Page 45 of Breakaway Goals
“Good,” he said. Patted him on the arm. “Come on. Let’s get showered.”
After they got back to the hotel, there was a team lunch, then the team and the coaching staff spent hours breaking down film of the first two games the Canadian team had played in. There were a few guys who were normally on teams with their players, and slowly but inevitably, they’d speak up, giving insights and advice, trying to do everything they could to get an edge. Everyone knew it was going to be that close.
By the end of the afternoon, Hayes was mentally exhausted, begging off the dinner plans some guys were making and retreating to his room.
He took a long nap, woke up, ordered room service for dinner, and while he waited for it to arrive, called Zach. That was better than looking at his texts, at the group chat for the US guys, wondering if Morgan had said anything or reached out.
“Hey,” Zach said brightly. “You caught me right before I went out for dinner with some of the other guys. How’s it going?” For the bye week, some of the Mavs not going to the tournament had found an all-inclusive in Cabo and Zach had gone with them.
“It’s going.” Hayes knew he sounded tired, even after his nap.
“You ready for the Canadians?”
“I don’t know if you’re ever really ready for the Canadians,” Hayes muttered, “but we’re gonna do our best, that’s for sure.”
“Your line looks good.”
“It’s got Morgan freaking Reynolds on it, of course it’s great,” Hayes said before he could snatch the words back.
Zach just laughed. “Not over your crush, huh?”
“It’s . . .” Hayes wanted to say it was just a crush, still, but even he, with all his delusions, was having difficulty believing it.
He knew he should have texted Zach days ago and said,hey guess what, it’s not just a crush anymore and he isn’t straight and we’re having sex and it’s even hotter than my fantasies.
There’d been a part of him that wanted to. Another part that had held back, mostly because it hadn’t felt right to tell Zachabout Morgan’s queerness but also because Zach would argue this was a terrible fucking idea.
“Oh come on, he can’t be that great,” Zach muttered. “He’s probably a huge asshole, and you’re in deep denial.”
“Heiskinda. But not . . .not because he wants to be.” Hayes hated how earnest he sounded as he defended Morgan. “He’s just got a lot of pressure, you know? Pressure I understand.”
“Yeah. We know. First overalls.” Zach didn’t even sound bitter about it, just matter-of-fact.
“Yeah,” Hayes agreed.
“Somehow you’re not an asshole, though,” Zach pointed out.
Hayes thought about what Morgan had said earlier.You’ll get it in ten fucking years. Maybe twelve, if you’re really lucky.
“Maybe not now, but who knows what I’m gonna be like when I’m at the end of my career and everyone’s parsing what it means, where I fall. If I onlymeteveryone’s expectations, didn’t even exceed them.”
Zach sighed heavily. “I’m not sure whether you spending this much time with Morgan Reynolds was a good or a bad thing, honestly.”
He had to tell him. Hayes hated it, but he had to tell him.
“Well, about that . . .” Hayes dangled the sentence.
Zach was not stupid. It didn’t take him that long. Or very long at all. He inhaled sharply. “No.No.You and Reynolds?”
“Yeah.”
“What happened?”
Any other guy, even another player, Hayes would’ve given all the details. Given Zach the whole picture. He knew why he was holding back, but Zach was discreet; he wouldn’t tell anyone.
Still, Hayes found himself clamming up. “We’ve just been spending a lot of time together and one thing led to another . . .you know how it goes.”
Zach laughed incredulously. “No.No.I do not know how it goes. This isMorgan Reynolds.You don’t just fall into bed with him like some regular ass hookup.”
