Page 54 of Common Goal
Eric knocked on Scott’s hotel room door. He could hear him talking to someone, and thought about leaving, but the door opened before he could retreat. Scott smiled when he saw him, then held the door wide open with the hand that wasn’t holding his phone to his ear.
“It’s Benny,” Scott said to his phone as Eric brushed past him into the room. Then, to Eric, “Kip says hi.”
“Hi, Kip.”
At least they weren’t having phone sex. Carter had once stolen one of Scott’s room keys in an attempt to prank him. When he’d opened the door, thinking Scott was out, he’d gotten an eyeful. Whenever Carter told the story, he looked haunted.
Scott ended the call after threeI love yous, then turned to Eric, his eyes bright and his cheeks touched with pink. He really was absurdly handsome.
“What’s up?” Scott asked.
Scott’s expression turned serious when Eric sat on the bed. He wheeled a desk chair over and sat facing him. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Fine. Just, um...there’s just something I’ve been wanting to tell you.”
Scott’s brow furrowed. “Okay. I’m listening.”
Eric took a breath. This was his moment. It shouldn’t be hard to come out as bisexual to your openly gay best friend, but. Well.
“I just wanted to tell you...” Eric huffed and shook his head. “It’s not even a big deal. I don’t know why I’m—”
“Eric.” Scott placed a hand on Eric’s wrist. He hardly ever called Eric by his first name. He didn’t say anything else, just calmly waited for Eric to be ready to speak.
Eric remembered when Scott had come out to him. It had been in a hotel room like this one, but Carter and their former teammate, Greg Huff, had also been there. Eric had thought about inviting Carter this time, but he decided this was less about Eric coming out to his friends, and more about getting advice from Scott, specifically. He would tell Carter soon.
How had Scott managed to say the words at the time? Eric felt like they were lodged in his throat, thick and impossible to budge. He took a slow breath, jiggled the words loose, and said, “I’m not...straight.”
Scott’s eyebrows shot up. “You’re gay?”
“No. I’m bisexual, I guess. I’ve always assumed that’s what I am, anyway.”
“Always?” Scott looked gobsmacked, and Eric didn’t blame him. If Eric had known all this time that he was bisexual, why had he waited so long to tell Scott? Why had he let Scott break down that wall alone?
“Iknew,” Eric said carefully, “but I wouldn’t acknowledge it. I’ve alwaysknown.”
Scott clasped his hands together and looked at the floor. Eric felt like shit. He’d been such a coward.
Then Scott looked up. His eyes were glistening and he was smiling. It was confusing.
“Scott?”
“Jesus, Benny. Come here.” Scott stood and opened his arms. Eric, still bewildered, stood and stepped into them. Scott wrapped him in a tight hug that Eric tried to reciprocate, but his arms were mostly pinned to his sides. He tapped the sides of Scott’s waist with his fingertips in what he hoped was a show of affection.
When Scott pulled back, he was beaming, and his eyes were still wet. “Thank you for telling me.”
“I just...needed to say it, you know?”
“Oh, believe me, I know.” Scott scrubbed a hand over his face. “Have you told anyone else? Wait.” His eyes went wide. “Are youseeingsomeone?”
“No,” Eric said quickly. “I mean, yes. I’ve told one other person. But, no. Not because I’m dating him. Or anyone. I’m not dating anyone.”
Scott looked disappointed, then smiled sheepishly. “Sorry. I got a little excited there. So you have told someone else?”
Eric sat back on the bed. For some reason the idea of telling Scott that he had confided in Kyle felt more terrifying than announcing his sexuality. So instead, he asked, “When you and Kip...” He paused, unsure how to phrase this. “Was Kip the first man you’d...”
God, why was this so hard? They were both adults.
But Scott, predictably, blushed when he realized what Eric was asking. “No, um. He wasn’t my first.” He smiled shyly. “I wish he had been, but there were a few quick hookups before him. Why?”
