25. A Tipsy Admission
A Tipsy Admission
Kodi
Iwas so prepared to take a sip of my drink, thinking whatever thing Kean would say, I would have done. I mean, he hadn’t even played the most basic of drinking games. Beyond being well traveled, I imagined Kean had a rather sheltered life.
What I hadn’t expected was for him to say something so personal, let alone that he never had a relationship that lasted longer than a few months. He struck me as a long term kind of guy. Like once he asked someone out, he was in it for the long haul.
And let’s be real, Kean was hot as fuck and rich. The only reason I could see for a partner not sticking around was his attitude.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I looked Kean up and down, specifically eyeing his biceps and the way his thighs tensed under his sweats, long fingers tapping nervously on his knee.
Yeah, if I was getting well fucked by this man and his mouth could do more than grumble, I’d be willing to put up with it.
“Seriously?” Fuller shouted, jaw going slack. Beside him, Sosa took a drink, as did Taylor.
“Yeah, I find it hard to believe, too,” Taylor said while Fuller got himself back together and took a drink. “You seem like the kinda guy who'd still be dating your high school sweetheart.”
“Given the way you act about —” Fuller started to say before Taylor smacked his arm. “I mean … what Taylor said.”
“Well, I never dated anyone in high school,” Kean said with a shrug.
“It’s more about the vibes than a literal high school sweetheart,” Sosa said.
“Why do you think you’ve never dated anyone for long?” I cut in, curious more than anything. Or at least that’s what I told myself. The thoughts I was having about graying that beard were far beyond curious.
Hmm, now was probably the time to switch to something weaker. Or maybe just straight-up water.
Kean leaned back, his jaw tight, and I realized my question probably crossed his line.
“You don’t have to —”
“No, it’s fine. I … as far as I know the issue is I’ve never been with someone I wanted to commit to more than I commit to soccer.”
“Oh, yeah, that tracks,” Fuller said.
“You do spend a lot more time on the field than any of us,” Taylor added.
I hummed in agreement because saying he spent more time practicing than anyone else was putting it lightly.
He spent at least three extra hours after formal practice running laps, doing shit in the gym, or running that ball launcher thing.
While he hasn’t made a name for himself in the league as an outstanding player and wasn’t particularly popular amongst fans, he was far more dedicated than some players who were.
“Do you want a relationship that lasts longer though?” Sosa asked and Kean just blinked at him for a while before looking down at his lap, brow furrowed.
“I guess.”
“You guess?” Taylor said, laughing. “Well I guess it’s a good thing you’re not looking. That kind of attitude would kill a relationship.”
Kean rolled his eyes and pushed Taylor’s shoulder lightly.
“Yeah, all right,” Taylor said with a good natured laugh. “Never have I ever …”
My mind started to drift as the others continued the game, only paying enough attention to know when to drink or not.
Back in college, whenever I played these kind of games with someone I found attractive, I slept with them. It was practically a habit and knowing that tonight wasn’t going to end with a few orgasms courtesy of the man next to me put a damper on the evening.
Seriously, it was rude of Kean to be so hot and off-limits. And it was especially rude for him to lean in to playing this game. Like why get a sense of fun now when I’ve had half a drink and am ovulating?
“Kodi?” Sosa called waving a hand in front of my face. “You good?”
“Oh, sorry.” I gave myself a little shake like I could literally shake my horniness out of my system. “Was just spacing out. Never have —”
“Do you want me to get you some food?” Kean asked, leaning closer so he could look me in the eyes.
“Yeah, sure. Food would be good. I’ll go —”
“No,” Kean interrupted, standing up. “You’re not working right now. I’ll get it.” Then he grabbed his drink and went off down the stairs.
“Kinda rude he didn’t ask if we wanted anything,” Fuller said, sarcastically huffing.
“Well, he didn’t ask what I wanted either, so …” I trailed off, taking a sip of my drink. “I guess our next game will be guessing what Kean brings back.”
Fuller and Sosa exchanged a look, both of them raising their eyebrows, having a whole silent conversation. Then they abruptly got up and sat on either side of me.
“So,” Sosa started, but before he could get anywhere, Noah bulldozed through with, “Do you have the hots for Kean or not?”
“Dude!” Sosa shouted while Taylor chuckled at the two younger players.
“Guys, I already went over this with Brooker,” I said, rolling my eyes. “You don’t have to play wingman for him. Whatever it was that Kean said, he just meant he wanted to be friends is all.”
“Wait, what did Brooker do?” Sosa asked.
Huh, guess whatever scheme this was wasn’t a team scheme. Or at least not a coordinated one.
“He was showing me this video of Kean saving a turtle in an attempt to get me to swoon over him or whatever.”
“Oh, that’s a solid strat,” Fuller mumbled.
“But Brooker’s shenanigans aside,” Taylor said. “Do you like him?”
“Like him as a person? Yeah, sure. He’s got a tendency to be an ass, but overall, I think he’s a nice guy,” I said, hiding my nerves by taking a drink.
I didn’t think Taylor would participate in this weird get Kean …
something plan. I’d say they were trying to get him laid, but I don’t think Brooker would’ve started with a cute video if that was the plan.
“But do you think he’s hot?” Fuller asked again.
“Well, sure,” I said with a nervous giggle, feeling stupid for admitting it. But with these three, what did it matter? The only person who couldn’t know is Kean and he wouldn’t be back for a bit. Getting bar food always took forever. “But that’s sorta irrelevant given the situation.”
“Which part of the situation?” Sosa asked.
“Which part?” I laughed. “He’s kinda my boss and if I cause any more trouble, my real boss’ll fire me. And even if I manage to convince Hansen I can be the social media manager, I’m sure it’d still be off-limits.”
“Wait, you wanna be the social manger?” Fuller asked.
“You’d kill at that. After what you did with Kean’s profile and how the charity game went, Hansen should hire you, like, yesterday,” Sosa said.
“He thinks I’m immature because …” I might be tipsy enough to confess to something harmless like thinking my boss is hot, but I’d have to be drunk to tell these guys about my tit-flashing fiasco. “The whole arguing with Kean on the field and meme thing.”
“Oh, that’s bullshit,” Sosa said, collapsing back into the couch. “Some of the higher-ups need to relax. Like Kean’s uptight in a ‘I wanna focus’ way, but they're uptight in a ‘I wanna control every aspect of my image’ way and that’s utter bullshit.”
“Do you think Hansen would listen to us if we went to him as a team to get Kodi the job?” Fuller asked, looking at Taylor.
“Ah, your hearts are in the right place. But us fighting her battles isn’t gonna make her look any better.”
The boys made some disgruntled noises before quieting.
“It’s fine, guys. There’s nothing that can be done about it. About Kean being hot or my dream job.” I sighed and crashed back onto the couch, nursing my drink. “It’s fine. I’ve just gotta be calm and cool around Kean for now and eventually Hansen might give me the job I’m better suited for.”
“What about dating Kean?” Taylor asked and I furrowed my brow at him.
“Dating? I just said he was hot. I …” I paused to let out a loud groan.
“Y’all should just get whatever wild idea you have about us getting together out of your head, because it’s not gonna happen.
Even if I did get the other job, I’ve never had much success in the relationship department.
And while Kean might not have had a relationship that lasted long, I’m sure he wants that. ”
“And you wouldn’t want a long-term relationship with the world’s grumpiest goalie?” Fuller asked with a little huff.
“Nah, my attraction to him is pretty solidly in the fling zone.” Though watching him play with kids last week did something for me. So, more to myself than to the boys, I said, “But maybe if I got to know him better …”
“Do you want a refill?” a deep voice asked and my head snapped up to see Kean carrying a tray of food, including two baskets of mozzarella sticks, my favorite. But what was more important, or should be more important if my stomach could stop screaming for a second, was if Kean overheard anything.
“I’ll take one if you’re offering,” Fuller said, holding up his glass to Kean. The other man set the food down, pushing a mozz basket to me while glaring at Fuller. “All right. Message received. Only Kodi gets special treatment.”
“It’s not special treatment,” Kean mumbled under his breath. He grabbed Sosa by the elbow and yanked him down the couch to take the spot next to me. Then he asked me again, “Do you want a refill?”
“Oh, no, I’m good. Thanks.” I stuffed a mozzarella stick in my mouth to keep from saying more stupid, tipsy shit. But as the goo of cheese pulled and pulled from my bite, I couldn’t help but moan at how fucking good it was. It wasn’t an inappropriate noise, but it did kinda sound like one.
Beside me, Kean chuckled.
“What?” I said, defensively. “They’re good.”
“I couldn’t tell,” he said with a little huff.
“Woah, Kean almost made a joke,” Fuller said with a mock gasp and Kean rolled his eyes before leaning back against the couch and crossing his arms.
“Are we still playing the game?” he asked. And the way his brow raised just a little made me realize he wanted to continue playing. And that was cute behavior coming from Kean.
“Nope!” I said, voice high pitched. I shot up to my feet, grabbing a napkin and shoving as many mozzarella sticks into my bag as possible. “I’m gonna get a cab and go back to the hotel. Jet lag, you know?”
“Jet lag? Are we even in EST?” I vaguely heard Fuller ask as I rushed from the table.
Without saying anything to anyone else, I rushed out of the building and paused just outside, a little freaked out my kinda boss might’ve overheard me say I kinda want him.
After a few deep breaths and telling myself even if he did hear, Kean wouldn’t care, I pulled out my phone to order a cab.
But before I got the app up, a hand reached over me, waving to a cab on the road.
“If you’re not staying, I figured I’d call it a night, too,” Kean said, so close that his breath sent goose bumps down my neck. The cab stopped in front of us and Kean moved around to open the door for me, head cocking when I didn’t immediately join him.
Whatever, it was fine. The alcohol was making me dramatic. I could share a cab ride with my hot boss who was suddenly trying to get the stick out his ass without incident. Easy peasy.