Page 59 of Provoking the Punter

“Yeah, I heard him. He told you what he likes to be called, and you ignored him. Keep doing it, and I’ll have everyone on the team call you Patty.”

James put his hands on his hips. “It’s like that, is it?”

“If it’s about calling people the name they prefer, yeah. Don’t read anything else into it, James.” Hulme walked over to his locker and grabbed his towel, heading for the showers.

James didn’t move. “You’ve got them all fooled, but there is something suspicious about you.”

“Look, if it’s not me, then some rookie next year. You were always gonna have to compete for your contract renewal.”

James might’ve beaten a rookie and kept his spot for another year. The only edge Garrett had over a rookie was that he’d played for one and a half years already. He’d made the big step up from uni football to the NFL. But a rookie probably wouldn’t have a simmering scandal and the word gay stamped across their ass.

James shook his head and turned away. “Was it worth it?”

“Was what worth it?”

“Traveling halfway around the world because you failed at home.”

Garrett gave a low laugh and picked up his towel. “I don’t call picking myself up and starting over failure. I’ve had to do it so many times, it’s second nature. I get up, I make a new plan, and I move forward. Not everything works out the way you want.”

Perhaps James was one of those people where life had been kind to him, and things had come easy. His parents loved and supported him, which meant every time he saw an obstacle, he never doubted that he could overcome it. Whereas Garrett assumed he was going to have to fight every step of the way. He was battle-hardened and covered in scars that no one could see.

And for the first time in his adult life, he had someone he could talk to, someone he trusted, although there was also a part of him that expected it to fall apart. Because that’s what good things did. They ended. Bruises were made, knees were skinned, and all he could do was get up and go again.

He didn’t want to think about life after Chester.

He wanted to bathe in the glorious moment where he got to step onto the field and then celebrate or commiserate, depending on the result, with his… his lover.

“You’ve got this game, but that doesn’t make you the starter for the rest of the season,” James called after him.

Garrett didn’t bother replying, and whatever James said next was drowned out by the running water.

CHAPTER

TWENTY

Three points.

Garrett wouldn’t have cared if it was only one point. It was still a win. His first game with the Troopers was a win. And a home game. The energy was high in the locker room afterward. It always was after a win, but winning at home was even better. So when it was suggested they go out to celebrate, of course Garrett went. He wasn’t stupid enough to drink, though. He didn’t need a beer to celebrate.

And, of course, when they went out, there were fans out celebrating, too.

They ate pizza and wings and fries like they were going out of style, and no one seemed to notice his drink wasn’t alcoholic. There are a few of the other guys not drinking because they didn’t drink during the season. After a while, some of the players left, drifting home. It had been a long bloody day, and everyone was feeling a little sore. Even him, because one of the opposition’s players had crashed into him. Not enough to knock him over, but enough that he felt it in his shoulder.

“Are you heading home?” Hulme asked.

“Nah, I’m not ready to go back to the hotel yet. I thought I might go to Bathtubs for a bit. It’s a bit more civilized than this place.”

Addy laughed. “That’s not hard.” He glanced at Cal, who nodded. “I’ll round up the others.”

Garrett wanted to tell him not to bother, but that might look suspicious, so he shut his mouth. In the end, six of them ended up at the Bathtubs and Blossoms bar. While Bathtubs wasn’t a gay bar, it was obviously frequented by queer-identifying folks, as well as patrons in expensive designer clothing. Even late on a Sunday night, the bar gave off an air of exclusivity and culture which was lacking from the six of them, even though they all wore their suits, though without their jackets and ties.

They stood out, and not just because they were tall and built. People stared and it wouldn’t be long before someone recognized Addy. They ordered drinks and found a table to stand around. Cal said something to Addy, and he laughed, and from the way he smiled at Cal, Garrett didn’t know how he’d missed the signs before. They weren’t close because they were friends and fellow quarterbacks. They were lovers.

And no one cared.

Or, at least, no one was brave enough to say anything where they might hear.

Which meant no one would care if he came out. He could date Chester, and it would be fine. Not that Addy and Cal had come out. There had been no public statement.

---