“God, you’re trying to turn me into a blubbery mess, aren’t you?”
“That’s why I brought you flowers,” he teases, nodding.
I snort.
“As for marrying the first person you have sex with? I think that means I don’t have to compete against any exes,” he muses, thoughtfully. “It works out rather well in my favor.”
I laugh again, shoving at him. I shove a little too hard and he slips from the edge of the couch. Between his grip tightening on me and me trying to pull him back, we go tumbling onto the floor, laughing. Thankfully, all my clean towels are there to break our fall.
Burying my face in his chest, I continue to laugh. His arms tighten on me.
“We’re going to be just like this when we’re ninety,” Lo says.
“That means we’re always going to have lots of piles of clothes on the floor so we don’t break a hip when we fall,” I retort.
“Is that your way of telling me you don’t like folding laundry?”
“Oh no. I’d much rather fold laundry than nearly any other chore.”
“Noted.”
I sigh, letting my body relax as Lo’s fingers soothe through my hair. I couldn’t do better for a first love. I must be truly lucky to have found my soulmate on the very first try.
CHAPTER 36
LO
Four months later
“Just so you know,Ethan is now demanding we attend one of their Gay Gatherings,” I say.
Lo looks up, eyebrow raised. “Why?”
“Because we’re hanging with your new team today.”
He gives me a confused look. “I’m failing to see the connection.”
“Because there isn’t one.”
Shortly after we arrived in Greenland in May, PR douche Robert called and tried to tell me he signed me up for a Gays Can Play event for August. I told him he could cancel it because I won’t be paraded around as proof of professional sports’ inclusivity. I won’t be attending any of their events unless I volunteer for them.
The way he sputtered and tried to demand that I be a part of the Gays Can Play group was comical. Robert was psyched that nearly a fifth of our team is gay. It’s a big deal and all that. He ended the call shortly after I told him I didn’t give a fuck aboutwhat he considered a big deal. I’m a big deal because I’m good at my job. That’s it.
Then I had a conversation with Coach Melvin and reiterated where I stood. That’s not who I am, and I won’t be one of their showpieces. Coach laughed when I said I wasn’t going to be a showpiece. He agreed with me, though, so I think we’re all on the same page, even if Robert doesn’t like it.
Of course, the best moment I’ve seen yet is when I accompanied Lo to one of his summer charity events and we stopped to talk to the press. They threw a bunch of questions at him about the trade, his new team, and whether he was looking forward to the new season.
Then this little gremlin asked him, “How does it feel to be the only gay player on the team?”
Without pause, Lo shot back, “How does it feel to be the shortest man in this room?”
My eyes went wide. Everyone shifted, quieted, and glanced at the reporter who looked fucking shocked. Like Lo had just slapped him.
“Kind of rude to be asked a question that’s irrelevant in front of an audience, isn’t it?” Lo asks.
The way the media shrunk on themselves.
“Any more questions?” Lo asked. Crickets. “Good. See you at our first game.”
