It felt like that was it until Coach added, “Boys. I’m glad I was able to reduce the punishment, but I know that picture got around—more than just our team saw it. Whoever took it wanted to make damn sure they ruined you.” Coach paused for a moment, chewing on his lower lip as if he was trying to choose his next words carefully. “You’re gonna get a lot of shit, boys. Times have changed, but old ideas of what it means to be a man are still prevalent in sports, unfortunately. You’re gonna need a stiff upper lip. Players will say things—goading you into retaliating. Don’t take the bait. Beat them by being better. Do you understand?”
It was a sobering speech, but I knew Coach was right. We might not be kicked out of the league, but that didn’t mean we were home free. All the wrong people saw that picture, and we had to brace ourselves for the worst.
It wasn’t like I hadn’t experienced that kind of hate before, albeit on a slightly smaller scale, but it was hard nonetheless. Having to constantly be on guard, the hypervigilance necessary to protect yourself physically and emotionally, was exhausting.
And I’m fucking tired of it.
I was tired of being afraid—tired of twisting myself up in knots to be something for everyone except for whatIwanted to be.
Theo and I nodded our heads and were excused.
As we left the office, there were more than a few guys from the team suiting up for practice. When the office door closed behind us, it was like the scene in a movie when the record comes to a screeching halt and everyone’s necks break to see what yahoo just walked in.
That yahoo was me. Well, Theo and I.
Their icy glares made a chill go down my spine. Some looked at us with disdain, others snickered, while some averted their gaze altogether.
Mason, on the other hand, looked absolutely elated.
“You homos kicked out of the league?” he asked.
Theo’s body flinched slightly, and I grabbed his hand instinctively. His eyes met mine.
“Don’t take the bait,” I whispered, repeating Coach’s words. “Beat them by being better.”
Theo nodded, then released a devilish grin and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “Nah, three-game suspension,” he replied.
Mason’s glee quickly vanished, his eyes widening and his cheeks inflamed. “What? Are you fucking serious? You fucked in the showers, and they’re suspending you? You deviants should be kicked out!”
Theo’s nonchalance made me stronger—made me feel powerful. I wrapped my arm around his waist and said, “Well, they didn’t. We’re suspended.”
Seeing Mason’s fury was almost worth the whole ordeal. He stuttered, trying to come up with some kind of nasty retort, but he couldn’t. We might not have proof, but I knew he did it. I just knew it, and his little plot to ruin me wasn’t going according to plan. His exasperation was worthy of a chef’s kiss.
“Now, if you’ll excuse us,” Theo finally replied, “but I have to go eat out my boyfriend’s ass some more. See you dweebs in three games.”
We walked out, heads held high, and Quincy started clapping. “You’ll be back! The dynamic duo will be back!”
A few other guys clapped, and my heart was nearly bursting.I made a mental note of who each of them was. I’d tell them how much their support meant to me later.
Theo and I walked out of there like we were on top of the world, and, to be honest, I kind of believed it.
Theo
The conversation with Coach was one thing; the talk with my parents was another.
“Oh, for God’s sake, Teodoro! What the hell were you thinking?” my mother exclaimed, pacing around the kitchen and clutching her metaphorical pearls.
Dad looked at us with a raised brow. “Well, it could have been worse. A suspension’s rough, but it isn’t expulsion. Coach Wilson really did you a solid there.”
I knew Dad was right. I can’t imagine what would have happened to us had Coach not fought as hard as he had. I mean, he had every reason to fight for us. Asher and I were powerhouse players, but it felt like more than that. Like he genuinely thought it was just a dumb mistake and not some dark act of deviance. I was hoping Asher had internalized that a little bit.
Not everyone in the sports world is a fuckin’ asshole.
Reggie crept into the kitchen with a smirk on her face. “You two are the gift that keeps on giving.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose.God, this is humiliating.“Shut up, Reggie.”
“Oh, come on, it’s not a big deal. It’s just a little hanky panky in the locker room. You two are in luuuuuurve,” she crooned while batting her lashes.
