Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
ZANDER
Something tickles my nose as I slowly blink my eyes open. A mass of blond hair clouds my field of vision.
A smile tugs up my lips as I listen to the light snores of Kerian. He’s sprawled on his back, almost on top of me, his head facing away.
Without jostling him, I move from under him, looking down at his face while he sleeps. He’s so handsome. No scowl or cynical expression. He doesn’t look younger per se, but he does look relaxed.
Reaching up, I push his hair back from his forehead. It’s rare that I see his entire face, his blond locks usually hiding his eyes. Not now. He’s vulnerable. Vulnerable and comfortable. My bed is tiny, barely able to handle both of us, but he looks like he belongs here.
With me.
After I push his hair back once more, I give him a gentle kiss on the cheek. Kerian startles awake, sitting up suddenly and looking around wild-eyed.
“Hey,” I say, almost falling off onto the floor. “It’s me. You okay?”
Kerian stares at me, bringing me into focus slowly. He pushes his hand into his hair, blowing out a shaky breath. Who did he think I was?
He flicks his gaze up to me and gives me that cocky grin I’m used to. “Is it strange that I’m here and you can’t send me a good morning text?”
Grinning, I lie back down, looking at him as he turns his body to face me. “Nah. I can still text it to you. I know how much you like it.”
Kerian scoffs, stretching his arms over his head. His muscles pop as he shakes out his limbs. “I slept like the dead. But I can tell your sheets are shit quality.”
I laugh and roll over, biting him on the back. He jumps and gives me a death glare, but a small smile crosses his lips. “Yeah, well, you were on me more than the sheets.” I prop my hands behind my head. “Want to get some breakfast?”
He shakes his head and stands up. “Nah. I don’t feel like being around people and I wouldn’t be caught dead in your caf. I’m sure Evergreen wouldn’t take too kindly to Meridian’s star quarterback walking your campus.”
“Please. Everyone knows I’m better than you. I proved that when I beat your ass just a few weeks ago.”
His serious face makes me laugh harder than I should. One thing I’ve realized about Kerian is he’s extremely competitive. Playing the same position puts us both on the same playing field and he has to try hard to be better than me. I enjoy our rivalry, even now.
“Whose stats are better?” he asks, crawling up the bed until he’s in my face.
I put my finger to my chin, pretending to think. “Yours,” I say and he grins smugly. “But that’s only because we just had a bye week.” His grin drops and his eyes turn stormy. “It’s fine to be second best. Silver medals are admirable too.”
He growls and launches himself at me, taking my wrists in his hands and thrusting them over my head. Then he proceeds to… tickle me. I’m so shocked that I freeze for a moment, then I laugh at his antics. I’m not ticklish at all, but I like seeing him like this.
After he came in yesterday, looking like someone had stolen his puppy and he’d lost the championship game, I didn’t think I’d see this side of him so quickly. I’m not sure what happened or how I’ll ask him about it—Kerian is not an open book by any means—but I want to know. I need to know. If someone hurt him or upset him, I need to know who it is so I can stop them.
Kerian stops tickling me, then lowers his face, kissing my smiling lips. I sigh into his mouth, soaking up this softer side of him. Kerian is full of surprises.
He pulls away and lets my hands go, lowering himself to lie on my chest. He’s fucking heavy, but I don’t ask him to get off. I wrap my arms around him, sliding my hands under his shirt to rub the muscles of his back. “How do you smell this good so early in the morning?”
His chuckle rumbles through me. “It’s called a shower, Braithe. I’m sure you take them every now and then.”
“Fuck you.” I laugh despite myself. “Plans today?”
He shakes his head against my neck. “No. Maybe get some sleep. That game was brutal yesterday. You?”
“Nothing. Russ will probably stop through to play some games. We don’t have practice today.” I pause. “You played really well yesterday. I swear, I’ve never seen a Hail Mary so pretty. I don’t think I’d ever be able to make a forty-yard pass like that, especially with defenders gunning for me. How did you read the play so well?”
Kerian looks down at me, that smug grin back on his face. “I am better than you, Braithe.”
I snort and push at his chest. “Get off, you cocky fucker.”
Slade gives me a quick kiss and hops to his feet. “Come on, Dimples. Walk me to my car so I can feel you up when you kiss me goodbye.” He holds his hand out to me.
“You’re deranged,” I tell him, but take his proffered hand. “Seriously, though. How did you make that play?”
For the first time, I see uncertainty cross Kerian’s face. He looks almost embarrassed. “I didn’t think I would. I know my line, but I’ve never thrown that deep in a game before. But I had to try something.”
I bump his shoulder as we step out into the hall. “Well, you are kinda good at your position, so…” Kerian gives me a half grin, his eyes lighting up.
After I shut and lock the door, I take his hand, threading our fingers together. Kerian makes as if to pull away, but he relaxes after a moment. I only plan to hold his hand here in the building, since most of the students are probably asleep. There were like three parties on campus last night, so I’m sure everyone is fighting a hangover or tired from being out all night. Even Luca stayed out, a first that I can remember. No one will see us holding hands.
The feeling of his calloused palm in mine feels good. Warm and strong. His touch secure. I’ll never get tired of this.
We walk slowly down the stairs, Kerian’s hand tightening around mine for a moment.
I smile over at him when we hit the bottom landing. “I’m sure that bullet alone will get more than a few NFL teams interested. It was a textbook play. I think Coach will give me shit about not throwing like that.”
“Yeah?” One side of his mouth lifts in a surprised smile.
Rolling my eyes, I bump his shoulder again and drop his hand as we step outside. “Don’t let that shit go to your head, Slade. You’re still?—”
“Zander!” I hear a loud voice shout my name.
I’m surprised when I look to my left and see my brother striding towards me. “Colson? What are you doing here?”
He smiles, jogging over to me. “I have a job down here that doesn’t start for another hour or so. Figured I’d come see you.”
I grin back at my brother, happy to see him. Since I haven’t been home in a while, I’m used to only seeing him on video calls.
Looking at Colson always makes me both happy and sad. He’s the spitting image of our father, with his honey-blond hair, friendly brown eyes, and perpetual smile tipping up his lips. Seeing my brother always makes me miss my father, but I like that they’re almost twins. It makes me feel like I still have Dad here with me.
Before I can step around Kerian to hug my brother, my fucking boyfriend—at least I think he’s my boyfriend—puts himself in front of me. His body tenses and I can only imagine the look on his face. “Who the fuck are you?”
Colson stops in his tracks, raises an eyebrow, and peeks around Kerian at me. I wink at my brother, letting him know he can have some fun. He gets my meaning and nods, meeting Kerian’s eyes. “You’re Slade. That football player Zander keeps beating.”
Kerian ignores the jab and takes a step forward, his hands balled into fists. “Who are you?”
Colson doesn’t look fazed. He played football in high school, but never had the desire to go to college. He wanted to work and establish his business. So meatheads bowing up at him don’t scare him at all. “Colson. Zander didn’t tell you about me?”
The back of Kerian’s neck turns red in anger, so I decide to put him out of his misery. I wrap an arm around his chest and pull him back into me. “I didn’t. Kerian, this is my brother , Colson. Colson, Kerian.”
The anger bleeds out of Kerian, though his expression doesn’t change. And he doesn’t apologize, just shakes Colson’s hand. “Good to meet you.”
“I’m sure,” Colson says with a smirk. “You free for breakfast or you gotta take your pitbull for a walk?”
Kerian turns to me, rolling his eyes. “Rain check about my reward?” I nod, face burning. “I’ll see you later, Dimples.” He kisses me hard, his hand threading through my hair.
I watch him walk off, almost in a daze. Colson snaps by my ear, pulling me from checking out Kerian’s ass. “You got it bad.”
I pull him in for a hug. “I’m glad to see you.” I let go, and we walk down the sidewalk to the restaurant near campus. It’s early, so it should be fairly empty. “How’s work?”
He shrugs. “Good. Wish we didn’t have to come all the way out here for a job, but whatever.”
“It’s not that bad a drive. An hour out of your day.”
“An hour too long,” he grumbles.
We walk in silence for a minute or two before he looks over at me with a grin. “Your boyfriend was ready to kick my ass.”
I bark a laugh, throwing my arm around his shoulder. “He was not. He’s a little intense, but he’s harmless.” Not really. I still haven’t forgotten how he beat that guy’s ass in Nirvana, but I knew he wouldn’t have hit Colson since we were in public and in daylight. Kerian might have a short fuse, but he’s aware of his surroundings and how something like fighting will make him look.
“Make sure you tell your next boyfriend you have a brother.”
“Won’t be a ‘next boyfriend’. If shit doesn’t shake out with me and Kerian, I’ll be too busy in the NFL to worry about a relationship. Besides, Kerian and I don’t do much talking.”
Colson pretends to vomit. “Please don’t tell me about you fucking. I know you’re grown, but you’re still my little brother. You’re pure.”
A loud laugh bursts from my throat as we walk into the restaurant. “Real pure,” I say sarcastically. “Wasn’t it you who walked in on me and Jen in the eleventh grade?” Jen was my girlfriend from eighth grade until senior year.
He groans, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands. “The image of your pale ass is still embedded in my head. I wanted to bleach my brain.”
I open my mouth to respond, but I see Justin sitting in a corner booth, glaring at me like I ruined his day with my presence. Instead of looking away, I glare back, raising an eyebrow at him. Justin scoffs and looks away from me, his cheeks red.
“Who the fuck is that?” Colson asks, shooting daggers at Justin without even knowing what he did. I tell him that Justin was the one who fucked Megan behind my back. “Fucking asshole.” Colson makes to walk over to him, but I grab his arm. What is it with people wanting to fight Justin more than me for his bullshit?
“It’s not that big a deal. He did me a favor. I didn’t realize how fucking stuck up Megan was. Now I see her for what she is. I only hope he’s happy with her and her bullshit.”
Colson glares at him for a moment longer, then faces the register, ordering his food. I put my order in as well and we take a seat on the opposite side of the cafe from Justin. I already have to deal with him at practice against my will. I’d rather not be anywhere near him in my free time.
My brother and I have a great time at breakfast, talking and laughing like we don’t talk on the phone every few days. But it’s been a while since we’ve sat down and had a meal, just the two of us.
“How’s Mom?” I ask, wiping my mouth with my napkin. “I miss her and her cooking.”
“She’s good. But she misses you too. Make sure you come home soon. You’re only an hour away, dick.”
I lower my head in shame. Since being with Kerian, I haven’t been home to visit. Hell, even before that. Megan used to bitch at me for leaving on the weekends to see my family, so to make her happy, I didn’t go as often. I shouldn’t have put her feelings before theirs. I haven’t asked Kerian to go home with me because he might say no as well.
“You’re right. I’ll come visit soon. I should have, with this bye week, but we have a long weekend coming up. Let me check my schedule and I’ll let you and Mom know.”
I feel Justin’s eyes on me, burning a hole in the side of my face, but I pay him no mind. He’s annoying as fuck, but easy to ignore. I think not giving him my attention is burning him up. His fingers fly across his phone, probably telling his bitch-ass special teams teammates some bullshit.
Brushing off his irritating-ass staring, I focus back on my brother, talking and joking. I’m sure Justin leaves at some point, but I don’t even pay him any mind.
Colson looks at his watch and sighs. “I gotta get back and get the job started. I swear, owning my own business was supposed to be less stressful.”
I make a pssh noise. “If you didn’t want the stress, you should have worked for someone instead.”
We take our time walking to the car, enjoying the cool weather and being together. Colson and I have always been close. Not being able to see my mother and brother every day has been hard, but when I graduate and sign to a team, they can live in my house with me so I can see them as often as I’d like.
“Good to see you, bro,” Colson says when we hug. “Come home soon.”
“You got it.”
I step back when he gets into the car and watch him drive away. I feel light and burdened all at the same time. Seeing him makes me miss home, but I’m thankful my brother and mother don’t hold it against me. I definitely need to get back home soon, though.
Now, I just have to convince Kerian to go with me.
As I’m walking to my dorm with my head down, deep in thought about how Kerian would fit in with my family, someone bumps me from behind, tweaking my shoulder. I hiss, grabbing the area. I meet Justin’s eyes, a dark look flashing in his gaze. He steps closer to me, as if to put hands on me again, but the door to my dorm building opens and Russ waves me over, glaring at Justin.
He steps back, holding his hands up in mock surrender. “Better watch where you’re going, Z. Don’t want to ruin that arm because you’re not paying attention. That would be a shame.”
“Fuck you,” I growl, brushing past him.
“Everything okay?” Russ asks, still staring at Justin.
“All good. He’s just being a dick. Come on. The ass whooping in Madden has your name on it.”
Russ stares Justin down for a few more seconds, then steps inside behind me and we jog upstairs.
My fingers twitch, itching to tell Kerian about Justin’s bullshit, but I know he’ll snap and beat Justin to a pulp. I can handle myself. Justin is a bitch who isn’t getting the reaction from me that he wants. He’s unimportant.
“Ready to get your ass beat?” Russ says when we step into my room, flopping onto Luca’s bed.
“Yeah right. Pick up the control so I can spank that ass!”
Russ laughs and we spend the next few hours playing Madden. My day would have been better if I had spent it with Kerian, but I’m more than content to hang out with my best friend.