32. Lennox
Chapter 32
Lennox
I stood on the sideline watching Boyd, my backup, run my offense. Evan stood beside me as usual, assessing his backups. I was playing coach and had the Offensive Coordinator talking in my ear over the headset. The veterans wouldn’t play until maybe the fourth game at the end of September. I hated these games but knew they were necessary.
“Whatta ya think, Lennox?”
Biting the inside of my cheek, I held up my finger as I watched the next play unfold. Unfortunately, before the ball was snapped, the referee threw a yellow flag and stopped the play. I knew what had happened before the play even started.
“The kid’s doing okay, but the linemen have got to pay attention to where the line of scrimmage is. We’re gonna get called for illegal formation every time if they don’t.”
“Yeah, I see it,” the OC said. “It’s the rookie. Mason needs to jerk a knot in his ass.”
I laughed because jerking a knot in his ass meant my quiet, reserved, gentle giant of a center, Mason Kennerly, would sit him down for a video session. He wouldn’t even raise his voice or yell once. We’d see how that went.
The referee made the call and backed up my offense five yards. On second and fifteen, I made a suggestion. “Call play 55 and let’s see if he can hit Drew.”
The OC called the play to Boyd, who relayed it to the team, then broke the huddle. They lined up but the rookie tackle was short again. If we were lucky, the refs wouldn’t notice.
Stepping up under center, Boyd started to call the play. When the ball was in his hands, he dropped back, looked for Jacobs, and then unleashed the bomb we’d been working on. And just like we’d practiced, my baby wide receiver pulled it in.
I threw my hands in the air as he jogged over to the sideline. “Beat that, Grandpa,” he said to Evan.
“Asshole,” Evan muttered to him, then elbowed me. “He’s gonna call me that all the damn time now, thanks to you.”
I laughed, then called back to the OC. “That took too long. He’s gonna get called for a delay if he hesitates.”
On the next play, we fumbled the ball and Houston recovered it.
I took off the headset and hung it around my neck. I hadn’t had time to look up in the stands to find Dane. But now that Carson’s defense had taken over. He and the Aussie were playing to get him used to real games. And it gave me time to sneak a peek.
Turning, I spotted him with Daniel and Camile in my seats along the forty-five-yard line. Raising my hand, I waved to let him know I saw him. He gave me a big smile, then leaned down to Daniel to direct his attention to me.
“Look at that,” Evan said, calling my attention to him. “Only you would have both a man and a woman, Sanders. Living up to your reputation.”
I lightly shoved him, because if the media saw my pushing him around, they’d assume something was wrong with the dynamic and blow that shit out of proportion. Besides, I knew he was kidding.
“Oh, shit. Here we go,” he said, motioning toward the field. Carson was gesturing wildly to Colin.
I leaned in. “What happened?”
“He keeps taking his helmet off. And Carson is losing his shit.”
“Huh,” I said. “At least he didn’t kiss his nose this time. That’s an improvement.”
Evan laughed. “Here me out on this. Colin does it to piss him off, right?. Why would you do that to your teammate unless...”
My eyes widened. I knew exactly why because I’d done the same thing to Dane.
Watching the mayhem ensue, I knew it was going to be an interesting season.
After the game, I walked over to the steps that led to the floor. Dane and Camile had Daniel by the hands as they walked my way.
I couldn’t help but notice how they made a beautiful couple. And Daniel was the perfect combination of them. I couldn’t believe they couldn’t make it work, but now that I knew why, it helped ease my fear of losing him again.
Now I just had to keep myself from mauling him down here.
But friends hug. Especially life-long ones.
And I could kiss his cheek.
I just wanted him to be mine so fucking bad. But I wouldn’t out us, especially since we hadn’t talked about all that.
Control yourself, asshole. And you don’t want to scare Daniel.
Smiling up at them, Daniel came charging over to me. He looked awesome in my jersey.
“Lennox!” he shouted, then jumped into my arms.
“Hey, my dude. Did you have fun today?”
“Yesss,” he replied. He looked around.”It’s so big in here?”
I laughed. “It sure is.”
Turning with him in my arms, I pointed to a pile of footballs sitting by the bench. “If you want to grab one of those, we’ll go play on the field.”
His eyes flew open. “Can we take pictures to show Trevor? Could we bring him one day?”
I hugged him. “Yes, to all of it. But his mom will have to bring him.”
He wiggled to get out of my arms to go get the football. I put him down, then turned to his parents.
Camile held out her arms for a hug. So I went to her first. “Thank you for inviting us,” she said as she released me. “We had a great time. But we’d like to come when you’re playing.”
I laughed. “I think I can make that happen.”
She stepped back as I turned my attention to the love of my life.
“Hey,” I said, waiting for a sign.
Dane smiled and held his arms open. “You’re not going to hug your lifelong, childhood best friend?”
My face heated as I stepped into his embrace. I tried not to look like a lovesick fool, but I was probably failing.
I pulled back as Daniel came running up with the ball. He stopped in front of me, where my arm was still around his dad. Not sure what to do, I reached out and put my right arm around Camile also.
This would look okay.
OId friends reminiscing.
Daniel looked up at me, completely unfazed by my affection for his parents. Okay then.
“Let’s go?—”
I was interrupted by the sound of my name being called by one of the PR interns.
“Lennox, who have you got here? Can we take some pictures?”
The photographer snapped away as I stood with my arms around them.
“Is this your family? Can we have names for a post? It’s going on our social media page to boost engagement. The fans will love it!”
“Uhh,” I stalled. I wasn’t usually at a loss for words. “This is Camile and her son.”
PR dude tapped away on his phone, then looked up at me expectantly. “And you sir?”
I looked at Dane, who kept his arm around me. “This guy is my best friend from elementary school, Dane. We grew up together. “
Daniel covered his mouth and started giggling. That caught the PR dude’s attention. So he squatted down in front of him.
“I can’t forget you since you’re wearing our quarterback’s number. What’s your name?”
“I’m Daniel.”
“Nice to meet you, Daniel. Is Lennox your uncle?”
He snorted. “No. He’s my daddy’s boyfriend.”
Oh shit.