“We need to talk,” I said. “Not here.”
Evan nodded. We walked down to the beach, away from the guests, walking along the water where the ocean roared loud enough to cover our voices.
“He’s sleeping with her,” I said, kicking at the sand. “He gave Lena a key to his room, Evan. In front of me. And then in the car… I called him out on it, and he told me to go fuck myself.”
Evan sighed, rubbing his temples. “Silas… stop. You are doing exactly what you said you wouldn’t do.”
“What? Existing?”
“Trying to break him,” Evan said sternly, stopping to face me. “You are trying to smash through the guard he put up to save his heart. You didn’t see him when you left, Si. You were safe rotting in the damn woods. You didn’t see the rumors.”
I stopped. “What rumors?”
“The locker room talked,” Evan said, his voice low and serious. “After you left, people speculated. Guys called him names. He was hit with homophobic shit left and right, people asking why his ‘boyfriend’ quit. He had to stand there and take it. He had to become ‘Deadlock’ to survive it. He had to freeze himself over to make it go away. You didn’t have to face that.”
Guilt washed over me, cold and heavy.
“I know,” I whispered. “I know I hurt him. I know I left him to the wolves.” I looked out at the dark water. “But it’s Florida, It’sMan Overboard.The first time we did this show… that was the night I kissed him. That was the night I knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That I was in love with him,” I admitted, my voice cracking. “I knew it then. Even if I would never have admitted it. And I hate myself for never telling him.”
Evan’s expression softened into sympathy. He put a hand on my shoulder. “I can’t imagine how weird it feels for you guys to be stuck here.”
“I just want to avoid him,” I said. “I’ll do the match and just travel with you. Fuck Presley.”
Evan winced. “Yeah… about that. Check your email. We have media tomorrow. Suits, mics, title belts. The whole dog and pony show. You, me, and Cal. The Three Musketeers. All day.”
I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “It’s going to be hell.”
“Welcome to the main event,” Evan patted my back.
I couldn’t sleep.
Evan and I hung out in my room for hours, but he eventually tapped out. I was alone with my thoughts, and they were loud.
I paced the floor. I thought about the argument. About the car. About Lena having a key. About the fact that nearly a decade ago, in this state, I had been brave enough to kiss him.
I wasn’t that scared kid anymore. I wasn’t my father. I wasn’t my uncle. I didn’t run from things.
I needed him to know. Even if he never forgave me, even if we never spoke again after this weekend, I needed him to know I loved him. Istillfucking loved him.
The thought of Lena in his bed built a fire in my chest I couldn’t extinguish.
I acted on pure adrenaline. I grabbed my key card and marched out of the room. I walked down the hall to room two ten.
I knocked.
The door swung open.
Cal stood there. He was shirtless, wearing low slung sweatpants. His hair was messy, his eyes red rimmed and exhausted. He clearly wasn’t expecting me.
The moment he saw my face, he tried to slam the door.
I caught it with my hand. “Please.”
“Go away, Silas,” he rasped, pushing against the wood.
