Love on the Sidelines: A Quick Snap Novella Read online

  I immediately went into the restroom to get dressed and proceeded to tear up. So many emotions are filtering through my body right now.

  My secret is now out, and that means that soon I will need to tell Topher.

  I finished up my interviews for the exclusive.

  I let my biggest secret become known, which Mr. Lancaster will acknowledge with our PR team.

  And now I have to figure out a way to tell Topher and hope that he won’t be disappointed with my not telling him the whole truth.

  Chapter 10

  TOPHER

  My arms bracket her on the bed as my body hovers over hers. I pin her body to the mattress with my weight as I bury my cock inside her warmth.

  The cords of my neck are straining as I fight the urge to pump into her fast and fuck her hard.

  Our bodies glide against one another as we both seek release to satisfy the craving that we both feel after a day of being around one another, but not being able to act of our desires.

  Quick breaths escape from Mila’s open lips and I take her mouth with mine. As my hips thrust against her, she lifts hers up to meet me. Her hands hold on to my sides as I start to lose restraint as I can feel my orgasm rushing through my body.

  Sounds of pleasure echo in the hotel room that we haven’t left since sundown.

  Mila pushes me off of her and throws a leg over me and lines her center up before impaling herself on my cock. A hiss of pure bliss escapes my mouth as the feeling of her pussy squeezing my shaft makes my body immediately move. I grab her by the hips and start off slow by lifting her and dragging my cock through her silky folds, to holding her slightly elevated in place and thrust up into her. Her breasts bounce with the movement and she grabs them, squeezes and pinches her own nipples as she throws her head back with her pussy clenching around my cock. With the view before me and the release of Mila’s orgasm all happening at once, the sight pushed my orgasm forward, despite wanting to and I push up into her. Holding her hips against mine as I fill the condom.

  Mila falls onto my chest with deep breaths. Her index finger traces an unknown pattern across my chest before she looks up at me with her chin resting on me.

  “How is it that each time is like the first time?” She grins.

  “Is it?” I ask. “To me it just seems to get better and better.”

  “Our bodies are still learning about one another.”

  “Mmmhmm.” I lean forward and kiss her forehead.

  “We should probably eat something.”

  “I should probably dispose of this condom too.” I tap her on the hip and she slowly pulls off of me. My semi-erect cock flopping to the side of my pelvis.

  Mila rolls over and lies on her side, bared naked and not even a need to cover up as get out of the bed. I grin at her, turn, and roll off the condom while walking into the restroom. I wash my hands then return to the bed; I mimic her position on the bed and we stare at one another with stupid grins on both of our faces.

  “Um, food?” She finally says.

  “Right. I should probably feed you if I’m not letting you leave this room.”

  Today, we ran drills and barely even took a breath as the weekend is upon us. Tomorrow, the players will have a break to prepare for the game on Sunday. We have run their bodies through the gamut this week with longer daily practices. While the players have the day off, the coaches will meet in the conference room of the hotel for most of the day on Saturday.

  After this experience is over, I’m thinking that I’ll take a small vacation. Get out of Seattle, maybe somewhere nice and tropical.

  I wonder what Mila’s schedule will be like.

  She lives in Seattle. Will this thing between us continue once we get back on our home turf? I’ve made proclamations about her being mine, about being interested in her, and I just hope that she gets that I want more than a fling.

  MILA

  My heart stutters each time I try to get the nerve to tell Topher the truth about who I am.

  I know that because of the photos taken of Randy and me at that bar are out in the open, he will probably see them. I need to tell him. The network decided to privately deal with any news that comes out of the photos to avoid having to ask about favoritism. We had a phone conference about the situation and that was the best thing that we all agreed that would be best.

  I have fear of him hating me.

  Or maybe even, fear of him wishing that this past week never happened.

  And then there’s the fear of rejection.

  Can I handle all that?

  I know that I need to come clean, but what if I drop hints and then playfully tell him, ‘hey, do you remember that middle school kid that followed you and your best friend around? Yeah, that was me.’ Insert some extra blinks and maybe flash him my boob.

  Ugh.

  My phone rings and I see Morgan, my best friend calling.

  “You’re exactly the person I need to speak to.” I answer.

  “And a hello to you too.” Morgan laughs.

  “I need your advice. I’ve gotten myself into a pickle.”

  “Oh goodie. How on Earth did you do that, while you are away working? Oh wait, you hooked up with a player. Oh no, it’s on your brother's team. You broke the bro-code!” she rambles.

  “Well, it’s a little trickier than that.”

  “Hold on, let me pour myself some wine.”

  I hear some clanking around from her end of the line, then Morgan lets out a breath.

  “Okay, I’m sitting. I’ve got my glass and you may now proceed,” she tells me.

  “So, we’ve been friends for what, six or seven years?” I start.

  “I lost count, go on,” she urges.

  “Anyway, so you didn’t know me when I was an awkward middle schooler, but just try to imagine. My brother had friends over all the time, but he had this one best friend, who was part of the family. And I crushed on him, like heavily. I was a kid, and he was becoming, well, the hot shot football player. Then fast-forward like ten years and boom—now I’m sleeping with him.”

  “Okay, so what’s the problem here?” She asks. “Does he know that you had a huge crush on him all those years ago?”

  “He doesn’t know that Randy is my brother.” I mumble.

  “Oh shit. You are in quite the pickle.”

  “What do I do?” I whine, throwing my head back like an insolent child.

  “Well, you probably should come clean.” She says as if it was that simple.

  “Ugh, why can’t I just pretend?”

  “What if you guys date for a while and then he wants to meet your parents? He will know as soon as he steps foot onto their property.”

  “This blows.”

  “Just think once you get it all out in the open, it will be a funny story to tell others.”

  “Unless he breaks things off with me, because I didn’t tell him right away.”

  “Claim fear.”

  “Fear?”

  “Yeah, you weren’t thinking, you were star-struck, then you got scared.” Morgan points out.

  “I have to tell him regardless. There were photos taken of Randy and me. My boss saw them and thought I was hooking up with him. So, if he saw those photos, then Topher will see them too.”

  “His name is Topher?” Morgan laughs.

  “Yeah,” I nod, even though she can’t see me.

  “I didn’t think normal people were named Topher,” she said. “Anyway, the reason that I was calling to tell you that I set you up for a blind date. But I guess that’s a moot point now, if things continue with Topher.”

  I laugh awkwardly.

  We’ll have to see about that.

  Chapter 11

  TOPHER

  I’m walking into the restaurant with a few of the other coaches on the team. We’re nearing the start of the weekend, I’m starving after a long day of running drills and planning our attack for Sunday. We started early in the morning and it’s past eight at night, and we just walked
off the field. I wanted to get a little alone time before the hectic-ness of this weekend to spend with Mila tonight, but she had other plans as well—so I took the invitation some of the coaches put out there for dinner. Feeling guilty that while the players are on strict curfew orders, here I am gallivanting around town.

  Starved. And I’m ready to eat a horse.

  Did we not eat today?

  I have some granola bar wrappers in my pockets, but is that from today?

  We’re seated and menus are in our hands. Everything looks so fucking good that I wish we could get a little of each item.

  The group orders our late dinner and once I place mine, I excuse myself to the restroom.

  On my way out of the hallway that leads to the restroom, I bump into a player and my old best friend, Randy Harris.

  “There he is!” Randy holds his arms wide open. We side hug and pat one another on the back.

  “What’s up man?” I ask.

  “Oh, you know, just getting ready to play a game on Sunday in one of the most important games of my career. How about you?”

  “I have a little thing happening too on Sunday, no big.” I smirk and shrug.

  “What the fuck. All week man, we’ve been in the same place and just now, I’m seeing you.” Randy touches my shoulder.

  “I know. When you called the other night, I still had some meetings and then a date that I couldn’t bail on.”

  “A date? Oh damn, keeping warm with a lady here isn’t a bad thing to do.”

  I laugh. “It might be a little more than that.”

  “You dog you. Come on, I’m eating with my family, they’d love to see you.”

  I haven’t seen his family is so long. A part of me feels guilty that we lost touch when we went away to separate schools, but the other part knows that it was something natural that would happen.

  I follow Randy in a zigzag around the restaurant, past the table where my party is sitting and to the opposite end of the restaurant. It is an area that is off to the side and out of the peering eyes of others.

  Randy steps aside, then I see his parents and their eyes light up. Randy’s mom stands up, covers her mouth, and then steps around her husband as he stands. She engulfs me in her arms and squeezes me tight.

  “Oh honey, how are you? It’s been a million years. This is quite the surprise!” She says all in one breath.

  I pull back and smile at her, kiss her on the cheek.

  “Good to see you, ma’am.”

  “So polite.” She pulls back and glares at Randy. “Randall, you could learn a little something from this one here.”

  And at that moment, I see a familiar profile sitting frozen at the table. Her ash blonde hair does little to hide her.

  I now recall why the name Mila sounded so familiar.

  Mila Rossi is Mila Harris. She is the little sister of my childhood best friend.

  MILA

  Well, I wasn’t expecting Topher to find out about who I was like this. I had been trying to figure out a way over the past few days. I spent another night with him and couldn’t bear to let our bubble burst just yet.

  If I would have known that he would be in the same restaurant that we were going to be at for our dinner, I would have suggested a different location.

  Shit! Shit! Shit!

  As my parents stand up and my mom rushes into Topher’s arms, I sit there immobile and afraid to even look over at him.

  Shit! Shit! Shit!

  “And Toph, you remember my little sister.” Randy steps back, giving Topher room to look at me.

  “Hi Topher.” I say.

  “Hello Mila.” His eyes zero in on mine, the same eyes that I’ve looked into and fallen for. His tone is even and I’m not quite sure what he’s thinking. He isn’t relaying anything from his expression aside from the initial glance and niceties.

  “So, Topher, dear. Are you able to join us?” Mom asks, pulling his gaze from me to her.

  “I wish I could. I am actually here eating with some of my colleagues.” He glances at me quickly. “It’s been quite a long day.”

  “Oh that’s a shame, I wish that you could join us. How funny is it that you’re actually in town here when all of us are?” She laughs.

  “Yeah,” he replies.

  “Ma’, Toph is one of the coaches for the other team.” Randy explains.

  “Oh really? So you guys are playing against one another?” She asks, looking back and forth between them.

  “No dear, Topher isn’t playing anymore, remember? I could have sworn that we had this discussion last weekend.” Dad reminds her.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. That’s right. But you’re coaching now, and look at you, made it all the way here. Too bad you aren’t coaching Randy’s team,” she pouts.

  “Yeah, well I’m happy with Seattle. We’ve got a great team and I couldn’t be prouder of my guys.”

  “Alright, alright. The family reunion is over,” Dad says. He shakes Topher’s hand and steps back.

  “I should get back to my table. My order should be there.” He says, again looking at me.

  “Good to see you, son. Don’t be a stranger.” Dad replies.

  “And hey, whatever happens on Sunday… good game.” Randy pats him on the back.

  “Good to see you all.” Topher smiles at my mom and dad, then offers me one last glance, before he turns around and walks away.

  Randy takes his seat beside me as I push back from the table.

  “Where are you going?” Randy asks.

  “I’ve needed to go to the bathroom for like ten minutes, I didn’t think it would be polite to do that when you brought Topher back here.” I move around the curtain shielding my family from the main dining room and spot Topher’s broad shoulders as he walks away. I catch up with him and tap him on the shoulder.

  “Toph? I can explain.” I say as his eyes connect with mine.

  He holds his hand up and steps a foot back.

  “Listen, I have a lot of my mind right now. We have the game tomorrow and I really don’t need any distractions right now.”

  “Is that what I am? Is that what this entire week has been? A distraction?”

  “I’m not saying that we are one thing or another, Mila.”

  “Topher, I meant to tell you.,” I say.

  “Not now, Mila.”

  He turns and walks away from me. With his back to me, I’m left with questions as to whether or not what we’ve shared over this past week will continue, or if our whirl-wind relationship has just ended.

  Chapter 12

  TOPHER

  I’m distracted and I can’t afford to be. My team is playing the biggest game of the year and being distracted by a woman is not what I should focus on. But I can’t help it.

  My mind is on Mila, when it should be on the meetings today.

  I should not by any means be distracted when tomorrow is the big day.

  But I can’t help it. Last night continues to play in slow motion in my head.

  Walking up to the table.

  Hugging my childhood best friend's mom and turning my head to see Mila sitting in her seat—stunned and motionless.

  The mixture of emotions that I was having a hard time tampering down, and I said hello to her as if I haven’t seen her in years. When in all reality, she slept in my bed the past several nights?

  No, I played it cool. I had to.

  But my blood was boiling.

  How the hell is this the same person?

  Why the hell did she not say anything to me when we first met back home?

  Why did she continue to not mention anything?

  She had to know.

  I need to not get distracted with any of it right now.

  I shake my head and zero in on the conversation.

  “We have Antony starting the game, but I want him on the bench for the middle half. I want his legs ready to run in the last quarter.”

  “I have had Montgomery working with Russell on a few counter strategies. We
’ve been working his arm to make sure he doesn’t over-do it.” The quarterback coach adds.

  “We’ve been running a lot of plays this week. I feel confident in the team and what they’ve been working on.” I speak up and say. “After all the practices this last week, the guys have gotten accustomed to the climate, worked their asses off and hopefully are getting the much-needed rest today.”

  “Good. I want to make sure that everyone in this room is aware of some key strategies for Sunday’s game. Wilkens and Jones, you two are up first. Let’s work on some of these plays.”

  The day is long, but I’m happy for it.

  We work well into the night and we go over the call sheets and the game plan one last time—I’m reluctant to go back to my hotel room. I don’t want to be alone with my thoughts and I’m not ready to talk to Mila.

  But I know that we should.

  But the question is, should I do it before or after the game?

  MILA

  I feel like a fool. I should have said something before we even started flirting. But I didn’t.

  And now, I don’t know where we stand.

  I don’t know when we will talk, or if we will.

  I should have come clean right away.

  I just got out of the shower and after exfoliating my entire body, I still feel horrible.

  I could get dressed and go to his room. I could ask him to talk to me and explain everything to him. But what do I say?

  I groan and throw myself on the bed.

  “Why? Why am I such an idiot? Ugh!” I raise my arms up and with as much force as I can muster, punch the bed at my sides.

  Knock, knock.

  I shoot up. Am I hearing things?

  I sit there quietly.

  Knock, knock.

  I stand up and rush to the door and peer through the peephole.

  What I see is a sight within itself. I’m nervous and know that we need to get this over with.