Pepper Espinoza

Patton Cooper won three national championships as the starting quarterback for the Los Angeles Marauders, but that didn’t stop them from trading him to Phoenix without so much as a warning. At thirty-two, he finds himself weighed down by old injuries and forced to start over again as a backup quarterback for an untried rookie. Deeply hurt by the betrayal of both his team and his ex-lover, Patton keeps to himself and takes what solace he can in football.<br><br>Cornerback DeShawn Jones has loved two things in his life -- football and Patton Cooper. It seems like his dreams have come true when he’s drafted to play for the Phoenix Wildcats, until he realizes the coach has no intention of letting him start, and his childhood hero is a withdrawn, wary man. But DeShawn refuses to give up on his dreams of playing, or his hope of reaching Patton.<br><br>A tentative connection forms between the two men, but the pressures of the game may be too much for the relationship to withstand. Especially when DeShawn is given the chance of a lifetime while Patton struggles not to relive the mistakes from his past.

Mr. November

“This pup thinks he’s big enough to start nipping at my heels. You’re his buddy, aren’t you? Keep him away from me.”


DeShawn tried to twist away from Patton’s hold, but Patton’s grip was too firm. He half-walked, half-dragged DeShawn past the locker room to one of the coordinator’s offices and slammed the door shut behind them.


“What the fuck are you doing dragging me in here like I’m some kid in detention?”


“What the fuck are you doing picking fights?”


“You should have heard the shit he was saying about you.”


“I don’t give a fuck what he said about me.”


“You’d care if he started turning the whole team against you.”


Patton ground his teeth together. “You don’t have to jump in and defend my honor every time somebody’s an asshole. It’s not necessary or wanted.”


“I was being a good friend and a good teammate.”


“No, you weren’t. You’re being a child.”


Chapter 38