Laughing, he accepted the Scotch. “I see you’re enjoying the bye week.”
I lifted my glass. “Cheers.”
“L’chaim.” He took a healthy swallow, and then his sharp, light-blue eyes traveled around the space. “Nice place. Two or three bedrooms? I can’t remember even though I scanned the mortgage documents only a month or so ago.”
“Two bedrooms with an office. I like my space, and I need a place for my parents when they come visit.” I felt a little guilty not flying to see them during my week off, but I couldn’t leave Fallon. Maybe we could take a quick flight over. I should really tell them sooner rather than later.
“And you’re happy with the contracts we negotiated? All the extras for postseason appearances?” A line bisected Ethan’s smooth brow. “Or are you having an issue with one of your endorsements? Not that I don’t enjoy meeting you out of my office—the Scotch is a hell of a lot better, as is the scenery—but I’m trying to figure out why I’m here. Is everything okay?”
I’d asked him to meet at my apartment, instead of at his firm, to ensure no one would overhear us, even turning off my phone to prevent distractions. Coming out was proving more nerve-wracking than I thought.
I was about to answer, but the door to the elevator slid open and Fallon walked in with his duffel bag. He saw me and smiled, but then his attention shifted to Ethan, and his eyes widened.
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t realize your meeting would be here.” Keeping his distance, he set his bag on the floor. I noticed Ethan had risen and set his glass on the table, a curious expression on his face.
“Fallon, come on in. You haven’t met my attorney, Ethan Phillips. Ethan, this is my personal assistant, Fallon McKenzie.” An awkward silence reigned between them, and my unease grew. “Okay, what’s going on?”
Ethan’s lips kicked up. “Fallon and I have already met.”
My brows shot up. “That’s so funny. When and how?”
Red-cheeked, Fallon shrugged. “It was at a club. I, ah, went after work when you were playing an away game. I was about to leave when I met Ethan.”
Jealousy surged through me, but I remained calm. “Did you—”
“No, of course not,” Fallon rushed to answer, and I swore my heart skipped a beat. “We went for a cup of coffee.”
“I recognized Fallon because I’d seen him at plenty of Kings celebrations. Why do I feel like I’m missing something here? No offense, Patrick, but Fallon can go to a club and meet whomever he wants.”
An imperceptible nod from Fallon gave me the courage and strength to say out loud what I’d kept hidden all my life.
“No. He can’t. We’re together. In love.”
Shocked didn’t begin to describe Ethan’s face, and he looked from me to Fallon as if to confirm.
“I’m bisexual. I wanted you here to tell you because as my lawyer, I figured you’d be the best person to help me with privacy issues, plus I know you wouldn’t say anything to anyone else. But I didn’t knowyouwere gay, Ethan…or bi. Sorry.”
“No, I’m gay, and it’s fine, you can say it. I keep my sexuality to myself because, as you can understand, whom I sleep with is no one’s business. But damn, Patrick.” He shook his head. “Talk about coming out of left field.”
The weight of this secret I’d held my whole life lifted slightly, and a grin kicked up my lips. “Wrong sport, dude.”
We all laughed, and Ethan approached the two of us with less reserve. “To clear the record, nothing happened between Fallon and me. We had a cup of coffee and discussed our jobs, but I had no idea he was working for you.”
“When Dev didn’t have enough work to keep me full-time, he introduced me to Patrick,” Fallon explained.
“Makes sense. So what do you need from me, Patrick?”
I sat on a barstool at the kitchen island. “I’m not sure. It’s not as if there are any out active players.”
Friendly Ethan shifted to Lawyer Ethan, and I could see his brain working. “Are you thinking of coming out? Making a statement to the press?”
“Not now, but after the Super Bowl, yeah. It’s not fair to Fallon to hide him, and I don’t want to.”
Ethan leaned against the island. “I’m glad we’re having this conversation now. Thanks for trusting me, and you know I’ll keep anything you tell me in confidence. I’m sure you’ll get backlash, and some sponsors might want to pull their contracts, but if they do, we’ll fight it. Of course, there are morality clausesthat allow them to scrub a campaign, but you being bisexual isn’t immoral. I’d relish a chance to argue that one in court.”
From the cocky grin and the sparkle in his eyes, I had no doubt he meant it. “But do you think it would happen? I know it’s not the same, but Dev and Brody seemed to have come through it all right.”
“They’re not my clients, but from what I know, it was easier because they waited until their retirement. You’re not in that position.”
