Chapter - Nate
Nate
I'm not exactly sure how it happened, but Carter and I ended up talking all night, and sometime during the night, we passed out in my bed.
It's around seven in the morning when I open my eyes and see Carter, completely relaxed, lying next to me, totally naked, looking as comfy as ever.
I can't help but smile and kiss him on the cheek.
This must wake him up because he starts to open his eyes, smiles, and says, "Good morning."
I look at him and say, "So, it's a nice Sunday. Any chance you wanna hang out today? I could show you around Newark. Maybe we grab lunch?"
I know Carter doesn't like going out in public with me, mainly because he's scared people might find him out, but I figure it's worth asking anyway. He looks at me with some hesitation but then smiles and says, "I'd love that."
I grin and say, "I have the perfect place. It's called Sabor Unido. It's this cute little corner restaurant that serves Portuguese food. It's amazing."
Carter smiles, clearly thinking about more deviant things, and says, "Any chance for a quickie?" Then he adds, "Maybe I could top you?"
I say yes, even though I'm really not that into it. I hop into the shower to clean myself off a bit so we can get to it.
After I shower, I jump back into bed and see Carter already fully erect, condom on, looking more than ready.
I look at him and ask, "Can I go on top of you?
" I don't tell him that that's the only position that doesn't really hurt me.
He nods as he grabs the lube from the side table and starts to lubricate his fingers.
Slowly, he slides one and then two fingers into my hole. I scrunch up my face, trying to ignore the pain. After a minute of foreplay, I whisper, "It's okay. You can put it in."
He slowly slides the tip of his dick into me and begins to move in and out gently. I try to hide how uncomfortable it is, but I think Carter can tell from the way I'm wincing.
"Am I hurting you?" he asks. "I didn't think I was that big," he jokes.
I exhale and say, "I don't know what it is. It just doesn't feel right to me."
Without hesitation, Carter pulls out and rips the condom off his dick. Already lying on his back, he starts lubing up his hole with his fingers. Then he looks back at me and says, "Wow. I think I'll be the strict bottom then. And I'm here for it."
The hunger in my eyes must be evident, as I get even harder. I keep onto his back, with his legs over my shoulders, the position we've been most comfortable with. I slowly slide one finger into him, then pull out and quickly press in the head of my cock. I ease myself in and start thrusting gently.
Almost instantly, Carter explodes all over his chest. He looks up at me, flushed and slightly embarrassed, and says, "I can't believe that just happened."
I lean in and murmur, "Don't worry. I won't be too much longer."
I thrust three more times before I cum inside him. Even though I already finished, I keep going for a bit because I love how satisfied he looks with every thrust. After a few more seconds, I finally pull out, rip off the condom, and lay next to him.
I kiss him on the cheek and whisper, "Let's get in the shower."
After a quick shower, I take Carter to the small Portuguese bakery and grab us both bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches. We take them back to my place and eat them like we haven't eaten in years.
Carter takes a huge bite, his eyes lighting up. "How the fuck is this only four dollars? It's literally amazing."
I grin. "Right? I basically live off them. Hence why I keep gaining weight."
He laughs, and we sit there teasing each other, mouths full, completely relaxed.
But even with all the comfort, my mind drifts back to how anxious he looked when Josh Miller saw us coming out of that little closet.
I can't help but wonder if his anxiety affects him on the field or if it is just generalized and happens anywhere.
But I don't want to pry. I don't want to make him uncomfortable.
He glances up at me and asks, "So, do you have any gigs lined up? How's everything going?"
The question catches me a little off guard. "We don't have anything lined up right now," I admit. "Which honestly makes me a little nervous. My rent here is cheap, thank God, but even with that, I've been having a hard time keeping up."
I surprise myself with how open I am. There's something about Carter that makes it easy to talk.
He looks at me, serious but soft. "Listen, I know we've only been fooling around, or whatever this is, for a few weeks, but if you ever need a place to crash, you can stay with me."
I blink, a little stunned at the offer. "I always thought my fallback plan was to go back to Philly if things didn't work out here with my music, but this?" I smile. "This would be a way better plan. Especially with this thing we have going."
He smirks. "Well, yeah. My apartment's big enough. And you're my boyfriend. That's what boyfriends do."
I look at him, eyebrows raised. "We've never called ourselves boyfriends."
He shrugs, not missing a beat. "We've been talking for almost a month. Isn't that long enough? Then again, I have no idea. Never been in a real relationship."
He looks so cute when he tells me this.
"There's no set timeline for when things become official," I say quietly. "But yeah, I think you're my boyfriend."
He grins, and we lean into each other, kissing deeply. Like we've just decided something important without needing to say another word.
I don't bring up any anxiety Carter might be dealing with, and I don't don't want to push him, but I am curious about how football is going. I look at him and grin.
"So, boyfriend, how's football been going? You excited for your first game? I can't believe it's already the first game of the season in two weeks. You’d better get the Hawks to the playoffs and make the fans happy for once. God, it's been forever since they made the playoffs."
Carter looks at me and lights up. It's clear how much he loves talking about the game.
"I'm legit pumped," he says. "I think we have a really good team.
A big part of our preseason success has been Marcus, who really is coming into his own.
Josh has been amazing, but that's not a surprise.
I'm feeling really confident, too. I think I will get more receiving yards this season, which will better increase my contract extension chances. "
He pauses, a little more serious now. "I do feel a lot of pressure, though. I need to play well this season to get that contract. Running backs' careers are already short, but especially guys like me. So I'm hoping I can improve my catching game and show the owner he can't afford to lose me."
I just sit there smiling, watching him get into it. I love how animated he gets when he talks about football.
"And," Carter continues, "I'm actually kind of relieved Josh knows I'm gay and that I might be seeing someone.
" He glances at me with a small smile. "It makes me feel a little more comfortable in my own skin.
I'm not ready to tell the whole team, but Josh and Marcus know.
I think that's enough for now. Hopefully, that lets me play with a clear head. "
I raise an eyebrow. "Do you normally not play with a clear mind?"
Carter frowns a little. "I mean, you've probably noticed I can be pretty inconsistent, especially with my receiving. I get in my own head. I panic. A lot of that comes from hiding who I am, I think. I know it sounds kind of ridiculous, but that's just how it feels."
I shake my head. "It's not ridiculous at all. I think years of hiding can take a toll on anyone. And I can't even imagine what it's like for someone like you, always in the spotlight."
Carter gives me a soft smile, clearly taking that in. "Well, the plan is to tell the team this year. Not the league. Not the public. Just the guys I see every day. But listen, if it happens, it happens."
I stand up, grab his hand, and pull him into a hug. I kiss him on the cheek and say with a grin, "That's enough deep talk. Let's go wander the streets of Newark."
It's 9:30 a.m., and I bring Carter to Ferry Street, a mile-long stretch lined with small businesses, family-owned restaurants, bakeries, and more. It has a cool energy, a mix of old-school charm and modern flair. We walk the length of it for a few hours and just explore.
Carter keeps asking about Newark's history, pointing at old buildings, and asking about different buildings.
I lose count of how many times I remind him that I've only lived here for a month or two and that I have no idea about Newark's history.
It's kind of adorable how much he seems to care about this place.
As we walk, I start to notice a few people glaring our way, not at me, but at him.
I don't think Carter realizes it yet, but people are clearly starting to recognize him, even though we're in New Jersey.
I spot it in the double-takes, the subtle pointing, and the whispers as we pass. It's not overwhelming, but I notice it.
Then, a young gay couple actually approaches us. One of the guys looks directly at Carter and says, "I can't believe I'm seeing you in person. This is wild. Can I get your autograph?"
Carter blushes but smiles. "Of course."
The guy glances at me, then back at Carter with a curious, maybe suspicious look, like he's trying to piece together what we are. I don't think Carter notices. He's relaxed, happy, in his element. I don't want to break that feeling by saying anything.
He signs the guy's shirt with a Sharpie they apparently carry around just in case, and then both guys pull Carter in for a hug. He doesn't hesitate and hugs them back like a pro, laughing with them.
After they walk away, he turns to me with a smirk. "You jealous?"
I snort. "Honestly? I'm jealous of you. Those guys were hot."