Page 82 of Tangled Up In You
Corbin
Several Days Later
I sat in the sunroom of Grandpa Bill’s house—well I guess it was mine now—and closed my eyes as the spring breeze moved the wind chimes hanging outside the door. Most of my things had been moved from my place in Kansas City, with the exception of the furniture and some clothes I’d left for when I used the house during my football season. I had bought new furniture and a king sized bed after I’d gotten back in town days ago.
I was home.
Before that moment, I wasn’t sure how it’d feel moving back to Willow. I had suspected I’d be happy, of course, because it’s where Hunter was, but actually being there and knowing it wasn’t a temporary stay but a forever one, I saw things differently.
Most people would be eager to leave the clutches of small town life, and there I was thinking of nothing I’d love more than to sit in that room with Hunter by my side as the years passed. Growing old together.
I’d lived the glamourous, big time life. And it was nothing compared to spending the rest of my days with the one person who made me feel whole. Or at least that was the plan.
I needed to ask him to actually move in with me first.
The sun was hot that day, making it feel more like early summer than spring. The humidity was high too, which only added to the heat and made me feel weighed down. I had missed it.
It was April, and I had another few weeks before the offseason workouts began back in KC. Since Hunter was a teacher, the last day of school in May meant he got a summer break as well, so he could come stay with me. We wouldn’t have to be apart as much as we’d thought.
My phone buzzed, and I pulled it from my pocket, smiling when I saw the text.
Hunter:Hey, stud. You coming to the school 4 lunch?
Me:Yes, ur majesty. Anything specific u require for ur meal?
Hunter:…are you my knight in shining armor now?
I grinned, having way too much fun with this. After shooting another text to him—confirming that yes I was, in fact, a knight—I left the sunroom and walked down the breezeway toward the house. I checked myself in the mirror hanging in the hall before grabbing my keys and going back outside.
In the days following my coming out article, I’d received a lot of support from people; some I knew, most I didn’t. A few of the comments had stung, like one from a gay high school kid who was upset I hadn’t donated to any LGBTQ charities and how I hadn’t attended any pride events in years past. I planned to change all of that and be a voice for the community, but it didn’t change the fact that it’d taken me so long to do so. The price of hiding who I was had been bigger than I’d thought, not only to myself, but to those who looked up to me.
Like Daniel.
I’d tried talking to him the other day when I’d arrived back in town, but he hadn’t wanted anything to do with me. His anger was justified. When he opened up to me that day in the workout room at school, Ishouldhave done more to help him. Even if it’d meant telling him the truth about myself.
I stopped at Thai Curry to pick up the to-go order before driving to the high school. After finding a spot to park, I walked into the building and went to the office as usual.
“There’s my sugar,” Kelly said when her green eyes landed on me. “You know the drill.”
I signed in and slapped the visitor’s sticker on my chest before telling her bye and leaving the office. The energy in the hallway was different than it usually was. Not in a bad way, but just different. I received way more high-fives than usual, even from the more introverted and emo-styled kids who used to just look the other way when I passed them.
One kid, a guy with long black hair and heavy black eyeliner, fist bumped me and said, “Thank you.”
“For what?” I asked, stopping by his locker.
“You were right. Wedodeserve to be happy,” he answered, looking down at his feet as a shy smile lifted the corner of his mouth. “Thank you for the reminder. Life isn’t as shitty anymore. I hate all jock sports, but you’re a role model to a lot of kids now. Freaks and jocks alike.”
Then, he shut his locker and walked away.
Such a small interaction, but one that impacted me beyond words. My eyes stung and my chest tightened as I continued down the hall. I’d been called a role model before…but to know I’d helped a kid who was struggling with accepting himself? To know I’d made a difference in someone’s life?
That helped me forget about all the negative shit that had been spread around about me lately—the hatred from religious groups, and some of the football fans who didn’t like the fact a gay player was on the field with their team.
I’djustcome out to the world, and the world expected a lot from me.
But that kid who’d just said I’d madehisworld a little better did the same for me.
Hunter wasn’t in his classroom, so I went to the teacher’s lounge. He was standing at the window, holding a can of soda in one hand as he talked to Christina. He hadn’t seen me yet, so I took a second to check him out. He wore his glasses that day, which added to his sophisticated look of a dark gray button-up shirt and slacks.
