“I will wager a bet with you that if you walked up to any of these coaches and asked them to eat lunch with you or just told them you needed to talk to someone, they’d invite you in.”
Lemon gives me a skeptical look.
“They know you as a person as much as you let the outside world, Lemon. And every one of them was happy to help me surprise you tonight. RDU is a very different world. Outside of here, it’s ugly and filled with shit storms. But we’re in a very special bubble here. The kinds of people who work here are different in such a good way.”
“Part of the LGBTQIA+ community?” he suggests.
I chuckle. “I guess. Maybe that’s what makes them different. What made you different and loud out there isn’t viewed the same way here, Lemon. Look around you, I bet we can find more than a dozen guys in that room with their nails polished. I bet more than one of them has skirts in their wardrobes. I bet more than half have makeup. And you know what you being you does for them?”
Lemon shakes his head.
“Gives them the confidence to be themselves. You’re a kick-ass football coach. There’s no arguing that. You’re doing what you loveandbeing you. You’re a positive force in their life for so many more reasons than just football.”
The way his expression softens and his eyes look glassy again makes me think that perhaps I might have helped him to understand. I’m glad he trusted me with the reason his walls are so high. But hopefully I helped him see that maybe he doesn’t have to keep them up all the time.
I kiss his forehead and we lean into each other, watching the dark sky with the glittering stars overhead.
CHAPTER 31
LEMON
We lose in the playoffs. My team was definitely bummed about it, but Hansley was right. It had been twelve years since we’d made it that far. Instead of being discouraged, my team is already determined that next year, we’ll go even further. We haven’t reached our peak. We’ve just had a taste and now we’re ready to fight for the trophy.
Even with a quarter of my team leaving next year due to graduation and taking into account that I will likely see some go to the NFL, their motivation is loud and encouraging. They’re not ready to take the off season sitting down. They’re ready to keep pushing.
Me? I’m sitting in the office that the University of Michigan has for their visiting hockey team after the game. I have no idea what’s going on at least half the time as I watch the game. My mind usually flits between noticing how cold I am and wondering how they’re keeping their eyes on the puck when it moves so quickly.
We lose tonight but only by one. This time I can’t say I think the refs had anything to do with it. Michigan is just fucking good. Even only knowing what’s going on like 30% of the time, I could see that.
When Hansley asked if I wanted to tag along to their away game, I nearly dropped to the ground. Honestly, I have no business being here. None at all. And this is probably the opposite of staying out of the public eye.
The day after the photos of Hansley and his mysterious woman were splattered all over the internet, it’s been tricky getting from any starting point off campus together. Houses can be traced back to who lives there, so picking me up at home has been a challenge when they follow him from Alka’s.
But Hansley’s been doing my suggestion and always wears the same hoodie and black jeans he’d been wearing in the picture. And I’m always wearing my leggings with my gold jacket. Whenever we ride together, this is what we’re in. Sure enough, pictures stopped popping up after a few days because they were all the same.
The only place the paparazzi continues to try to get pictures is at school, but between our campus security and the local police on campus for some extra numbers, we’ve been safe there so far. I’m thankful for the support we’ve had from the administration regarding campus security and privacy. Since we’re technically a private college, RDU has the right to restrict access to campus. Something that the media has been absolutely up in arms about.
When Hansley asked me to join him, I knew it was because we haven’t had an opportunity to do much lately because of the cameras. They’re not abundant, but he really is trying to keep my face from being plastered everywhere in association with his divorce. The whole thing would become media ugly if that happened. At least right now.
Here, we’re off the grid, so to speak. Sure, there are cameras here, but no one can truly claim the reason I’m with them is for any other reason than support. Even as I sit here in the office, wrapped up in Hansley’s hoodie as I wait for him. From here,we’ll get on a bus that will deposit us at the hotel and then we’re alone for the night.
The office isn’t bad. It’s a little plain, but there’s comfortable furniture that’s clearly not just cheap hand-me-downs. There’s art on the wall—hockey but not specific to the Michigan team. There are, however, a couple Michigan hoodies. Just in case someone gets cold and forgot their own. It makes me smile. Can you imagine someone from the visiting team coming out wearing a Michigan hoodie? I’d crack up.
The door opens and I look up. Hansley is always hot, but when he wears a suit, it melts my panties! I’ve been behind many desks waiting for him since I’ve met Hansley. I kind of want him to bend me over this one, just because.
He offers me his hand and I bound to my feet to cross the room, placing mine in his. Hansley bends, his lips brushing mine. “You cold?”
“Warming up,” I tell him. “I’ve played my fair share of games in snow, so I’m all right.”
Hansley nods. He presses another quick kiss to my forehead and pulls me out of the room. The team is meandering down the hall and I receive smiles when we come out.
“Hey, Coach,” Damari says, offering me his fist.
I give him a bump and he grins.
“Cool having you here to watch.”
“Thanks.”
