Page 53 of The P*ssy Next Door

My life, my goals were always so black and white.

But seeing Willa embrace this whole new life, this new career path, made me wonder. What if football wasn't forever? What if, God forbid, I got hurt and couldn't play anymore? Who would I be then?

She was flexible, adaptable, and could so easily be whatever she wanted to.

I was a football player.

That was it.

How would that ever be enough for her?

Seven purred, probably his way of laughing at me for being a dumbass. I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face but giving myself a nose full of cat hair.

Life was good, great even. I had an amazing woman who loved me, a family who supported me, a career that most people could only dream of. I just couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to work harder. Do more. Be more, for all of them.

A snowflake drifted down in front of my face, and then another. This would make for a cold game for the boys tomorrow night, but it would probably be gone by my game on Sunday. It didn't snow as much here as people thought it did.

So many people hated the snow, but I'd always loved it. Some of my very first memories were of playing in the snow. For the first time in my adult life, a very old but familiar pang hit me right behind the eyeballs. It crept down my throat and made it go tight.

I wished Willa could have met my mom. I think they would have really liked each other.

Seven made a weird sort of chirping sound at me and then crawled up my chest and settled himself there like a soft, fluffy cat baby. I gave him a hug and it weirdly made me feel comforted. God, I really was turning into a cat dad.

I needed sleep, needed to clear my head. Reset and focus on what was right in front of me. A girl I loved and a career I was really fucking good at.

I went back inside and slipped into bed, Willa instinctively curling into me, her warmth chasing away the chill of my thoughts. I probably shouldn't have, but I couldn't help it. I woke her with a series of soft kisses, and then fucked her gently until she was whimpering my name again and again. This time I made her beg me to make her come.

We were both a little bit extra tired the next morning, and Willa even had a couple of sips of my coffee before she went back to her house to change and get ready for her day. I was this close to telling her to just bring her clothes over here.

My head wasn't in it at practice that morning either. It wasn't like I didn't know these plays frontward and backward and sideways. I could do them in my sleep. Which was basically what I did.

My mind was already racing ahead to the DSU game tonight. I knew I shouldn't interfere, that Willa could handle her brother and her parents herself, but I couldn't shake the feeling that Xander was up to something, and I needed to be there.

Once Coach released us, I made a split-second decision, pulling out my phone and dialing my dad's number. “Hey, Dad. How do you feel about catching the Dragons game with me tonight?”

He'd be there anyway. Being the former coach and having three or four kids on the team at any given time meant it was his favorite past time.

“You asking me to contribute to the delinquency of a Mustang, son?” His tone was deadpan, but I knew him better than that. Once a Dragon, always a Dragon, and we always supported our own.

“Yep.” I crossed my fingers he wasn't as surprised by this favor as I suspected he would be.

He didn't say anything for a minute, and I thought maybe I'd read him wrong. “About time you broke a few rules, kid.”

I... didn’t know what to say to that. My life was and always had been about following the rules and doing what was expected. All eight of us learned real early that was the only way the household could function. Except maybe Jules. She was the exception to every Kingman rule. And we loved her for it.

A few hours later, after I'd checked into the hotel the Mustangs stayed at for our home games and then snuck out, I was settling into my seat in the Kingman suite. My dad, and fucking Chris and Declan sat on one side of me, and Everett and Jules on the other. Seemed I wasn't the only delinquent Mustang who liked to sneak out of the hotel to catch a Dragons game.

“Wondered when you'd get your head out of your tight ass and show up to one of these.” Declan stole the hot dog I'd just grabbed and took a bite out of it.

What was this, razz the rookie day? “I'd have been here sooner if you dickwads would have told me this was a thing.”

Chris shook his head. “No you wouldn't have. You were too busy running circles around the rest of us to even take a break, much less sneak out to relax for a minute.”

My oldest brother was the last one I thought I'd ever hear that from. He was the one who twitched if you were two minutes late for anything. He was also the brother I'd idolized most growing up. He had everything, and I worked my ass off to be just like him.

“It still took most of the season to get him here.” Declan shoved the other half of the hot dog into his mouth and did not wait to swallow before he continued. “Something brought you here and it wasn't to hang out with us.”

Everett laughed. “It's got to be about a girl.”