Page 82 of Misconduct Zone

She snaps into action, situating us in front of one of Cole’s paintings as a backdrop so we’ll be facing the kids.

Chapter 40

Lars

Dylon stares blankly ahead, and it’s so out of character I almost trip on my way over to sit next to him. He’s the one who can talk to anyone and loves telling the kids stories. I’m none of those things.

“Hey.” I squeeze his thigh as I sit.

He drags his gaze to mine as if it’s an effort and swallows hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. I wait for him to explain what upset him. A bunch of theories flip through my mind, and I shove them away. I cannot stress about the what-ifs when he will tell me in a minute. Filling my lungs with air, I hold it, then let it out slowly.

“I did a thing.” His fingers drum nervously on the table. “I hope you’re not mad. But I can’t lie or deny my feelings for you.” He takes a gulp of air. “I told the kids I’m in love with you.”

His words are fireworks, lifting my heart and my body into weightlessness. It’s the type of thing I didn’t know I wanted, to be claimed by him. But now that he has, it’s amazing.

“Do you want to make a formal announcement?” I ask, warring with the pros and cons of each answer.

“For the principle of it, no. I would like to stop playing into the narrative that we are straight by default and have to come out if we’re not. We can be who we are without commenting. Neither of us made statements about women we dated or fucked, so we shouldn’t be obligated to reveal thedetails of our love.”

“Do you think we can do that?” Although I agree with his idea, it will be difficult to avoid direct questions.

“Maybe. As athletes, we don’t owe anyone full disclosure about our love life.” Our heads are inches apart, and his quiet words float between us.

The reporter clears her throat. “Do you need a minute, or are you ready to film?”

“Our PR department has a say in the final edit, correct?” I ask her.

“Absolutely,” she assures us.

“Let’s do this.” Dylon leans in and playfully bites my shoulder, and I’m very grateful we’re sitting at a table and not in chairs so my growing dick isn’t visible.

The interview begins with straightforward questions about The Q Solutions and our volunteer work. Dylon’s animated as he waves his hands and talks about all the great programs. I highlight Ari Dimon’s commitment to supporting LBGTQ+ rights and organizations and the ways he’s implementing those values.

That segues into Jayce’s press conference last year and Patrik’s engagement to Trevor.

“You both have been in the press lately with rumors of a relationship. Would you like to comment?” Our agreement states she will not push beyond what we decide to share.

“I find the speculation funny.” Dylon grins. “Our family and friends know the status of our relationship, and we don’t feel the need to comment publicly.”

“We are public figures, but we value privacy. No matter what we say, people will dissect our words and form judgments. Dylon is the most important person in my life, and people can interpret that as they see fit,” I say, facing Dylon, and I’m struck by his dimple and the gold flecks shining in his eyes.

“He’s a big softy, but don’t tell anyone. We don’t want to ruin his reputation.” Dylon winks at the camera. “I’m a lucky man to have him.” He leans in and lowers his voice conspiratorially. “Not to give him a big head, but he’s my favorite person.”

The reporter laughs, and Dylon slings his arm over the back of my chair.

“Is there anything else you’d like to share?” she asks.

“I would encourage people to be who they are. We love The Q Solutions because it provides a safe space for kids to figure out who they are. As a society, we expect and almost demand people who are not straight to come out by announcing it. Don’t allow outside pressure to dictate your story. Be who you are and do what’s right for you. You don’t have to continually come out for the rest of your life to make sure everyone knows,” Dylon says with his usual charm.

“It’s difficult to reveal something so personal over and over again, not knowing how it will be received. We believe everyone has the right to talk about it or not. Everyone has different experiences.” I reach over and rest my hand on his thigh.

“Very profound. Thanks for your time and the work you do here,” she says to end our interview.

Dylon and I lock eyes, and it’s off script, but we can ask the Enforcers to cut it. I lean in, and as he reads my expression, his face lights up. Although I never imagined doing this in public, it doesn’t feel brave. If feels exactly right for who we are. Dylon meets me halfway, and our lips connect with a chaste kiss. “It was our pleasure,” I say, grinning at the camera.

The room goes silent after the reporter gasps. She recovers after several beats. “This interview will change lives. Thank you for trusting me.”

I kissed my boyfriend in the moment because when I leaned in, Dylon’s eyes spoke to me, craving the validation and public display of affection. We didn’t set out to change lives, but hopefully it will be a positive step forward in the conversation about acceptance.

---