Page 7 of No Going Back

Half an hour in, Harry and Jeb collapse dramatically in the middle of the floor, sprawling out like they’ve been shot.

Coach barks a laugh, shaking his head. “Alright, take a break, guys. I’ll go easy on you today!”

I bend forward, hands on my knees, chest heaving as sweat drips off my forehead onto the turf. The cold air feels good against my burning skin.

Then a hand lands on my lower back, familiar, and Remy’s voice comes from behind me. “Here you go, man.” He holds my water bottle out in front of my face.

I straighten fast and step away, just enough that it doesn’t look obvious, but yeah… I don’t want to be touched right now. I take the bottle from him, tip my head back, and chug a long gulp, the cold water cutting through the heat in my throat.

Remy grins, wiping his own face with the hem of his shirt. “I did good, huh?”

I close the bottle, letting out a breathless laugh. “Better than usual.”

He shoves my shoulder playfully. “Ah, you’ll always be the cap. I could never beat your ass.”

My eyes go wide before I can stop them. He didn’t mean it like that, but my brain goes straight there anyway: he literally did beat my ass, beat into it with his dick not even an hour ago. I don’t say anything. But heat crawls up my neck, and I just lower myself carefully to the cool floor, stretching out on my stomach so I don’t have to put any pressure on my still-sore ass. I fold my arms under my head, close my eyes, and let out a slow breath. Honestly, it would be perfect if Coach just let us chill like this for the rest of the session.

The guys are strewn all over the hall like we just survived a war… most flat on their backs on the turf, a few sitting up against the walls chugging water, Matteo draped dramatically across one of the benches like he’s posing for a Renaissance painting of a dying soldier. I’m not really listening, eyes still closed, cheek pressed to my folded arms, trying to let the cold floor soak the heat out of me.

Then Harry’s voice cuts through. “Man, Remy was on fire today. What’d you eat for breakfast, bro? Lightning?”

Tyler laughs. “Nah, he only plays like that when he’s been laid. Facts.”

My whole body freezes, heart kicking hard against my ribs. Fuck.

“Is Hannah back or something?” Tyler adds, curious but casual.

Remy laughs, so fucking easy, so light… that it starts to grate on me for no good reason. He’s acting like sliding into your best friend is no different from a handshake, like it’s nothing. But to me it feels huge, heavier than I want to admit. I haven’t had actual sex in months… perfectly happy jerking off when the mood hit, and now I’m praying I can just go back to that normal, uncomplicated place.

“Nah,” Remy says smoothly. “Just found a new porno that really did the trick for me.”

Harry slaps the floor, howling. “No way!”

Matteo lifts his head from the bench. “Oh, was it Busty Asian Beauties? Love that channel…”

Remy laughs louder, clicks his fingers, and points right at him. “Exactly, my man!”

The whole group cracks up, totally buying it. Easy lie, easy laughs. Then Remy’s laugh drops lower, quieter, and I feel two quick pats on my back… like he’s checking in, or reassuring me, or something. I don’t move. I don’t react at all.

Jeb pipes up from the floor. “Yo, you two coming to my house party? New place, fifteen-minute walk from here.”

I lift one hand just enough to give a weak thumbs-up without opening my eyes.

Remy answers for both of us. “Yeah, dude, of course. When is it?”

“Next Saturday, the eleventh,” Jeb says.

“Cool, I’ll be there,” Remy nods. “You invite a lot of people?”

“Whole team, plus whoever they wanna bring. It’s gonna be a riot.”

The energy picks up instantly… guys whooping, already planning pre-games.

Then Marcus chimes in, grinning. “Cole could do with getting laid, though. Look at him sulking down there.”

I sigh loud enough for them to hear. Before I can brace, fingers dig into my ribs, tickling hard. I jerk, a surprised laugh bursting out as I twist away.

Tyler’s hovering over me, smirking. “Yeah, this big grumpy caveman needs some of whatever Remy had. Been a right miserable twat this afternoon.”