyes twinkled. “I was pretty damn recovered last night, don’t you think?”
“Shut up.” Brody covered his face as if it could hide the pink of his cheeks from me. “Just wanna make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m perfectly fine. Stop bein’ such a worrywart.”
Two hours later, after doing promotional football and theme-park videos and taking pictures, including with fans from all over the country who’d won radio and advertising contests to meet the winning Super Bowl team, we were ready to take to the rides.
We took the easy ones first, and it was nice to simply sit and ride through a fictitious world where everyone got along. Pleasant in theory, but sadly, it didn’t all work out that way. Next was the haunted house, and it was fun to see some of the guys actually get spooked. Jonas sat with his daughter, and it was sweet to watch her experience it all for the first time. We bought her stuffed animals and a cute hat to wear.
“Who’s ready for some of the big coasters?” Kendell yelled, and I pumped my fist.
“Let’s go.”
We hopped on, got strapped in, and off we went, zooming fast, then climbing slow only to drop at a speed that sent my stomach hurtling to my throat. I held on and yelled, so damn happy to be alive. My vision blurred for a moment, but I ignored it.
We got off, and all of us needed a minute to get our legs under us. Ms. Faith, who’d decided not to ride any coasters and stayed with Jonas’s little girl, came to me with a worried face. “Are you okay? You look pale.”
I brushed her off. “I’m fine. Don’t worry. Do you need some water?”
She held up her bottle. “I’m good, thanks. But I think one big ride is enough for you.”
I knew she was only trying to be helpful, but I refused to show weakness in front of my team.
“Nah, I’m good. I’ve got one more.”
We headed to the coaster built into the mountain, and it was a little less enjoyable as the beginning of a headache thumped behind my eyes. I shook it off, refusing to quit. We had lunch, and after some food, tons of water, and an energy drink, I felt better. I’d stopped in a little convenience store and bought some massively overpriced pills to help my head, and they worked.
The gang suggested the Star Wars ride next, and I was all in. One of my favorite movies ever. Brody and I sat together, and just being with him, living our best life, made it all worthwhile. Lights flashed, and the rides spun. The longer the ride went on, the worse I began to feel. My head throbbed, and all the colors melted together.
Fuck, I’m going to be sick.
I sat praying I’d hold on until the ride was over, my eyes closed and hands gripping the rail. Everyone else was too enthralled to notice me, and I sucked in a breath of relief when it was finally finished. Careful not to fall on my face, I climbed out of the ride. Once outside and in the fresh air, I thought I’d feel better, but I quickly found a trash bin and threw up. Brody and several of the guys raced to my side and helped me to a bench.
“I’m all right. I’m okay. Must’ve been something I ate.” I rested my head on my arms and concentrated on taking in fresh air. “I just need some water.”
Brody crouched in front of me. “I told you it was too soon. I hope you didn’t hurt yourself.”
“I’m fine,” I responded, sharp enough that they all stared at me, and I realized we were in a public place and people were eyeing us. “Sorry,” I mumbled. “I’m just gonna hit the bathroom. You guys go on ahead.” I forced a smile. “Ms. Faith and I will catch up with you in a bit.”
Of course they all followed me inside. I rinsed out my mouth, and Jonas gave me a juice from his daughter’s bag. I drank it all down. “Thanks. I feel better now.”
I was telling the truth, but my reaction to the rides meant I wasn’t as recuperated as I’d thought. And that scared the hell out of me for the future.