Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
GREY (GREYSON)
Yesterday’s sexcapades with Malik had driven me closer to him than I’d ever thought possible.
If all the stars aligned and I made it into the NFL with him, could we maintain our relationship while keeping it a secret?
Few players were out in the NFL. But of course, Malik’s friends were doing their best to change that, and I’d be a cog in their wheel.
Would they end up hating me for forcing Malik into the closet?
I sighed as I followed Malik through the hotel to the conference room the staff had set up for our catered breakfast. He’d officially finished with the boot for his ankle, and he only needed a brace now.
We’d started our morning with shower blowjobs, but my gaze glued to the roundness of his ass in his team joggers. I was a man possessed.
“What are you doing? Get up here.” With a soft snort, he turned at the breakfast room entrance and held his hand toward me. “I’m starved.”
As I met him in the doorway, he placed his hand on my lower back and leaned in, whispering, “A man can’t survive on cum alone.” He patted my ass.
Barking a laugh, I shook my head. “But the same man could try.” I arched a brow at him as I perused the room, most of the guys sitting at large, round tables with plates piled high with food.
“I think I’ve been doing a good job of it.” Patting his belly, he followed me to a long table set up with heated platters of scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, pancakes and waffles. At the end were bowls of fruit, yogurt and an area to toast bagels or bread. “Damn, this place has it all.”
“It does.” I strolled to the end of the food tables, grabbed a plate and walked down the line, filling it with eggs, sausage and waffles.
As I peeked at Malik, piling food onto his plate, I said, “Too bad they don’t have fried chicken for the waffles.
” The first morning we’d gone to brunch together seemed so long ago. Things had changed so much between us.
“Yeah, no doubt. Maybe they have a suggestion box somewhere, and I’ll ask for it for next time.” With a snicker, he grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl and tapped his elbow on mine, ticking his head toward Bailey, Coley and James’s table. “Let’s go sit with our other halves.”
“Sure.” It would be good to hear how James felt about the game today.
We dropped into seats at the table, with me sitting next to James and Malik between me and Bailey. I up-nodded to them all. “Good morning, gentlemen.”
“Morning.” James scanned my plate. “Damn, dude, don’t eat so much. It’ll slow you down this afternoon.”
Malik scoffed a laugh. “Are you kidding? I’ve seen him eat double that and still outrun me at practice.”
After sipping from a glass of orange juice, James said, “I hope so. The plan is to use him today and beat them with a running game.”
“Well, that sucks.” Bailey tossed his napkin on his almost empty plate. “I need to get my stats up. If they start double-teaming him, I’ll be your guy.” Bailey gave James a toothy grin.
“It’s my first start for ASU, so I doubt they’ll double-team me.” I huffed and scooped eggs onto my fork. I wasn’t the star running back for this team—Malik was.
“Which is why Coach Barlow wants to focus on the run. They’ve already seen what Bailey can do.” James bit into a slice of bacon. “It’s more likely they’ll double-team him.” He threw a smirk at Bailey and then focused on me. “Coach has a lot of faith in you, Moore.”
“As he should.” Malik squeezed my thigh under the table. “You’ll do great out there today.”
As my gaze found his, my heart swelled. He never wavered in his support of me. “Thanks.” Did he know how much it meant to me? My phone chimed in the pocket of my joggers, and I slipped it out, opening the screen with my face.
“Who’s that?” Malik swayed his head, peeking into my phone.
“Um…Ella.” I wasn’t sure I wanted him to see what she’d sent. These texts needed to be vetted first. I didn’t want to hurt him. Chewing my lower lip, I held my phone in my lap and opened the message.
Ella
Have you decided where you’re taking me when I visit?
Shit, she was revisiting that topic again? Frowning, I typed.
Grey
No, not yet. I’m at breakfast with the team, so can I call you later?
Ella
Sure, but don’t take too long. I’m meeting a friend for lunch.
Everything was always on her terms. I set my phone face down on the table and glared at my plate. I didn’t want her distracting me from the game.
“Who’s Ella?” James ate some eggs.
“His…um…girlfriend.” Malik winced. “She’s back in New York.” He cut a sausage and stuffed it into his mouth.
“Girlfriend? I didn’t know you had a girlfriend.” Coley’s face lit. “What’s her last name?”
Fucking Malik. Did he say that to keep our cover with the guys? “It’s Astor. Her name’s Ella—”
“Holy fuck, the daughter of Henry Astor? The famous New York real estate tycoon?” Coley shifted in his seat, glancing at Bailey and then James. “Guys, they own the Astor Resorts Hotels. They’re all over the world, and famous movie stars and shit stay in them.”
James’s eyes widened. “No shit? Do NFL players stay there?” He flicked his smirk at me. “Can you get us a deal?”
How would Coley know about her? With a glance at Malik, watching me with his lips pursed, I said, “I don’t think I can get any deals.
Sorry, guys. But yes, I’m dating Ella Astor, the daughter of Henry Astor.
” I inhaled deeply and fingered the edge of my plate.
My earlier hunger had escaped me. But I had to be well-nourished for the game.
“You’re one lucky guy, Moore. But then, you’re a wealthy son of a bitch too, right?” Coley arched a brow. “I’ve seen the sick car you drive to practice.”
“My family is wealthy, yes.” I cut into my waffle. This singling-out did not sit well.
“What car is that?” Bailey sipped his juice as he glanced at Coley.
“An Audi S8. It even has the beige leather seats.” Coley flashed me a smirk. “I looked inside the windows. I couldn’t help myself. The car’s gotta be worth over a hundred-thousand, right?”
“Okay, guys, Grey’s just like the rest of us.
He’s worked his ass off to be here, and he’ll help us secure the W tonight.
That’s what’s important, not the car he drives or his father’s bank account.
” Malik’s kind gaze swept to me, and he patted my hand, resting next to my plate.
“Money can’t buy you talent or skills on the football field. ”
My heart pattered against my ribcage. There Malik was, always having my back. He always knew what I needed and when, without me saying a word.
“Yeah, you’re right. Grey’s almost as skilled as you on the field, Malik.” Coley patted my shoulder.
After breakfast, I strolled to the hotel room with Malik. I had to get this phone call with Ella over with before she started getting on my ass about it. “Hey.”
Malik swung the door open and stepped inside. “I know, you have to call Ella.” Exhaling a long sigh, he ambled toward the bed and fell onto his back, his legs dangling off the end. “Do you want privacy? I can go for a walk or something.”
“No, I’ll go for a walk and call her.” This didn’t seem fair to Malik.
Maybe I should let him hear the conversation?
But it might hurt him. “What do you want? I don’t care if you hear it.
It’s not like I’m hiding anything.” I sat beside him on the bed, threading my fingers through his dark hair.
“It’s up to you.” Bending, I pressed a solid kiss against his mouth.
“I…don’t want to hear it. I think I’d rather one of us take a walk.” He lifted and twisted to face me. “I know you don’t have feelings for her, but it still gets my jealousy flowing. You know?”
“Please don’t be jealous of her.” God, I hated this. Hooking an arm around his neck, I pressed my forehead against his. “You know you’re the one I’ll always come home to.” Shit, he was my home.
“Yeah, I know.” Pushing on my chest, he said, “Now, get this phone call over with and when you’re done, snuggle with me on our bed.” He gave me a forced grin.
“Okay.” I kissed him again and then left the room, strolling through the hallway. It was harder every day to fake feelings for her. I pulled up her number and called it.
The line rang once and picked up. “That took a while.”
Must she begin that way? “Good morning, Ella.” We were almost in the same time zone, right?
She scoffed a laugh. “Yeah, good morning.” She paused. “You’ll play the entire game tonight, right?”
“I will.” I stopped at a window and looked at the fluffy clouds dotting the sky and the green landscape. “It’ll be hot and humid tonight.” She probably wouldn’t care about it, but I didn’t know what else to say.
“What? Aren’t you used to that?” She sighed. “Have you thought more about where we’ll go on our dates when I visit? Is your friend still dating someone?”
Oh shit, I could set up the double date I’d discussed with Malik. “Turns out Malik is no longer dating anyone, so he can meet your friend, and we can hang out together.” I wouldn’t refer to it as a date.
“That’s great news. I’ll let Tiffany know. When I told her you were friends with Malik Thompson, she almost lost her mind.” She giggled. “She goes to the football games and thinks he’s hot.”
Heat swept across my chest. Malik was hot. I’d give her that. But I didn’t want to watch her friend fawn over him, damn it. I’d have to remember he was there for me, but I’d have to keep my wits about me. “Yeah, that’s um, that’s great. Then I guess it’ll work out.”
“I’ve been Googling nicer restaurants we could go to,” she said.
“You have?” Of course she had. I should have predicted this. “What are your thoughts?”
“The Wrigley Mansion has a spectacular restaurant, featuring wondrous views and a renowned chef. Or there’s a place called Ocean Club that’s in an outdoor shopping mall in Scottsdale,” she said. “We could walk around the shops before or after we eat.”