Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
OPERATION GET EZRA AND SUTTON TOGETHER FOR REAL
KEN DOLL: Ahhhh, young love
WEBBY: What are you talking about?
KEN DOLL: Can’t you smell it in the air?
MACKEY: Smell what?
KEN DOLL: Love. Lust. Sex. Z reeks of the stuff.
WEBBY: That’s gross.
MACKEY: Just. No.
CAP: I don’t want to hear that.
KEN DOLL: SORRY FOR BEING EXCITED MY BEST FRIEND IS FINALLY GETTING LAID.
KEN DOLL: I bet he’s too busy to even look at his phone right now.
KEN DOLL: Good for you, Z! If you need any tips and tricks, let me know. I’m happy to share my extensive sexual knowledge.
ME: I have things handled.
KEN DOLL: I feel like a proud dad right now.
Sutton and I can’t keep our hands off each other.
If I thought we spent a lot of time together before, it’s nothing compared to now.
When we woke up on Sunday, we were still naked and pressed together.
My cock was already leaking, but I wasn’t going to push her to do anything.
She’s the one who reached behind her, slipped a condom on me, threw her thigh over my hip, and let me fuck her slowly until we both came.
Afterwards, we ordered brunch and discussed our sexual preferences, limits, and desires.
Sutton’s list of things she’s interested in trying—spanking, hair pulling, all sorts of different positions, and anal eventually, to name a few—had me hard all over again.
I made her come three more times on the couch as we pretended to watch a movie before I bent her over the arm and fucked her hard and fast.
Monday, I went over after practice to cook her dinner before watching the new episode of her favorite reality show, but she didn’t get to watch it because her eyes were closed in pleasure as I fingered her until she was soaking through her leggings.
Tuesday, I had a hard-on all through yoga class which made it even more difficult to do all the poses.
By the time we made it back to her apartment, I was leaking in my underwear and we didn’t even make it to her room.
I bent her over the kitchen counter and fucked her, spanking her luscious ass until we both came.
Then we showered, and I ate her out until her pussy was red and swollen before letting her go to sleep.
I’m shocked we made it through pottery class Wednesday.
Every time she pushed her ass against my crotch as we were throwing our mugs, I thought I was going to come in my pants.
We made out in the elevator on the way up to her apartment, and as soon as the door was shut, she was on her knees with her mouth wrapped around my cock.
I almost came in her mouth, but refused to come until she did, so I fucked her against the door with her leg slung over my arm.
But more than the physical chemistry between us, I feel like finally taking that next step has helped Sutton’s walls come down even more.
She’s initiated a lot more touch, and she’s gotten more comfortable asking for what she wants.
She texted me this morning asking if I wanted to carpool to practice, and I said yes.
When we got in her car, she told me she had a surprise for me after, and it’s been making me antsy all day.
As I make my way out to the parking lot to meet her, I look up from texting my mom to see Jace walking in the direction of HR. I close the text from my mom and send a message to Sutton before following him, unease prickling my skin.
The fucker turns when he hears my footsteps, his eyes widening briefly before he puts on an air of superiority, fixing his shirt sleeves even though they were already straight.
“Ezra Gentry. Starting inside center for the Utah Knights. Younger brother of Davis Gentry, who just so happens to be my ex-girlfriend’s ex-fiance. I would think one of those things would deter you from pursuing Ms. Brady, but maybe it’s because I have standards.”
“You clearly don’t have standards if you fumbled someone as amazing as Sutton. And who we are to each other is none of your goddamn business. The two of you are over, and she’s no longer your concern.”
“Maybe not, but I think your team would like to know if you’re screwing the staff, don’t you?”
The unease turns to dread as Melanie exits her office, her eyes bouncing between us. “Oh, hey, Ezra. What’s going on here?”
“Are you Melanie Cross? I’m Jace Jonesberg. We have a three-o’clock appointment.”
Shit.
“Yes, of course. Come on in. Ezra, did you need something?”
“Uh, no.”
“Okay, well, I’ll see you later then.”
Jace and Melanie head into her office, and I make my way back down the hall. Sutton turns the corner right at the same time I do and we crash into each other.
“Ezra, what’s going on? Why is Jace here?”
“I don’t know, but he went into Melanie’s office.”
Sutton’s face drains of all color, her eyes filling with tears before she turns and speed walks away. I follow her, wanting to assure her that everything will be okay, and neither of us will get fired, but I can’t be sure of that.
We get in her car, and as soon as my door is shut, the floodgates open and Sutton starts sobbing. My heart cracks in half at the way she gasps and tries to control the way her shoulders shake.
“Hey, it’s okay, Sutt. I promise.”
“It’s not okay, Ezra. He’s going to ruin my career. It’s already hard enough to find an AT job, and I love this one. I’ve never loved a job as much as I love this one.”
“Then I’ll quit, and they won’t fire you.
” The words spill out of me without much thought, but they feel right.
I’ve played rugby for over a decade. I’ve achieved my dream of making it a career, and I can still play rugby even if I don’t play professionally, but Sutton can’t do the same for her dream.
“No, you can’t quit because of me, because of us.
We should stop while we still can, end things now.
Then, if Melanie asks, we can be honest that there’s nothing happening between us.
We can tell her the truth about what happened after yoga, and how you only said it because Jace wouldn’t leave me alone.
If we have the same story then it’s two against one. She’ll have to understand.”
It stings to realize that Sutton may not feel as strongly about me as I do her. That she could so easily end things and say nothing is happening between us. How am I supposed to argue with her that this is a terrible idea when I know deep down, it would be her that’s punished and not me.
Before I can try to talk her out of it, her phone starts buzzing.
She shows me Melanie’s name lighting up the screen as she takes a deep breath and clears her throat before she answers.
“Hey Melanie, what’s up?” I can’t hear Melanie’s side of the conversation, but I can guess what’s happening by the way Sutton’s eyes pinch shut.
“I’m still in the parking lot, actually.” She swallows as her eyes dart to me, “Yes, we decided to carpool today so he’s with me. Of course, we’ll see you in just a moment. Bye.”
“She wants us to come talk to her?” I guess.
“Yes.”
“Okay. Let’s go.”
I was never called to the principal’s office when I was in school, but I imagine sitting in Melanie’s office with Coach standing behind her looking like he’s about to rip my head off, feels similar.
We passed Jace on our way in, and I was tempted to punch the smug look off the bastard’s face. I know what’s coming. I know what Sutton’s about to do, and though I wish there was a way to stop it, I know I can’t.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I’d do anything for Sutton Brady, even if it means ripping my own heart out.
“Mr. Jonesberg came to me concerned that there was an inappropriate relationship happening between you two. He claims you told him you were dating.”
“We did tell him that,” Sutton says, “but only because he refused to leave me alone, and I knew that would be the only way for him to back off. We… Jace is my ex, and I guess he’s had a difficult time coming to terms with the fact we won’t be getting back together.”
“I see. So the two of you aren’t dating then?” She points to me and Sutton.
“No ma’am, we’re not,” Sutton whispers. If Melanie knew her the way I did, she would know Sutton is lying through her teeth by the way she fiddles with the necklace I gave her, or the way she twists the tie of her pants around her finger.
She would know that Sutton’s tone of voice is a forced calm, because she won’t let herself show her true emotions right now.
Those tells are the only thing soothing the sting of her rejection. I didn’t even get to have her for a week, and now she’s slipped through my fingers.
“Gentry, anything you’d like to add?” Coach asks.
“No sir. She’s telling the truth. He was harassing her, and we did what we thought was best so he would leave her alone.” I still don’t understand why he waited so long though.
Melanie frowns, tapping her fingers on her desk. “I’m sorry to have wasted your time, then, but you know we take workplace safety seriously. You two can go, we’ll see you tomorrow for our game against Miami.”
“Thank you. See you tomorrow.”
Every step to Sutton’s car feels like a nail in the coffin of what could have been, and the silent drive back to our complex feels like welding it shut. The elevator ride is silent, and when we finally make it to our doors, I finally manage to speak.
“I’m assuming that wasn’t the surprise you had in mind?”
She won’t look at me as she shakes her head. “No, I was planning on taking you to get sweet potato fries.”
“We can still go.” I step towards her, my heart cracking again when she takes a step back. “Come on, Sutton. We still have to eat, right?”
My attempt at adding levity doesn’t work.
“I think… I think we need to stop seeing each other outside of work. It’ll be too hard after we—” she clears her throat. “I’ll see you tomorrow before the game, okay?”
She leaves me standing outside of her door looking like a sad puppy left outside in a storm. Anger like I’ve never felt before swells in my stomach, but not at Sutton.
I’m angry at Jace for sticking his nose in places it doesn’t belong.
I’m angry that I finally found someone I could picture myself being with forever, only to have her ripped away because of our jobs.
I’m angry at myself for stupidly thinking we could keep our relationship a secret for an indeterminate amount of time.
Of course we wouldn’t be able to keep that up long term.
Especially with Kendall knowing. With how strong my feelings for Sutton are, there’s no way I would be satisfied keeping them quiet.
I have half a mind to go back to Melanie’s office and tell her and coach that I’m quitting, but I know Sutton would blame herself.
Fuck, why do I have to choose?
Why do I have to choose between the sport I love, and the woman I love?
I unintentionally slam the door to the apartment closed, startling Kendall and making him drop his protein drink.
“Damn, Z, I thought you’d be happy as a clam after getting so much pussy this week. I—”
“Shut up, Kendall. Please.”
“Hey, I’m sorry.” He holds his hands up in surrender. “What the hell happened? You were practically dancing with joy at practice.”
Flopping onto the couch, I let the words spew out of me. “Sutton’s douchebag of an ex went to HR and told them we were dating, so Melanie called us into her office to ask if it was true, and Sutton told them no.”
“Well, she wasn’t technically lying. You’re not dating.”
“Then, Sutton said she doesn’t want to see me outside of work anymore, and we should keep things professional.”
Kendall lets out a low whistle. “Ouch, man. That’s gotta sting. So what are you going to do?”
“What do you mean what am I going to do? I’m going to do what she said and… try to move on I guess.”
“Nope.”
“What do you mean, ‘nope’?”
“Are you a quitter, Z? Because I’m not friends with quitters.”
“What the hell am I supposed to do, quit the team? I would in a heartbeat if I thought Sutton would want that, but she would kill me. The other option is she loses her dream job, and I refuse to do that to her.”
My best friend’s looking at me like I have two heads. “You would quit the team for her?”
“Of course I would.”
“Shit, I didn’t know you were that invested.” When I look at him there are angry tears rimming my eyes, and he sighs, “You’re in love with her.”
“Yeah,” I croak. “I am.” It feels wrong to admit that to Kendall before I’ve told her, but I have to tell someone because there’s a chance I’ll never get to tell her.
“Then let’s figure out how to keep your jobs, and get you the girl.”