“You were careful. But we know you both well enough to see when something’s different.” Kinnunen leaned forward again. “Does anyone else know?”
“Just our families. You’re the first on the team. We’re telling management and the rest of the team on Sunday, after we come back from Christmas break. Then going public Tuesday.”
“That’s soon.”
“We know.” I kept holding Étienne’s hand, needing the anchor. “But we can’t keep hiding. It’s killing us. And Boucher’s suspicious—he’s been watching us, making comments. If we don’t control when and how this comes out, someone else will.”
“Boucher.” Kinnunen’s expression darkened. “Yeah, I can see him being a problem.”
“We told our families today,” Étienne added, his voice rough. “It didn’t go well.”
“I’m sorry.” Kinnunen’s tone was sincere. “That’s rough. Are they?—”
“My father disowned me,” Étienne said bluntly. “Marco’s mother is struggling with it. His father walked out of the call.”
“Christ.” Kinnunen ran a hand over his face. “I’m really sorry, guys.”
“We knew it was coming,” I said. “But we wanted you to know before we tell everyone else. You’ve been a good friend to both of us. You deserve to hear it directly.”
“I appreciate that.” Kinnunen was quiet for a moment. “Can I ask—are you sure? About going public? About the timing? Because once you do this, you can’t take it back.”
“We’re sure,” Étienne said firmly. “We don’t want to take it back.”
“Then I’m with you.” Kinnunen stood, crossed to the couch, and pulled us both into a hug. “Both of you. Whatever happens with the team, whatever Boucher does, whatever the media says—I’ve got your backs. Alyssa too. You’re not alone in this.”
A dam in my chest collapsed. Relief, gratitude, hope—all of it flooded through at once.
“Thank you,” I managed.
“Thank you for trusting me,” Kinnunen said. “And for what it’s worth—I think you’re brave as hell. What you’re doing? It’s going to be hard. But it’s going to matter. You’re going to help people.”
“We’re just trying to survive,” Étienne said quietly.
“Yeah. But by surviving openly, you’re showing other people they can too.”
Alyssa appeared at the top of the stairs. “Lilja’s down. Everything okay?”
“Come down,” Kinnunen called. “There’s something the guys want to tell you.”
She descended the stairs, curiosity clear on her face. When she saw us—me still holding Étienne’s hand, both of us red-eyed and exhausted—understanding dawned.
“Oh,” she said softly. She crossed to the couch, sat on the arm beside Étienne. “How long?”
“About six weeks,” Étienne said again.
“I knew it.” She looked at Kinnunen. “Didn’t I say at Thanksgiving?—”
“You did.” He smiled. “You absolutely did.”
“And you’re going public?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said.
“Good.” She squeezed Étienne’s shoulder. “You shouldn’t have to hide. Either of you. And if anyone on that team givesyou shit about it, they’ll have to go through Mikael.” She grinned. “And me,” she added. “I’m small but I’m mean.”
Despite everything—the devastation of the family calls, the terror of what was coming—I laughed. Étienne did too, the sound shaky but real.
We stayed another hour and talked through the plan. We accepted Alyssa’s offer of coffee and homemade gingerbread cookies, and the warmth of their support wrapped around us like armor.
