“Sod off,” I said, resisting the urge to stick out my tongue at him. I knew I was playing into his hands by swearing at him instead of keeping my cool, but I’d never had a calm head when I was wound up and trying to keep things hidden. If I wasn’t careful, someone would figure out my secret simply by looking at me for long enough, and I’d hate that.
I suddenly realised how the other guys in the team must have felt when they were hiding their sexualities or relationships, questioning every move, every word, simply to make sure they didn’t give anything away. Fuck, it must have been torture for them. It was for me, and I barely had anything to hide, only one kiss and some very confused feelings.
Guilt gnawed painfully at my stomach, like the acid inside it was melting through my organs. I really had been a wanker to some of them in the past, and while I’d mostly asked questions because I was trying to pick apart the new emotions I’d been experiencing, I’d always put my foot in my mouth instead. I wanted to apologise, and I already sort of had to West, but Ididn’t know how to explain myself without giving everything away.
Mason sighed at me. “Really mature, Wheeler,” he said with a roll of his eyes. “You know if there’s something going on, you can tell us. We’re pretty good at problem solving.”
“And I told you, there’s nothing going on.”
“Then why are you being such a dick?”
“I’m not!” I grabbed the bar off the rack and began my set of squats, hoping that would encourage Mason to sod off. Only Charlie arrived, and suddenly I realised things were about to get ten times worse. Especially if Charlie thought I was hiding things from him.
“What’s going on?” Charlie asked as he put our water bottles down. I could feel him looking at me, even if I was doing my best to stare at a spot on the far wall somewhere over the top of Bailey’s head.
“Nothing, I’m trying to do my set and Mason’s annoying me.”
“I’m only asking questions, nothing wrong with that,” Mason said. He turned to Charlie and continued. “Don’t you think Danny’s been a bit of a brat this week?”
“Maybe? But it’s the first week back. I think we’re all feeling it.” Thank you, Charlie. He was definitely getting a nice birthday present. Maybe some beer too—some of that fancy stuff he really loved.
“Yeah, but still, I think our mulleted menace here is hiding something,” Mason said. “And I was letting him know he can talk to any of us if he’s struggling.”
“Which I’m not,” I said as I squatted low, feeling the burn in my arse and thighs. I’d always enjoyed a good workout, and I loved seeing the results when I looked in the mirror. And from the looks I’d seen him throwing my way, Ezra enjoyed them too.
I’d have to make sure I wore my smallest shorts for every game he was working.
To give him something to look at in case the game was boring.
And to remind himexactlywhat he could have if he gave me what I wanted.
“Are you sure? Because you have been a bit snappy this week, and you’re kinda distracted,” Charlie said. Wanker. No beer for him then.
“I’m fine. Seriously. The only thing bothering me right now is you two.”
“Now you know what it feels like,” Mason said with a wry smile.
I did stick my tongue out at him then, because he was being a dick and I didn’t care if it made me look childish. And it was all I could do while still trying to concentrate on my set. At this rate, I was going to ask Ezra to make both of them do ridiculous TikTok dances as petty revenge for their interference.
Charlie was still staring at me, I could see it out of the corner of my eye, and I tried to ignore the feeling of his eyes boring into the side of my head. “You know you can tell me if there’s something wrong,” Charlie said in a low voice as I re-racked the bar, shaking out my legs and reaching for my drink. “And if it’s something I’ve done, then?—”
“It’s not, I promise,” I said, shooting him a rough grin. “Just getting back into the routine, that’s all.”
“Yeah but?—”
“Gentlemen, everything okay here?” Gavin asked, striding into our midst and looking between the three of us with demanding disapproval, his moustache bristling. He reminded me a bit of those stereotypical army generals from the old war films my grandad liked to watch every Sunday afternoon while I sat next to him on the sofa with my Nintendo DS.
That reminded me that I needed to give him a call, see if I could go down for a visit. And get all the latest gossip on myold street. I really wanted to know if he’d found out if Sandra at number ten and Dave at number twenty-four were really together or just shagging in secret.
Would Ezra be interested in the gossip? I bet he would. It was the best reality show I’d come across.
“Yeah, fine,” Charlie said as Mason attempted to slide out of sight without Gavin noticing, since he didn’t approve of loitering when we were supposed to be working. In the past when I’d been caught, I’d tried to play it off as camaraderie and building morale, but it hadn’t gotten me anywhere.
“Then why are the three of you standing around like a bunch of old men discussing the weather? Back to work, please. Preseason training is essential for another successful season.” He waved his hand at us, a sign for us to continue without further discussion. Usually, I’d have grumbled about Gavin’s bossy, overbearing demands, but today I was grateful for his interruption.
As Charlie stepped under the bar to start his first set, I took another long sip of my drink.
I wasn’t being bratty. I was frustrated by this whole Ezra situation and wanted things now, not tomorrow. That wasn’t bratty. That was knowing what I wanted.
