Chuck5893411234: Kick them both out.Young lads should not be fighting in their position!
Kylessmile: Guys…I don’t think they’re fighting????
StephanRoberts: Get rid of them.Can’t be acting like that.Kids look up to them.
Væ’s Baes: …Looks fruity to me.I’m going to start watching Football.Where are the romance writers at?New Plot just dropped!
The more I look, the more the support grows, but yet, my eyes are always pulled back to the negative trolls.The engagement farmers.A few podcasts have sprung up from what I can only assume are parents' basements.
I sent a text to AJ when I got home and told him I needed to think of him extra hard.Thankfully, he knew what I meant right away and asked if I needed him to come over.I hope he didn’t feel rejected when I told him Trish has a handle on things.I hope he has someone to look after him too.
After the protein shake, which, in fact, was very good, I have a nap on the sofa.I wake up at 9:00 pm and see Trish glued to the TV.
“Never took you for a fan of this show,” I say, making her jump.
“It was on and didn’t want to change the channel.”
“You are such a liar, just admit you like it,” I say, propping myself up on the sofa.
“I don’t, though.It’s rubbish.”
“You say that, but you’re watching season ten.So you must have watched the other seasons too.”
Trish looks at me, knows I’m not backing down and says, “Fine.I likeDrag Race.”
“Finally, we have something else in common.I need to know your favorites from every season you have watched.”
“God, when did you get so chatty?Is this AJ’s doing?I’m going to have words with him when I see him.”
I launch a pillow at her, but she ducks and from out of nowhere, she launches one back, hitting me in the jaw.We fall back laughing.
For the rest of the evening, I forget about the outside world and live in the moment with Trish.We watchDrag Racetogether, eat food we're not supposed to—which I’m told I’ll be working off tomorrow—but that’s okay.Then we fall asleep on the sofa, blankets around us and smiles on our faces.
Chapter 25
AJ
“You know this is going to kill your career?How could you be so stupid?”
My dad has been ranting at me for the past forty-nine minutes.Says he got emailed some information about me and someone else in a compromising position.Then he found it all on social media moments later.I dread to think what he saw.What he read.
He’s pacing the kitchen.I’ve lost count of how many laps he’s done around the island.I’m standing by the sink, watching him.
When he first told me, the first thing that came to mind was relief.A weight off my shoulders.But then I worried about Kyle.He never wanted to come out, and now he’s been dragged out of the closet and thrown to the wolves.
“I was going to come out at the end of the season anyway.What’s the big deal?”
“Big deal?Sponsorships?Endorsements?Your playing career?I’ve told you before, I don’t want to see my son as a burning effigy.You know damn well what this country and the media are like.”
I let out a sigh.We have this debate all the time.I get him, I understand him.But he does not hear or understand me.
“They had no right to out me or Kyle.This person, who took the photo, doesn't give a shit how it’s going to impact him.They don’t care how scared he is.Me?I can handle it.I’m ready.I will not let this person or the media or any faceless troll shit on my rainbow.Kyle is in that photo.I love him, Dad.I will do anything to protect him.”
I wipe a stray tear from my eyes.Dad has come closer, and he wraps an arm around me.“I didn’t know you were in love, son.Tell me, is he worth it?Is he worth turning your whole world upside down?I guess what I’m trying to say is, do you feel forever about him?Because if so, then I’ll be by your side.And his.”
My dad hugs me, and I mean full-on bear hugs me.He hasn’t done this since I was little.I fall into the hug because I’ve missed this.I hadn’t realized it was missing until I was enveloped in it.The tears fall freely from both of us.I have no idea how long we are like this, but by the time we break, our eyes are red with tears, and our cheeks soaked with their tracks.
The next day I’m called back into training, and I am extra vigilant.No one has said a word to me, but I’m also keeping my distance, especially from Rockwell.
