Page 139 of Waiting for Ru
“Should it?”
“The age difference?”
Joaquin laughed. “Have you seen me with many women my age?”
“No.”
“Or men?”
Jasim almost fell off his horse, he swivelled so fast. “What?”
“Iambi.” Joaquin shrugged. “You’re not the only one with a secret. Does anyone know yours?”
“Leigh and Newt. A couple of people you don’t know. Mike doesn’t know. But if he starts making accusations… Mud sticks, as we know.”
“Which is why you have to come out. Publicly. Before the match. If we don’t win, taking attention from the winning team would appear to be poor timing.”
“I’d come to that conclusion. I need to tell the team and my staff today. If Mike wants to get vindictive, he could go to the press quite soon. I need to beat him to it.”
“Five days to the game. So who will you tell? Which reporters?”
“Do you think I need to make a formal statement?”
“Yes. Email it to the main polo publications, tell them why you haven’t come out until now, the problems of being a Saudi and gay. You don’t need to say anything about your father’s threats; mentioning Saudi honour will be enough. Tell them you’re not answering any questions until after the match. The flurry of interest that ensues should keep you safe.”
“Not completely.”
“No, Prince of Darkness, you could get thrown during the game and break your neck.”
Jasim sighed.
“Sorry, but if anything happens to you or you disappear, your family will be under suspicion. Not much consolation if you’re dead—but it’s a pretty effective deterrent. I think being open is youronlydefence. It’s time to take a chance. But all this is a distraction. The sooner we get past it the better if we’re going to win on Saturday.”
Jasim took out his phone. “I’ll send the team a text to meet in thirty minutes at the pool.”
“Include Georgia, Mary and Paolo in that. They should know sooner than the rest.”
“You’re right. I need to speak to everyone else as well.” He texted Georgia to arrange that for six thirty, and also texted Leigh to tell him he’d come out, and moments later had a message back.Good for you!
Jasim checked again on Ru when he got back to the house. He wasn’t where he’d left him so he called him.
“Where are you?”
“In my room. I’m okay. I’m resting, I promise.”
“I’m going to tell the team now, and Mary, Paolo and Georgia.”
“About me?” Ru whispered.
That threw him. “I wasn’t thinking of outing you at the same time.”
“Oh. Okay. Good luck.”
Ru rang off and left Jasim wondering whether he should have answered that question in a different way.
When he went towards the pool, he saw everyone waiting and his heart bounced on his stomach. Joaquin was at the back of the group and sent him an encouraging nod. Jasim did a quick check to see that everyone was there before he spoke.
“I’ll make this brief. Paolo had to sack two grooms today for bullying and assaulting another groom. Mike and Kirstie no longer work for the team.”
