Chapter 11 #3
Jabbing his finger at me, Coach said, “You're damn right it won’t. I’ll let it pass this time, but if you try that again, you’ll be out for the duration of the game.
” He swept his gaze around the room. “Let that be a lesson to the rest of you. Fraternizing with the cheering squad does not mean you shirk your duties on the field.”
The entire team looked my way, some of their mouths falling open.
Lifting my head, I peeked around the room from under my brows. Shit, it was out. Good thing I spoke to Wren about this last night.
Leaning toward me, Penny whispered, “You really love that guy to risk getting benched for him.” He wagged his brows.
Love? Yeah, it probably was, but I had to check myself. I wasn’t sure I’d won Wren over completely yet. I gave a slow nod as Coach dove into our strategy for the second half.
After the game and the catered post-game meal at the university, I’d helped Wren to his bus and left him with Grace. We’d lost on a last-minute touchdown, but the game had been close. Still, it stung quite a bit.
Silence filled the ride back toward the hotel. We weren’t leaving until the morning since it was a haul getting to the airport on top of a two- and half-hour flight. Plus, after games we were all dead tired. I’d sat toward the front, so I could dash out of here and get to Wren.
The bus stopped at the curb in front of the hotel, and I snuck my way to the bus’s steps, glancing at Coach Reid in the front seat.
Was he still pissed off at me? I’d played well the rest of the game.
That had to make up for my indiscretion, right?
“Are we okay?” I planted my hand on the pole next to the steps.
He clenched his jaw and nodded. “Keep playing as well as you did in the second half and show me your heart is in the game instead of the cheering squad, then we’ll be okay.” His lips curled into a half-smile.
“You've got it.” With a tick of my head, I watched the bus door open, and I scrambled down the stairs. I wouldn’t let Wren hobble back to his room.
Wren hopped down his bus stairs on his good leg, using the handrails to hold most of his body weight. He’d been a gymnast, so his upper body strength was amazing.
“Wren, I’m right here.” I stepped toward him as he landed on the pavement. Shit, should I just carry him in?
“Hey, Eli.” He gave me a tender grin. “I’m okay—”
Tucking an arm under his knees and another under his shoulders, I picked him up. “Damn right you’ll be okay. I’ll take you to your room.” I’d bench-pressed more weight than this.
“Oh, my God.” Grace squealed with her hands tenting her nose and mouth as she left the bus. “If that isn’t the cutest thing.”
“Stop it, Grace.” Pushing on my chest, Wren said, “Eli, put me down. I can walk.”
“Sure, but you don’t have to.” I held him tighter. “I’m not letting you go, so deal with it.” With my sights on the hotel lobby, I trod toward it.
“I wish I’d had a big, burly football player to carry me when I hurt my knee last year,” a cheerleader said while standing next to Grace and watching us.
“Bro, what the hell?” With a cackle, Malik jogged to me. “You know the entire team’s talking about you.” He opened the glass door for us.
“Let them.” I didn’t give a fuck anymore. Unlike in high school, I wanted everyone to know he was mine. I strolled into the lobby and headed toward the elevators.
“This is ridiculous, but I see I have no choice.” With a tsk, Wren hooked an arm around my neck.
“Damn right you don’t.” I planted a kiss on the tip of Wren’s nose. He would see how well I could take care of him tonight.
Malik hit the call button for us. “I take it you’ll be licking your wounds from the loss, and maybe other things, in Wren’s room?” He wagged his brows at me.
“Yep.” The elevator dinged, and the door slid open. As I stepped inside with Malik, Casey sped in with us. Let the teasing begin.
With his eyes lighting up, Casey said. “You’re holding him like a baby.” He pinched Wren’s cheek. “Aren’t you cute?” He sniggered.
With my cheeks flaming, I said, “Casey, if you know what’s good for you—”
“Ah, leave him be. He’s just jealous.” As Wren’s gaze met mine, he bit his lower lip. “His boyfriend isn’t here, remember?”
I blinked a few times. Was that a roundabout way for Wren to claim me as a boyfriend in front of my friends? No, I was putting too much into it.
“And he’ll kick me out of our room so he can sext Ryker.” Malik rolled his eyes.
“Hey, I had to go without him for two nights in a row. It’s not fair I can’t take him with us.” With a mock huff, Casey crossed his arms. “At least you can hook up in person on the road.”
The elevator stopped on the third floor, and I stepped into the hallway. “See you, boys.” My arms ached. I had to hurry, so I didn’t drop him.
“You can put me down now. You’ve made your point.” He flicked a brow up.
“My point?” I ambled into his room and carefully set him on his feet. “What do you mean?” I hadn’t carried him to show off.
Slipping his key card from the pocket of his joggers, he opened the door and attempted to step onto his bad ankle. “Ow, fuck.”
“No, you don’t.” I swooped him up again, brought him to his bed and then laid him down. “You’re done walking tonight.”
“And what if I have to piss in the middle of the night?” He smirked at me.
“Then…I don’t know.” I dropped onto the edge of his bed, my mind replaying his comment at the door. “Wren, I wasn’t making any point. I care about you.”
“I know you do.” He sighed inside a huff. “I guess I’m not used to being cared for this much.” He held my hand and pulled me closer. “Give me a proper kiss.”
“Hell yes.” With a soft smirk, I claimed him with a passionate kiss, my tongue tangling with his, my cock waking.
The door clicked. “Oh, my.” Grace’s voice filled the room.
Breaking the kiss, I slid my gaze toward the door.
She stood at the entrance to the room, her eyes wide and fingers covering her mouth. “Honestly, you two. I gave you the room last night.” With a click of her tongue, she strolled toward us.
“Yes, and thank you for that. Eli was just making me comfortable.” Wren patted the bed beside him. “Come here.”
She climbed onto the bed beside him. “I know what you’re about to ask me.” She gave him a sly grin. “Yes, everyone is talking about you two, and yes, it’s all good.”
Wren let a long breath release. “Thank God.” With a warm glance at me, he threaded his fingers in mine. “I don’t know why, but I was afraid the gossip mill would be mixed.”
“Well, it isn’t. There’s no reason for anyone to badmouth you two.” She roamed her gaze over us. “It’s obvious to anyone with eyeballs that you make a good couple.”
Warmth rushed to my chest. If everyone else saw it, then maybe Wren could break down the last of his walls and want us to be boyfriends.
“Okay, where’s the ice pack the trainer gave you for the room?” She lifted her brows.
“Right here.” Wren slipped a package from the pocket of his sweats.
“Let’s get that on you.” I grabbed it from him, cracked it and as it turned cold, I shifted to the bottom of the bed. “Should you be elevating this too?”
“He should.” Grace seized a pillow from the headboard and handed it to me. “Tell me if you need another one.”
I tucked the pillow under Wren’s foot and unwrapped the compression bandage. “Does it hurt right now?” It hadn’t swelled that I could see. Maybe he’d be back on the field for the next game.
“No, it’s only when I twist it.” He pointed towards his foot. “It’s on the outside.”
“Okay.” I set the ice pack on his ankle and wrapped it loosely with the bandage. “Here?” I enjoyed being his nursemaid. I felt like he needed me.
“Yep, you got the spot.” He smiled at me. “Look, I have two people tending to me now.”