But this time was different. The Commissioner barely had any expression at all. Colton should be filled with joy. Sadly, the Commissioner had ruined this moment, and there was no way in hell Colton would just suck it up and let it slide. He glared as he approached and refused to shake his hand, which seemed to rattle the man.
He snatched the trophy out of the Commissioner's hand, approached the podium, and began his acceptance speech.
“Thank you. I’d like to thank my team, and my coaches and trainers, who help improve my game every day. Winning this award has been my dream since I was a little boy, playing in my first pee-wee game. It’s an honor. Unfortunately, this award means nothing if you can’t share it with the person you love. Dean, who many of you know as DJ DVLN, is not here tonight to celebrate this award with me. He’s not here because a bunch of old men with small minds, and even smaller dicks, told him he couldn’t come…because he would be a distraction.”
Members of the audience began to murmur.
“I wanted him by my side when I received this award. But sadly, he’s watching at home.”
Colton paused for a breath.
“This reminds me of a line from an iconic 80’s movie. In the last scene of the movie, which takes place on a football field, of course, the line famously says, ‘You see us as you want to see us.’ I suppose that’s what’s happened here. When you hear the word ‘gay’, you immediately conjure a picture in your head of what a gay man is supposed to look like, or how he’s supposed to act. And usually, it’s not the most flattering image. The league can’t possibly have a gay couple in our midst, and certainly not at our biggest awards show. What would the fans think? But no matter how you see yourself or how you see me, each one of us is a dancer, an entertainer, an artist…and an athlete."
Colton looked directly into the camera and smiled.
“Dean. You are the coolest, funniest, most interesting person I’ve ever met. If it weren’t for you, I would not be standing here receiving this award. You inspire me, you push me to work harder and reach levels I could never dream of on my own. You make me a better person. I wish you could be here with me, and maybe one day you will be, but I will be home soon, baby, and we will celebrate this award together, the way it should be. I love you. Thank you.”
The auditorium erupted in a thunderous standing ovation lasting close to two minutes.
Colton nodded with a tight smile during the applause, then returned to his seat.
Bryce leaned over and whispered, “Well said my friend.”
Many of Colton’s teammates surrounded him with pats on the shoulder in support.
Taylor rushed over and gave Colton a crushing hug then plopped into the chair next to him, let out a huge huff, and shifted in her chair to face him. “Are you fucking serious? They told Dean he couldn’t come?”
Colton nodded. “Yep. Said he would be a distraction to the ceremony if he was here.”
“Oh, hell no! Fuck that noise!” Taylor whisper shouted, so as not to disturb the show as it returned from the commercial break. “We’re going to fix this!” She squeezed Colton’s shoulder and hurried back to her assigned seat a few rows away.
The ceremony droned on for a little longer. Luckily, Colton’s award was the pinnacle of the evening, which meant they were mercifully close to the end.
As soon as the ceremony ended, Colton caught the first flight back to Dean. He arrived at the loft at 2 am and slid into bed next to Dean.
Dean shifted and turned to face him.
“Hey, baby,” he said in a sleepy voice.
“Hey.”
“Congratulations, Mr. MVP.”
Colton smiled in the darkness. “Thanks.”
Dean snuggled closer, wrapping his arms around him. “I can’t believe you quotedThe Breakfast Clubin your acceptance speech.”
Colton chuckled. “Well, like I said, you inspire me.”
Dean hummed in approval and turned away so Colton could be the big spoon. Colton nuzzled into his neck, holding him tight, never wanting to let go, ever again.
Colton slowly fluttered his eyes, adjusting to the light and shifting with a groan. He'd won the MVP award, one of his life-long goals. He should be happy. He was the MVP, that much was true. And it was a major accomplishment that he got to celebrate with his family, team, and coaches, but he wanted —no, hedeservedto have Dean by his side— just like any other winner.
The fact that Dean wasn’t allowed to celebrate with him, that the Commissioner and the Board felt his presence was just too much for the evening…that had Colton steaming. Why should he devote so much time and energy to a sport and a league that wasn’t going to offer at least a fraction of something in return?
Fuck the Board, fuck the Commissioner. Fuck them for not seeing that Dean was talented, sweet, and supportive. Fuck them for not recognizing that Colton needed Dean by his side to celebrate his moment. Fuck them for taking away something so meaningful and monumental, something he could never get back.
Stirring from his fitful sleep, Colton’s mind spiraled with a storm of negative thoughts. What he wouldn’t give to have five minutes in a room with that fucking Board, and the fucking Commissioner.
