Page 34 of Turn Me On
I lighten up. “We’re the same age, and you can’t resist big brothering me. I suppose that’s my fate as an only child.”
But it’s my fate too, as a guy who trusted the wrong person. When I met Wesley, he came on strong, the way I like it, the way I want it, but several months of exclusivity later, he asked me to move into an “ethically non-monogamous relationship.”
I have plenty of queer friends in that type of situation, and it works great for them. More power to them, especially the ethical part.
I like one-on-one attention. A lot of it, to be honest.
And I dislike being blindsided.
But my likes and dislikes don’t matter. I can’t act on them with Zane.
Still, I appreciate my long-time friend playing the role he plays best, like he did when he took me out for tequila to drown out the misery of Wesley’s request, then listened to all my stories of what had gone wrong.
“I’ll be careful,” I say, patting his shoulder.
“I didn’t tell you to be careful,” Bryan corrects.
“I know.I’mthe one who needs the reminder.” And I need it badly.
I take off for my tee time with Braxton, glad to go to work—where I can make things happen.
* * *
The guy with the golden foot stares down the fifth hole with textbook intensity. His dark eyes travel from the hole ten feet away to the white ball inches from him.
Then, he takes a swing, taps the ball lightly, and sends it the rest of the way.
“Nice one,” I say after it lands with a plink.
Braxton laughs, something he only does when he finishes each hole. “Easy for you to say. You’re ahead of me by, what, twenty strokes?” he asks, grabbing the ball.
“Hardly,” I say, as we head to the path weaving through the course.
“Yeah, right. You’re a secret golf pro,” he teases. Pro athletes usually love a good challenge on the links. I never go easy on them. They’d consider it rude.
“Nah. My father just wanted me to learn the game, so I practically grew up with a golf club in my hand,” I say, downplaying my golf skills.
More like my dad insisted I learn the sport, claimed it was vital for business. That is, until he decided golf courses were among his many enemies.
“Sounds like my dad too. With a football, that is,” Braxton says as we move aside for a pair of silver-haired golfers in a cart.
“Your dad’s one of the reasons you visit here so often, right?”
“Definitely.” Braxton smiles sheepishly. “Is it weird I miss my family? I should be a swinging single dude out there, loving the party life at age twenty-seven. And yet, I miss the ’rents.”
I smile. “That’s a good thing.” It doesn’t resonate with me, but it doesn’t have to. My job, if he says yes to CTM, is to make him happy. “The Mercenaries could use a new kicker. One who’s eminently dependable.” Their current kicker is pretty hit or miss, but I don’t say that out loud. Don’t want to be dissing other athletes in front of one I’m courting.
Braxton’s eyes twinkle. “You think so? That’d be goals, man, to play here with the Mercenaries.”
“The trick with that team, though, is getting them to keep their good players. They traded away a terrific quarterback a couple years ago,” I shake my head, still amazed at that bone-headed front office decision. They gave up one of the best signal callers in the league. Then again, that spelled opportunity for me to fill that void with another client of mine. “But now they have Drew Adams and he had a great season. He’s one of my clients and I think you’d like playing with him,” I say, musing on the progress that football team has made lately and the deals I’ve inked for my guys. “And of course San Diego isn’t far and has good team management.”
“I like San Diego,” Braxton says, upbeat, but then his expression shifts, and he looks me in the eye. “But the thing is, I don’t want to get lost at CTM. You know I’m talking to other agencies, right? Like your last one.”
“And you should,” I say evenly. I’m not going to tell the guynotto check out the competition. That’s a surefire way to sink your chances.
“I’ve been with a big agency,” he continues. “Didn’t love it, to be honest.”
“I’ve worked with both a big agency now and a small one. At CTM, we bring a boutique touch with the support of a large company.” I gesture to the two of us here on the course. Boutique touch, and all.