Colton eased into his parking space at the training facility, then killed the engine and took a deep breath. It was the first day of training camp, and that was a good thing. After a long break, getting back into training camp was the best feeling. Hitting the weight room hard once again for the new season, feeling the soreness in your body after those first few practices, it reminded Colton just how much he loved the game.
For nearly two months, since their announcement and “the kiss that rocked the bay” —not his words, the phrase was coined by a local sports reporter, and it sort of took off— the only questions Colton had been asked had been about Dean and their relationship. Talking about their relationship made him proud, and he'd been thrilled to give the world a small glimpse into his happy little life. But with training camp starting, Colton could now steer his interviews toward football, his actual job, and not his relationship with Dean.
On the other hand, that first day was the first time Colton was seeing the entire team since their announcement, and that made him nervous to walk into training camp.
Sure enough, as Colton strode down the hall and into the locker room, he noticed a few furrowed brows and side eyes.
During their time together, first as friends and then as lovers, Dean had taught him things and opened his eyes to a whole new world. The most important thing he’d learned from Dean was self-worth and self-confidence, and not taking any shit.
Colton sighed. Nope! That was not how the day, nor the season, was going to go. He turned on his heel and walked to Coach Shepherd’s office.
“Hey, Coach?” Colton knocked gently. “You have a sec?”
Coach Shepherd smiled and closed his laptop. “Sure. Come on in.”
Colton slumped into a chair in front of his desk. “I’m not trying to be dramatic, or overly sensitive, but I’m already getting a few looks from some of the team. Would you be okay with me saying a few words before we start today?”
Coach studied Colton for a moment. “Actually, I think that’s a great idea. It would really set the tone for how we want our season to go…one team, united, no matter what…you know?” He smiled. “I’ll pull everyone into a huddle and call you up.”
“Thanks, Coach. I appreciate it.” Colton stepped out of the office feeling a bit lighter than before.
The team was spread across the practice field, Defense on one end, Offense in the middle, and Special Teams on the opposite end. Everyone was warming up and reconnecting with each other from the off season when Coach Shepherd stepped to mid-field and blew his whistle. “HUDDLE UP!”
The team scampered over, taking a knee or sitting on the grass in front of Coach Shepherd.
“Merrick!” Coach growled in his best serious coach voice and jerked his head to indicate Colton should join him up front. “Merrick wants to say a few words to all of you.” He gestured toward Colton and stepped aside.
“Thanks, Coach.” Colton gulped and cleared his throat. “You all know what’s going on with me. And some of you have been standoffish this morning. So I wanted to clear the air before we get started.” He paused with a timid smile. “Some of you might be worried that I’m ‘into guys’ now,” he said with air quotes and an eye roll. “I’m not into guys…I’m intooneguy. And he’s the only guy I need. If you want to put a label on me then go ahead…call me gay, or bi, or even deviant. I don’t fucking care. But I fell in love, and I happened to fall in love with my best friend, who also happens to be a man. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, and not a damn thing I’d do differently.” Colton looked around at his team, the team he’d stood by, and gone into battle with for the last two years.
“I hope you all can see that nothing has changed." He smiled at everyone. "I’m still me, you’re still my brothers, and we’re still a team.”
There was a moment of awkward silence, and Colton’s smile faltered a bit. “Well, that’s all I wanted to say.”
As he began to step back, Bryce, Greg, and Neil jumped up and crushed him with a hug. Colton smiled with anooffrom the bear hug. Then he noticed the rest of the team slowly standing and joining them, surrounding Colton on all sides and enveloping him in a giant team hug.
Colton battled to control his emotions. “Thanks, guys.”
Just then, someone in the midst of the scrum began softly chanting in a sing-song voice, “Colton’s got a boyfriend…Colton’s got a boyfriend.”
And in a matter of seconds, the entire team loudly chanted, bouncing up and down in unison, “Colton’s got a boyfriend…Colton’s got a boyfriend!”
Colton couldn’t control his laughter as he bounced along with his team, his brothers.
Coach sounded the whistle and clapped his hands. “Alright, ladies. Break it up and get to work. We’ve got a championship to win!”
The team cheered and dispersed across the field for practice as Coach Shepherd gave Colton a slight nod and smile. Colton smiled back, feeling the tension leave his body. He’d said his piece, the team took it with ease, and that was that.
He threw on his helmet and jogged onto the field. Time to get to work!
Colton strolled into the loft after practice. After a somewhat rough beginning, the first day of training camp had gone pretty well. The team was coming around, but some tension and apprehension remained from certain team members.
Dean sat at the kitchen island, with a contemplative, distant look.
“Hey, baby.” Colton kissed his cheek.
“Hey.”
Colton immediately noticed something wasn’t right. Dean was never morose, or down. “You ok, Dean? Is something wrong?”
