Page 37 of Provoking the Punter

It wasn’t a W they put on the board, but a big messy L.

As usual, there was more than one bad play that contributed, but James’ fumble and shanked punt hadn’t helped. Garrett kept his mouth closed about it. They were on the same team and even though it might give him a chance to play, gloating wasn’t cool. James glared at him as if it was his fault and had given Hulme shit, claiming the snap was bad.

By the time Garrett had driven back to his hotel room, all he wanted to do was crash for a few hours. At least the plane trip had been quiet, with everybody wrapped up in their own moody thoughts.

Housekeeping had been in while he was away. They only came in on a Saturday when he wasn’t there. The bed was freshly made and there was a box sitting on the end.

He dropped his bag on the floor and picked up the box intending to move it to the table and ignore it until the morning. But he stopped. Written on the top of the box was his room number and surname. Only two people knew his room number and one of them was him. The other one was Chester.

Was Chester returning his T-shirt?

It was too heavy for that.

He pulled his car keys out of his pocket and sliced open the tape, not sure if it was excitement or dread tumbling in his gut. Maybe both.

He lifted the card out of the top of the box. On the front was a unicorn prancing over a glittery rainbow that spelled out Congratulations. He opened the card.

Congratulations on coming out. I hope you’re less stressed.

Enjoy the non-alcoholic drink on me.

You probably won’t eat the chocolate, but I can next time I’m around.

XX

C

Caitlin knowing was a different stress, but it was a little less jagged and toxic, which was an improvement. He pulled the bottle of non-alcoholic gin out next. That was why the box weighed so much.

There was a packet of chocolates and some much healthier protein balls.

Very funny. He was totally eating the chocolates.

At the bottom of the box was some black fabric. He pulled it out and gave it a shake. It was a Bathtub and Blossoms T-shirt. The logo had a rainbow splash behind it. There was a note stuck on the front.

Baby’s first pride T-shirt.

Garrett held the T-shirt to his chest and closed his eyes.

Chester had gotten him a coming out present, and all he done was tell Caitlin. It wasn’t worth the fuss, and yet it was the nicest thing anyone had done for him in about a decade.

He was not going to cry about it.

Nope.

Chester was probably asleep, but he texted anyway.

I’m home. Thank you for the present. You didn’t need to.

I wanted to.

He stared at the message. He hadn’t expected Chester to reply. Now he needed to say something.

It means a lot.

He didn’t know how to write how much it meant. That was a whole essay. He sniffed and blinked as the screen blurred. And he didn’t want to have this conversation tonight, because right now he’d fall apart.

You can show me in person. Free tomorrow evening?

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