“I do really need to go.” Nate stood at my side, and then I found myself hugging all six of them goodbye.
With my arms around Kieran, I spoke quietly. “Thanks, mate. I think I’ll remember this meeting probably for the rest of my life.” I pulled back and was surprised I was almost eye to eye with him. He seemed so much younger than twenty-one.
“What’s your last name?”
Confused, he dipped his brows low. “Kendall.”
“Kieran Kendall. Next year I expect to see your name in the draft.”
When his eyes welled, I clamped down on the inside of my cheeks hard. “I’ll try my hardest.” A resolve, one brave as hell, hardened his words.
“I know you will.” I patted his back before seeking out Nate, who waited next to Dean for me. “Ready?” I asked.
“Definitely.”
“Don’t forget what I said about using Insta or something. Throw it on TikTok too for good measure,” Dean called out to us as we headed away.
“What was that about?” We followed the path to our secluded cabin, the moonlight guiding our way. With the moon set so high in the sky, I figured it was a lot later than we’d planned to be out for.
“Dean’s expert opinion is that social media should be your platform of choice when going public. That’s based on countless successes and fails of public figures and other pro athletes coming out apparently.” His chuckle was tight. “And I actually agree with him. You’ve mentioned a couple of times about controlling the narrative. Who better to do that than yourself?”
We let ourselves into our room, and I refused to let my pounding pulse drown out my thoughts. I kicked off my shoes and stripped. The material felt constricting, tight and hot against my skin.
When Nate’s concerned expression appeared before me, I startled.
“You can change your mind.”
“No, I can’t. I won’t.”
A gentle curve lifted his lips. “I’m so proud of you. Always have been, but in this moment, I’m probably the proudest I’ve ever been.”
“Is that because of my impressive cock?” I joked, already feeling the words fall flat. “Fuck, I’m sorry. I’m nervous as hell.”
He bobbed his head. “You want a shower first?”
“Yeah.”
I set about undressing Nate. He stood quietly, allowing me to unwrap him like a gift. Naked and before me, Nate was everything I wanted. And I was sure he’d be all I’d ever need.
“After the shower, will you help me?” Vulnerability hung heavy in my request. But since I’d already ascertained Nate deserved it all, I offered him every one of my truths.
* * *
It tookfive attempts to get the short twenty-eight-second video recorded. Nate helped me with everything.
We’d headed to the beach before dawn, having already hashed out what I wanted to say. As soon as the morning sunshine reached us, the first rays touching the golden sand under our feet, we’d recorded.
Once finished and still unposted, I’d called Micky. Both Nate and I had almost fallen flat on our butts when he’d not asked me to reconsider or think of my future or anything like that. There’d been no objection, no trying to talk me out of anything, just a request for me to call my new coach and give him the heads-up.
And wasn’t that a fun fucking call.
There I’d been, sharing with the man who’d I’d met a handful of times that I was about to come out. I had to give it to the guy; he listened, never cutting in. Asked a few surprising unintrusive questions, asked if I minded sending him a copy of the video before I uploaded, with the promise of watching it so he knew what to expect and that he wouldn’t be sharing it.
This was followed by my promise to speak to the team’s PR.
At the end of the call, Coach Felix’s words had legit made me well up. Nate had looked on, concerned, wondering what he was saying to cause such a reaction. When I’d told him how he’d said he was happy I’d given him the chance to support me, then went on to say how he had faith in our team and the management and that Vegas Stallions were honored to help me through this, Nate had been as choked up as me.
I’d uploaded the video to Instagram yesterday morning with shaky fingers. After that, I’d spoken briefly to management, sent a series of emails to Derek, their PR guy, who promised to support and protect me as much as possible, and Nate reached out to Gran and Amber for me, preparing them for any media attention that may come their way. The last call I’d made was via loudspeaker with Jayden and Sutton, both vocalizing their support.
