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Chapter One

George

“The sky finally cleared up,” I said to Sam as we looked around the football field, my teammate since our days at King’s Shield. I was still relieved we’d both landed at the same college. Vanderloy Ivy University might not have been a powerhouse in the football world yet, but we were gaining ground. Much like King’s, it was a playground for the rich and entitled.

“It’s a day as good as any,” Sam replied. He didn’t seem nearly as enthusiastic about the game as he’d been back home. Even though he was still our starting center, being named Team Captain had changed him. The weight of the entire roster was sitting on his shoulders, and he looked tired.

At 6'5" feet tall and packed with heavy muscle, the Left Tackle position had always been mine. My job was simple: protect the pocket. Sam’s job was much harder. He had to manage the egos.

“Ben Terry never fucking listens,” Sam spat, kicking at a clump of turf. “I call the protection, and he just does whatever he wants.”

“You’re the Captain, Sam. Use the whistle. Punish his ass.”

“Ugh, I’m not Michael, man. He knew how to get people in line.”

“But you’re the one wearing the 'C' on your jersey now.”

“Yeah, well, I wish I’d just stayed a regular lineman and let Michael handle the leadership stress. I miss that hardcore bastard,” Sam sighed. I chuckled. Sam hadn't followed Michael Mackenzie to his college, opting to carve his own path here at Vanderloy Ivy . Now, he seemed to regret the responsibility, but I was just glad he was here. Sam and I always had each other’s backs. Michael Mackenzie’s fancy University didn’t have a place for me. They had their left tackle from New York, whom I hoped to face one day.

“It’s okay, you’ve got this,” I told him, lowering my voice. “Tell Terry that if he doesn’t stay in his fucking position, you’re going to bench him for a week. Then follow through.”

“Bench him? George, we need him.”

“You need respect. In football, that’s how you get it.”

Sam nodded, his jaw setting as he looked over at Terry.

“Want backup?” I called out.

“I got it,” he waved back, marching straight toward Terry.

“That’s my boy!” I shouted after him.

Suddenly, a flash of light glinted in the corner of my eye, momentarily blinding me. When my vision cleared, the first things I noticed were a pair of perfect ears decorated with glinting studs. Short dark hair was styled to fall around a pair of light eyes, highlighted by sharp liner and dark mascara. His raspberry-shaded lips were parted as he sucked on the straw of an ice-coffee. My eyes traveled down to his Adam's apple as it bobbed when he swallowed, and a sudden wave of heat travelled through my body making my cock jerk in attention leaving me startled.

Then, as if he felt my stare, he raised those gorgeous eyes straight to mine. Those pretty lips suddenly pouted, twisting into a hard, cold frown. The anger in his gaze was as raw as the day we'd last met.

He remembered me.

“It’s done. I can’t believe that worked.” Sam’s broad frame suddenly blocked my view. I stepped around him, desperate to see the boy again, but he was gone.

“Gay boy... that’s what I used to call him. Shit,” I mumbled.

“George? What are you talking about?”

“I saw him.” I moved around Sam, scanning the bleachers where he was sitting a second ago.

“Saw who?”

“That boy. Sig. That was his name.”

“Sig? What kind of name is that?”

“Santiago. Sig. That’s what that fucker Edwin used to call him.”

Sam paused. “That kid who left the school?”

“You remember?”