“And I don’t want to play the grinch,” Dad added, more somber than I’d ever seen him, “but whatisthis going tomean for your career? Are you planning on telling people? Your teammates?”
I’d never wanted to sink into the floor and disappear more.
“You don’t think I should? You want me to keep it a secret? Keep Fallon hidden?” The words tasted bitter on my tongue.
“Maybe it’s for the best,” Fallon stated, quiet and sad.
Fallon’s shocking words hurt my heart as much as my father’s question.
“What the hell does that mean? For the best?” I whipped around and was met with the tragedy in his eyes.
“I don’t want to come between you and your family. Football—”
“Is just a game,” Mom cried out. “But love is everything. Whatever you choose to do—tell everyone or stay silent—we’ll be right by your side.”
My throat tightened. “Thank you,” I whispered, dangerously close to tears. “I was worried.”
“You’re our son. We’re always going to be in your corner.” Dad’s words broke me, and I couldn’t believe I was crying. Big ugly tears of relief and joy. Mom and Dad hugged me, and I spied Fallon, his cheeks wet. My heart twisted with the pain he still carried from his family’s rejection. I had been lucky enough to be accepted, but in his mind, he was still alone.
“We’re Fallon’s family now,” I told them. “Not everyone is as loving and accepting as you.”
Mom met my eyes, and I could see she understood. But in a night filled with surprises, the biggest came when Dad left his chair and put his hand on Fallon’s shoulder.
“When you told us at dinner that you and your parents don’t get along, is it because you’re gay?”
A rush of something deep and visceral swept through me, and I wanted to protect Fallon from having to relive the terrible rejection, but he surprised me by answering.
“Yes, partly. Even before I told them, I was never the favored son. Telling them I was gay was the final nail in my coffin, and they could bury me and forget I ever existed. If they couldn’t have the son they truly loved, then they’d rather have no son at all.”
“Oh, honey.” Overwrought, Mom ran to Fallon and put her arms around him. “I can’t imagine what that must’ve been like, but you have us now. Maybe we can’t heal all your hurts, but we can try.”
Knowing Fallon’s pain had become part of his psyche, it wouldn’t be easy, but if anyone could help Fallon, it would be my parents. Now I had to hope my own path of acceptance would hold the same unconditional caring.
Chapter Twenty-One
Fallon
Surprisingly, it took Dev four days to reach out. Not to me, as I’d thought and prepared for. Instead, he’d called Patrick, asking for us to get together. We’d gotten home from taking Lori and Don to the airport when his name flashed on Patrick’s phone. Patrick had paled, not wanting to answer, but I’d told him to stop being an idiot. The conversation had been brief, and afterward Patrick had set the phone on the couch.
“He wants to have dinner tomorrow night. The four of us.” He ran his fingers through his hair and licked his lips. “What do you think that means?”
I laughed and kissed him.
“That he’s hungry and wants us to eat with him. You’re cute. It’ll be fine. Dev’s bark is worse than his bite. You’ll see.”
I honestly didn’t believe Dev would have a problem with us, but if he activated his big-brother mode, Brody and I would make sure he kept his cool.
“I need to get ready.” Patrick sprang up and grabbed his wallet and keys. “Let’s go shopping.”
Whooping with laughter, I held my stomach. “It’s nine at night. The stores are closed. Besides, you have a huge wardrobe. You have plenty to wear.”
Sheepish, he sat on a barstool. “I just…I want Dev to know I’m the right one for you.”
I reveled in his sweetness, and no matter what Dev or anyone else thought, I had no intention of letting Patrick go again.
“You don’t have to worry about that. I don’t need anyone’s approval for whom I love. No matter how close we are. Dev will understand.”
“That’s all fine for you. He’s like your family. I’m nobody to him.”
