Ethan smiles softly. “Yes, it does. It’s only going to get worse.”
I nod. “I know. You’ll be okay? They may do some digging.”
“It’s fine. Everything’s sealed or destroyed. Don’t forget, we’ve got Cage.”
“He’s intense. I wish this would be easier for you. I know how you hate this,” I say with a wave of my hand toward the paparazzi.
He shrugs. “I’ve been through this kind of thing before with the band, but us? This is going to get worse. Much, much worse.”
“Yeah.” Announcing to the world that you’re gay isn’t an easy thing. There are so many anti-gay assholes out there, and I’m worried they’ll hurt Ethan. I can handle myself, but my boy isn’t a fighter. He’s a lover. I rest my hand on top of his on the table and gently squeeze. “If they talk shit, E, let it roll off your shoulders. We know what we’ve got and we’re the only ones that matter.”
Click. Click. Click.
“This fucking sucks,” Ethan declares.
I nod. “I know, but it’s our life. We just gotta keep it in perspective and ignore all the bullshit.”
He nods in return. “I don’t want to know. Cage can deal with that. Celeste said she’d work with Marta on the PR if we needed. Lucy agreed to ‘loan’ her to us.” He chuckles.
I smirk. “She’s something. Lucy.”
He nods. “That she is. Perfect for Jesse in every way.”
“I like that she calls him out on his shit. That’s fucking epic to watch,” I laugh.
“You haven’t seen anything yet.”
“I can’t wait.”
* * *
We ignore the media as best as we can, but now that they know there’s something to report, they’re following us everywhere. We just try to pretend they don’t exist, but when they follow me to the gym and disrupt my workouts, that’s when I can no longer avoid them.
“Fuck!” I yell.
Coach doesn’t say anything, but the tips of his ears are red, a sure sign he’s beyond pissed off.
“We’re gonna have to find somewhere else to train, Linc.”
“Yeah. I know. Maybe we can do it at the house. The gym’s big enough. We’d just have to add a few things and make a few adjustments. I’ll talk to the family.”
“Good. For today, we do our best to keep working. The extra security will keep them out.”
I sigh. “But it doesn’t keep them from looking in the front windows.”
“No. I suppose not.”
“Fuck this! Why don’t I go home and swim for today and do some lifting? I can’t concentrate with this bullshit going on,” I admit.
“Grab your gear and let’s go,” Coach commands.
I just look at him.
“What? You still need instruction. You’ll spend all day on the speed bag if I’m not there,” he scolds.
Damn. He knows me too well. “Yeah, yeah,” I say picking up my bag. Let’s go.”
6
