Schooling The Quarterback: an m/m college sports romance (GSU), page 4
“How’s the new tutor?” Rio asks as we head into the arena.
The air is chilly, but the energy radiating off the crowd makes it bearable. The only thing that would make tonight better would be if a certain sexy nerd was by my side. I’ve never had to chase after someone before. It’s both intriguing and frustrating at the same time.
“It’s going good, I think. He created a sheet comparing legal terms to football terms. It might actually work to make things stick in my brain.”
He lets out a low whistle. “Someone is already getting some serious special treatment, huh? You told me he wasn’t a sports guy. That couldn’t have been a quick and simple thing.”
“That’s what I said,” Hendo buts in. “I think the tutor has a thing for our guy here.”
“That’s undecided at the moment,” I murmur.
“Do you like him?” Rio inquires.
I tilt my head from side to side. “He’s cute, but I don’t really know him.”
“But you’d like to,” Hendo goads.
“Yeah, I would,” I whisper. “I invited him out tonight, but he turned me down,” I explain to Rio, catching him up.
“Wow, how is your ego after a hit like that?” he teases.
“A little bruised,” I reply, rubbing my chest as if I’m actually injured. “But I’m not giving up so easily. I’ve decided I’m going to keep asking him out until he says yes.”
Rio chuckles. “Good luck with that.”
“You know me, I’m always up for a challenge. Who knows, maybe Hendo is right, and he does like me.”
“Why do you want this guy anyway?” Rio inquires. “You come from two different worlds. Are you actually wanting to date him or just fuck him?”
I ponder his question for a moment, trying to come up with an answer, but it never comes. Why do I want Gabe? I mean, he’s sexy and intriguing, and I’d love to find out if his cheeks turn that gorgeous shade of pink when he comes. But is that all I want? I don’t think so, but that leads to Rio’s second point. Gabe and I come from two different worlds. How would that even work? Maybe that’s why he didn’t want to come tonight.
“I don’t actually have an answer to your questions,” I mumble, and Rio shrugs.
“That’s fine. Just make sure you come up with one eventually.”
I nod, and the crowd cheers as the teams come out for the national anthem.
I’m not sure how I’m going to come up with the answers, but the one thing I do know is I want to get to know Gabe better. And if we just so happen to fall into bed together, that wouldn’t be a bad thing, either.
The hockey game goes by in a blur of cheering, shouting, and some banging on the glass. Before I know it, the Koalas have won, and we are waving at Coop as he leaves the ice to head to the locker room. We spend a little while talking with fellow students sitting near us, then head back to our apartment.
When my head hits the pillow, all I can think about is the only person ever to shoot me down.
I’ll see the sexy nerd in a few days. Besides studying to show him that I’m not an idiot, I also want to come up with a way to turn his no into a yes.
CHAPTER SEVEN
GABRIEL
The library is busy tonight. Low, murmured voices fill the space while I search for an empty table for Chase and me to study. Eventually, I find one near the back and drop my bag onto it, pulling out a chair and sitting down.
Me: The library is busy tonight. I found a table near the back on the second floor.
Chase: 👍 OMW
I push my phone to the side and study for my classes to pass the time until he gets here.
“ ’Sup, tutor?” Chase asks, pulling me out of my little world and startling me.
I clench my book a little tighter before plastering on my friendly, professional smile. “Are you ready to study?”
He beams at me, showing off his perfectly white teeth before pulling out the chair across from me. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Is the cheat sheet helping?” I check.
He nods. “This thing is a lifesaver. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you for coming up with it.”
The tips of my ears and cheeks go hot, and I wave him off. “Don’t worry about it. I want to make sure you succeed. I’d do it for any of my tutoring students,” I lie, the words slipping off my tongue with ease.
He stares at me as if evaluating if I’m telling the truth. To my relief, he doesn’t push the envelope because I don’t know what I would say if he called me out. His forest-green eyes hold mine for a beat longer than what would be considered normal, and I slowly get lost in them.
I clear my throat to bring myself back to the present. “Okay, let’s test how things are coming along.”
“Let’s do it,” he replies with a determined expression etched on his handsome face, a complete contrast to when we first started.
I pull out a list of questions I prepared and start the session.
By the time we finish, I’m pleasantly surprised that Chase is already getting the hang of things. He still has a long way to go, but he’s improved a hell of a lot in just three days.
“You must have been doing a lot of studying on your own,” I muse out loud, my eyes zeroing in on the way his cheeks pinken just the slightest bit.
Chase grabs the back of his neck and lifts a shoulder. “I might have been doing a little more than normal for me. I wanted to impress you,” he confesses, catching me off guard. “But also, with the sheet you made for me, it has made things a lot easier, and I’ve actually wanted to study.”
I can’t help but smile at his words, loving that I was able to help him already. “I’m glad things are clicking for you,” I say quietly, bashfulness briefly taking over me.
“It’s all thanks to you,” he tells me, his voice soft and comforting. “What are you up to tonight?”
His random question catches me off guard, and I struggle to respond. “Studying,” I answer once I’m able to gather my thoughts.
“Would you like to grab a bite to eat with me?” he inquires.
I nibble on my lower lip, stunned that he’s asking me out again.
“Why?” I reply instead of giving him a yes or no answer.
“I realized that maybe inviting you to a hockey game for a first date was a bit too much. So maybe a late-night bite to eat where we can learn more about each other would be better.”
I mull over his words, unsure how to respond. “I don’t see how our dating would work,” I whisper. “We are polar opposites. There is no way we have anything in common.”
“Why don’t we hang out and put your theory to the test?” he suggests. “Come hang out with me for a bit and meet the side of me that isn’t a jock. Maybe we’ll have more in common than you realize.”
I should say no. Go home and study. But there is a part of me that wants to find out if we really do have something in common.
Just as I’m about to tell him yes, my phone vibrates. My blood runs cold as I read the message.
Victor: Max just got rushed to the hospital.
“I have to go,” I tell Chase, grabbing my stuff as fast as humanly possible and running out of the library.
I hear Chase call my name behind me, but I don’t stop until I arrive at the parking lot, where I text Victor to find out where Max is.
Me: Which hospital?
“What’s going on,” Chase asks when he catches up to me.
“One of my best friends and roommate is in the hospital,” I tell him, feeling like my chest is going to burst from how hard my heart is beating. I’ve never felt fear like this in my entire life.
Max isn’t one to go to the doctor on a good day. I can’t even begin to wonder what happened if he was forced to go. Worry creeps up my body and squeezes my chest like a vice grip, making it hard to breathe. Why the fuck is this happening?
As soon as Victor tells me which hospital, I pull up my rideshare app, but Chase grabs my arm, stopping me.
“Let me drive you,” he offers.
I shake my head quickly. The offer is sweet, but I won’t be able to give Max my total concentration with Chase around.
“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t know how late we’ll be there, and he doesn’t know you. I know Max better than most people, and he isn’t going to want strangers to see him in a vulnerable state,” I tell Chase, turning my focus back to my phone to find a rideshare. Thankfully, there is one only two minutes away. I hit the button to book the ride and wait for them to arrive.
Chase shoves his hands into his pockets. It’s obvious by how he’s worrying his bottom lip and furrowed brows that he wants to argue, but he doesn’t. Instead, he offers, “If you need anything, let me know. Okay?”
I tip my chin in acknowledgment, not sure what to say.
Chase stays by my side in awkward silence until my ride shows up. His presence is oddly comforting, but I don’t want to think too much about it. When the car arrives, I give him a small wave before getting in, praying that traffic isn’t bad tonight.
The streetlights and headlights from other vehicles pass by in a blur as the driver takes me to the hospital. I try to keep my thoughts positive, but the silence from Victor is almost deafening.
Why isn’t he updating me on Max’s condition?
As soon as the driver pulls up to the front doors, I rush out, making a beeline for the administration desk. Before I get there, Victor catches my attention and waves me over.
“Where is Max?” I question frantically. “Is he okay? What happened?”
My heart is racing so fast now, making me dizzy. Am I going to pass out? Victor must sense that I’m on the verge of hitting the floor and guides me to sit in a chair.
“He’s in the room with the doctor. He had a severe allergic reaction to something he ate and went into anaphylactic shock,” he tells me. “They say he’ll be okay, but I’ve never seen anything so scary.” He fiddles with his hands while staring at the floor. His face is white, and his bottom lip looks raw like he’s been chewing or sucking on it for a while.
“I didn’t know Max had allergies like that,” I murmur.
“No one did,” he replies. “He was just as shocked as I was when his face blew up like a balloon. Then his tongue started to swell. Obviously, he didn’t have an EpiPen, so I called 9-1-1 and prayed they would arrive in time.”
I grab Victor’s hand when tears start to well in his eyes. I feel for my friend. I can only imagine how terrified both of them must have been.
“Thankfully, someone else at the restaurant had an EpiPen. They helped Max out until the paramedics arrived. They told me that the EpiPen probably saved his life.”
I can’t help but gasp. We could have lost our friend tonight, and the thought makes my stomach churn.
My head is spinning when a young woman in bright pink scrubs stops in front of us.
“Normally, we wouldn’t let you back because you’re not family, but Max wants to see you, and since you’re his roommate, I’m going to let it slide for tonight,” she tells Victor. “I’m bending the rules, so make it quick. Your friend needs to rest.”
“Can I go too?” I request.
She smiles at me and lifts a shoulder. “I don’t see why not, but like I said, you need to make the visit short. We’re keeping your friend overnight to make sure he doesn’t go back into anaphylactic shock and to monitor his vitals. Hopefully, all goes well, and you can take him home in the morning.”
We nod and follow her to Max’s room.
“What are you doing here?” he asks me, then shoots Victor a glare.
“Don’t give me that look,” Victor grumbles. “I thought you were going to die and panicked. I would have called Sasha, too, but we all know he doesn’t answer his phone when he’s at the studio. I’ll fill him in in the morning.”
Max’s face softens, and he nods. “Fine,” he mutters.
“How are you feeling?” I inquire.
“A little loopy and very tired,” he replies, his eyelids drooping as he talks, like he’s struggling to keep them open.
“I’m happy you’re alive,” Victor whispers.
“Me too,” Max says. “I’ve never experienced anything like that. I’m going to have allergy testing done soon to find out exactly what I’m allergic to so I can avoid it at all costs. I don’t ever want to go through that again.”
“The nurse said we can’t stay long, but if you need anything, text me, and I’ll be here as soon as I can,” Victor assures our friend.
“Thanks, I appreciate you being there for me.” The moment the words are out, his eyelids droop again, so I pat him on the arm.
“Get some rest. We’ll pick you up in the morning,” I tell him before walking out with Victor.
Neither of us says anything as we walk down the hallway until I randomly blurt out, “Chase asked me out again.”
Victor’s eyes go wide. “What did you say this time?”
“I didn’t have a chance to say anything,” I tell him. “I was about to when you sent me that text.”
“Well, shit,” he mutters. “Didn’t mean to cockblock you.”
I chuckle, feeling lighter now that we know Max is most likely going to be fine. “It was probably for the best. I’m still not sure why he’s interested in me.”
“It’s because you’re hot,” he plainly says as if he’s telling me the grass is green.
I scoff. I mean, I’m not ugly, but I wouldn’t consider myself hot, either.
Victor shakes his head with a smirk on his lips. “You don’t see it, do you?”
“What’s there to see?” I counter. “Even if you think I’m hot, I’m not hot enough to date a jock.”
We walk through the front doors of the hospital, and Victor stops moving. “First of all, looks aren’t everything,” he tells me firmly. “Second of all, maybe he’s being genuine when he asks you out. But none of that matters in the end. What really matters is, do you want to date him?”
I mull over his question while he books us a rideshare—something we probably should have done before standing outside in the cold.
We wait in silence, but no matter how hard I think about Victor’s question, I can’t come up with an answer. Do I want to date Chase? Maybe… but I’m scared. I fall easily for people. I don’t want a broken heart. Obviously, I’ll play it off like nothing happened—I’ve gotten good at that—but I hate feeling like shit because I let my heart run away from me.
I’ve figured out ways to keep my feelings under control, but I can tell already that letting Chase in will knock down all the walls I’ve carefully built for myself.
Am I ready for that to happen?
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHASE
It’s been three days since I’ve seen Gabe. Each of those days, I’ve typed out a text to ask how he’s doing before swiftly deleting it. I don’t want to come across as weird, but I’ve been worried for him. I also want to know how his friend is doing, but we don’t have that kind of relationship. We aren’t dating. We aren’t even friends, at least not yet. We are just a student and his tutor, so asking him personal questions feels out of line.
Even on the ridiculously long bus ride for our away game, I couldn’t stop thinking about Gabe. Borderline obsessing about someone is not like me at all. I did, however, manage to finish some homework.
It makes me happy that things no longer feel like they are in a completely different language. I know I still have a long road ahead of me to get my grades up from where they are teetering on the fence, but I finally have faith that I’ll be able to do it now.
Today is game day, and even though I still can’t stop thinking about Gabe, I won’t let that stop me from playing my ass off and doing my best.
“Ready to kill it, boys?” Hendo shouts in the locker room as we’re getting ready.
A round of cheers and shouts of agreement ring out, which brings a smile to my face.
Coach Donnelly gathers us for our pregame chat as soon as everyone is good to go. The energy in the room is charged. We are four weeks away from the end of the regular season, but if we keep things up, we’ll be on our way to the playoffs—something GSU hasn’t been able to pull off in over five years.
Last year, we were ridiculously close but got knocked out in the second round. We don’t want a repeat of that this year. We want to bring home the championship win, but we’ll only do that if we keep our heads in the game and give it our all.
As we head out to the field, my only focus is football. It’s like the rest of the world fades away. It’s always been this way for me. I love it. That’s why I’ve always said football is my calling. No matter what is going on in my life, nothing else matters when I step on the field.
The national anthem plays, and our team stands on the sideline with our hands on our hearts, but the second it’s over, we all share a look that says, ‘It’s time to wipe the field with this team.’
Hometown advantage is a thing, and even though the majority of the fans in the stands are rooting against us, we aren’t going to let that hold us back. We came here to win, and that’s what we intend to do.
“That’s fucking right, boys!” I yell when the game ends, and we’ve won by three points.
A bunch of us slap each other on the backs and give bro hugs while we celebrate our win, then head to the locker rooms to clean up and prepare for a long-ass drive home through the night.
A permanent smile is on my lips as I head to my changing area. It gets even bigger when I see a text from my best friend congratulating me on our win. Rio didn’t have a game tonight as his final soccer game of the regular season was last night, which they won. The championship bracket will be announced on Monday, but the Koalas are already in good rankings. We just have to keep our fingers crossed that they make it all the way to the end and bring home the trophy this year. It would be really fucking awesome if both my best friend and I were championship winners this year.
