A voice behind Eli said, “Come on, let's get him out of here before they start looking.”
Tyler glanced over Eli's shoulder at Stephen, and then focused on Eli again.“What are you doing here?How did you get in?”
“I vouched for him,” Stephen said.“Worry about it later.We have to get you out of here before the press eats you for lunch.”
Tyler blinked, feeling like he was swimming through molasses.The air was thick and heavy, and Eli was looking at him.There was something important Tyler wanted to say, but what came out was, “You heard all that?”
“Yeah.”Eli's hand flexed on his arm.“You said you weren't outing yourself, you dork.”
“It didn't matter by then.”Tyler frowned, thinking of his dream.“You were in there?”Could he have found Eli's gaze on his after all, like he had in the dream, as he worked through that damned statement?
“We were in the hall,” Stephen said.“The sound came through clear enough.Comeon!They'll be looking for you.”He turned to Eli.“We should change his look.I have a hoodie in my locker.And some shorts.”
“Right.”Eli reached for Tyler's belt and unbuckled it.
Tyler grabbed at his hands.“What...?”He wanted Eli to undress him—God I want that—but not here and now!
“Get with the program.”Stephen reached over Eli's arms to undo more buttons on Tyler's shirt and then hauled it upward.“Arms up.Come on, man.We need to get you changed.”
Obediently, bewilderedly, Tyler raised his arms.Stephen whipped the shirt off and stuffed it in his locker.He shoved a bright-green hoodie into Tyler's hands.“Get that on.I'll get the shirt back to you later.”
“Don't bother, it sucks,” Eli muttered from the floor where he'd dropped to one kneeto pull Tyler's pants off.Tyler almost put a hand on his hair and then froze, palm hovering.
Stephen shoved a pair of black running shorts into Tyler's hand instead.“Suck later, change now.”
Eli tugged, working Tyler's shoes off with his pants and Stephen bent to give him a hand.“You don't want more microphones shoved in your face, do you?”
“Oh, God.”Tyler put a hand on Stephen's shoulder for balance and lifted his foot.
In minutes, he found himself dressed in the hoodie and shorts and a pair of sneakers, being towed by the hand behind Stephen.
“Come on,” Stephen said.“There’s a bunch of exits.We’ll stay away from the gym end of the building.I’m parked down under the trees anyway.We can make a run for it, just three of the guys, right?They might come after us for 'How do you feel about...?'crap, but they won't make a big effort.They'll be waiting for Tyler to show up out front, off the team and out of the closet.”
“Oh, God.”Tyler felt like a song stuck on repeat.
Eli smacked his shoulder.“Yeah, crazy man, you have them coming and going.Big fucking story.Don't worry, we'll get you out.”
At the door, he shoved Tyler's hood up and grabbed his arm.“Come on.”
They hurried across the lot.Sure enough, one of the reporters waiting at the entrance to the lot spotted them, and started their way, but the parking lot was a big one.Stephen yanked them over to his SUV and shoved them both in the back.“Ty, just duck down as we pull out.They won't chase after us just for a team-guy statement.”
Tyler bent over, hands to his shoes, as they drove around the building and headed for the side street.He heard shouting in the background as they pulled away.Then just quiet in the slanted evening sunshine.
“You can probably sit up now,” Eli said after a couple of minutes.
Tyler debated staying where he was, his face hidden.But it was uncomfortable and the sway of the vehicle made him think he might hurl.He sat up carefully and stared out the window.They were driving down a quiet street, already blocks from the Olympic training center.Beside him he heard Eli shift restlessly.
Stephen said, “So where to, guys?You might not want to go home—the press probably has Tyler's address.”
Eli said in a careful voice, “Tyler?Any ideas?”
The bottom of a lake?He shook his head.
“My folks have a cabin,” Eli told him, “But it's a good hour's drive.”
“No problem.”Stephen's voice was cheerful.“It's the least I can do for the guy who just took me from alternate to the Olympic team.You are too sweet to me, Tyler, baby.”
Tyler grunted, too tired to bother to glare at his teammate.Ex-teammate.“Didn't do it for you, you fuckhead.And why are you calling me baby?”
