I wanted to try it all, do it all, experiment with everything.
But absolutely no way in Nate and Ryan’s home.
It made saying goodbye easier when we’d boarded our flight yesterday. There was no denying I was sad to be leaving our friends, just like Sutton was. With no idea when we’d see each other again, it was a bittersweet farewell.
The thought of having real alone time with Sutton when we returned to Minnesota was one hell of a distraction, though, to saying goodbye. But that fantasy was shot to shit when we’d gone our separate ways because of the maniacal welcome at the airport. I hadn’t liked it one bit.
It turned out “all in” for me meant I didn’t like being without him. Maybe in another life, that knowledge would have worried me, but I lived with my eyes wide open in this one. Also, being practically ambushed when we flew into Minnesota after our two long flights meant we’d had no choice but to split.
I hadn’t even been able to kiss him goodbye before my agent was shuffling me into the car, Sutton’s doing the same to him. It took me a beat to calm down and stop grumbling and shouting at Greg for the weird ambush they’d organized.
Truth was, I was still pissed off, but I was also tired as fuck and over being treated like a rookie.
“Greg, I swear, man, you need to wind your neck in and drop the subject already.” It was barely midday, and I already had a beer in my hand. Greg had driven me to booze. Not only was my head aching, but if I didn’t get some proper sleep soon in a real bed, I was likely going to say something I couldn’t take back. Though I was quietly impressed that I’d managed to finally use “wind your neck in,” on my favorite new Aussie sayings.
“I just need you to be sure, Jayden. While you were out of the country, we were able to spin a few things to stop the vultures from circling. The press got wind of Axle not signing with you.”
“And I’ve already told you I want you to contact my lawyer and see what we can do about that.” While I didn’t want anything to do with any brand or company who were homophobic assholes, the end of my contract would mean they would no longer have to provide a percentage of sales to the charity. “We stayed away from the media, even managed not to get photographed when we were in Australia. I did what you wanted, what Monty recommended, but now we’re back, and this is happening. I’ll find another gig to help give my own yearly donation, but them getting out of it this way is not okay.”
“I just want you to consider all options. It’ll be more press if they decide to push it. You could just drop it, and we’ll focus on a better deal with a matching percentage, with a brand that you’re proud of.”
“Drop it?” I stood, exhausted, even knowing that maybe he had a good point. I’d been unprepared to be dealing with this. Sutton and I had been in our Aussie bubble. That protective layer had well and truly been destroyed since arriving in Minnesota… since my agent dove straight in and started talking business to me.
I knew it was what I paid him for, but couldn’t it have waited for a day or two at least?
My cell rang, giving me the distraction I needed. Seeing Sutton’s name, I exhaled, relieved. “Can we just be done here? I need to take this call. I’m not going to change my mind.”
After a huff of breath and a nod from Greg, I left the main sitting room in my apartment and headed to my bedroom, answering the phone en route. “Hey.” At the sound of the door closing, signaling Greg had left, I exhaled.
“You okay?” Warmth threaded his words, helping me calm my mind.
“I am now you’ve called, and Greg’s listened to reason.”
“What did he say?” Ice hardened his voice.
I sat in my bed and leaned against the bedhead. “Tried to talk me into backtracking on trying to file a lawsuit against Axle.”
“Really? He say why?”
“With a world of negative exposure about the two of us, and our refusal to make an official statement about our relationship, he doesn’t think I need the extra focus. Thinks it might damage another sponsorship deal.”
“I suppose he has a point.”
My brows shot up in surprise. “Seriously?”
“He’s just looking out for you.”
“So you don’t think this is something I should pursue?”
“I absolutely do think you should pursue it, if there’s a case.” I grinned at the heat in his words. “Those assholes not renewing like that, especially as you’d just arranged a new deal and were due to sign a new contract, is not okay. Prejudiced fuckers.”
I laughed, feeling better after Sutton’s rant. “What did Max have to say?”
“Not much, really,” Sutton said about his own agent. “Asked me a few things about our relationship. Encouraged us to go public and make an official statement. More than the Eagles’ standard ‘all our players are supportive of the LGBTQ+ community, and Moore and Sutton wish for privacy while working through rehabilitation post-accident.’”
I winced. “What did you say?”
“That we weren’t willing to go on record yet about our relationship, nor would we be confirming or denying anything. And we’d do so without the pressure from the media.”
