Page 32 of Scoring in Cedarwood

Dane met Tanner’s gaze.

Tanner braced for Dane’s questions. He doubted Dane would let this go without asking something.

Dane didn’t speak right away. “What did he mean?” He shrugged away from Tanner, putting space between them. “Tanner?”

He glanced about, ensuring he and Dane were alone in the locker room. He didn’t want to have an argument with witnesses around. “Why don’t we go?”

Dane massaged his forehead. “Yeah.”

Tanner scurried over to his locker to get his bag. He checked he had his phone, wallet and keys, then chased after Dane. He’d rather not have someone overhear the conversation. Did he care if the team knew he was gay? No, but he wanted things with Dane to come out when Dane was prepared, not before. “I’m ready.”

“Sure.” Dane left the locker room. The tension and anger in his body were visible from a mile away. He didn’t stop until he reached the car and slid behind the wheel.

Tanner’s stomach lurched. He’d help create this mess and he hadn’t given Dane a chance to ask any questions. “I was invited to a barbecue. The guys said to bring my boyfriend and they know I’m homosexual.”

“Everyone knows,” Dane said. “I heard about the game. They threw things at you.” He faced Tanner. “You could’ve been hurt.”

“I’ve got a doctor who can heal me,” Tanner said. He half grinned. When Dane didn’t relax, Tanner’s smile fell.

“That’s not the point.” A frown marred Dane’s handsome face. “You were in danger.”

“I’m not going to hide who I am.” He reached for Dane. “You’re the reason I’m not backing down.” He had to say something to make Dane understand and save the situation. “I have everything I want right here.”

“You’re being attacked.”

“So what? Bigoted people are everywhere. The Cedarwood group is no different. I won’t give them the honor of letting them see me break. Fuck ’em. I like where I am—even after one game and a couple of weeks here, I’m happy. I’ll take a few wrappers in my direction if that means I don’t have to hide.”

“But—”

He slid his fingers across Dane’s mouth. “But nothing.” He caressed Dane’s bottom lip. “Unless you’re worried. Are you?”

“I am.”

“About?” He’d pushed and forced. Despite his heart sinking, he needed to give Dane a chance to speak. “I’m listening.”

Dane spoke around Tanner’s fingers. “I’m concerned about how they’re targeting you. The fliers they’ve been sending are pieces of paper but can be ignored. The stadium being defaced isn’t cool but could be chalked up to silly juvenile graffiti. But you having things thrown at you… It wasn’t just wrappers. They threw plastic cups. What if that escalates?”

“To what? They assaulted me already and I stood up,” Tanner said. He could caress Dane forever. “I can handle myself, but I like knowing I’ve got you in my corner.”

“I am,” Dane whispered.

Had his voice cracked? “Then what? Are you afraid they’ll damage your house? Car? Practice?” Or his heart?

“Not those things.”

“Your reputation?”

“No.”

“I don’t understand.” Tanner dropped his hands to his lap.

Dane held on to Tanner’s wrist. “There are haters everywhere. I realize it doesn’t go away because you tell it to. I’ve tried to keep things positive, but that hate finds me.”

“It’s life.” He tipped his head but didn’t pull away from Dane, his lifeline. “But?”

“What you and I have is new. Super new.”

Tanner hated awkward pauses, but he couldn’t believe Dane had used the word super. His stomach soured even more. “Are you rethinking us?” Or us being in the same house?Damn it.His thoughts shouldn’t have gone to the negative or even being thrown out, but he’d been down this road before. He couldn’t handle being abandoned again.

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