Page 98 of Scoring Zone
“Thank me?” I snort.
“For holding me up on Pride Night. I sorta lost it.” He stares at his hands. “I thought I was good…but I was out there raw with all those eyes on me.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I reply, still having a hard time putting thoughts together.
“The upside is all the fun speculation.” He meets my eyes with a small smile.
“Huh?”
“I thought Gray said you saw it.” King turns around with panic in his voice.
“I saw me stumble over the wall and pass out on the ice. What else did I do?” I ask suspiciously.
“You didn’t do anything else,” he assures me. “I’m glad the MRI looks good.” He changes the subject.
I stare at him for a beat before Grayson rushes back into the room with wet hair, wearing my clothes after taking a three-second shower. It’s cute he knows it makes me happy to see him in my sweats but annoying he’s afraid to leave my side.
“I’m going to go.” King shoots up.
“Sit,” I order, and my eyes swing between them. “What don’t I know yet?”
Gray approaches slowly and sits next to me on the couch. “Doc advised me to limit the information I give until your brain is ready to handle it. I’ll tell you one thing, and if your head hurts or you’re confused, I’m waiting to tell you the rest.”
My head bobs in agreement because I can feign understanding and project being fine.
In my peripheral vision, King sits in the recliner.
Gray takes my hand. “King had some anxiety after we walked out on the carpet, and the two of us supported him so he didn’t trip or fall.” My hand motions for him to continue. “Do you remember, before you left the carpet to be with the team, you kissed the side of my head. It’s on camera and everyone noticed.”
“Understatement,” King mutters.
“Is that your polite way of telling me I outed myself?” My face breaks into a wide grin.
“That and we’re internet memes. So we’re trending on all social media platforms with some creative captions.”
My head swims a little, but it’s funny. “And you released the prepared statement?”
Gray shakes his head. “It was something we agreed to do together, and you couldn’t make any decisions. I’d never out you unless I knew for sure without a doubt it’s what you wanted.”
“You doubt me?” My voice cracks, and King fidgets uncomfortably.
“Can I bounce?” King asks.
“Not until I know how this involves you,” I say.
King minds his own business and never gossips, so even though his presence seems irrelevant, he must be involved.
King hangs his head, and Grayson assures him none of this is his fault.
“Finn fell back on the standard statement, saying the team doesn’t comment on players’ personal lives and we’ve been friends for years. But some social media felt the need to digdeeper and have insinuated that the three of us are in a relationship or possibly us with Brant too. I’m not joking when I say you’re trending. Your name is searched more than Taylor Swift.”
My back hits the couch as I howl with laughter, but that hurts my head, and I have to stop. “Are you okay?” I ask King.
He glances away and rubs his hands on his jeans. “It’s nice to have the focus off my relationship with my bio dad and stepbro. Also, peak comedy.” His smile is tentative.
“How about Brant?” I ask Gray, not wanting to make light of a situation that devastates someone else.
Gray rolls his eyes with a relieved laugh. “He’s playing into it, and it’s hilarious.” Grayson explains Brant’s post-game press conference after my concussion. Brant got angry at a reporter for asking about my sexuality after my injury. I’m confused how that relates.
