“Remember when we got the firemen to come that one year and they played shirtless?” he asked, beaming with excitement. “The crowd went wild!”
I gave him a “are you shitting me” look. Rome knew I was gay. An event like that—with hot-as-fuck firemen playing on the fields all flushed and sweaty—was impossible to forget. Any doubts my teammates had about which “team” I played for was put to rest very quickly that day.
Rome burst out laughing. “Oh shit, how could I forget? You dated one of them!”
“I did notdatehim,” I corrected.
He chortled. “Yes, you did. You went out with him, like, four times.”
“It was twice! He wanted to go out again, but I said no.” I rolled my eyes and changed the subject. “Anyway, do you know any of the servicemen here? Maybe we can organize something like that?”
He thought about it. “I don’t personally, but Sarah’s friend is a paramedic. I’ll talk to her tonight and see what we can do,” he said, referring to his wife.
“Great. Let me know what I can help with.”
“Thanks, Rey.”
After sharing lunch with Rome, I wandered back to the inn, intent on taking another nap. My body was drained from the messed-up schedule of traveling and time changes.
As soon as I walked into the lobby, I noticed a gorgeous man at the front desk. He was nearly as tall as me, with thick dark hair and a medium build. His laugh caught my attention, as did the animated way he spoke. From the familiar and intimate way he talked to the woman behind the desk, I figured I had no hopes in getting to know him during my stay.
“Tell me you’re kidding! Did Beckett really do that?” the petite woman said. I think her name was Amelia, but I couldn’t be sure. I had been half-asleep when I checked in.
“He did!” the man replied just as he heard me enter the foyer. He gave me a smile before stepping out of the way of the desk in case I needed something.
The woman immediately straightened. “Hello, Mr. Reyes.”
“You can just call me Reyes. Or Rey. I go by either.”
“Sure,” she said with a smile. “Did you sleep okay?”
“Sí. Gracias.”I hadn’t, but that wasn’t the inn’s fault. Despite my years of traveling with the team, it had always been hard for me to settle in to a new location.
I moved to the other side of the wall where they kept a basket of snacks for their patrons and snatched a muffin. As I did, a magazine caught my attention, and my heart lurched.
World Famous Soccer Player “The Ghost”, Down and Out
My own face stared back at me from the cover, and I had to bite back the sudden anger. I didn’t need to read the article to know it would be full of more lies. The press had been trying hard to spin my leaving the team as a result of my knee injury, when the truth was I had simply been replaced by someone younger, faster, and just plain better.
I shoved the magazine into the trash, hoping no one had seen the cover yet to make the connection that I was staying here. I desperately needed a break from the press.
Leaning against the counter, I nibbled on the muffin. There was no one else in the room, which meant I could easily hear the conversation on the other side of the wall.
“Has he told you where he’s taking you?” Amelia asked.
“Venezuela. And get this, Ames. The resort is in the trees!” he said excitedly.
I heard a sharp squeal, followed by the man’s laugh.
“I know, right? It’s as if our story has gone full circle. I can’t believe it.”
A pause, then, “I’m so happy for you, Preston. Beckett’s such a great guy. Tell me all about it.”
As he shared what he knew of the resort, I realized it sounded exactly like a place I had visited a few years ago with some friends. The coincidence seemed too good to pass up, and before I thought better of it, I poked my head around the corner.
“Forgive me, I couldn’t help but overhear. That resort wouldn’t beNube Nueve,would it?”
The man’s smile spread even wider. “Yes! You know it?”
