Page 55 of Common Goal
Eric traced a fingertip over the hotel comforter. “I’ve been thinking that I’d like to try it. Being with a man, I mean.” Scott’s eyes went wide, and Eric realized suddenly how this might be misinterpreted. “Not with you! That’s not why I’m here.”
Scott let out a shaky laugh. “Oh. Good. Jesus, I was nervous there for a second.”
Eric shook his head. “With someone else, I promise.”
“The person you came out to already, maybe?”
Eric averted his gaze, realizing too late that Scott would interpret it as theyesthat it was. He had only planned to tell Scott that he was bisexual, and maybe ask some vague questions about dating men. But now, with Scott grinning at him expectantly, Eric decided he wanted to share at least part of this with his best friend. “It’s going to sound weird, but I actually told Kyle.”
“Kyle? Like, Kyle who we wanted you to be friends with?”
“Yes.”
“Kyle who Isaidyou’d get along really well with?”
“The same. Congratulations.”
Scott fist pumped, and Eric bit his lip to keep from smiling.
“Are you guys, like... I mean, did you, um...” Scott stammered.
“We arefriends. He’s half my age.”
“He’s nothalfyour age, for fuck’s sake. But, yes. He’s young.”
“Too young for me,” Eric said. If he said it enough times, maybe his brain would start to listen. “But he’s been helping me navigate this thing.”
Scott’s expression turned thoughtful and he said, “He’d be good at that. The last two years haven’t been easy on Kip, and Kyle’s been a good friend to him.”
“Haven’t been easy?” Eric asked. As far as he could tell, Kip had found Prince Charming and was going to ride into the sunset with him.
“He’s suddenly in the spotlight. I know he’s happy with me, but the rest hasn’t been easy. He’s lost friends, and had to deal with being one half of a very public couple. We get tons of support, and that’s awesome, but we also get...the other stuff.”
Eric knew this, of course. He’d seen the comments posted at the end of articles online, and he’d heard the ignorant things yelled from the crowds when the team was on the road. Hell, he’d heard them yelled by people—he refused to call them fans—at their home games in New York. It always infuriated him. Oddly, he realized now, he had only ever felt outrage on Scott’s behalf when he’d heard the slurs. Never for himself.
“I’m sorry,” he said, now.
Scott waved a hand. “I spent my whole life worried about whattheythink. I’m done.”
Eric smiled at that.
“So,” Scott said. “You’re getting yourself out there, then? Dating?”
“I mean, not yet. But I’d like to.”
“Men, huh?”
“Maybe. I’m curious I guess.” Eric scoffed. “That sounds so cliché.”
“It’s exciting is what it is! You should come out with us sometime. There’s a fundraiser at a club next week that we’re helping out at. It’s a drag show—a Christmas thing—and there will be dancing after, of course. I’m going to be on stage for part of the show, so you can at least watch me being roasted by some drag queens.”
“That is very tempting.” It actually did sound ideal. It would be low pressure, because Eric could just be there to support his friend. And he could leave before the dancing started. Maybe this could be the night out Kyle had suggested. He would like it if Kyle was there. For support.
“Seriously,” Scott said gently as he sat back in the chair in front of Eric, “it would be great to have you there. And I’m glad Kyle is advising you on the actual, um, dating side of things. Honestly, I am terrible with that stuff.”
“He’s very enthusiastic,” Eric said. He bit his cheek to suppress a smile he was sure would give away the fact that Kyle had offered to have sex with him.
Scott beamed. “I can’t believe I’ve had a queer teammate this whole time!”
