Page 6 of Coach's Assist

I shut my door, then grabbed my overnight bag out of the backseat. After making my way up the porch, he pushed the door open, gesturing for me to walk in ahead of him. I groaned at the scent of pizza. “You ordered pizza?” I asked as I set my bag down on the couch while making my way toward the kitchen.

“It’s your food of choice when celebrating,” he said as if ordering pizza was a given. I smiled at him over my shoulder. Over the past month of us sneaking around together, he’d come to learn just about everything about me. I didn’t even have totellhim the little things about me. He just… figured them out by paying attention.

“I can’t believe we fucking won,” I said as I lifted the lid on the pizza box. I paused when I saw a simple, silver band sitting in the center of the pizza. Frowning, I reached in and picked it up. “I think someone lost their wedding ring.”

“No one lost their wedding ring,” Jett chuckled from behind me.

I turned to face him, holding up the band. “Uh, yeah, they did.”

He took the ring from me, then dropped to one knee. My eyes widened, and I proceeded to choke on air. Was he really doing what I thought he was doing? We’d been together for barely even a month. This wasinsanity.

But fuck, what was even crazier was that he was mycoach. He was almost twenty years older than I was. If he was really proposing, was such little time being together even that big of a deal? Because I knew with every fiber of my being that I was in love with him. He was all I wanted out of life. I could lose my entire future, and I’d still be happy so long as I had him.

“I know we haven’t been officially together very long,” Jett started, his voice thick, “but that doesn’t change the fact that we’ve pined after each other for four fucking years, Damien.” No, it fucking didn’t. Our need for each other had never diminished over time. If anything, wanting each other had just grown as more and more time passed. “I love you. I love that you’re a grumpy son of a bitch every morning. I love that you always want pizza after a win. I love that you spend your free time teaching little kids how to play basketball and that you refused to rely on your parents’ money to get you through college. You’re brilliant, intelligent, and the best fucking basketball player I’ve seen in my entire career as both a coach and a player.”

“Jett…” I breathed, my heart beating so fast, I was surprised I didn’t have a fucking heart attack.

“Marry me,” he pleaded, looking up at me with those dark eyes I loved so fucking much. “Please marry me, Damien. Marry me before you begin your career as a pro baller. I know this is crazy fucking fast, but Iknowyou’re it for me.”

“Are you fucking crazy?” I asked, laughing. His face began to fall. I sank to my knees in front of him. “You have to have lost your mind if you think I’d say no. Yes, I’ll marry you, Jett.”

He grinned then and grabbed my left hand, slipping the simple band onto my finger. It fit perfectly, and my chest tightened at the weight on that finger. I never realized how naked my hand looked before, but with that ring on my finger, my hand now lookedperfect.

“We’re getting married this summer,” I bluntly announced.

He laughed and wrapped a hand around the back of my neck, drawing my face close. “Good,” he rumbled, leaning in to kiss me. I moaned, moving closer so I could straddle his thighs. My arms wound around his neck, and our kiss quickly grew heated.

My growling stomach interrupted the mood, making both of us laugh.

“By the way,” Jett murmured as he grasped my hips, “I decided I won’t be seeking out another job. I’m going to retire early. I have enough money to live on for two lifetimes. I want to be wherever you are.”

“Really?” I rasped, my throat tight as I stared at him.

He nodded. “I’ve lived my dreams as a pro basketball player and as a coach. Now, being with you is my only dream.”

I kissed him again and pushed him back to lay on the floor. He laughed huskily as I attacked his lips. “You’re hungry, baby.”

“Fuck my stomach,” I growled as I worked my way down his body. “I’ll eat just as soon as I get you off.” I yanked his sweats down just enough for his cock to bob free.

“You need—fuck,” he moaned, his fingers lacing in my hair as I swallowed him to the back of my throat. “You’re right,” he panted. “Pizza can fucking wait.”