Faking it with the Football Star

FAKING IT WITH THE FOOTBALL STAR MAINE MEGALODONS ZOE BETH GELLER KINKY INC. LLC Faking it with the Football Star Maine Megalodons Book 1 Copyright © 2023 by Zoe Beth Geller Kinky Ink Publishing, LLC All rights reserved. Cover Design by Shepard Originals Editor Partners in Crime Proofreaders: ARC readers listed in Acknowledgments No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in reviews. This steamy romance is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without their permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized nor sponsored by the trademark owners. This e-book is licensed for your personal use only. You can also visit me on Facebook and Amazon. Please visit my website at zoegellerauthor.com Created with Vellum CONTENTS Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Free Book Also By Zoe Beth Geller Acknowledgments About the Author 1 Travis “What’s up, man?” My brother, Garrison, is disgustingly happy. I get it. He popped the question this summer and I’m happy for him. Relieved, if I’m being honest. I don’t get the swoony look in his eyes, but Angelica does that to him. With a name meaning angel, I don’t doubt they are the perfect couple. He looks downright goofy when she glides into a room. “Garrison, great seeing you.” We hug because I’ve been on the road this week and we haven’t seen each other in two months. I click the key fob and my 2017 limited edition Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. When she beeps, I know she’s locked. We stroll through our parents’ front door. The yard in the posh and popular neighborhood is conveniently outfitted with Xeriscaping to fit the arid climate with little to no maintenance. Mom says it's to save the environment. She’ll never admit nothing else will grow here. In my mind, she loves the yard because it looks perfect every day, just like her hair. “I hope to God Mom is off the wedding bandwagon. I’m not ready for the marriage misery to commence.” I try to keep the anger out of my voice. My parental units love my career and the popularity they receive having given birth to me, but they don’t live the day-to-day anguish I have with every game, nor the bruises. “I wouldn’t count on it.” He flashes me a toothy half-grin and a bit of a chuckle, conveying the fact our mother is worse than a puppy pouncing on a baby lizard, playing with it for fun. She knows how to push buttons. It helps to disassociate Mom in my mind. Dad is great, he’s a hedge fund man and it’s no wonder I’m a workaholic, just like him. I have the fortitude to show up for a tough season ahead of me. I’m constantly working with trainers to keep in shape and pride myself on being a good example for the team of what hard work can accomplish. There aren’t many twenty-seven-year-olds who get to live their dream and make the insane amount of money I do, and at the same time, love what I do. I can’t tell the difference between traits genetically ingrained in me and what I should attribute to my mother’s overbearing ‘helpfulness’ in my life. No, Mom doesn’t ask about sexual exploits, however she’s been in my face about Celeste. She’s her best friend’s daughter whom I dated in college. We’ve been on an indefinite break since I started with the Megs in their second season. Maybe it’s not all bad being single. I can’t help it if I don’t have the same feelings Celeste expressed. “So, you’re going to be here a day or two?” “Yeah, that’s why I’m flying out a day later than the team. I might take a private jet as I’m too tall for commercial flights and the jet lag before a game would be epic. I can’t risk not getting back in time.” I pat him on the back. “But I wanted to see you.” “You crushed us last night.” His voice is a mixture of pride for his younger brother and dread over the fact the Vegas team isn’t as good this year. I’d like to think he misses me. We enter the house we’ve grown up in. Nevada has changed with so many people from California swarming here as it’s cheaper to live. Fuck, isn’t it happening everywhere? Everywhere but Maine that is; I assume we’ll change in time, too. Although the frigid winters are enough to discourage many, and with good reason. Mom’s voice ricochets off the stark white walls and gray tile floors. God forbid anyone tell her the house is not up to date. Should someone suggest anything different, without hesitation, she’ll set them straight on the latest color trend. Fuck. Mom had better not nag me over Celeste. We’re not compatible and I refuse to marry someone my mother picked for me. It’s gross. “Flowers, hmm. Let’s do white and off white, it will look nice at the Sorrento. I’ll call our event planner and get her opinion. Give Celeste my love.” Her voice changes to a hushed tone when she realizes we are inside the house. “I gotta go.” What