Schooling The Quarterback: an m/m college sports romance (GSU), page 2
Gabe is like no one I’ve ever met. Even though I hired him to help me with my grades, I find myself wanting to know more about him, which is another new thing for me. I’ve never been the guy who wants to go deeper with people. Most of my friendships are surface level, and all my hookups are just sex. Yet Gabe has me wanting to peel back his layers and find out what makes him tick. To figure out how to make him smile and bring joy to his face
CHAPTER THREE
GABRIEL
Two of my roommates, Max and Victor, are playing chess on the coffee table when I get home after my meeting with Chase. Our other roommate, Sasha, is playing on his computer in the corner of the living room.
When I first arrived at GSU, I lived on campus, not wanting to be completely reliant on my nana but quickly tired of the campus lifestyle. Thankfully, I met Max at the end of my second year, and he was looking for a new roommate. Fortunately, Max owns this place and doesn’t charge much for rent. He doesn’t even have a mortgage since his uncle left it to him. He learned right away that he hated living alone. Now, he shares the space with Victor, Sasha, and me. Our rent keeps him from working, which is great for him. Not so much for me. I work myself to the bone to make ends meet.
Without any parental backing, I have to plan for everything.
In addition to tutoring, I worked at a coffee shop until I was old enough to bartend. Now, I work at a pub a couple of blocks away a few nights a week.
“How was your tutoring session?” Victor asks while I hang up my coat.
November evenings in Michigan can bite, and the month has only just begun. Heaven knows it’s only going to get worse as the season progresses. You’d think, having lived in this state my whole life, I’d be used to winter by now, but it’s highly unlikely that I’ll ever truly be comfortable with it.
I shrug. “Not bad. Nothing I can’t manage. I just have to figure out how to help a jock connect with legal terms. Any suggestions?”
“Does he have a secret love for Dungeons and Dragons?” Max inquires with a smirk.
“Not that I’m aware of,” I reply.
“Then I’ve got nothing.”
I chuckle and flop onto the couch, watching them continue their game.
“I could ask Carter,” Sasha says, mentioning the basketball player he’s been giving dance lessons to for the last month.
“That might be helpful if Chase plays basketball, but I don’t actually know what sport he plays,” I admit.
“That would have been a good question to ask him,” Sasha replies with a smirk.
“Yeah, how did that not come up while you were meeting?” Victor adds.
“I don’t know. You know how I am with sports. I would be completely content if they didn’t exist. It was obvious he was a jock from the way he carried himself to how he knew so many people. I just didn’t think to ask what sport he played.”
“You should probably start there,” Max suggests.
Chase sent me his schedule, so I open the email, praying it tells me what sport he plays. I don’t want him to think I’m a jerk for not asking when we met. And if I have to send him a text, it’s going to come across that way.
“What college sport primarily plays games on Saturdays?” I ask.
When I look up from my phone, all the guys stare at me like I’m an anomaly. Right, none of them are sports guys. That’s why we’re friends.
Looking back at my phone, I google my question, and football is the first answer. With that information, I head to the GSU football website and search the roster. Chase’s picture pops up right away, and I find out he’s the quarterback. Apparently, he’s really talented too. At least, that’s what the article I click on tells me.
“Did you figure it out?” Victor asks.
“Yup,” I reply, without looking up from my phone. My focus is on the article and the picture of Chase in the middle of a football field. “He’s a football player.”
“I’m no help there,” Max voices.
“We’re no help on any sport,” Victor adds.
“I watched a lot of football growing up,” I tell them. “Maybe when I do some research, things will click into place.”
“That’s a lot of effort for a tutoring student,” Sasha points out, sounding suspicious of me.
“Not really. I’ve done similar things for others before,” I counter. “Remember that one guy who I related everything to Mario Kart for?”
“Yeah, but you like Mario Kart,” Victor reminds me.
“Oh, he’s hot,” Sasha says, handing his phone to Max, who lets out a whistle and then gives it to Victor.
“Now things make sense,” Victor voices.
I sigh. “It has nothing to do with how attractive he is,” I argue. “You should have seen how upset he was. Any of you would do the same.”
Max tilts his head from side to side. “I wouldn’t have agreed to double my workload to help someone just because they were upset. But I might have if there was the chance of some extra extra-curricular activities.” He waggles his brows suggestively. “If you catch my drift.”
I push my glasses up and rub my eyes. I’m never going to hear the end of this. But if they think, for one second, I’m going to admit I agreed to put in a lot of extra work just because Chase is hot as sin and stirs new emotions in me, they’ve got another thing coming.
“Okay, I’m going to my room now,” I tell them, making my way up the stairs.
“Remember to be quiet if you’re going to jerk off to pictures of the quarterback,” Sasha teases, making the others laugh.
I flip them the bird like the mature person I am and walk to my room. I wasn’t planning on jerking off, but now that Sasha has planted the seed, my chubbing cock wants to play.
Stupid roommates. They’re lucky I love them like brothers.
When I get to my room, I close the door behind me and flop on my bed, pulling out my laptop so I can research the shit out of football.
My friends are right. I wouldn’t put this much effort in for just anyone, but I’ll never admit it to them. Besides, I don’t know my true motivations for accepting Chase as a tutoring student. Maybe it’s the feelings he’s stirring inside me, but honestly, that should have me wanting to do the opposite. It should have me bolting, but I can’t make myself do that. I’m obviously attracted to him, but it’s how my heart beats a little faster for him, and the way it physically hurts me to see him upset is really throwing me for a loop.
Besides, just because I’m into him doesn’t mean he’ll feel the same way for me. And that’s not me bashing my looks. I know I’m not ugly, but not everyone is into nerdy guys. Besides, I don’t even know if Chase is gay.
GSU is one of the most supportive schools out there of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and I’m aware there are openly gay people on our sports teams because it’s something that is talked about a lot around campus. But as someone who pays zero attention to sports, I wouldn’t know if Chase is one of them.
My alarm blares on my phone, which is directly beside my head, causing me to startle.
Shit. I fell asleep researching football and trying to relate legal terms to sports analogies. Thankfully, my class this morning is one I don’t have to study hard for. If I’m being honest, most of my classes are that way, but that doesn’t mean I allow myself to slack off.
Last night was a rarity for me, which should have me second-guessing my decision to help Chase. What will happen next if I’m already putting off my regular studying for him? Nothing. That’s what’s going to happen next because I’m in charge of myself. I just have to budget my time better. Last night was a one-off, that’s all.
I straighten my glasses on my face and stretch my limbs, forcing myself out of bed. After I’m dressed, I pack my bag for the day and stumble down the stairs to where I know a pot of coffee is waiting for me. Thank all things good for automated coffee machines.
The heavenly aroma of the nectar of the gods wafts into my nose as I enter the kitchen, making my mouth water. I pop a piece of bread into the toaster before pouring myself a cup, doctoring it to my liking.
“Next year, I’m not taking any morning classes,” Sasha murmurs, entering the kitchen looking as tired as I feel.
I chuckle and reach into the cupboard for a second cup.
“I’m fine with mornings once I’ve had the glorious bean juice,” I reply, pouring his coffee and handing it to him.
“It does make mornings easier, but I still stand by my decision to stop taking morning classes,” he tells me, taking the cup and inhaling the sweet smell.
“Are we still on for board games tonight?” I check, and my toast pops up. I move to butter it while waiting for his response.
“Shit,” he grumbles. “Sorry, I forgot to tell you that Carter needs an extra dance lesson. I couldn’t tell him no. You should see those sweet puppy dog eyes he uses on me. That child knows his hidden talents and uses them against me. Thank the heavens he’s only eighteen, and I don’t date babies, or I’d be in even more trouble.”
It’s funny that Sasha sees an eighteen-year-old as a baby, considering he’s only twenty-two, but I get it. Carter is just starting his college career, and Sasha is nearing the end of his.
From someone as full of life and into dance as Sasha is, you wouldn’t think he’d be in school to be a lawyer like I am, but he is. He’s going to be a damn good one too.
Laughing, I wave him off. “It’s not a big deal. I’ll just use the spare time to figure out more about football and how to relate it to business legal terms.”
“You’re really pulling out all the stops for this guy,” Sasha notes.
I shrug and take a big bite of my toast, not wanting to respond.
If my friends didn’t know me so well, I’d say they were blowing this out of proportion, but I’ve dropped tutoring students for less in the past. So I understand their fascination with my response to Chase.
Once I finish breakfast, I say goodbye to Sasha and make my way to campus, grateful we live close by so I can walk. With my warm jacket zipped up tight, I make the short trek, thankful it isn’t snowing today, not that I would let that stop me. Michigan winters can be unpredictable, and I’ve walked through it all.
As I walk, I call my nana like I do most mornings.
“Good morning, Gabriel. I was wondering if you were going to call this morning,” she answers, and I chuckle.
“Sorry I didn’t call yesterday,” I apologize. “It started out a mess and ended oddly. I fell asleep studying.”
“Tell me about it,” she encourages.
I blow out a breath. “The morning was just one of those days. It was like everything was working against me. I forgot to set my alarm, burned my toast, and was almost late for my first class,” I explain.
“Those happen, but I’m sorry you had to go through that,” she empathizes. “And what was odd about the ending?”
“I have a new tutoring student. I agreed to help him even though it’s going to take a lot of extra effort on my end,” I tell her honestly like I always am with her. Nana and I don’t keep secrets, and I don’t plan on changing that now.
“Is it going to affect your studies?” she asks.
I ponder the question for a moment before shaking my head, even though she can’t see me. “It shouldn’t, but it’s unusual for me to agree to extra work to help someone I don’t know.”
“You have some reasons to agree. He is paying you,” she reminds me.
I hum in response because she isn’t wrong. “Yes, he is paying me, but I’ve turned down other students before who were also willing to pay me. So why did I agree this time?”
“I’d love to answer that question for you, but I’m afraid you’re the only one who can,” she replies softly.
“I know. I’m sure I’ll figure it out. Maybe I’m turning over a new leaf and am becoming more sympathetic to others.”
Nana giggles. “Maybe, but there is probably another answer. Let me know when you find out.”
“I will,” I assure her. “What are your plans today?”
“I was thinking about visiting Doris. She started a new puzzle the other day and invited me to join her.”
I smile, loving that Nana has some amazing friends. After my family kicked me out and Nana cut off contact, I felt guilty that she didn’t have them in her life anymore, but she has a much better ‘chosen family’ now. Thankfully, the people she surrounds herself with are fantastic and more loving than those we are related to by blood.
“That sounds like a great day,” I reply. “I should let you go so you can get ready. I’ll see you on Sunday for dinner.”
“I can’t wait. Have a good day. Love you,” she tells me, and I can hear the smile in her voice.
I’m so grateful I have Nana in my life. She truly is one of the best people around.
CHAPTER FOUR
CHASE
The roar of the crowd is so loud it’s almost deafening, and the smile on my face is so wide I bet the people at the top of the bleachers can see it clearly. Our team just won, and the ecstatic energy on the field right now is what I live for.
“That’s how you fucking do it, boys,” Brett Henderson, better known as Hendo, the team’s tight end, shouts, ramming his body into mine, giving me some sort of celebratory bro hug.
“We slaughtered ’em,” Callan Abel, who goes by Abby, one of our wide receivers, calls out, joining us to celebrate our win.
The rest of the team meets us on the field to join in on our mini victory party before we head to the locker room to have our after-game meeting with everyone.
“Great game, boys,” Coach Donnelly says. A bunch of us are sitting next to each other and high-five, fist-bump, and playfully shove shoulders. “But don’t think this win gives you a free pass to slack this week. Take your day off tomorrow, like you’ve earned, but I better see all your asses in the training room bright and early Monday morning. We’ve been doing great this season, and we are well on track to bring home the championship trophy this year, but that won’t be possible if we get cocky. So, celebrate your win tonight, enjoy yourselves, then give me your all on Monday and the rest of the week.”
“Yes, Coach,” we all reply loudly before heading to the showers.
I love playing for GSU. There isn’t any other school I would want to attend. Their stance on being a safe place for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community is one of the main reasons. When they first started implementing rules against the orientation-based unspoken policies that have governed sports for too long, hoping to better support their gay players and help change the toxic parts of sports culture, there was some pushback. But as time moved on and the school refused to back down, the homophobes were weeded out and eventually stopped coming to this school. Now people are aware that if you want to play for GSU, you can’t be a dick. Everyone on the sports teams actually signs a contract acknowledging that they agree with the school’s beliefs. If any bigotry is found, they will be immediately removed from their team and face disciplinary action. GSU takes pride in being a school for everyone.
I’ve been out and proud since I was ten, but it hasn’t always been easy. I wasn’t easy to beat up due to my size, even as a kid, but it didn’t stop the hurtful words from cutting deep. If they weren’t picking on me for being gay, they were calling me stupid.
Kids can be assholes. I’m glad GSU doesn’t stand for any of that. Just last year, a star hockey player was expelled for harassing another student. The school stands firm in its beliefs and doesn’t look the other way for anyone.
“Coming to Abby’s place?” Hendo checks with me once we are both dressed and I’m packing my bag.
I shake my head. “I need to focus on getting my grades up,” I tell him honestly. “My tutor is meeting with me in the morning to go over his plan for me. I don’t want to be dead on my feet.”
Hendo nods, knowing how important this is. If I don’t get my grades up, I’ll be benched, which would affect everyone. “It sucks you can’t come to celebrate, but I understand. I’m gonna crash at Abby’s after the party. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I wave at him and a few other teammates as I head out. Making my way to my car, I scroll on my phone to see how my best friend, Rio, did in his soccer game. My smile grows even wider when I see his team also won tonight. With an extra joyous heart, I head to the apartment I share with Hendo and Rio.
“Congratulations on your win,” Rio tells me when I walk through the door.
“You too, bro,” I say, pulling him in for a brotherly hug and patting his back. I’ve always been a touchy kind of guy, and thankfully, Rio doesn’t mind. “I heard that you won the game for your team.”
Rio’s cheeks are pink when I pull back. He’s never taken praise easily.
“It was a team effort, but I did score the winning goal,” he tells me with a smirk.
I tap his shoulder with my fist. “That’s my boy.”
He chuckles, rolling his eyes at me. “Stop buttering me up like that, or I’ll get a big ego.”
“Impossible,” I reply, then head for my door to drop my stuff off, not wanting to be the sloppy roommate who leaves his shit wherever he wants.
“I have to head to bed early tonight, but did you want to watch a show or something before I crash?” I ask when I’m back in the living room, where Rio is now lounging on the couch. He’s typing away on his phone with a deep frown. I hate how upset he looks, but he puts on a fake smile when he looks up at me.
“Sure, a show sounds good,” he responds, and his tone tells me he’s trying to hide something.
“Did you have other plans?” I inquire.
He sighs but shakes his head. “I did, but it turns out they just got canceled.”
“Sorry, man. Want to talk about it?”
“Nah, I want to forget about it,” he says, and I let him drop it for now.
Rio has always been the guy who needs to think things through before he talks about it. When he needs me, he’ll open up. So, I don’t push him to do something he isn’t ready for and turn the television on, ready to distract him with some dumb show.
