But Nico cut him off. “Let me finish.”
“I knew,” his father mumbled under his breath.
“You…” Nico said, exasperated. “What?”
“That you’re, you know.” He shook his head. “When I was visiting you in college, I was looking for a charger in your nightstand.” He looked away. “I found some things.”
Nico knew exactly what things his father was talking about. He clenched his throat and felt his cheeks flushing. The funny thing is that Nico didn’t know back in college. He had suspicions based on how much he loved playing with those very same toys, but it wasn’t until Cooper that he knew. In that regard, his father knew Nico was a proper bottom before he even knew.
Nico chuckled at the thought.
“It doesn’t change how much I love you,” his father said, pushing his cup of coffee to the side. He stabbed the table with his pointer finger. “I’m a man of God, and we are instructed to love all.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Nico questioned, torn between relief and anger. “All these years, and I was terrified you’d go back to hating me.”
“I never hated you,” his father said. “I didn’t handle things in the best way, I know that. After Elon’s accident, I kind of closed myself off to the world, to emotions and I’m sorry that made you feel these things.”
Natalie raised her hand, as if asking for permission to speak. “I knew too.”
Nico’s gaze flipped back and forth between them. “You’re both unbelievable.”
“I figured it out at the Luke Davies Gala,” Natalie said. “I saw the way you looked at him and I just knew it in my gut.”
Their father cleared his throat. “Who is him?”
Nico shook his head and pulled an imaginary zipper over his mouth. “That’s not my story to tell.”
“Who is this guy, Natalie?”
Natalie shrugged.
“I want to know the man’s name who broke my son’s heart.”
“It’d be really unethical to out someone who is clearly not ready to be outed,” Natalie said. “I think it’s a generational thing that your particular generation didn’t understand the ramifications of.”
Nico’s father narrowed his eyes on Nico. “It’s Matteo Reyes, isn’t it?”
“It is not,” Nico said flatly. “Why do you think it’s a football player?”
“Because it was someone at that damn gala. I want you to know that when you crash in your bed here shortly, I’m going to hop on my computer and sort through photos. You might think your father isn’t technologically savvy, but I will find this man and I will hunt him down. He’ll make things right with my son. He’ll make things right with the Lord.”
Nico cleared his throat. “I think you missed the part where I said I’m the one who left him.”
“Sorry,” his father said. “I must have zoned out after hearing the part about him breaking my son’s heart over and over again.”
Nico slid back into his seat with his head bowed. His father reached out and grabbed his left hand, squeezing it. Natalie did the same with his right hand, and when he looked up, he noticed they were all chained together.
“This is what it means to be a family,” his father said. “But if you ever drink and drive again, I will beat your ass with my walking cane.”
september 2026 - los angeles
The response from the league was swift and just—a six-week suspension for Nico. He wasn’t allowed to practice, and wasn’t even allowed near the training facility. He accepted the consequences of his actions and understood the gravity of his mistake. Though he never believed he had a problem with alcohol, the fact that he drove drunk terrified him into quitting alcohol altogether. He spent his entire life wanting to be his own person, but in the end fell into the same mistakes of the ghost he tried so hard to run away from.
Nico watched the Knights’ opening game against the Cobras from the comfort of his couch in his downtown condo.
The Cobras offense took the field in the opening seconds of the game.
Cooper’s first throw was almost intercepted.
