“I’m a growing boy.” He grins.
“You’re twenty-two, Troy,” Derek points out. “Growing boy, my ass.”
“As long as you save some French toast for me,” I tell Troy.
“How’s your dad’s organization going?” Derek asks, handing over a platter of French toast.
“Team Rainbow? How do you know about that?” I fork a piece of toast and drop it on my plate.
A sheepish look comes over his face. “I used to work with them at the high school when I was the coach.”
“Really?”
“It was nothing big.”
“Nothing big?” Sutton interjects. “I don’t believe that for a second.”
“I didn’t do it for the recognition.”
“Helping kids learn so they don’t make your mistakes and creating a safe playing environment for everyone isn’t nothing,” she corrects him.
“It’s the reason my dad started it.” I smile at Derek.
To think, the man sitting across from me is the reason Team Rainbow started. The words—slurs, really—that he threw at my dad changed the course of his life. It’s the entire reason he came out when he did. Why he started his charity after he retired.
Everything I was told about Derek Hollins growing up was false. There is nothing but love and kindness from them.
The words Derek said left a deep, emotional wound on him. When you get called the f-word? It leaves a mark. I only wish my dad could see this.
This person is someone my dad would like. Maybe.
At least it’s that thought that gives me hope.
The same thought that carries us all through breakfast. Laughing and hearing stories about Troy growing up. Thetrouble that he and his sister used to get into. Stories of him with his uncles Jameson and Gunnar. Even though they aren’t his real uncles, he’s grown up with them in his life. Just like I did with all of my dad’s old teammates.
I love hearing about it.
And all too soon, it’s coming to an end.
“I need to get back for a workout.” Troy throws his napkin on the table, resting his arm on the back of my chair.
“Need to work off breakfast?” I pat his stomach.
“Can’t slack off now that the playoffs are almost here.”
I help clear the table before we head out.
“Make sure you come back, okay?” Sutton pulls me into a hug.
“I will. Maybe we can do dinner after his next game?”
“Careful,” Derek laughs. “Before you know it, she’ll be wanting to sit with you at every game.”
Sutton swats at him. “Well, it was good luck, wasn’t it?”
“I plan on it.”
“Keep up your good work, Troy. We love you.” Derek hugs him, then Sutton pulls him in for a hug before they wave us off.
