by E. Walsh
At the end of ten minutes, Steve was up by a point. A single point, but in basketball as with any other sport, it made all the difference.
Steve had won.
“I guess I’m staying on the team,” Steve said, wiping the sweat off his brow with the back of his arm before raising his hand to offer Jonah a high-five. “I’m looking forward to playing great games with you, partner.”
Jonah frowned. Yes, Steve was skillful, and yes, he had won the game, but that didn’t mean Jonah liked him. In fact, he liked Steve even less now that he had beaten him.
“Don’t call me by my first name,” he told Steve, walking past him. “We might be teammates, but we’re not friends and we’re definitely not partners.”
“Oh, come on,” Steve whined. “It’s not like I’m going to steal your spotlight or your court time or something. I just want to play.”
Jonah wanted to punch the guy. He’d been beaten by a freshman, a rookie who didn’t even love basketball as much as he did. He found himself hating Steve more and more by the second.
“Come on, man. I just—”
“Just shut it, will you?” Jonah walked away.
Damn. Steve McDaniels was annoying. Jonah couldn’t imagine how he’d be able to survive being in the same locker room with him for the next three years, let alone sitting next to him on the bench or playing alongside him on the floor.
It was going to be a long three years.
He sighed. Well, at least, he didn’t have to see him outside of practice and games.
* * *
Chapter Two
“Starting tomorrow, we’ll all be living under the same roof,” Coach Zack Henson announced the next day after team practice. “At least, you guys will be.”
Jonah dropped his towel as he looked at his coach with wide eyes, the sweaty piece of fabric falling between his feet. What on earth was Coach Henson talking about?
“Mr. McDaniel has kindly purchased the old Sigma Phi Beta fraternity house,” Coach Henson explained. “He thought it would be a great idea for the team to live together, you know, develop a real sense of camaraderie and gel together. The Dean, and I, think it’s an awesome idea.”
It took Jonah a moment to realize that Mr. McDaniel was Malcolm McDaniel, Steve’s rich dad. When the realization hit, he felt the blood rushing to his brain. That son of a bitch...
“So, a big thanks to Mr. McDaniel,” Coach Henson continued, spurring a round of applause. “So tonight, we’re moving into The Lair.”
“The what?” Jonah asked.
“The Lair,” the coach said with a broad grin.
“Because we’re the Jackals, stupid,” Nate Parker, the assistant team captain, answered.
“Right,” Coach Henson confirmed. “Jackals live in lairs.”
“Do we really have to?” Jonah was unable to keep quiet any longer. “Live together, I mean. Even professional players don’t have to live together.”
“They do when they go out of town,” Nate said.
Jonah glared at him. “We’re not out of town.”
“Well, professional basketball players aren’t bound to a team,” the coach said. “They can always switch to another. They just have to sign a new contract, move to a new city, and put on a different jersey. But we’re not like that. We’re all stuck with each other. We’re a real team.” He looked directly at Jonah. “Whether you like it or not.”
“Plus we fight for honor, for school pride, not for money,” Duncan added. “We have a single goal, so we have to be united.”
Jonah frowned. Not Duncan, too.
“Nate and Duncan are both right,” Coach Henson said. “Look at the pros, the so-called superstars. They fight left and right, on and off the court. We shouldn’t try to be like them. I mean, we should aspire to be as skillful, but we shouldn’t behave the same way, right?”
Every player except Jonah nodded.
“Anyway, you’re all moving into The Lair and that’s final,” the coach said, rubbing his hands together. Again, he looked directly at Jonah. “Unless you don’t want to be a Jackal anymore.”
Jonah looked away, registering the threat. Obviously Steve’s dad’s money trumped his skill and ability. He’d either fall in line or be off the team. He could barely contain his anger.
“Chill, guys.” Steve stood up. “I’m sure you’ll love the place. Coach said it’s old, but by that, he meant ‘former’. The building’s fairly new, actually.”
“Why didn’t Sigma want it anymore?” Dennis Xavier, one of the juniors, asked.
“Because they got too many new members and the house was too small for them,” Steve answered. “But I think it’s just the perfect size for us. There’ll be two, three at most, in a room and some rooms even have their own showers.”
“Cool,” Eli Jones, who was sitting next to Jonah, said.
“Does it have a hot tub?” Ben asked.
“No,” said Steve. “But it’s got a pool, a gym, and a snack bar.”
“Yes!” Ben threw his fist in the air.
“No gaming room?” Garth Lawrence, center for The Jackals, asked, disappointed.
Steve shook his head. “Sorry, Garth.”
“You’re supposed to get plenty of sleep,” Coach Henson reminded. “You might be staying at a former Greek house, but you’re athletes. Don’t you forget. No staying up late and no drinking.”
“And no girls,” Duncan added.
“What?” A few players protested.
That Jonah didn’t have a problem with. He hadn’t dated in years. Not that the girls weren’t interested in him. A sports jersey always attracted girls like bees to honey. It was he who wasn’t interested. How would he be when all the girls who were after him were self-centered and only liked him because he was popular? They would only demand attention and get in his way.
“Does it have a flat screen TV at least?” Garth asked. “You know, for watching the NBA.”
“And porn,” Ben joked.
“Oh, shut up,” Nate scolded.
Those two always ended up arguing, though they were best friends.
“There’s a TV,” Steve answered. “60 incher.”
Someone whistled.
Steve grinned. “Like I said, I’m sure you guys are gonna love the place.”
*
Jonah wasn’t so sure. The Lair was great, yes, especially compared to his old dorm. The rooms more spacious and better furnished. It had even been decorated just for them.
Pictures of current and previous Jackals hung on the walls, as well as the team’s banners and posters of NBA legends. There was a wood-carved jackal in the living room, too, and a basketball signed by Michael Jordan inside a glass case.
There was no mistaking it for a fraternity house now. Plus, the place was closer to the basketball court. Still, Jonah couldn’t bring himself to believe that this change of residence was for the best.
“Need help with those bags?” Steve asked, standing at the top of the stairs.
That guy was probably the main reason.
“What do you think I am? A lady?” Jonah went up the stairs and past him.
“Trust me. If you were a lady, I would be much nicer.”
“Yeah. If I were a lady, you’d be having a nice time inside my panties.”
“Chicks dig me. I don’t dig them.”
“Whatever.”
“Man, you need to get laid. You’re so stiff.”
“You know what? Just because your rich daddy can tell me where I’m supposed to live doesn’t mean you can tell me how I’m supposed to live my life.”
“See what I mean? I was only giving a suggestion.”
“Rich people don’t give suggestions.” Jonah paused at the end of the hall, none of the doors he had passed having his name on them. Where was his room supposed to be?
“Ah. You might want to go here.” Steve pointed to the opposite hall.
Jonah slowly turned around.
“Oh, by the way, that’s not a suggest
ion.”
Jonah walked in the opposite direction, frowning.
Unbelievable? Didn’t Steve know where to stop? How much more did he have to endure from this rich asshole?
He stopped at the end of the other hall, his name on the door right next to Steve’s.
Holy shit.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Jonah whirled. “You did this on purpose, didn’t you?”
“What are you talking about? It’s only normal for a new player to rely on one of the older ones to show him the ropes.”
“Don’t give me that look,” Jonah told him, angry now. “You’re anything but innocent, and there’s no way in hell I’m bunking with you.”
“Don’t worry. I promise not to touch you.”
“Very funny.”
Jonah started walking down the hall.
“Where are you going?” Steve asked him.
“To see if there’s anywhere else I can stay.”
“Nope. All the other rooms are taken.”
“Then I’ll sleep in the living room.”
“I’m afraid the couch isn’t that comfy. Do you really want to get a bad back?”
Jonah stopped, sighing. It seemed like he was cornered. Again.
“Fine. I’ll share a room with you.” He headed back towards the end of the hall. “But you better not set foot in my half of the room.”
“We can even draw a line if you want.” Steve followed him. “We’ll have to share the bathroom, though.”
Jonah glared at him.
“I mean, we’ll take turns,” Steve said. “Though of course, if you want to take a shower with me, I—”
“You never shut up, do you?”
Jonah entered the room, setting his bags down on the floor as he sat on the edge of his bed, which was opposite Steve’s.
Great. Just great. Of all the guys on the team, he was stuck with the spoiled brat.
He could only hope Steve didn’t snore.
* * *
Chapter Three
Thankfully, Steve didn’t snore. He wasn’t messy, either, or noisy. He always used his headphones when he played music and took his calls outside. Apart from asking for some toothpaste once, he never asked Jonah for anything or borrowed any of his things like most roommates did. In fact, for someone annoying, he didn’t seem to have any bad roommate habits.
Or so Jonah thought, until he woke up one night to go to the bathroom and noticed Steve sleeping without his blanket.
Completely naked.
Jonah should have just looked away and left him alone. He should have just gone back to bed. Instead, he found himself staring at Steve’s smooth and flawless skin, at his silky hair, the toned muscles of his back and his tight, lean buttocks.
An amazing body.
Show-off.
As if that wasn’t enough, Steve suddenly turned and Jonah’s eyes fell on his broad chest and chiseled abs, a thin trail of hair leading from his bellybutton to his long cock, which was lying lazily over his right thigh.
Now, Jonah looked away, quickly heading to the bathroom. But it was too late. What he had seen remained stuck in his head and it was having a weird effect on him, making him feel light-headed and warm.
No, not warm. More like... hot.
And the heat was gathering right between his legs.
He had felt this way twice before; the first time when one of his teammates in high school mischievously dropped his towel in the locker room, and the second when he went to a party where someone drunk was strip dancing on top of the dining table. It was another reason why he wasn’t interested in girls.
Guys interested him more.
Jonah had never gone out with a guy, though, or told anyone of his preference. And he had no intention of doing so, either. It was just a preference, simple admiration. Nothing more.
Only the throbbing between his legs wasn’t nothing.
Slowly, he reached inside his boxers, wrapped his fingers around his aching cock and started stroking furiously. It took only a few moments before he found relief, covering his hand and the inside of his boxers in the hot cum. He leaned against the wall, breathless, staring at his hand in utter disbelief of what he’d just done.
Alright. So maybe this was more than admiration. Maybe this was attraction. But that was all.
It definitely didn’t mean he liked Steve or wanted to be in a relationship with him.
Jonah shook his head.
No way.
* * *
Chapter Four
“There’s no way we can win,” Duncan said. “Not when we’re playing like this.”
It was halftime at the Jackals’ first game of the season and they were down 13 points. A two-digit deficit—which was no surprise since their turnovers were in the double digits as well.
Jonah frowned. So much for this being his breakout season.
“Duncan is right,” Coach Henson barked. “What’s going on, you guys? You’re not playing as a team. This is not at all what we practiced.”
“Sorry, Coach,” Garth mumbled.
“I don’t want apologies,” the coach said. “I want a turnaround. I want a different team during the second half, one that sticks to the game plan and works together to execute it perfectly. Can I count on you guys to deliver that?”
Steve nodded. “Yes, Coach.”
Coach Henson looked at him. “You’re good, McDaniels, but no one’s asking you to carry the team on your shoulders. In fact, you shouldn’t. I know you want to create a good impression—”
“I was actually just—”
“Trust your teammates, Steve. Pass the ball. Remember, no team has ever won with just one player looking good.”
Steve bowed his head. “Yes, Coach.”
“And you, West—”
Jonah looked up.
“Aren’t you and Steve roommates? Why on earth aren’t the two of you communicating?”
Jonah didn’t answer. He had hardly spoken to Steve since that late night incident. In fact, he had been doing his best to avoid Steve.
“I don’t care what your problem is, leave it off the court,” Coach Henson continued. “When you get out on the floor, the two of you are going to be working together and you’re going to be doing your best. Is that clear?”
Jonah nodded. “Yes, Coach.”
“That goes for all of you. Work together. Work harder. And for god sakes, stop giving the other team the ball. They aren’t winning this game—we’re losing it.” Coach Henson grabbed the drawing board from his assistant. “Listen up. This is what we’re going to do. “
Minutes later, the team filed out of the locker room.
“Hey,” Steve said to Jonah. “You heard what Coach said, right? I know you don’t like me and all—”
“I don’t,” Jonah admitted.
“Great. Now that that’s settled, we need to work together, okay, teammate?”
Jonah looked at the hand Steve was offering. He didn’t want to take it, but Coach Henson was right. They had to set aside their disagreements if they were going to turn this game around. That was what professionals did.
“Okay.” Jonah shook Steve’s hand. “Let’s do this.”
*
“Awesome way to start the season!” Ben shouted an hour later as he placed an arm around Nate. “Damn, that win felt good!”
“Great job, guys!” Duncan rubbed both their heads. “And you, too, West and McDaniels.”
Jonah and Steve raised their hands so that Duncan could give them each a high five.
“You weren’t so bad out there, Jonah,” Steve said.
“Neither were you.”
They gave each other high fives and bumped their chests, laughing. The team’s exuberance was infective.
“I guess we make a great team.” Steve gave him a pat on the back.
Jonah couldn’t deny that. In the end, it had been their combined efforts that had led the team to victory, so much so that their teammates were calling them the new Dynamic D
uo of the Jackals. Who knew that when they worked together, they could be even better? He couldn’t recall any duo in the NBA who worked as well together as they did.
“There’s my winning combination.” Coach Henson joined them, placing his arms around them both. “I knew the two of you could turn this game around.”
“It’s all because of what you said, Coach,” Jonah said.
“Those were just words,” their coach replied. “What the two of you did on the court, now, that was amazing.”
“Thanks, Coach,” Steve said. “I guess now, there’s just one thing left to do.”
Jonah gave him a puzzled look.
Steve smiled. “We’re going to party, of course.”
*
Ben danced in the middle of the living room, his nearly empty bottle of beer up in the air. The music blared throughout the house.
On the couch, Jonah took a sip of beer, slowly working his way through his first bottle. He’d been against drinking at first. In fact, he was against the entire idea of partying. A championship win, that was worth celebrating. The first victory of the season? Not so much.
Still, after some persuasion, he had decided to go along, mostly because the victory was a come-from-behind one and because his teammates promised they wouldn’t be celebrating every victory, just this first one and the last. It also helped that he was in a good mood after playing a good game. Nineteen points and seven assists in twenty-five minutes. That wasn’t bad at all.
While Jonah had hardly left the couch all evening—victory or no victory, he wasn’t going to dance—he had to admit it was a cool party. There were plenty of pizzas, buffalo wings, chips, and beer to go around. Steve even had ice cream bought over. In the living room, music blasted from the speakers courtesy of Dennis, who, as it turned out, had a hidden talent for mixing music. Outside, the laughter and the splashes from the pool went on and on.
With all the music, the food, and the laughter, and all the people congratulating him for playing well, Jonah could almost say he was having fun.
Almost.
