Catching Chance

by M. E. Parker

  “Are you sure?” I asked, trying to remember whether Cam was right. Surely Chance would have told me if I was supposed to dress up.

  “I’m positive. I’m dressing up. Jordy’s dressing up. Ben is determined to wear those ridiculous pink pants with his Lions jersey—something about wearing it last year and jinxes. I don’t know. But we’ll be pretending he’s not with us.”

  I let out a breath. “Ugh. Just tell me what to wear.” I could have spent the next ten minutes arguing with him, but it would’ve been pointless.

  Cam disappeared into my closet. “We have to hurry. The sitter will be here in thirty minutes.”

  “Oh my gosh, Cam, Gabe doesn’t need a sitter.”

  He reappeared holding a pair of grey dress slacks and the green cashmere sweater my mother had given me for Christmas the year before. “Andy, we are going to be gone for like four hours. Did your parents leave you alone for four hours when you were seven months old?”

  I laughed. “Probably not. But then again, I’m not a dog.”

  Cam gasped dramatically. “I told you not to say that in front of him. He didn’t mean it,” he said as he sat down next to Gabe and scratched his head. I looked down at the puppy and realized that he was wearing a new sweater. It was green and had Chance’s football number, 13, on the back. It was probably hand-knitted.

  Cam had made friends with Shelia’s roommate from upstairs. I had finally learned that her name was Lauren and that she was a fashion design major, and apparently spent most of her free time designing and sewing clothes for Gabe. At first, I was worried that Cam was torturing him by dressing him every day, but he’d gotten so used to it that he got anxious if he was naked. I rolled my eyes and gave him a pat on his little fat belly.

  “You are the single most spoiled puppy on the face of the earth.” I looked up at Cam, who was smiling proudly.

  Cam jumped up. “Get dressed. I’ll be back in fifteen minutes to do your hair.”

  “I can do my own hair,” I complained, as he left the room ignoring me.

  An hour later, after Cam had messed with my hair until it was “perfect”, I found myself sitting in Gilcrest Stadium in the first row on the fifty-yard line. Ben was to my right and Cam and Jordy to my left. My mom, Lizzy, and Charlie were sitting in the row behind us. I was nervous and feeling a bit sad. It would be the last time I’d watch him play. He was completely at peace though. He’d gotten an internship at the same architectural firm as Jordy and he was so excited. He had also been volunteering his time at football camps and had been to several of the high schools in the area to talk to student athletes.

  Yep, he’s pretty much perfect, I thought as I saw the team run out onto the field.

  Ben grabbed my arm and jumped from his seat, screaming like a crazy person. He was in heaven. Christmas had come early for him. We had the best seats in the entire stadium. As soon as Chance came into view, I was kicking myself for not taking him up on his offer to sit in the seats all season. I could see him perfectly. As soon as he reached the sidelines, he found me, giving me a wink and a smile. Butterflies swirled through my stomach as I smiled back at him and waved. I immediately sat down and sent him a text: Your ass looks spectacular from here.

  By the end of the first half, I was feeling more relaxed. Mostly because Chance seemed to be having the time of his life. He seemed relaxed. The Lions were behind by one touchdown, but they were playing great, considering it was UNC. Chance was smiling the whole time and encouraging his teammates. He winked at me before he ran off the field. I quickly sent him a picture of Gabe wearing his new sweater. I’d taken it before we left. Then I sent him another text: If you want your post-game blow job, you better win.

  I smiled when I received his reply: Wait. What? I have to win?

  I grinned as I typed: Yep.

  I laughed out loud when I got his reply: Monkey! It’s the last post-game blow job ever. I guess I better win. He’d added a frowning emoji to make his point. Then another came through: I love you, monkey.

  My mother took that moment to tap me on the shoulder. “Are you texting with Chance? What did he say? This is so exciting!”

  My face turned ten thousand shades of red as I shoved my phone back in my pocket. “Nothing. I was just wishing him luck,” I lied.

  My texts must have worked because the game was tied, with a minute left on the clock, and Chance made the most beautiful forty-yard pass to Travis, who was waiting for it in the end zone. UNC fumbled on the second down and that was it. We’d won.

  The crowd was going wild. Ben was absolutely losing his shit. Even Cam and Jordy were hugging and jumping up and down. I looked back at Lizzy and Charlie, who were embracing with tears in their eyes. All I could do was stand there with my arms crossed, watching as Chance celebrated with his teammates. The game had gone perfectly. I was so damn happy for him. There was no doubt we’d be celebrating with everyone all night. But I knew one thing, I was going to get at least fifteen minutes alone with him. He had more than earned a post-game blow job. I was toying with the idea of going back to the locker room. He’d given me a pass. I could at least wait for him outside the door. My lips were itching to kiss him.

  I was about to tell Cam I was going to head to the locker room when the announcer’s voice came over the intercom. “Ladies and gentlemen, please remain seated for a special post-game presentation.” I wondered what was going on. Chance hadn’t mentioned anything about awards. I sat back down in my seat and searched for him, but I’d lost him in the crowd. I looked down and saw my bracelet and began to run my fingers over the silver bar, as I’d done so many times before.

  Ben leaned over. “What’s this all about?”

  I shrugged and looked up again to find Chance. The players were lining up on either side of the fifty-yard line. It looked like the entire Gilcrest team, plus a bunch of the UNC guys too. But I couldn’t find Chance. I noticed Travis running towards the stands. He climbed up on the railing. He was smiling at me. What the hell?

  “Andy Michaelson, your presence is requested on the field,” he yelled over the crowd.

  “What? No!” I said, furiously shaking my head. I looked up at the jumbotron only to find that my face was plastered across it. I tried to form some sort of smile and gave a small wave. It was all completely awkward. Abba’s ‘Take a Chance’ began to blare through the speakers. I immediately turned to Cam, wondering if I could murder him right then and there.

  He shrugged. “Not me, but can I just say … I’m totally loving this.”

  The crowd around me started chanting, “Andy, Andy, Andy,” until the entire stadium was cheering my name. I felt like I might pass out or at least throw up.

  Just then, I heard Coach Mayes bellow my name. “Michaelson!” I looked down to find him smiling up at me. “Get your ass on the field.”

  I looked back at Travis who was wiggling his eyebrows at me grinning from ear to ear. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. I have to go down there. I have no choice. My legs shook as I climbed over the railing. They shook even more as Travis led me to the field. As soon as I made it to the sideline, I looked up to find Chance walking towards me. He had his helmet in his hand. His hair was wild and damp on the ends. He had a bright smile. His dark eyes never strayed from mine as he walked towards me. He was beautiful. The guys were yelling at him and patting him on the shoulder as he passed each one. I had no clue what was happing.

  When he reached me, he dropped his helmet on the ground. He grabbed both of my hands. I couldn’t help but smile at him, but I wanted to know what the hell was going on, so I asked him through clenched teeth, “What the hell are you doing?”

  He chuckled. “Making sure you say yes.”

  I furrowed my brow. “To what?”

  He looked down at his cleats and looked back up to me. His big brown eyes were watery. “I know we said ‘someday’. Maybe this isn’t your idea of ‘someday’, and I can wait if it isn’t. But I can’t wait another day for you to promise me that no matter what, there wil
l be a ‘someday’.”

  I swallowed hard, feeling tears well in my eyes. “Oh my god, Chance.”

  He dropped to one knee. “Andy, I’ve loved you since we were six. Now, I’m so in love with you that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?” he asked, holding up a tiny silver ring.

  “Oh my—yes, oh my god, yes! Come here.” In that moment, I managed to forget that there was an entire football stadium watching us. I pulled him into a tight hug. “I love you so much.”

  He pulled away and smiled at me. “I love you too, monkey,” he said, before he leaned in to kiss me.

  There was an entire stadium cheering behind us. But none of that mattered to me. He was the only thing that mattered to me.

  THE END.

  Want more Gilcrest University Guys? Keep reading for a SNEAK PEEK at Cam’s Story, Resisting Rein, Coming this summer!!

  Cameron

  Nervously pacing up and down the sidewalk on Main Street, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and checked it for the eleventh time. I’d told Andy to text me as soon as he and Chance were done having lunch with their parents. It was nearly 5:00 p.m. I groaned, “How could lunch possibly take three hours?” I looked down at Gayby, who was resting in my arms, and giggled. “You look cute as fuck,” I said as I scratched the little brown spot on the top of his head. He was wearing a green graduation robe, just like mine.

  Our graduation ceremony was over. I was officially a graduate. A Gilcrest University graduate just like my brother, my father, my uncle, and grandfather, who all came before me. If someone would have asked me four years ago what I’d be doing after graduation, I would have sworn I’d be getting the hell out of Gilcrest, North Carolina. But the sleepy little college town had become my home.

  I let out a sigh and walked over to a bench on the sidewalk and sat down. There were a lot of things to love about Gilcrest. Like the perfect views of the Appalachian Mountains, the old brick sidewalks and historic buildings. There was also a strong, but close knit LBGTQ community. But what I loved most about Gilcrest were the guys. My best friends. They had become family to me. I looked down at Gayby and situated his graduation gown. It fit him perfectly.

  The guys gave me shit about having Gayby’s clothes custom made. But really, there was just nothing cute off the rack for puppies. I ran my fingers over his soft, floppy ear. I’d swore I’d never have a dog after my evil father had made my own dog, Lulu, disappear when I was twelve years old. But I’d made an exception for Gayby. He wasn’t actually mine anyway. I was just his uncle. He belonged to my roommate, Andy and his hot AF fiancé, Chance Wyrick, former quarterback for the Gilcrest Lions. I was just Gayby’s uncle. “Seriously, where the hell are they?” I asked the puppy, who opened one eye and immediate closed it again to resume his nap.

  I couldn’t take it anymore. I reached in my pocket and pulled out my phone, opening our group text.

  ME: 911. Meet on Main Street immediately. Hurry!

  I smiled when I saw that Andy typing.

  ANDY: Where are you?

  ME: Across the street from the coffee shop. Hurry!!!!!

  ANDY: Is this an actual emergency?

  ME: YES. COME NOW.

  ANDY: Last time you sent out a 911 call it was because you couldn’t decide what Gabe should wear to Wild Orchid.

  I snickered when I read Andy’s text. It was true. Wild Orchid was the only LGBTQ friendly bar in Gilcrest. Me and the guys went at least once a week. Despite violating a number of health department codes, I’d some how convinced the owner to let us bring Gayby. Now he was a regular at Wild Orchid just like us. “That was an emergency, wasn’t it, Gayby?” I chuckled as I shot off another text to Andy.

  ME: ANDY!!!! 911

  ANDY: What’s the emergency?

  JORDAN: I’ll bet $5.00 it’s a celebrity siting.

  BEN: $10.00 Gabe pooed on the sidewalk and Cam doesn’t want to clean it up.

  I rolled my eyes, “It’s a good thing this isn’t a real emergency. You’re the only one I can count on.” I said to the sleeping dog in my lap. I crinkled up my nose when I saw Chance send a string of laughing/crying emojis. Then another text came through.

  CHANCE: On our way.

  I sighed in relief as soon as I saw Chance’s text. “At least you have one smart daddy,” I said as I picked up Gayby. That wasn’t really true. Andy was probably smarter than all of us combined. He’d graduated with highest honors with a degree in Biological Chemistry. But for some reason, had decided he wanted to bake cookies for a living. Chance and Jordan were in the Architecture Program and they had another year left of school. Ben was an Education major and had a year of student teaching to go to get his Masters degree. So, Andy and I were the only ones who’d graduated. But still, it was the beginning of the end. It made me sad.

  I stood and walked over to the old store front and ran my fingers across the butcher paper that covered the front door. Andy was going to freak out. He was going to say it was too much. He was going to get mad. He would say that I was too generous. He would refuse to accept my offer. But I would convince him.

  Andy only saw good in me. Maybe that’s why I loved him so much. But I wasn’t good. I wasn’t generous. I was selfish. I was an asshole who manipulated people with my money, just like my father. I was a spoiled brat. I wanted us all together in Gilcrest indefinitely and I’d figured out a way to make that happen for everyone but Ben. But I’d figure that out how to keep Ben here too. I sighed and kissed Gayby on the head. “He’s gonna be mad, isn’t he?” I needed it to all work out. My uncles had just left for a two-month trip Europe. Ben, Jordy, Andy, and Chance were my family and I needed us all to be together.

  About ten minutes later, the four of them were crossing the street. “What’s the emergency?” Ben asked. I ignored him and waited for everyone to gather around.

  “Cam, what are we doing here? I’m exhausted,” Andy complained.

  “Will you keep your panties on? I’m trying to give you a graduation surprise,” I snapped, immediately wishing I hadn’t said it. Andy looked nervous. Probably because we were standing in front of what used to be Sam’s Bakery, where he’d worked for the last four years until Sam decided to retire and sell the place.

  “Cam, what have you done?” Andy asked.

  “Okay,” I said, handing Gayby over to Ben to free my hands, “You have to promise not freak out. You have to hear me out before you say anything.” Andy furrowed his brow in confusion.

  I reached up and ripped off the butcher paper to reveal the new “Andy’s Bakery” logo that I’d had made for the door. I glanced back at Andy who was staring at it. His hands were in his pockets. He looked shocked.

  “Holy Shit,” Jordan whispered.

  Ben’s laughter rolled through the air as he patted me on the back, “This may be craziest and greatest thing you’ve ever done.”

  “Oh my god, Cam. You can’t. What did you do?” Andy asked.

  I reached into my pocket and pulled out a key and unlocked the door. As I stepped inside, I looked back at the guys and said, “Well, are you all just going to stand there?” Everyone shuffled inside except for Andy, who was just standing there staring at me, frozen on the sidewalk. “Well, come on, Andy,” I said.

  He shook his head. “No. Nope. No.”

  “Andy, quit acting like a child, come inside.”

  “Cam! You can’t—this isn’t—you can’t just buy someone a bakery for graduation. I got you a pen. A pen! No. This is ridiculous. Everyone come out, we’re going home.” His cheeks were an adorable shade of red.

  “First of all, you got me a Montblanc, not a ‘pen,’” I said using air quotes. “Second, you promised you wouldn’t freak out and that you’d listen.”

  He shook his head. “I totally did not promise that.”

  Chance pushed in front of me and grabbed his hand, “Come on, monkey, at least hear him out,” he said, pulling Andy through the door.

  “Oh my god, no. This is too much. Chance,
you know this too much,” he said frowning at his fiancé.

  “Just listen,” I interrupted. “I’m sick of all of your baking stuff all over the kitchen and random people keep showing up at the apartment for cookies. It’s unsettling. You need this. I need this.”

  He shook his head. “No. This is crazy. I can’t afford this. I’ll never be able to pay for this. I won’t be able to pay you back. This is wrong. I can’t let you do this.”

  Clearly this is going to be harder than I thought, “First of all, you will be able to pay me back. I saw Sam’s books when I bought the place. I figure you can give me ten percent of the profits for the first couple of years until I get my money back and then I’ll take five percent. It’s an investment, Andy. Second, I didn’t buy this place for you, I bought it for me.”

  I grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the hallway. The guys followed as I pointed toward the door leading upstairs.

  “What’s up there?” Jordan asked.

  “Sam’s old apartment,” Andy replied.

  “Not anymore,” I said dramatically before I ripped off the butcher paper revealing the ‘Ansley Designs’ logo I had made for the door. The truth was that I didn’t really need the space to start my interior design business. But it would be nice to have a studio where clients could come to me. Besides there was room to have two extra offices built for Jordy and Chance after they graduated and I convinced them to come work with me. But I decided that it would be best to save that idea for another day.

  I turned by to Andy, “Now do you get my point?”

  “No, no I don’t,” he said. His cheeks were still bright red.

  “My point is,” I said, making up lies as I went, “I need a bakery at the entrance of my studio. So, when people come in, they smell fresh baked cookies. Fresh baked cookies remind people of home. Fresh baked cookies make people think of interior design.”