13. Rowan #2
I was so giddy that I almost dropped my room key as I pulled it from my pocket, but I managed to get the door open.
The moment the door shut, we were kissing again.
Like our first time, Milo seemed to be the one in charge.
He pushed me back to the king-sized bed we’d taken each other apart in the night before and shoved me down on it.
We made quick work of our suits, letting them fall abandoned onto the hotel room floor.
Normally, I wouldn’t treat my pregame suit like that. I’d hang it carefully in the closet, tucked back into its garment bag, but I couldn’t find it in myself to care right then. All I wanted was Milo’s bare body pressed against mine, and it wasn’t long before I had that.
When we were spent, I pulled Milo close to my chest and we fell asleep together.
Milo called in the bet the moment we got back to Tucson.
He followed me into my condo so I could unpack and grab an overnight bag, and then we went back to his place.
We stayed there until our next practice, even when his aunt came to talk about the game.
She looked pleased as punch to find me on his couch, and her smile only grew as he snuggled up against me while we talked.
It wasn’t like she didn’t know that there was something going on between us.
I’d been at her brunches choking down her terrible attempts at breakfast food every time that she had them since that first one.
She’d seen the casual touches as we passed each other in her living room.
She’d seen him give me a kiss in exchange for some of my bacon.
She’d seen him going into my apartment when she was leaving for bridge or bingo or whatever old ladies did.
(She had mentioned both in the time I’d known her, but I didn’t know if she actually played either or was just mentioning them.)
Once practice started, we found our way back to the comfortable habits we’d formed since that night in his kitchen. We spent a few nights at my place, a few nights at his, and at least one night a week without each other. Those were my least favorite nights. I slept better with him in my arms.
I was also learning that I slept better at his place.
There was something comforting about the colorful warmth created by his personal belongings, something the cold short-term rental I lived in didn’t offer.
It hadn’t bothered me at first, but the more time I spent with Milo, the more my temporary accommodation bothered me.
I didn’t want temporary anymore. I wanted to stay in Tucson, to build something there, and I knew a lot of it had to do with Milo.
I liked what we had. I liked being with him.
I liked the relationship we were building, and I liked the way he made me feel.
I also liked the team I played for. I liked Tucson’s weather, and I liked the little bakery down the road from our condo.
I had to make a move. I had to try to lock this in, try to keep the life I was building for myself.
Rowan: What are the odds the Scorpions give me another contract?
Troy: Are you asking me as your friend or your agent?
Rowan: Agent.
Troy: Do you want a longer contract with them?
Rowan: Yes.
Troy: Leave it with me.
I sent Troy back a thumbs up emoji and pocketed my phone. I trusted him. If he said to leave it with him, then that was what I was going to do. I also wasn’t going to mention it to Milo. Not until there was something concrete to answer.
Stinger Stadium was buzzing with energy.
It was a Sunday afternoon, and we were playing the Youngstown Crows.
The year before, the Ohio team hadn’t made playoffs.
This year, they were winning the NC West division.
Their record was the fourth best in the entire league, and I wasn’t holding my breath for a victory when we went onto the field.
Except everything was going right.
I knew Milo would chalk it up to the blowjob he’d given me during that morning’s shower, but I was certain it was the fact that our team was just connecting.
Our wide receivers were unstoppable, and they were catching everything Liam threw their way.
Wendell West scored a touchdown in the first quarter.
Milo was at almost a hundred yards by the end of the first half, and if he kept up the pace he was going, he was on track to beat his single game record.
We were up by a score at half time, and the energy in the locker room was amazing.
Coach Cal had to keep reminding us that we had a full half of football left to play.
Anything could happen in a half, but his words of caution were falling on deaf ears.
Defense took the field at the end of half-time, and we were determined to keep our lead.
We were buzzing with energy. The Crows tried pushing through our line, and they were making good strides.
They had several third down conversions, but we managed to stop them just as they got twenty yards from the end zone.
It didn’t dampen our spirits. If anything, it made us more excited, more determined that we were going to beat them, and it was going to be another win added to our streak.
Our special teams returned their punt, taking the ball to the twenty-seven-yard line. It wasn’t the worst starting position, and our offense took the field.
I watched as Liam threw to Jonesy, getting us a first down on the first play.
The next two plays were less successful, but Liam connected with Nico Wright for a deep ball on our third down.
I was excitedly tapping my fingers against my legs as our offense took their formation at the new line of scrimmage.
Our center, JC Carter, snapped the ball to Liam.
I hadn’t heard what play was called, but I saw the way their defense was lined up.
I knew the next play. Liam handed the ball off to Milo, and he was off like a shot.
I jumped up off the bench and joined the crowds shouting for him as he ran down the field.
Ten yards. Fifteen. Twenty.
The defensive player came out of nowhere. One minute, Milo had an open field, and the next, the sound of a body colliding with his filled the stadium. The crowd booed the defensive player, and then the noise stopped.
Because Milo didn’t get up.
He’d been tackled several times that day, but he always bounced back up. He wasn’t bouncing back up.
Players began to surround him on the field. I was frozen in place. I stayed frozen in place as the medics filed onto the field to check him out. He still wasn’t getting up. In the months I’d been with the Tucson Scorpions, I’d never seen him not get up.
He always got back up.
The crowd of players around him separated to let the medics examine him.
I wanted to run to him, but I couldn’t. Defensive players weren’t allowed on the field while the offense was out.
And besides, it couldn’t be that bad. He was Milo Tobitt, and he was untouchable.
He was unstoppable. He took hits, and he got back up. He was unbreakable.
The stadium was almost silent as the medics examined him.
I’d never heard Stinger Stadium so quiet.
I wasn’t sure it had ever been so quiet.
Had it been like this when Tyriq Fell got hurt?
I somehow doubted it. After all, Tyriq had been injured in the preseason.
It was unlikely that the stadium had been sold out, and I doubted he was as beloved as Milo was. Defensive players rarely were.
Coach Cal was signaled onto the field.
I watched in horror as he joined the crowd around Milo, and I wished I could be over there with him. I could feel a lump in my throat as he put his head together with the medics, whispering words no one else could hear. I would give anything to hear what was being said, to know that Milo was okay.
Finally, a cart came through the tunnel.
Milo was lifted onto the cart, and the crowd began to applaud.
The screens in the stadium filled with Milo’s face.
He was smiling, but I could see the pain in his eyes as he waved to the crowd.
I could see the way his smile was actually a grimace, the way he was trying so hard to act strong for our fans, for our team, for me.
I kept my eyes locked on the screen, watching as he was taken off the field and through the tunnel.
When the game resumed, nobody’s heart was in it.
It wasn’t a surprise to anybody when our winning streak ended, and the Youngstown Crows claimed victory.