Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 95019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
I’m still catching my breath, realizing I don’t know that I’ve ever been so totally satisfied in my entire life, yet also so hungry for more. I figured he would be a hell of a lover, but I clearly had no fucking idea how amazing.
“I hope you know I intend to do that again,” he says.
I laugh.
“What’s funny?”
“If you think we’re done for tonight, you are out of your damn mind.”
I’m relieved when he grins—he’s practically glowing—proving he’s not finished with me yet either.
And I know it’s gonna be a hell of a night.
21
Ryan
When I called Marty an animal, I didn’t know the half of it.
After that first fuck, we stayed up the whole night, taking breaks between sessions to recover before I was back in him. It felt like the Combine, like I had to demonstrate every trick in the book to show Marty what a good lay I am. I worked to become an expert on his body, learning the little tricks to arouse him, or delay his climax. I have no doubt I proved myself worthy of that ass.
Missionary, doggie, cowgirl, and reverse cowgirl—or is it cowboy now?—against the wall, on the floor, on my air mattress, on the damn desk. I fucked the guy all over his room, and even after we showered off, he sucked another load out of me.
We’ve hooked up every night since.
Really, it’s what I’d rather be doing than meeting with Dad today.
Not that I don’t want to see him, but between my parents’ impending divorce and what I need to tell him, I’d much rather be buried in Mart’s ass. Is that a crime?
I’ve delayed this long enough, though, and with the draft coming up at the end of the month, it’s now or never.
“Good to see you, champ,” Dad says as we pull away from a hug.
We take seats at the booth in the Italian restaurant we agreed to meet up at.
We catch up a little about his job and school before he gets a glint in his eyes. “I can’t imagine being you right now. Must be stressful being this close, and I’m on the edge of my seat. Who are you thinking will snatch you up?”
Here it is. My chance to get this off my chest once and for all.
“I guess, on that note…” I drag out. “I have something I need to tell you.”
Dad tilts his head, curiosity and excitement in his gaze. There’s no way he sees this coming, and for a very good reason.
“There’s something I’ve been struggling with recently.”
The excitement in his expression dissolves. “Ah…you know, your mother and I are fine. Or…fine might be the wrong word, but we plan to have a nice, smooth process. No fighting over dishes and—”
“That’s not what I was talking about.” And not at all what I want to get into.
“Oh?”
Say it. Get it over with.
“I don’t know that I want to play football anymore.” I shake my head. That doesn’t cover it. “I don’t want to go pro.”
The color in his cheeks drains. He leans back and stares out the window alongside the booth. We sit in silence as he takes a moment to process my big reveal.
“I’m confused,” he finally says, returning his attention to me. “You’ve wanted this since you were ten years old.”
“Yeah, and I’ve been thinking maybe a ten-year-old shouldn’t be the one determining how I spend my life.”
His lips twist into a frown. He’s dedicated so much time to helping me get to practice and games, helping me train to make it through high school, then kept dogging me to be sure I’d make it onto a college team. Always with pride in his voice when telling his friends about his linebacker son.
“Do you need to talk to someone?” he asks. “Sometimes guys get burned out. It’s a lot of stress, and I know I’ve put a lot on you, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Ry. You walk away now, there’s no redo.”
I can see why this is confusing for him. In all the time I’ve been working toward this goal, I’ve never expressed discontent. Never questioned whether I should be doing it.
Not to him, at least.
“I didn’t wake up this morning and start thinking about this,” I confess. “Truth is, it’s been about a year, especially after draft eligibility and signing with Rachel. I knew after the Combine, and I was gonna tell you sooner—the day you and Mom talked to me about…” I trail off. I don’t want to say the word. “As much as I love playing, I don’t want that to be my life for the next ten years, if I’m lucky.”
“What would you do instead?”
“I enjoy working at the shop. I wouldn’t mind being a mechanic. I like the way I can focus. The guys are cool. Money can be good enough to have a decent life, and if I need a backup, then I have my degree.”