“It is,” I admit, the weight pressing harder as I run a hand through my hair, trying to quell the sense of panic building within me. “What if someone found out about us?” I look around the park as if the shadows might reveal lurking threats. “We can’t let anyone know about… whatever this is.”
“Then we’ll be careful, Nash. We’ll figure this out,” Leo reassures me, the gravity of our shared fear settling over us like a blanket, shrouding our connection. The flicker of determination in his gaze tells me we’re both resolved to fight against the unknown.
“Let’s just promise to be careful,” I implore, every word wrapped in sincerity, holding on to Leo’s gaze, willing him to understand the stakes. “I can’t afford to lose everything we’ve worked for.”
“We won’t,” he promises, and with every ounce of my being, I believe him.
As we stand together beneath the vast expanse of the starry sky, I know our lives are about to change in ways we can’t yet comprehend. I squeeze his hand tightly, drawing strength from the connection between us, ready to face the uncertainties together—whatever chaos lies ahead.
Chapter 19
Leo
Something was off with the team tonight.
After a loss at a home game, the team sulked back to the locker room to get ready for the press conferences. When we won, sitting on the panel and answering reporters' questions was fine. It’s easy to be playful and cocky when you just scored a win. But when you lose, especially at home, the last thing you want to do is talk to the press.
I shower and dress in a black button-down shirt and gray pants. Some of the other guys wear t-shirts, while others wear suits.
“Leo, you, Nash, and Marcus are on the panel tonight,” Coach barks out.
Shaking my head, I make my way to the press room, cameras flashing while I sit down. Marcus is to my right, and Nash is to my left.
We sit down, and there’s a bowl of m&m’s in front of us, along with a few bottles of water. I grab a handful of m&m’s and stuff them into my mouth. I nod toward the bowl. Marcus takes one, but Nash doesn’t even lean forward.
“What’s wrong? Don’t like candy?” I ask Nash.
Nash shakes his head, and he looks adorable. “I love candy, especially m&m’s, but I don’t let myself indulge. My trainer has me on a strict diet with no sugar,” he tells me.
My mouth falls open. “Mine does, too, but I still eat stuff I want on occasion.”
Nash sighs, but still doesn’t reach for the candy. “I have to be strong.”
I admire him, but that’s not going to keep me from eating some.
The questions start immediately, but I sit in silence. I’m not willing to jump in. I’ll wait to be called on. Of course, it doesn’t take long.
“Leo, your transition to the Stallions was rocky at best,” a man with a smug look begins.
“Ok,” I deadpan.
“Was it difficult creating relationships with your teammates? From what we saw, it looks like you and Nash didn’t get along. Has that changed?” he asks.
I feel Nash stiffen next to me.
“Anytime you move to a new team, there can be things that need to be worked out. We have since proven that everything is fine,” I quip.
The last thing I want to do is talk about problems on the team.
Marcus chimes in. “As the team captain, I can assure you that our team is working like a well-oiled machine. We had some kinks to work out, but everything is running smoothly.”
Marcus is a pro at delivering comments like this. He knows how to dance around the questions.
Another reporter, this time a young woman, shouts out, “Leo, social media wants to know about your dating life. You are a man of mystery. Who has sparked your interest?”
All heads in the room look my way. I gulp, hating these questions. But, I do what I do best and plaster on a shit-eating grin. “You know a gentleman never kisses and tells,” I say slyly.
A few people chuckle in the room and take pictures. “We all know you are no gentleman,” another reporter calls out, eliciting more laughter.
