"Fuck that guy," he says simply. "Team's a team, but dude, that shit was just wrong."
Jamal lingers after everyone else leaves. "You okay? For real?"
"I'm good." And weirdly, I am. "Didn't expect... that."
"Bradley's an ass. Has been since freshman year." Jamal shifts his weight. "And for what it's worth? Your guy seems cool. Haru mentioned they are roommates."
My guy. Like it's just... normal.
"Thanks, Cap."
"No need." He heads for the door, pauses. "Team's got your back, G. Always."
Then I'm alone in the locker room, trying to process what just happened.
Guess the guys meant it when they said they didn't care who I was dating. They actually threw down for me. Called Doc my twinky geek, accurate, and joked about me not wanting Bradley's pasty ass. I actually shudder at the thought.
Like it's just... normal. Like I'm still just Gavin, their defensive end who happens to be into a pre-med guy instead of a sorority girl."
I walk out of the stadium in a daze, letting my feet carry me wherever. End up at the quad, same bench where Sylas gave me advice earlier.
The word Bradley used keeps echoing. Fairy. Fag. Same words Dad uses when he's ranting at the TV. When a celebritycomes out. When that NHL player announced he had a boyfriend last year.
Fuck, I'd forgotten about that. No, not forgotten. Buried it.
Dad had been watching the press conference, a few beers in, getting louder with each word. "Fucking disgusting. Ruining the sport. Someone should teach that fairy what happens when you shove that shit in people's faces."
The violence that had poured out of him that night, dripping with disgust and barely contained rage. The way his fists had clenched around his beer bottle like he was imagining someone's throat.
How his knuckles had gone white with the force of it, like the very idea of gay people existing was a personal insult he wanted to beat out of the world.
And Troy… Jesus, Troy had agreed so fucking quickly, practically tripping over himself to echo Dad's hatred. No hesitation, no pause to think it through. Just instant, eager agreement, like he'd been waiting his whole life for permission to say those things out loud.
Lately, too many people out there seem to think they have permission to say the horrible things they think out loud.
Back then, I'd made some excuse about studying the team's playbook and escaped to my room. But not before Troy called me a pussy for not wanting to hear "the truth about those people."
Those people.
I'm those people now.
The thought should scare me more than it does. Should make me want to run back to Doc and call this whole thing off. Save us both the inevitable shitshow when my family finds out.
But...
My teammates had my back. Didn't even hesitate. Devin nearly punched through a wall for me. Wyatt made jokes todiffuse the tension. Jamal threatened Bradley's whole future without blinking.
And my Doc...
Fuck. The way he smiles when he thinks I'm not looking, this soft, open look that makes my chest do these dumb twists. How his entire face changes when he talks about medicine, like he's discussing magic instead of cardiovascular systems.
The way his voice gets all excited and lively, hands moving as he explains some complex procedure, I pretend not to understand even though I follow every word. And that little breathy sound he makes when I find that perfect spot on his neck, right where his pulse hammers against my lips.
I'm falling for him.
Like, properly fucking falling. This is the kind of falling where you crash hard and either shatter into pieces or figure out how to fly. The kind that changes everything about who you thought you were.
The kind that makes you willing to face down your own teammates' homophobia. Makes you want to text him stupid things just to see him get flustered.
