Fuck. I grip the edge of the counter so I don’t audibly groan in the middle of Chem Lab.
Daniel gives me a suspicious side-eye. “What did they say now?”
I shake my head, hopeless. “Nothing.”
But my smile’s already giving me away. Because if he keeps calling me that, I’m never surviving practice. Not even close.
After class, I’m still riding the high of Logan’s last message—Good. Boy.—and I barely notice Daniel walking next to me until he elbows my side.
“You gonna float all the way to the rink or…?”
I blink. “Huh?”
He doesn’t answer right away. Just keeps walking with me down the steps outside the science building, hands shoved in his hoodie pocket like he’s debating something.
Finally, he says, “You know, I’m not a total idiot.”
I glance over, pulse kicking up. “Okay?”
“I mean…” He shrugs. “I joke around a lot. But I see things, Todd.”
My mouth goes dry. “What things?”
Daniel stops walking. I stop too.
He looks at me—really looks at me—and there’s nothing but quiet certainty in his face.
“You like guys.”
It’s not a question. It’s not an accusation either.
My stomach twists, even though I should’ve seen this coming. “I?—”
“You don’t have to explain anything,” he says, voice steady. “Seriously. I get it. You’ve got your reasons. I’m just telling you that…your secret’s safe with me.”
I blink hard.
“Why are you telling me this now?”
“Because I saw the way you smiled at your phone in class,” he says simply. “And whatever’s happening there? It’s clearly not something you’ve experienced before. But I figured you should at least know you’re not alone.”
I swallow past the lump rising in my throat.
“I didn’t?—”
“I know,” he cuts in, not unkindly. “You didn’t tell me. That’s fine. You don’t owe me that. But I’m still your teammate. And your friend. And if anyone gives you shit, they’ve got to deal with me.”
My throat tightens.
“Family is family,” he adds. “And I’ve got your back. Always.”
I nod, unable to say anything right away. It’s not flowery, it’s not emotional—but it hits me like a punch to the chest anyway.
“Thanks,” I manage, voice low.
He claps me on the shoulder. “But if it isn’t Brooks you’re messaging, it’s gonna break his heart. And if you make my new bestie cry, we will have a problem.”
That pulls a laugh out of me—short, surprised, a little stunned. “What?”
