27. Lee

CHAPTER 27

LEE

Lee chalked it up to the alcohol.

God damn it.

That was why he didn't drink. His body was a temple and all that nonsense, sure, but it was doing stupid, idiotic things like kissing your friends and suggesting they get it on while you watched that was the real culprit.

He tossed his phone on the coffee table and dropped onto the middle of the sofa. "Fuck!" he shouted.

"Lee?"

He groaned, flopping dramatically onto the cushions. He'd completely forgotten his mom and aunt were staying in his guest room.

"You're home early?" She circled the couch to look down at him. "And you're upset? Why? You played a fantastic game. You were out celebrating. What happened?"

"Nothing," he groaned again, sitting up and dropping his head on the back of the couch with a clunk he didn't even feel.

"Doesn't seem like nothing, kiddo." Mom sank onto the cushion beside him and took one of his hands between both of hers.

"What's going on, Leslie? Lee? What are you doing back already?" Auntie Beth collapsed into the cushy armchair.

"It's nothing, Auntie Beth."

"Nope." She popped the P. "Nothing doesn't bring you home all butt-hurt after nabbing two interceptions in your first regular season professional football game."

"Ugh. Fine." Lee scrubbed his face. "I think I fucked up with Drew and Mac."

Beth glanced at Mom and then they both looked at Lee. "I think you better explain," Mom said, rubbing Lee's hand and arm.

"I'm totally blaming it on the alcohol."

"You better not have driven home." Oops. Mom voice.

Lee held up two fingers. "Uber. Scout's honor."

"Alright," she relented. "Go on."

"It was an epic celebration. The place was packed with the team and staff. Before I knew it, I was tossing back shots like they were water."

"Let me guess…" Auntie Beth interjected. "You drank on an empty stomach."

Lee sighed. "Yeah, and you know I don't have much of a tolerance for alcohol as it is. By the time Drew showed up with Mac— holding his hand —I was already pretty well in my cups."

His mom laughed like he knew she would. She loved that ridiculous phrase, so Lee tried to use it whenever he could. "Don't distract me. We heard you emphasize them holding hands. That's a new development?" Her arched brow questioned what he'd left out of their previous conversations.

"Yes and no. They're both pretty tactile, but not usually like that. More brotherly…"

"But…"

Lee wobbled his head. "But I knew that they both harbored feelings for each other. They're in love. On the surface, it looks platonic, but it's not."

"So you knew this already, and are what… jealous? Did you cause a scene?"

Lee threw his hands in the air as he huffed. "Yeah, kinda, but not in the way you're thinking. First I kissed Drew, then I kissed Mac, then I suggested to Mac that he kiss Drew and, my God…" Lee rolled his head to stare at his mom. "Hot."

Mom laughed, as did Auntie Beth. When he came out to them, they'd done their research and then embarrassed the hell out of him talking about gay porn stars and LGBTQIA+ authors and their ever-increasing library of erotic gay romances. He'd learned quickly that he could talk about boys and men without them holding their own failed hetero-romances against his romantic interests. They'd even met his college boyfriend—more like friends with benefits, but that was neither here nor there—and hadn't batted an eye except to say he was nice.

When they'd calmed down, Mom said, "You came out to the team in spectacular fashion. Did Mac and Drew get mad? Is that what's got you upset?"

Lee frowned. "I've no clue. I saw them together, and my mind just said, ‘Time to go.' So I left."

"Time to go?" Beth sat forward in her chair. "Why? This sounds like the start of an epic menage romance. Why would you leave?"

"And without saying anything?" Mom interjected. "They're probably worried they hurt you."

"I know. Fuck, I know." Lee rubbed his eyes, not even surprised to find them damp. He'd gotten attached to them, and he'd probably thrown their friendship in the toilet by taking off without explanation. He was so fucking stupid. They'd looked perfect together, and he couldn't get between them when they'd finally figured their shit out. God, how he wanted… but he just… couldn't.

Mom hugged him from the side, and then the space on the other side of him dipped, and Lee was double-hugged. He let a few tears fall before pulling himself together and patting their arms. "Thanks, but I'm okay. I'll live. I'll deal."

"Of course you will, kiddo, but I think you need to talk to them. Losing them as friends… that's not what you want."

"Of course it's not, Mom, but I screwed up. This is where I circle back to blaming the alcohol."

His mom hummed. "Alcohol definitely had a hand in it, and seeing them together was hot, but that's not why you left."

Ugh. Moms. They always knew when you weren't telling the whole truth. Lee wiped his face and took a few deep breaths. They were probably going to think it was dumb, but he needed to secure his spot. Only… maybe… there were two spots: one on and one off the field of play. Whatever happened, though, Lee knew he couldn't let love sideline him from being the best safety the NFL had ever seen.