Chapter 20
CHAPTER
TWENTY
Three points.
Garrett wouldn’t have cared if it was only one point. It was still a win. His first game with the Troopers was a win. And a home game. The energy was high in the locker room afterward. It always was after a win, but winning at home was even better. So when it was suggested they go out to celebrate, of course Garrett went. He wasn’t stupid enough to drink, though. He didn’t need a beer to celebrate.
And, of course, when they went out, there were fans out celebrating, too.
They ate pizza and wings and fries like they were going out of style, and no one seemed to notice his drink wasn’t alcoholic. There are a few of the other guys not drinking because they didn’t drink during the season. After a while, some of the players left, drifting home. It had been a long bloody day, and everyone was feeling a little sore. Even him, because one of the opposition’s players had crashed into him. Not enough to knock him over, but enough that he felt it in his shoulder.
“Are you heading home?” Hulme asked.
“Nah, I’m not ready to go back to the hotel yet. I thought I might go to Bathtubs for a bit. It’s a bit more civilized than this place.”
Addy laughed. “That’s not hard.” He glanced at Cal, who nodded. “I’ll round up the others.”
Garrett wanted to tell him not to bother, but that might look suspicious, so he shut his mouth. In the end, six of them ended up at the Bathtubs and Blossoms bar. While Bathtubs wasn’t a gay bar, it was obviously frequented by queer-identifying folks, as well as patrons in expensive designer clothing. Even late on a Sunday night, the bar gave off an air of exclusivity and culture which was lacking from the six of them, even though they all wore their suits, though without their jackets and ties.
They stood out, and not just because they were tall and built. People stared and it wouldn’t be long before someone recognized Addy. They ordered drinks and found a table to stand around. Cal said something to Addy, and he laughed, and from the way he smiled at Cal, Garrett didn’t know how he’d missed the signs before. They weren’t close because they were friends and fellow quarterbacks. They were lovers.
And no one cared.
Or, at least, no one was brave enough to say anything where they might hear.
Which meant no one would care if he came out. He could date Chester, and it would be fine. Not that Addy and Cal had come out. There had been no public statement.
Could he do the same?
Is that why Caitlin had said it would be good for him to be seen in queer-friendly places?
His gaze flicked to the bar, but Chester still wasn’t behind it, which meant he was in the restaurant. How was he going to take a weekend off—or a week off in the future—so they could go away? Not that he’d researched possible holiday locations yet because it seemed so far away.
A few fans recognized Addy, and then they wanted to talk and have selfies taken with their favorite QB, and someone even recognized him—which never happened when he was on his own.
Now he couldn’t help but notice the looks and touches between Cal and Addy, and he didn’t want to be caught staring, either.
He wanted to find Chester.
His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he knew who the message was from before checking.
Restaurant is closed. I’ll be leaving in 15. Will you be joining me?
Chester knew he was there. A part of him was a little miffed that Chester hadn’t come out to say hello, but another part of him that was glad because he wouldn’t have been able to contain himself. He’d have kissed Chester in front of everyone, and that would’ve been a problem.
There was a difference between being open and not hiding. It was a faint and blurry line that he wasn’t sure he was ready to tread, even though he wanted to cross it. He wanted to be on the other side instead of being surrounded by doubts and fears.
Yes
I’m in my office, so head out the back.
Garrett glanced at the guys. “My ride will be here in fifteen.”
“Ooooh. Hot date?” Cal asked.
Garrett laughed and shook his head. If he agreed it was, they’d want details, and he wasn’t ready to share. He definitely needed to talk to Caitlin, but as soon as one of the guys found out, it wouldn’t take long before word got around the whole team and then it would leave the team and would no longer be a secret.
He wanted to ask Cal what it was like not hiding, but he couldn’t. Not here. Not now.
If telling Caitlin had been a relief, he couldn’t imagine what it would be like to not carry the secret any longer. There would be other problems, and it might be nice to deal with them for a change. To stop hiding who he was. And what he wanted.
Who he wanted.
The other guys decided it was time they should leave as well.
Garrett made his excuse that he needed to use the bathroom, and they clapped each other on the shoulders, and muttered things like “great game” and “see you tomorrow.” Then he could finally leave the bar. In the corridor, he wasn’t sure where to go. There were bathrooms, and at the end was the distillery.
He didn’t know where Chester’s office was.
“You’re looking a little lost,” Chester said.
Garrett turned to see him standing in the restaurant doorway. “I should’ve asked where I was meeting you.”
The door behind Garrett opened and laughter spilled out. Chester beckoned him into the restaurant. Then closed the door.
“My office is on the other side, near the kitchen. That corridor is all public access.”
There were staff cleaning up in the restaurant, so as much as Garrett wanted to grab him and kiss him, he didn’t. Maybe he wasn’t ready. He wanted to be ready. To be in a place where it was easy to take his boyfriend’s hand.
He followed Chester through the restaurant, past the kitchen where the chefs were cleaning up or prepping for tomorrow or whatever they did before they went home.
“My office, for future reference.” Chester pointed to a door marked Manager but kept walking.
This part of the complex was more industrial. The corridor was wider and concrete, no doubt because this is where the deliveries came in. They reached the exit and stepped out into the cool night. And finally, they were alone.
Chester must’ve had the same thought because as soon as Garrett pulled the door closed, Chester had him up against it, his hands on Garrett’s chest. Garrett wrapped his arms around Chester’s waist, let his hands slide over his ass, and squeezed as they kissed.
“Do I need to say something like great game, honey?” Chester murmured against Garrett’s lips.
“No…” But he did like hearing it. “Because you have no idea.”
“I do. You won.”
Garrett grinned. “We did.”
“And you punted five times.”
“I did.” It was only because one hundred percent of his attention has been on the game that he hadn’t been thinking about the promise. But he had been thinking about it for the last few hours. When Chester’s hand slid across Garrett’s chest, his dick jumped with expectation. “And I am so ready…”
He groaned as Chester’s hand gave his cock a squeeze.
“I can tell. Are you okay coming to my place? It’s closer.”
“Closer is good.” He would worry about getting back to the hotel later. He leaned in until his lips met Chester’s.
“If you don’t stop kissing me, we won’t be going anywhere.” But Chester made no effort to pull away.
Garrett’s tongue teased the metal ball piercing Chester’s lip before he slowly released him. “I want you.”
Chester took his hand, and Garrett let himself be led to a silver SUV. His heart jumped with something akin to pregame nerves and excitement.
This time, he didn’t tamp them down. He reveled in them until it felt as though his heart might burst.
Chester was taking him home… to his house.
That meant something, didn’t it?
He hoped it did.