Page 168 of The Lineman

Elliot was right. We were nailing our boards to the wall for everyone to see.

This was telling every kid, parent, administrator, church group, PTA board—every single person—that we were here. That we were unapologetically here.

And once we did that?

There was no taking it back.

I ran a hand through my hair. “You think the school board’s going to pull some shit? They’re more political than Congress.”

Mateo let out a low hum. “I don’t think so. We’re in a progressive enough district, but who knows about the parents?” He exhaled sharply. “That’s a whole different battle.”

I nodded, gripping the edge of the table. “What if they come after us? Personally?”

Mateo arched a brow. “You worried about getting called a groomer? Because, dude, we both know that’s coming.”

My stomach twisted.

Itwascoming.

The whispers, the assumptions, the bullshit accusations from people who would never understand, people who didn’t even know us, who would make up shit just to stir the pot.

People who would look at me, a teacher, and see something dirty just because I existed in this space.

Mateo must’ve seen something in my expression because he sighed, leaning back. “Look, I won’t lie. It’s going to be a thing, but you know what?” He shrugged. “It’s already a thing.”

I swallowed hard.

He wasn’t wrong.

I had already overheard the occasional comment from other teachers, the lingering looks from a couple of parents at open house nights, the way some people already saw me as some kind of risk just because I was a gay man working with kids.

Mateo set his beer down with a quiet thud. “We can’t control what they say about us, man, but we can control what we do for these kids.”

I exhaled through my nose, nodding.

Because that was the truth.

And that was what mattered.

I glanced at Mateo, my fingers tapping restlessly against the wood. “You scared?”

He smirked, but there was something thin about it. “A little.”

I snorted. “Me, too.”

Mateo nudged me with his elbow. “But we’re doing it anyway.”

I nodded.

We were.

Because Jamie needed this.

Because they all needed this.

Becausewehad needed this, too, once upon a time.

And if that meant stepping into the fire, then so be it.

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