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The mutual attraction was already a matter of record, so rather than jumping Josh’s bones, Tyler seemed determined to savor all the small steps, continually testing and exploring what Josh liked, what he needed, what he wanted.

And vice versa. Now that the ice was broken and all bets were off, Josh learned to read Tyler’s moods and messages without second-guessing himself. Josh didn’t need to wonder about the myth of Tyler, so instead he indulged his genuine curiosity about the man.

They still ran every morning and worked out in the weight room a couple times a week. Only now they ate together most nights, either at his place or Tyler’s. They dated each other like actual adults, blue balls and all. And Tyler sometimes came by the school to help out with busywork.

The kids and faculty knew they were friends, so Tyler’s presence wasn’t weird. Plus, Tyler seemed to relish being productive, having something to do. His recovery was visible now and more rapid every day.

Nine days after their first kiss, Josh was loading the bus for an away game in Escondido when Tyler turned up in the parking lot by the gym.

“Well, you’re a sight for sore everything.” Tyler ambled toward him.

“Hey, superstar.” Their eyes and smiles held a few extra beats. They had to be cautious on school grounds, and PDAs were a no-go, obviously. And Josh knew that kids would be turning up in the next hour.

“I was worried I missed you.” Tyler thumped the bus. “Escondido tonight, right?”

“Mmh.” He patted his pocket to make sure he’d brought the rolls of tape and the extra ankle brace for his quarterback.

Tyler passed him two of the duffels filled with the team’s pads. “I wish I could come watch.”

“Same. Sorry.” Josh could only imagine what the appearance of an NFL player at a scruffy high school stadium would do to the crowd.

“Nah.” Tyler frowned and lowered his voice. “It should be about them. I’m just bored and horny. Missing somebody.”

“Sorry.” The game wouldn’t finish till late, so they’d make it back to school sometime after ten. As they circled the bus, Josh ran through his mental prep list. “And sorry about dinner too. I’ll make it up.”

“We’re good. Promise. I actually came to ask a favor.”

Something in his voice made Josh pause in his prep and turn.

“If you’re cool with it. I wanted to ask…. Any chance you could drive me to the cardiologist after practice tomorrow? I know it’s a long way—”

Tyler had never let anyone but Nadia meet his doctors. “To Reynolds? Of course.” He knew this was a bigger deal than Tyler made it seem. “Is Nadia okay?”

“Oh. Yeah. She just thought….” He looked at the ground, hands in his pockets, before continuing. “Well, actually I’d like you to know what’s what. With me.”

“You’ve got a deal. Thank you.”

Tyler looked up, eyes bright. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. For real.” He blinked. “That means a lot. What time?”

Tyler looked sheepish. “Late afternoon. I sort of snuck into your office to check your calendar. Elise might have verified your times.”

“Then you’ve got yourself a chauffeur.” Josh chuckled as he finished checking the first aid kit.

Tyler climbed into the bus behind him to load the two empty Gatorade drums in beside the other gear. “I don’t want you thinking I’m sneaking off to meet some secret boyfriend in San Diego.”

“Duh. No.” Josh made a face but then realized he’d never asked the question. Everything he knew about Tyler’s love life was local gossip and tabloid guff. “Have you dated a lot?”

“Of guys?” Tyler shrugged. “A few. Athletes and actors mostly, because that’s what my publicist sets up. But I kept it quiet. I’ve never… uh—” He pressed his lips together. “Gotten serious. About anything other than football, I mean.”

“Me neither.”

“Mostly I hooked up with people who knew the deal. Simpler. Safer. Mainly dudes because they seem to get it more. The team owners can get exploitative about our personal lives.”

“So… not homophobic.”

“Less than you’d think. But more than you might notice. They don’t much care. They care about the money more than who’s in my bed. Nobody important gives a hoot nowadays. It’s a relief.” Tyler glanced through the bus windows at the parking lot. “Funny to think how much energy I used to spend keeping up appearances with models or whatever. Chicks.”