35. Jase

"Look, guys. I know you're all worried about the future of the team." The GM, Jake Parsons, paces in front of the team in the locker room after practice the next day. "But we still have the rest of the season to go. The playoffs start this Sunday, and we need to keep our focus on the game."

He exchanges a look with Coach Greaves, whose forehead is pinched with deep worry lines.

Way more of them than usual.

"Robert Forrester, the CEO of Vulcan, Inc., the holding company that owns the Cincinnati Crusaders, will oversee operations of the team until the board of directors makes a decision about the sale date for the team." Jake pauses and looks around the space. "In the meantime, the only thing you need to concern yourselves with is making it past game one of the playoffs. We're in this place because of all the hard work you've put in over the season."

"That's right," Coach Greaves jumps in. "This is your time. Don't spend it thinking about someone else's bad decisions. Look forward, focus, and visualize that victory next weekend."

I roll my eyes at Lucas, who is sitting next to me. "Like we're supposed to be able to forget what that fucknut Hoffman did, how he might have unraveled the whole fucking team because he's a goddamn criminal," I mutter under my breath.

"Jase."

I look at Coach Greaves, sitting straight up when his sharp voice lashes into me. "Yes, Coach."

He points a finger to me. "My office once you get dressed."

I nod. "Yes, Coach."

Gabe comes up to us after Coach and Parsons leave the locker room. "Can you guys believe all that shit?"

"I overheard something outside of Trevor's office the other day," Lucas says. "I'd have loved to be a fly on the wall when the cops came pounding down their doors, though."

Gabe's lips twist. "Taking anonymous control of Project Renewal and using it to launder money he was embezzling from his holding company. What a fucking scumbag. No wonder why he had you guys there. He pimped you out and made it look like community service."

Matt Harrison shuts his locker behind us. "One of the articles I read said he used you guys to take donations that he funneled into shell companies." He grins and points a thumb at Lucas. "I'm not a genius like Bentley here, but I've seen Ozark. You know, that series on Netflix? They all use shell companies for their illegal shit."

I listen to the guys with half an ear since the only thing on my mind right now is what Coach wants to talk to me about. He can't pull me from the playoffs, can he? I haven't accepted an offer from the Wildcats even though they made me a pretty sweet deal.

Truth is, I don't want to leave Cincinnati. Or Lucas. I actually feel more at home here now than I have in a long time.

And the team hasn't said shit to me about coming out. Nobody has made a single crack. I guess it's because they're so steamrolled by the news of the Hoffmans getting hauled off to the clink. Everyone is worried about what next season's gonna look like. I think my sexuality is probably really low on their list of shit to think about.

Or maybe it's because they just don't give a damn. Gabe came out, Lucas is out, and I'm ninety-nine percent sure Harrison is on the brink of making a statement. We care about football, not about who's fucking who.

For a long time, I was afraid people wouldn't accept me if they knew my truth. Turns out, I was the only one who couldn't accept it. And now that I finally have, I don't want to start over.

But I also don't have a choice. My contract was terminated. If Minnesota calls, I've gotta answer.

I sling my bag over my shoulder and clear my throat. "Guys, I've gotta go."

Gabe gives me a nod and claps me on the back. "Good luck."

Lucas walks me out of the locker room. "It's going to be fine, okay? No matter what, everything will work out. You have Minnesota in your back pocket." He grins. "And you know you have me."

"Then how bad could it be?" I joke.

But it could be really fucking bad and we both know it.

I need this playoff game under my belt. That's probably why Minnesota hasn't made the final offer yet. They want to see how well I can perform after this injury. Rex said that same thing. If Coach pulls me, the Wildcats might drop the conversation. And then I'll really be fucked.

My leg twitches with each step I take toward Coach's office. The injury that will end me on any given Sunday. I don't know how many more of those I have, so locking up a new contract isn't an option. It's a necessity.

I run a hand through my hair, still damp from the shower. After a swift knock, Coach calls me inside. I push open the door to find Coach and Parsons sitting in the corner, each with a highball glass in his hand. They both stand up once I step inside.

"Jase," Coach begins. "We wanted to talk to you about your contract termination."

I swallow hard past the knot. Tiny razor blades scrape the sides of my throat, the back of my neck prickling with sweat.

"We're aware that Reed Hoffman cut you for behavioral indecency." He takes a few steps toward me, his brown eyes studying me like a bug under a microscope.

"He told me I was supposed to finish out the season, as far as the team goes," I croak out, wishing like hell I could grab Coach's glass and guzzle down his drink.

"We know, and that decision was taken to the board of directors of the holding company for their concurrence."

His eyebrows knit together and my stomach drops like a lead fucking weight. Coach and Parsons exchange a tense look and I fight the urge to scream my fucking head off because the torture and torment they're putting me through right now is really just so goddamn cruel.

"The decision was made at a meeting earlier today." Parsons stands up and walks over to us. "The board overturned Hoffman's decision to fire you. They want to reinstate your contract."

I let out the breath I've been holding. "Are you serious? I'm… I'm still a Crusader?"

"You always were, Jase. We knew what we saw in you when you were drafted. You've got some polishing up to do, but the team doesn't want to lose you. And neither does management. We know you've had a rough go of it lately, but if you're ready to take on Oakland—and your brother—then we want you on that field."

And just like that, I became the guy who really could have it all.

"You're not goingto believe what—" I stop, my thought hanging in midair when I see Lucas's stricken look.

"Why do you look like someone just died?" I snake an arm around his waist because he looks so pale, I'm afraid his legs are gonna give out any second.

Lucas holds up his phone. "My sister just called. She said the social worker just showed up. They can do that, just go whenever they want, completely unannounced. I have to get home."

"I'm coming with you."

He pauses for a second, and it's like a kick to the stomach.

"Do you not want me there?"

He brings a hand to the back of his head, pausing before he answers.

But I don't give him the chance. "Never mind. You should go by yourself. I don't want to complicate things for you."

Lucas looks at me, and the fear in his eyes makes my heart ache. I want so badly to be at his side, to give him comfort, no matter what this bitch has to say. He loves those kids and would do anything for them.

"I can't lose them, Jase. I'm just scared. Of course, I want you there with me."

The ride to Lucas's condo is silent. No words spoken, no radio playing. I can actually hear the gusts of wind outside the car as we fly down side streets toward his building. We take the elevator. Lucas wrings his gloved hands together as the elevator dings.

When it finally stops on his floor, he steps out, trudging toward his door like he's walking the green mile. He puts his hand on the door handle and takes a deep breath before twisting it. Looking back at me, he manages a small smile.

"Thanks for being here for me. It means more than you know."

"I love you. It's my job to be here for you, whenever, wherever, however."

"I love you, too."

Lucas pushes open the door and walks into the foyer. I follow him inside and down the short hallway to the kitchen.

His family sits at the table with Krista, and the social services lady sits across from them, nursing a mug of something with steam coming out of the top.

I stare at her. Her hair is stuck in a bun-type thing on the back of her head that looks like it's wound as tight as she is. Her face is tight and no-nonsense. She doesn't smile. Hell, I don't even see her blink.

Another guy comes in from the living room. He looks a lot like Lucas, but older and nerdier with glasses. He flashes a smile at Lucas and relief washes over Lucas's face.

Is that the deadbeat brother?

I rub the back of my neck, suddenly feeling like an intruder.

Maybe I should have just stayed behind and let Lucas handle things.

His fingers find mine, giving them a tight, reassuring squeeze.

Then again, maybe not.

"Ms. Murphy," Lucas says. He drops my hand and walks over to her, all calm, cool, and confident that he's the perfect caretaker for his brother and sister.

Which he totally fucking is.

He holds out his hand. "It's nice to see you again."

He's so proper. I almost choked on those words, and they didn't even come out of my mouth.

Ms. Murphy stands up from the table, barely cracking a smile in response to his bright one. I don't know how he's convinced his lips to move in that direction considering the scowl they're faced with.

She lets out a deep sigh and folds her hands in front of her. "Mr. Bentley, I just wanted to come by this afternoon to let you and your family know that your case has been closed as of today."

I look around the room. Everyone seems to have been holding their breath from the second she began to talk. And the smiles that light up the room when she delivers that news… shit, I've never seen so much glee in one place.

Lucas hugs the two younger kids, and then Krista, then the other guy. I just stand back and watch them and smile. The younger kids jump around, practically in tears because they're so happy. A lump forms in my throat when Lucas looks at me with a grin that stretches from ear to ear.

I've seen that grin… right after I told him I loved him.

And knowing that I don't want to go a single day without seeing it hits me like a brick to the chest. Everything he is, is everything I need… everything I want.

"Can I just ask why you're closing the case?" Lucas asks. "I mean, I was expecting it to take some more time, maybe some more meetings…?"

Ms. Murphy forces a tight smile. "It seems that the credibility of the person who reported the issue has been called into question. And after a review we did here and at the children's schools, we've determined that this is a healthy household and that the kids are well taken care of by their older brother. There is no need to move forward." She sticks out her hand and stiffly shakes Lucas's.

With a curt nod to everyone standing around her, she grabs her coat and bag and walks to the door. Lucas runs after her, and when she turns, he throws his arms around her.

Her fa?ade cracks for a hot second and I see a hint of a genuine smile before she bites it back. She doesn't hug him back, but at least she doesn't push him away.

After a few seconds, he lets go of her and she leaves the condo.

Lucas walks back to the kitchen, his hands fisting his hair, eyes wide and incredulous. "Holy shit. It's over. I can't believe it. It has to be because…" He looks at me. "You know what with you know who."

I shrug. "You know, if you wanna be taken seriously, it's probably not a great idea to have a rep as a money-laundering thug criminal."

"It's over!" Ella cries out, throwing her arms around him. He hugs her tight against him. Nick joins in. Krista hugs them all. They even run over to me and pull me into the group. The odd man out is the Lucas lookalike. He just stands there with a wistful smile on his face, like he doesn't quite fit.

I guess he's thinking of all the things he missed out on while he was away from them. It sucks to swallow that jagged pill, and I feel bad for the guy. Whatever he went through, he had to do it alone, and I know from my own experience how hard that is. But he's here now, when it counts. Lucas said he's been going to meetings and working a new job. He's trying really hard to keep himself clean. And knowing Lucas, it won't be long before he's right back in the middle of things.

Just one of the many reasons why I'm so crazy about him. He makes sure everyone feels like they belong even when they're not so sure they should.

It takes Lucas a few seconds to realize that an introduction is in order. "Aaron," he says to the guy. "I want you to meet Jase Maxwell, my…"

His voice trails off, his eyes tangling with mine as if to say, what the hell are we telling people?

I make it easy on him.

"Nice to meet you, Aaron." I reach out to grasp Aaron's hand, my lips lifting. "I'm Lucas's boyfriend."