Stace: If by fuel you mean pastries and coffee, yes.
I look up to Kevyn with a grin. “Good news, buddy.”
Kevyn’s mood immediately lifts when I tell him, and he practically bounces with energy on his bed. Helping him helps me feel a little better, too, and soon enough, we’re back to talking strategy like we should, working each other up ahead of the big game.
After a solid sleep, the team huddles up around sunrise, and we do some easy drills to get in rhythm. Everyone is serious, the energy less boisterous and more determined in the morning light. When we break after a speech from Coach, everyone heads home, but Kevyn and I detour at the library.
We find Stace in a study room on the top floor, her laptop in front of her and a pile of books to her side. She’s obviously been up since the crack of dawn, too, and she doesn’t show any sign of slowing down.
“I can’t believe you two took the time to bring me coffee on your game day,” she says and then clears her throat, eyeing the coffee and small paper bag Kevyn holds.
“Oh yeah!” he says and eagerly hands it off to her. “And no problem. Glad we can see each other on our big days.”
Stace pulls Kevyn into a quick hug. I see his hands drop to her waist, and she lingers long enough to brush her lips lightly over his before stepping away, a soft smile on her face.
I see the longing in Kevyn’s eyes, the glow in Stace’s smile, and the way they feel for each other is clear.
Hell, I understand. Just a brief touch from Troy would be enough to undo me right now.
They both turn slightly toward me, and I manage a smile for their sake, pushing my emotions away. It’s great to see them so happy together, even if I’m hurting inside.
“Have you already loaded up on carbs?” Stace asks.
“Yeah,” I tell her, “but there are oat bars in there for us.”
We get settled in the little room, Kevyn and I with our oat bars and Stace a blueberry scone. I sit on the ground, legs crossed as I lean back against the door, and they take the two chairs at the desk.
“The game is going to be my reward after this exam,” she says. “After a power nap and a shower, I should make it in the first few minutes of play.”
“I’m psyched,” Kevyn says. “The retreat got us in the zone.”
His footwork was immaculate this morning. I brought my A-game, too, but Kevyn was soaring.
The storms brewing in the back of my mind about Troy must be obvious on my face, because Stace tilts her head to the side as she looks at me. “How about you?” she asks.
“Oh, I told Kevyn I’m bi,” I mention.
Kevyn smiles. “Oh. Yeah. I was asking because of the TikTok video. Just to say I’m behind him or whatever.”
Stace looks right at me. “That’s great. You’re starting to come out.”
I nod, too distracted by my emotions to feel like celebrating. “I guess I am. The tabloids are sniffing around. Even if there’s not a picture of me and Troy or something like that, I want to get ahead of this.”
Kevyn looks at me, confused, and Stace’s mouth drops slightly.
I realize what I said. Shit. Can I cover it up?
But Kevyn’s eyes get wide. “Troy? Like, Troy Frisk?”
My expression must answer the question because he just keeps reacting.
“Hold up.He’sthe…Holy shit. That means…” His mouth drops again as he stares at me, then turns to Stace. “And when Frisk was…” He turns back to me. “Holy shit, Orlando!”
“Yeah,” I agree. “Holy shit. But like I said, I’m not sure how I feel about our thing right now.”
Stace looks surprised. “What happened?”
I shake my head. I should be focusing on soccer, but my weirdness with Troy has me tangled up. Maybe talking will help shake it off before the game. “I told him I want to have a real relationship with him, like now, basically, and all he could offer in response was professional concerns.” I hold my hands up. “Which I understand are significant,” I add. “But come on.”
