It would suck if he were a homophobe.
Once it became obvious, though, that he was the only one not putting on the jersey, I approached him. Coach had put me through some leadership training when he’d made me captain, so I tried to remember what I was supposed to do in a situation like this.
“Hey, man. Something wrong with your jersey?”
He grumbled and reached for his regular jersey.
“Dude, we have to wear the same kit or the league will fine us. You know that. Sorry if you don’t agree with the theme, but?—”
“The fuck do you mean, Cap?” Taavi asked, standing to his full height.
There aren’t many people in the world who can make me look small. Taavi is one of them.
“It’s Pride night, and maybe you’re not down with that, but?—”
“Cap, I’m gay. This—” He shoved the jersey into my hands. “—is bullshit. It’s, like, three sizes too small and doesn’t even have my name on it. This? Is fucking disrespectful. This is bad, even for Texas.”
The locker room went silent and I felt my throat catch. I took a few deep breaths until the muscles released. I inhaled, then started on the exhale.
“Y—ou’re right. That’s not acceptable. I’ll t—alk to Coach, see what happened with your jersey. Th—ank you for saying something.”
I took a few more breaths, placing my hand on my chest.
“So-sorry, guys. I—”Breathe, Rhys.“I have a stu—tter that comes out when I am nervous, or when I need to say so—mething important.”
Looking around the room, I only saw brothers.
“So. Yeah. I’m g—ay, too. And tonight means a lot to me. My boyfriend is in the stands tonight, and I don’t want to pretend he’s just my friend.”
Silence.
Then Ruiz shouted, “Fuck yeah! I’m bi and I refuse to hide it.”
That got the locker room going, massive rugby guys laughing and hugging each other, right as Coach walked in with a Taavi-sized jersey in his hands.
Giving us major eyebrow, he asked, “Do I want to know?”
“We’re just celebrating the fact that a bunch of us are queer, Coach,” Ruiz said, his eyes bright with excitement.
Coach shook his head. “Knew I should’ve had HR down here before practice.” Holding the jersey out to Taavi, he said, “Here, looks like they gave you the wrong kit.”
Taavi, still scowling, got up and took the jersey from coach’s hands. His scowl instantly gave way to a massive grin as he held it in the air.
“Yes! I’m a triple-x f—” He cut himself off. “Uh. Sorry, Coach.”
Coach palmed his forehead. “Definitely having HR talk to y’all tonight after the game.” Looking at me, he asked, “We good?”
“Yes, Coach.”
“Then let’s fucking win this game. Some of the guys on the other team have Sharpied out the pride patch, and I’d love to make them regret it.”
Taavi up-nodded him with a wicked smile. “Sure, Coach. I’ll make sure those assholes know it was a big ol’ bottom who just ground their shit into the turf.”
A roar of laughter went up in the locker room and Coach turned to me. “I don’t know how to respond to that.”
“I’m vers, Coach, so I can’t help you. Maybe start with agood boyand see where that gets you.”
Taavi developed quite the flush on his pretty brown skin, which did not go unnoticed. Ruiz, being Ruiz, stood in front of Taavi with his arms crossed and an appreciative lust in his eyes. I gestured to the tragedy unfolding before us and Coach’s chin hit his chest.
