Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Nico held his helmet in one hand near the endzone where Razer had just run the game-winning touchdown. Nearby, his fellow rookie was being interviewed by ESPN. Priscilla Rapport, a sports journalist for Sports Night approached Nico with a mic in her hand.
“How does it feel to come back after missing two games and leading the team to a win over your divisional rivals?”
“Great, Priscilla.” Nico pushed dripping strands of hair from his forehead. “Everything just clicked tonight. Everyone did their part and I’m so proud to be a Cobra right now.”
“You leaned on Matteo Reyes a lot tonight. Do you see that as indicative of the direction this team may go in the future?”
“That’s my boy, and yeah, maybe. But ultimately, the Knights shut our run game down early in the first quarter and we had to adjust the game plan. Matteo really stepped up, but you saw Razer too. Nobody in the league is better than him in space and he proved that just now.”
“You were rather reserved in the scramble game tonight. Coach White talked to us before the game about finding a balance, noting that you have an uncanny ability to escape pressure. Has your experience with injuries thus far in your rookie season forced you to adjust the way you play?”
“Yeah, it’s obviously a factor. It has to be. I’m a competitive beast. I always want to win, but I’ve been working on my second and third reads, and I think I showed that tonight.”
“One final question. How has it been working with the legendary Cooper Callahan?”
“It’s been an absolute dream, an absolute pleasure. We actually made a deal before the game and it was a key driver in really forcing me to focus on the task at hand, which was winning.”
“Can you share the terms of this deal?”
“I’m afraid Coach Callahan would kill me, and I love winning too much to die.” Nico waved at the camera with a shit-eating grin. “Because you know what they say, you can’t win if you’re dead.”
Nico walked away from the interview and headed down the tunnel with what he assumed were flushed cheeks.
Really, Nico?
“You can’t win if you’re dead,” he mumbled to himself.
Nobody fucking says that.
When Cooper still played football, he despised press interviews after games. He’d always want off the field as fast as humanly possible, but always got caught up by reporters on a mad-dash to the locker room.
As it turned out, the press was just as interested in him as they’d always been. He stood on the sidelines with one journalist only to be approached by Priscilla Rapport. He cocked his head away from the reporter and grimaced before turning back to her with a plastered smile.
“How are you doing, Priscilla?”
“It’s been a while, Cooper,” she said, microphone hanging in one hand and pointed at the ground. “I’m sorry I missed you at the Chicago game last week.”
“Off the record?” Cooper arched a brow. “I’ve missed you too.”
If anything, Cooper knew how to play the game of social politicking as he was taught from a very young age by his ambitious mother.
That particular game meant schmoozing anyone with a camera in his face.
Cooper didn’t have a problem with Priscilla.
He didn’t have a problem with any of the journalists.
He was just a private person who loved the game of football, but hated everything else that came with it.
Priscilla straightened herself out and guided the microphone to her mouth. “It’s so great to see you back on the field. Is there any hope of you returning to the field as a player?”
He should’ve seen that question coming. He hesitated and scratched at the stubble at the base of his chin.
“I’m really just focusing on what I came here to do.
It’s an important job and one that I perform with all the same dedication as if I were playing.
Fallon has some serious talent and if I can guide him in the right direction, then that’s every bit as fulfilling as if I was throwing the ball myself. ”
“Your star player just told me the two of you made a deal before the game…”
He said what?
She continued, “Can you share any details of what that deal entailed?”
Cooper’s smile widened. “He’s a funny guy.”
“The fans are dying to know almost as much as I am.”
Cooper took hold of the mic, sharing possession with the journalist, and looked straight into the camera. “I told him if he won the game tonight that he could take the day off tomorrow because he’s passionate about charity work. He really wanted to go volunteer at a nursing home back in Columbus.”
“He sounds like a real stand-up guy.”
Cooper gritted his teeth. “You have no idea.”
The passengers on the team-owned jet were all asleep. Everyone but Cooper who stared out the window of the plane as it tore through the night sky. He checked his watch and realized he still had two hours to try and get some sleep before landing back in Columbus at five in the fucking morning.
His phone buzzed in his lap and when he looked down, he saw a notification from his not-so-favorite pain in the ass.
Nico
You up?
Typical fuckboy message. Cooper considered not responding but bit the bullet of curiosity.
Cooper
I’m going to regret responding to this message, aren’t I?
Nico
I’m not taking the fall for that stunt of yours.
Nico
Call the press and tell them I will not be going to that nursing home.
Nico
They freak me the fuck out.
Cooper laughed quietly.
Cooper
Your sorry ass is going to be there at noon.
Nico
This is going to reflect poorly on you when I don’t show up.
Nico
Why the hell would you do this to me question mark?
Nico
Sorry, I’m using text to speech and it misunderstood that it was supposed to be an actual question mark, you know like the symbol period.
Nico
OMG
Cooper
I’m assuming you wanted me to tell Priscilla fucking Rapport the truth then?
Nico
You could have said ANYTHING else.
Cooper
You could have said nothing at all, which I’m realizing is quite the impossible task for you.
Nico
If you think bullying me is going to put me into check, you’re sadly mistaken. The only thing it’s going to do is make me cum.
Cooper
I’m going to sleep. You should do the same. You have a long day at the nursing home tomorrow afternoon.
That was enough of that. Cooper placed his phone face-down on the oversized arm rest and pulled his arms into a pretzel, closed his eyes, and…
Bzzz.
His eyes flashed back open.
Regrettably, he picked his phone back up and was met with a video message from Nico. He checked his surroundings to make sure his neighbor, Milo Bates—the offensive coordinator—was asleep.
He was.
Cooper turned the brightness down on his phone, angled his back against the window, and tapped the play button.
Nico put on quite the show, hunched on all fours with the camera of his phone pointed at a mirror opposite his bed.
He pulled his white underwear down the curve of his ass, exposing the rabbit foot tattoo on his right cheek.
He arched his head over his shoulder and smiled that same punchable, kissable face he had grown accustomed to.
Cooper furiously typed out the next message.
Cooper
Crop out your fucking face if you’re going to send shit like that.
And then he clicked play again, mesmerized by the way the rookie was begging for it. The way the rookie knew exactly what the fuck he was doing. Cooper thumbed over his bottom lip, contemplating the dirty thoughts in his head fighting against the rational angel on the other shoulder.
Nico
Is this better? [Image]
A close up of a hard cock, presumably taken in the bathroom of the very plane they were both on. Cooper pinched both corners of the screen, zooming in. Thick, cut, hairless, and with a swollen mushroom for a head.
Cooper
We’re not doing this here.
Nico
I’m collecting what you owe me.
Nico
[Image]
Another photo, zoomed out to show Nico’s muscular and hairless chest, littered with faded bruises and fresh splotches of redness. Noticeably, his face was circled out in blank ink.
“Fuck,” Cooper groaned silently. Scratched his nose.
Cooper
When we get on the fucking ground… Just wait.
Nico
If you don’t get in here, I’m going to come grab you.
Cooper craned his head over the headrest and checked for signs of life from any of the staff or players. It wasn’t unusual for the entire team to basically die on red eye flights after a night game.
Regrettably, Cooper tapped out one final message.
Cooper
Which bathroom are you in?
Nico
Coach.
Cooper stood up, holding his hand over his hard cock as he snuck past Milo.
His heart raced faster with each step he took towards the back of the plane.
He just had to get past the first class and business sections.
Once he got to coach, he’d be in the clear as the only thing back there was dead air.
There were more than enough business and first class seats on the customized plane that there was no reason for anyone to have to endure the horrors of coach.
If Nico had any shame, he’d feel slightly awkward about standing shirtless in the bathroom of a fucking team jet. Standing alone with the occasional stroking of his cock through his grey sweats, waiting for his reward.
He raised his phone to check the time. It had been two minutes since Cooper’s last message to him. He typed out a quick message.
Nico: I swear to God, I’m going to come grab you.
As soon as he clicked send, the latch on the door turned and Cooper entered, wearing a matching set of black sweats and a hoodie with the hood pulled over his head. The man did not look too pleased to see Nico, but that was to be expected.
The two of them locked eyes, and Nico couldn’t help but to smile. Just a little bit. He’d won the game, and thus the deal.
Cooper stood with his back against the door and his arms crossed. “How are you this awake at three in the morning after a game?”
Nico reached down and pawed at his erection. He waited until the other man’s eyes fell to watch before he spoke. “The adrenaline has me hyped.”