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MOM: Be safe, baby boy.

Brother Coach!” Jude exclaimed with a whine. “Drive us home!”

Most of the time, the nickname made me roll my eyes—it was ridiculous—but at this hour, I didn’t have the energy to argue with him. After a delay at the airport, we didn’t land until almost two. By the time we got off, got our shit, got on the bus, and made it back to the college, it was well after three. Everyone was dragging, me included.

The adrenaline from the win had long since worn off, leaving behind nothing but sore muscles, heavy eyelids, and the kind of exhaustion you felt in your bones.

“Yup,” I replied. “Just get in my car. The whole lot of you.”

None of them argued, which was a clue as to just how tired they were. And I wasn’t about to only make sure Jude was okay—not when Theo and Wyatt were right behind him. At this point, they were a goddamn set. Wherever one went, the other two weren’t far behind.

“You sure, Coach K?” Wyatt asked. “The house isn’t that far. Theo and I can walk.”

I knew he meant it, but he’d probably fall asleep on a bench on the way home.

“Get in the car, Wyatt,” I said. “And off the field, it’s just Rhodes. Besides, Mom would kill me if I let you two walk home in the middle of the night.”

“Yeah,” Jude mumbled from somewhere behind them. “Mom definitely likes Wyatt more than us.”

“She absolutely does.” I snorted. “Granted, Theo is her favorite.”

Jude let out a sound of agreement, but that was it.

The parking lot at the college sports center was comfortably quiet after the plane and airport chaos. The buildings on campus were dark, leaving us with only the yellow from the parking lot lights. Most of the players had scattered as soon as they could, and all I could do was hope that my yelling at them to stay safe would be enough. I had to believe they were too tired for anything else, but I also knew not to underestimate a determined college guy.

I stopped at the back of my SUV and popped the trunk. I set my bag down and then stepped aside to let them pile their stuff in.

“You’re the best,” Wyatt told me around a yawn. He barely faltered long enough to toss his bag in before rounding the side. Jude skipped the middle bucket seats altogether and just threw himself into the back bench, sprawling out to the best of his ability and acting like seatbelt laws didn’t apply to him. I’d give him until I started the car before I reminded him to buckle up.

“Thank you,” Theo whispered. Unlike the other two, he took more care with his bag. He placed it in the trunk instead of throwing it and reached over to straighten Wyatt’s after it’d landed sideways. I watched how he scooted everything to the side, making room without being asked. The simple action made me smile because it was very much him—quietly thoughtful. It was one of the many things I admired about him.

He shoved his hands into his pockets as he backed up, giving me the room to close the door. As I lowered the tailgate, I lingered. I wasn’t quite ready to get in the car and go back to pretending. I liked the quiet moments with Theo. In those moments, I didn’t feel the weight of responsibility like I did elsewhere.

His gaze held mine, and a soft smile appeared, just enough to bring out those ridiculously adorable dimples. It was a smile I was all too familiar with—one that only came out for me. One I didn’t deserve after everything. And yet I craved the little moments he graced me with it.

“I never did ask,” I began as I cleared my throat, realizing we were crossing into a place we couldn’t go. Not with Jude and Wyatt right there. “What were three moments you enjoyed tonight?”

“Oh, that.” Theo chuckled awkwardly, one hand coming up to rub the back of his neck. “Um… I’d have to say… pre-gaming in the locker room with the guys is always a favorite moment. That play at the end of the third quarter was awesome.”

“That was a damn good play,” I agreed, grinning. Watching Theo get out of his head and trust his own skill had been even better. For the first time all game, he hadn’t been trying to impress anyone. He was just playing football. “And what’s the third moment?”

“This one,” he said, his voice soft. The sentiment caught me off guard, and I just stared at him. I couldn’t think of a single intelligent response. He just shrugged. “I can’t help it. I just like spending time with you.”

“Theo…” I faltered because I didn’t have a damn good thing to say in response to that. Not to a comment like that.

“We should probably go,” Theo told me, “before you have to carry Jude to bed.”

“Yeah, fuck that shit,” I muttered, making him laugh. There was no way in hell I was carrying my six-four beast of a brother anywhere. “He can sleep in the goddamn car.”

I climbed in the driver’s seat while Theo found a spot in the back. Wyatt was half-asleep against the headrest while Jude was already snoring from the third row.

“Ah, fuck it,” I muttered as my gaze drifted over the lot of them through the rearview mirror. “All of you can crash at my house tonight.”

Because what could go wrong with bringing all three of them and their chaos home with me, especially when Theo was involved.

CHAPTER 29

Rhodes