Broken Play

by Samantha Kane

  “But what if you’d been in a plane crash before?” Cass asked. “Then you wouldn’t even want to get on a plane, ever again. Maybe you even start to hate pilots and flight attendants.”

  “Start with something smaller,” Tyler said, looking confused. “Like a glider. Jesus, I don’t know. I’m not a shrink. Are you afraid of flying?”

  “We’ve already tried a glider,” Beau said, leaning over and setting his helmet down on the ground. “The fear is still there. And it’s two problems. Two people. One who’s afraid to fly, and one who hates pilots. How can we fix that with one solution?”

  “Okay,” Tyler said. “I’m going to try to work this out in my tiny brain.” He pointed to Marian, keeping it low-key, close to his chest. “Afraid to fly.” He pointed out to the field, not to anyone in particular, but they all knew who he meant. “And hates pilots. Right?”

  “Right,” Beau said.

  “And I have to come up with a solution before mini-camp ends,” Cass said, frustrated as hell. “Three days. Or I’m not exactly sure who’s going to be showing up for preseason.”

  “What do you mean?” Beau asked.

  “He didn’t mean it,” Tyler said quickly. “He’s just trying to get you to jump for him. You know that.”

  “I don’t,” Cass said. “I don’t know that. He’s right. Marian is good. She could be great. But a player like Smith trumps an assistant coach any day in this business. And I’ve drawn my line in the sand. If she goes, we go.” He looked at Beau, chagrined to realize he’d spoken for him before talking to him about it.

  “That’s right,” Beau said, nodding. “We go if she does.”

  Cass relaxed. “What Shannon doesn’t get is that Smith will go, too. He won’t stay if Marian isn’t here. So I’m gone, Beau’s gone, Smith’s gone, Marian’s gone. This team would have a losing season. No offense,” he added quickly for Tyler’s benefit.

  “None taken,” Tyler said. “You’re right. You’re holding this team together with sweat and determination, and that’s about it. Without you, it comes apart at the seams. What’s going on off the field is more important on this team than on any other team I’ve played for. I don’t know why. Maybe because of who we all are, what we’re fighting against—reputations, low expectations, prison records, and failed rehab. You name it, this team has got it. But we’ve got someone who believes in us, which means a hell of a lot to some of us.” He wiped the corner of his mouth with his thumb pensively. “You and Marian both hitched your wagons to this falling star, we know it.”

  “I want this team to win,” Cass said vehemently. “I need this team to win. I’ve helped build this team. I could be part of something great.”

  “You are part of something great, whether we win or not,” Beau told him. “Don’t forget that.”

  “But winning would be pretty damn awesome, wouldn’t it?” he asked.

  “Yep,” Beau said with a lopsided smile.

  “Oh, yeah,” Tyler agreed.

  They all stared out at the field, at Danny Smith, who was oblivious.

  “So, think,” Cass said. “Think of a solution. And I’m going to talk to Smith.”

  —

  “So, I’m here,” Smith said, sitting down in the seat beside Cass.

  They were out in the stands after practice, watching the guys clean up the field, raking it and watering it. Cass was glad they held mini-camp in their own stadium. There had been fans in the stands today, watching them. PR was hoping open practices would sell more game tickets. He’d actually had several fans stop him and laughingly talk about the karaoke video. He still wasn’t so sure he wanted people watching that, but if it sold tickets, he’d sing again.

  “It’s not working,” Cass said, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “You’re not working here.”

  “I’m doing my damn job,” Smith said angrily. “This team is for shit. There’s a reason no one wanted these damn players.”

  “That’s bullshit,” Cass snapped. “They’re good, better than what I’ve seen on the field in the last two weeks. You’ve fucked everything up.” He turned and glared at him. “And I can’t say anything. I can’t kick your ass and yell at you. Because you saved her. You saved her and I owe you, and she’d never forgive me if I made you feel bad.”

  “She told you,” Smith said, looking shocked. “I didn’t think she’d tell you. She never told anyone else.”

  “I’m not anyone else,” Cass said, looking away. “And neither is Beau. We’re it. The real deal. Can you handle that?”

  “I’ll believe it when I see it,” Smith scoffed. “You two got a pussy to share right now, which makes you happy. But when another one comes along you’ll be gone.”

  “Did you just call Marian a pussy?” Cass asked, completely floored at how clueless this guy was. “What the fuck? She thinks you’re her friend, her hero. And you call her a fucking pussy? Like that’s all she is?”

  “Not to me,” Smith said. They were glaring at each other. “But I know guys like you. Fucking think you own the world and can do what you want. Fuck her together? Hell, yeah. Fuck each other? Hell, yeah. Ain’t nobody going to tell you no.”

  “Lots of people have told me no.” Cass leaned back in his seat and faced Smith. “Here it is, straight. If you don’t get your shit together, Marian is out of here. They’re going to fire her because they think she’s the reason you can’t get your game out of your ass. And if Marian goes, Beau and I go, too. That’s already been said, it’s out there and agreed upon. So if you want to be left here in Birmingham by yourself, or you want to finally retire from a game you hate so fucking much, then go ahead. Keep dropping the ball and getting in fights on the field. Go for it. Ruin Marian’s dreams, her career. My plans, my career, Beau’s. Do it. But if you really care about her, then you’ll start trying, man. You’ll put all the shit behind you, open your eyes and look around. Because if you do that, you’re going to see a team full of guys who are giving one hundred and ten percent. Guys who know this is their last chance and who know you can make it happen for them. They want to trust you, Danny. They want to believe in you. These are not bad guys. These are not guys out there raping women. They’re not giving the world the finger. Been there, done that, for most of them. They are here to work and to make something happen, to build this team. We want you to be a part of that. I want you to be a part of it because that would mean something to Marian.” He paused, watched Smith sitting there stoically, no hint on his face of what he was thinking. “So? What’s it going to be? Should we start packing?”

  “No, man,” Smith said. “You don’t got to pack. I got this.”

  “Good,” Cass said. “I’ll call you later. First, I’ve got to talk to Marian.”

  Chapter 26

  Marian knocked on the door and then checked her hair in her reflection in the window. She’d worn it up because both Cass and Beau seemed fascinated by her neck, and that little spot behind her ear that drove her wild. So, easy access. She tightened the belt on her trench coat. She was sweltering in the Alabama heat, but the outfit was sexy. Cass had told her to dress sexy. And then he’d added, as if she didn’t get his point already, “Dress to get fucked.” So, hair up and trench coat over nothing else. Oh, and high heels. Cliché, but sometimes the oldies were still goodies.

  Beau answered the door and his smile lit up the night. “Hello, gorgeous,” he said. “Don’t you look sassy.”

  “Sassy?” she said with a laugh, walking inside. “You sound like my old granny.”

  “The better to eat you with my dear,” Beau growled, reaching for her. She squealed and scooted out of the way, backing toward the dining room.

  “Come on, Big Bad Wolf,” she said, taunting him. “Dinner has arrived.” She turned and ran into the dining room, untying her belt as she went. She burst into the room laughing, throwing off the coat and spinning around to face Beau.

  He came running into the room and the look on his face was horrified, rather than interest
ed. “No, Marian,” he was saying. “Wait.” He picked up her coat from where she’d thrown it and rushed toward her.

  “Jesus Christ,” a man said with awe from behind her.

  “Oh my God,” she said, recognizing Tom’s voice. “Give me my coat!” She fell into Beau’s arms and Beau wrapped her in the coat, spinning them both around so that his back was to the room.

  “Well, that made my night,” Tyler said. “Of course, now I’m even more jealous of Cass and Beau than I was before.”

  “Turn around,” Danny barked.

  “Sorry,” Tom mumbled. “But millions of years of evolution made me physiologically unable to not look.”

  “What he said,” Tyler added.

  “Did you just see my woman naked?” Cass asked casually. “Because millions of years of evolution have made me unable not to kick your ass. Unless, of course, she wants you to see her naked. In that case, you better look at her or I’ll kick your ass.” Marian peeked around Beau to see Cass standing in the door on the other side of the room, the one that led to the kitchen. Tyler, Tom, and Danny were all standing near that door, holding drinks at the bar.

  “What?” Danny said in confusion.

  “I mean that it’s up to Marian who gets to see her naked,” Cass explained. “I just feel privileged to be one of the few.”

  Marian was mortally embarrassed. “I need to leave now,” she said, burying her head in Beau’s chest. “That was quite possibly the most embarrassing moment of my life.”

  “You’re young,” Tyler said. “There’s lots worse to come, I’m sure.”

  “Trust me,” Tom said. “You have no reason to be embarrassed. You are fucking hot. Ow! What’d you hit me for?”

  “Because you’re embarrassing her,” Danny said angrily. “Let’s go. We’ll leave.”

  “No, no, no,” Cass said quickly. “You just sit down and eat something. You promised, remember? Now, sit.” He walked over to Beau and Marian. “Come on. We need to talk.” He got behind her and walked out backwards, dragging her with him while Beau still held her against him. It was awkward, but she liked feeling protected on all sides from any more unintentional flashing.

  Cass turned when they got to the stairs and led her up to the bedroom, Beau following. Marian waited until he shut the door before she said anything. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she whispered.

  “You’re late,” Cass said, and he was clearly a little on edge. “I left three voice messages.”

  “A last-minute coaches’ meeting,” she said. “It went longer than planned. Fingers are getting pointed over this dismal mini-camp.” She sat on the edge of the bed, hugging the coat around her. She still hadn’t put it on properly. Her shoulders slumped. “I’m going to get fired. I know it. They blame me for Danny’s issues.”

  “That’s not fair,” Beau said. He was still standing near the door, legs spread and arms crossed. His position positively screamed uncomfortable and defensive.

  “What’s going on?” Marian asked impatiently. “Why are they all here? Not that I’m going to fuss about Danny finally coming over. How did you get him to come?”

  Cass rubbed his face with both hands and came to sit next to her. “Well, see, Shannon had a little talk with me and Tyler today. About Danny.”

  “Yeah,” she said encouragingly. “And?”

  “He knows that whatever’s eating Danny is tied up with why you won’t go in the locker room.”

  Marian got a cold lump in the pit of her stomach. She stood and walked a few feet away before swinging around to face him. “I won’t go in the locker room because I’m a woman and I don’t want the guys to feel uncomfortable.”

  “Don’t lie to us, Marian,” Beau said sadly. “Anyone but us. Please.”

  “Fine,” she snapped. “I won’t go in the locker room because I was almost raped in one. There. Happy?”

  “Do you think these guys are going to do that to you?” Cass asked quietly. “The guys downstairs?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” she said, and she meant it. She couldn’t think of three guys less likely to, as a matter of fact.

  “But they’re on the team,” Beau argued. “They’re in the locker room.”

  “It’s not the same,” she said. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “It matters to us,” Cass said. He stood up and faced her. They were squared off across the bedroom, her on one side, Beau and Cass on the other. “You’re still holding back,” he said. “From us. From this. And I think it’s because you’re still afraid. Not of us. Not of them. Not even of the locker room. You’re afraid of what you want. You’re afraid of your desires and who you are. But, Marian, you don’t have to be. We love you. We love everything about you. And that includes your desires, anything you desire.”

  “What are you trying to tell me?” she asked, confused, her stomach still in knots.

  “Danny doesn’t like you seeing the two of us,” Beau said. She turned her attention to him.

  “No, he doesn’t. But he just needs to get to know you better,” she told him earnestly. “When he does, he’ll see that you’re not like those others. You’re good for me.”

  “Both you and Danny,” Cass said. “The only experience you had with the sort of sex we like was that night in the locker room. I’m going to try a little armchair psychiatry, okay?” He sat back down on the bed. “That night, what you both learned was that it was bad. Wanting kinky sex was bad. Right?”

  Marian hesitantly walked over and sat back down next to him. “Maybe, okay. What about it? I know that’s not true now. Because of you two.”

  “But Danny doesn’t,” Beau said, crouching in front of her and taking her hand in his. “Danny has never seen what it can be between people who care for one another, people who share the same desires.”

  Marian’s heart was beating fast. She couldn’t take a deep breath. “No,” she agreed breathlessly.

  “And you still think that being with more than one guy will lead to bad things,” Cass said. “Don’t you?”

  “No,” she said firmly. “I’m not afraid to be with you two.”

  “What about more than two of us?” Cass asked. “What about…five?”

  Marian’s gaze darted between the two of them. “Are you asking me what I think you’re asking me?”

  “Danny’s not fitting in here,” Cass said, not answering her question. “I think he’s trying, but he’s fought it so hard for so long that he doesn’t know how anymore.”

  “And you think having an orgy is going to solve his problems?” Marian asked incredulously.

  Beau snorted. “This is hardly an orgy. Trust me.”

  “Don’t go there,” she warned. “We’re not talking about your past.”

  “No, we’re talking about yours,” he shot back. “And Danny’s.”

  “What do you think he’s been fighting? Liking other football players? Working with a team?”

  “The fact that he found the idea of being with multiple partners arousing,” Cass said bluntly. “I think when he walked in on that scene his first reaction was excitement, and he’s never forgiven himself for it.”

  “Whoa, Nelly,” Marian said, holding up her hand. “You weren’t kidding about the armchair psychology.”

  “It makes sense, Marian,” Beau said. “His anger, the self-loathing that you’ve described. He needs to know it’s not wrong, that he’s not sick or broken or capable of hurting a woman like you were hurt that night.”

  Marian’s head was reeling. It did make sense. In this twisted world she lived in, it made sense. Danny didn’t just hate himself for not going to the authorities, but for wanting the very thing that had hurt her so badly. She raised a shaking hand and brushed a loose hair off her cheek. “What do you want me to do?”

  “Nothing that you don’t want to,” Cass said. “Do you trust me?”

  “You know I do,” she said without hesitation.

  “And me?” Beau asked.

  “Yes,” she said, squeezing his ha
nd. “I know you would never, ever hurt me. Either of you. You love me.”

  “Do you trust Danny?” Cass asked.

  “Absolutely,” she said with conviction.

  “What about Tyler and Tom?” Beau asked. “We weren’t sure. I mean, we thought so.”

  “Yes.” She nodded. “I trust both of them. Tyler doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. And Tom, he’s just so goofy and sweet. But he’s a kid.”

  “He’s twenty-three,” Beau said with a smile. “And you know he’d argue about the kid thing. That makes him crazy.”

  “Tell me,” she whispered. “Tell me what you want me to do.”

  “I want you to enjoy yourself,” Cass said, leaning over and kissing that special spot behind her ear. “I want to give you pleasure,” he whispered in her ear. “More pleasure than you can bear. I want you to be worshipped and loved and satisfied in every way possible.”

  “Well, when you put it like that,” she said breathlessly. “How can I say no?”

  Chapter 27

  Marian sat there at the dining table laughing at one of Tyler’s stupid jokes, her empty plate pushed out of the way. Beau watched her. He couldn’t help himself. She was gorgeous; Tom had got that right. Her sexy hairstyle was falling down, wisps of her silky blond hair along her cheeks and the nape of her neck. Cass had lit candles all around the big dining room, and they glinted in her hair and made her skin look smooth and golden. He wanted her. But then, he always wanted her.

  They had all decided it was best to eat first. After all, the guys had been invited over for dinner. They didn’t know what else. Beau suspected Tyler had a clue. But football players were pretty useless for anything until you fed them.

  “So, what is this,” Tom asked. “An intervention?” He pushed his plate away. He’d eaten enough for three men. Typical single guy eating someone else’s food.

  “What?” Tyler asked with alarm. “Not another one. I swear, I haven’t touched anything in years.”