Page 11 of His Hungry Wolf

“Well, I don’t know him. But I know you. And I know that you don’t know the effect you have on people. If there is a long lost best friend who has shown up out of nowhere trying to win you back, I would say, be careful.

“And, do you even want to be involved in football again? It couldn’t have meant that much to you considering this is the first time you’re bringing it up.”

“It had its moments.”

“Be careful. You might not think so, but this sounds like it has more to do with him getting into your pants than him offering you some generic football position. This sounds questionable as hell. I mean, is there really even a job?”

“Maybe you’re right.”

“As a guy who spent most of my life in the closet, I’m telling you I am. Unless you’re looking for your first gay experience, I say pretend it never happened… And I’m not just saying that because you’re my business partner and I couldn’t run the business without you.”

I smiled. “Of course not. Your advice isn’t biased at all.”

“Seriously, though. It sounds like there’s more to the story than you know.”

“Got it. And you’re right. It does seem like there’s more to the story. Maybe I’ll let it go. Thanks, Titus.”

“You’re welcome, Bro. That’s what I’m here for.”

“I’ll see you this weekend.”

Ending the call, I considered what Titus had said. He was right about one thing. There was more to the story. Did Merri have an ulterior motive? I had always known him to be a straight forward guy. One of the things I liked best about him was that I had felt like I could trust him. That is until I couldn’t.

So, did I entertain what Merri was offering? And, what exactly was he offering? When we were at school, I thought that Merri was a friend I would have for the rest of my life. He was the one guy I felt like I could be my full self with.

It had been because of him that I had the success on the team that I did. In high school I had always felt the need to keep a low profile. Although the town and my team were full of wolf shifters, I was the only incubus. The best thing I could have done was blend in.

But during my freshman year as a walk-on, I was nervous as hell at tryouts. Throwing the ball around trying to shake off the nerves, this smaller, blonde guy with steel-grey eyes walked up to me and asked if I was trying out for quarterback. After I had told him that I played as a wide receiver in high school, he suggested that I switch positions.

I wasn’t about to do that. The quarterback was the focus of the team. Not only had I never before played that position, it would require a lot more attention than I was looking for.

Keeping an eye on him as he wandered around the field, I later noticed him talking to the coach. At one point I saw both of them look at me and when it was my time to line up with the other walk-ons, coach said, “You, what’s your name?”

“Claude Harper, sir.”

“Merrill tells me you have an arm,” he said in front of everyone.

I looked over at the guy who had seemed to be the water boy.

“I’m trying out for receiver. I have a pretty good sprint.”

I had been doing a lot of running by that point. My 40 yard dash times were what I was hoping would get me on the team.

“Well now you’re trying out for quarterback. You have a problem with that?”

“No, sir.”

“Good. Go warm up.”

I did what I was told and warmed up. I didn’t know much about the team considering division two teams didn’t get national coverage. But what I did know was that they were set as quarterback. Mark Thompson was a senior and was a lock to get the spot.

“I’ll warm you up,” Merrill told me when I headed to the nets.

“Why did you tell him that? I told you I wasn’t trying out for quarterback. Are you making sure I don’t get on the team?”

He looked at me startled.

“No. That’s not it at all. He’s my father. He told me to watch everyone and tell him what I see. I saw that you have a great arm.”