i'm open

Teo runs with the ball. The field smells like mud and cut grass.

This is the last play of the game. His team is down by two points. He must get the ball over the white line to win. The line is ten yards away. Teo is 26. His teammate Brandt is 29.

"Teo! I'm open!"

Brandt is on his left. Brandt's arm is up. Nobody is near him. Brandt is the best player on the team.

Teo does not throw him the ball. Teo holds it tight.

A man from the other team grabs Teo's legs. Teo falls. The air goes out of his chest. The line is one yard away.

The whistle blows. The game is lost. Brandt stops by Teo's head. Brandt does not help him up.

The locker room empties fast. The door shuts. Two men are left.

Brandt sits on the far bench. A bag of ice is strapped to his knee. It must stay on for twenty minutes. A tub of Vaseline sits beside him.

Teo sits across from him. His mouthguard is in his fist. His mouth tastes like rubber and salt.

"Look at me," Brandt says.

Teo looks. His pulse picks up.

"I was right there," Brandt says.

"I had it," Teo says.

Brandt's jaw goes still.

Brandt pulls the ice bag off his knee. He stands up. He walks across the room.

Teo stands up too. They are a foot apart. Teo's heart is loud in his ears.

"You had nothing," Brandt says.

Teo shoves him in the chest with both hands. Brandt takes one step back. Then Brandt grabs Teo's jersey and takes him to the floor.

Teo's back hits the rubber floor mat. Brandt comes down on top of him. Brandt's knees are on each side of Teo's hips. Brandt holds both of Teo's wrists in one hand. He presses them to the mat above Teo's head.

Both men breathe hard. Brandt smells like sweat and mint rub.

Nobody moves. Brandt's face is close above Teo's face. Teo's chest goes up and down fast.

Then Brandt's hand goes loose on Teo's wrists.

Teo could pull free now. His arms stay where they are.

Teo is hard in his shorts. He did not know until now. Brandt is sitting right on it.

"Do you want to get up?" Brandt says.

Teo says no. No sound comes out. He tries again.

"No," Teo says.

"Then tell me what you want," Brandt says.

Teo's throat is tight. "Kiss me," Teo says.

Brandt kisses him. Their teeth knock together. Brandt's mouth tastes like rubber and salt too. Teo's stomach drops.

"Turn over," Brandt says.

Teo rolls onto his stomach. The mat is cold on his cheek. His pulse beats in his throat.

Brandt pulls Teo's shorts down to his knees. The lid of the tub clicks. Two slick fingers push into Teo. It burns a little. Then the burn fades.

Brandt lies down on Teo's back. He is heavy. The head of his cock presses against Teo's hole. He waits.

"Do you want it?" Brandt says.

"Yes," Teo says. His voice shakes.

Brandt pushes in slowly. He is thick. Teo breathes out, and Brandt slides deeper. It stretches and aches. Then Brandt is all the way in. Teo feels full up to his belly.

"Too much?" Brandt says.

"No," Teo says. "Move."

Brandt moves. He goes slow at first. The ache turns to heat. Teo pushes back to meet him.

"Good," Brandt says.

Brandt goes faster. His hips slap against Teo. The mat squeaks. His breath is hot on Teo's neck. Each push hits a spot deep inside. Teo's legs shake. His fingers dig into the mat.

Brandt goes harder. Teo cannot keep quiet now. The heat pulls tight and low in his belly. It keeps getting tighter.

Then Teo lets go. The sound drops away. The room goes dark. There is only the weight and the heat. He shakes all over. He comes on the mat.

Brandt pushes in deep one last time. He holds there. He groans against Teo's neck. Teo feels him pulse inside. It is warm.

Neither man moves. Teo's heart bangs against the floor.

Brandt pulls out slowly. He turns Teo onto his back. He puts his hand flat on Teo's chest.

"You okay?" Brandt says.

"Yes," Teo says. He is smiling. He did not know he was.

Brandt wipes Teo's stomach with his own shirt.

A car door slams in the parking lot.

Both men go still. Then Brandt stands up fast. He pulls up his shorts. He holds his hand down to Teo. Teo takes it. Brandt pulls him up.

The car drives away. Nobody comes.

Brandt picks up his bag. He limps to the door. He stops there.

"Next game is Saturday," Brandt says. "I'm open."

He goes out. The door swings behind him. It does not shut.