ETHAN
“…so, I was hoping you’d all be okay with me doing my training here in the gym.”
Linc’s frustrated. I knew this was coming but I didn’t know it’d happen so soon. The media is rabid right now, and it’s only going to get worse. They’re at the gates but luckily not able to get in.
“Yeah, sure, man,” Jesse says. “Whatever you need. Mi casa es su casa.”
“Gracias.”
“You know those are nearly all the words he knows in Spanish, right?” Xander teases.
“And you know more?” Jesse taunts.
“Fu—heck yeah, I do. It’s my wife’s language, Dude.”
Tera rolls her eyes. “Swear words don’t count. Neither does estupido or idiota.”
I can’t help but laugh.
“That’s unfair,” Xan pouts.
Tera pats his arm. “No one said life was fair.”
He huffs.
“You’re such a baby,” Kennedy chides.
“Whatever, man,” Xan says, still pouting.
“Anyway...” Linc begins, “I want to add a speed bag and some other things if that’s okay. That means I need to hire some contractors to make sure it’s all done right. Any suggestions?”
“I’ll talk to Cage. He knows who we can and can’t trust better than any of us do. I think they have Famiglia in everything,” Jesse replies.
“They do,” Lucy affirms.
“Cool. I’d like to get started ASAP. The paparazzi are fucking distracting. I can’t concentrate on what I’m doing with all those flashes going off through the window, and truthfully some of the clientele are getting pissed,” Linc informs us.
“I’ll call him now,” Jesse says and dials his phone, leaving the room.
“How are you handling all of this, Ethan?” Lucy asks softly.
I chuckle. “I have no idea. I haven’t been out the last couple days. I imagine there’ll be a lot of questions. I’m sure there are photos and speculation out there, too.”
“We’re all on lockdown as far as media is concerned, so I’m not sure,” Lucy replies. “You know how it was with me and Jesse. I hate that because you fit in the LGBTQ category it’ll be even worse for you. It shouldn’t be that way. Love is love.”
“Thanks, Luce,” I respond. “I knew this day would come, and I’m not looking at it like D-Day. I’m looking at it as freedom.”
“That’s my guy,” Linc praises and I smile as he takes my hand in his.
“I’m surprised it’s taken this long, to be honest,” Kennedy states. “You’ve been here over a month already, and you’ve been seen together more than once.”
I nod. “Yeah, but never just the two of us. Not like that.”
“Imagine what it’s going to be like next time,” Linc speculates and shakes his head.
“We’ll just go somewhere that’s more closed off, so we have at least some privacy,” I tell him.
“There are quite a few places that come to mind,” Lucy announces. “I’ll email you the list.”
