Free Incoming Freshman by Carol Lynne Page B

step on that field in my first game and the scholarship is mine regardless, that’s the deal I worked out with Coach Nelson. So, I figured, I’d fake my way through a couple of games and take my chances that the surgery would fix any damage I do.”
    “But…” Ellen prompted when Bobby didn’t continue.
    “I like these people. And I can’t help but feel that I’m cheating my way through college.”
    “That’s because in a way you are. I can’t tell you what to do, Bobby Ray, but you know I can’t send you any more money than I already do. Believe me, I wish I could, but it’s just not there. That’s why the scholarship is so important.”
    “I know.” Chase’s face kept popping up in his guilt-ridden mind. “I guess it’s something I’ll have to think about.”
    “I’m sorry that I can’t do more for you, baby.”
    “Don’t be sorry, Mom. I’m twenty-two. I should be able to figure this out on my own.”
    “You’re still my baby, don’t forget that. Call me anytime.”
    “I will. Thanks.” Bobby hung up the phone and groaned in frustration. After talking to Chase, Bobby had sat down and figured out the cost of the credit hours he needed to graduate. They were more than he could pay for even with a good job. He was pretty sure Chet would let him live at his house, but that wasn’t the way Bobby wanted to get there.
    Leaning back in the chair, Bobby decided to play it day by day until the moment came when he couldn’t take his decision back.
     
    * * * *
     
    “Chet?”
    “I’m in here,” Chet answered, putting the finishing touches on one of his most recent model aeroplanes.
    Dressed only in a loosely-tied robe, Bobby stepped into the guest room and grinned. “What’s that? Playing with toys on the sly?”
    Chet held up the plane. “It’s a Cessna 182 radio-controlled plane. I’m not sure I would consider it a toy. It took hours to complete and a hell of a lot of money.”
    Bobby separated his robe and straddled Chet’s lap. “You can really fly that thing?”
    “Sure, as long as I’ve put it together right.” Chet slipped his hands inside the robe and ran his palms down Bobby’s back. There was something so warm and peaceful about the man in his arms. Chet sighed and rested his forehead against Bobby’s shoulder. While he knew he could seduce Bobby into going back to bed for a while, Chet found he rather liked just holding the man he’d fallen in love with.
    “This is so cool. Why didn’t I know you did this?”
    Chet had come to realise in the last several weeks that he and Bobby actually knew very little about each other outside of football. It didn’t diminish Chet’s feelings in any way. On the contrary, Chet found it exciting to discover new sides to Bobby, and he hoped Bobby felt the same. “I hadn’t worked on this one for a couple of months, but I found it while cleaning the garage the other day and decided to finish it. You want to go out to the airstrip with me to see if she flies?”
    “Hell yeah,” Bobby said.
    Within minutes Chet had the plane loaded in the back of his SUV along with his trusty four channel radio. He grabbed a blanket out of the linen closet and a few supplies from the bedroom and they were ready. “I thought maybe we’d have a picnic. Ya know, make a day of it. Feel like stopping by the deli and picking up a couple of sandwiches on the way?”
    Bobby reached over and tickled the skin on Chet’s neck with his fingertips. “Sure, I guess, although I’ve never been to a picnic at the airport.”
    Chet laughed and reached over to squeeze Bobby’s upper thigh. “We’re not going to the airport. We’re going to the airstrip. It’s a big field out in the middle of nowhere with a small dirt track on it. Perfect for flying and privacy.” He moved his hand further up Bobby’s leg to brush the back of his hand against the front of Bobby’s gym shorts. “I found it a couple of years ago and asked the owner if I could fly from it