Page 54 of Sidelining the Safety

Lee narrowed his eyes. “You deal with PR that much?”

Garrett shrugged. “I’m dating her best asset.”

Lee pursed his lips. “Because of the distillery meet-and-greets?”

“Among other uses she’s had for Chester’s restaurant’s large front windows.” Garrett grimaced.

Lee wasn’t sure he wanted to know the whys and wheres, but according to Ms. Cole’s preseason training session, he knew the paparazzi had its uses. “Well, I’d appreciate that meeting. Today, if possible, otherwise Coach might have my head.”

“Sure.” He reached for his cell and texted. The almost immediate reply back was kinda scary. “She said to head up after you shower. She doesn’t like stinky men.” There was a succession of dings that had Garrett laughing, but since he wasn’t sharing, Lee stripped down to his briefs, grabbed his towel, and mentally prepared for his forthcoming meeting with Caitlin Cole.

“Figured you’d show up here sooner or later.” Caitlin didn’t look away from her computer as she waved Lee to have a seat.

“How’d you know?”

Caitlin swiveled her chair to face him, leaning back and folding her hands in her lap. She regarded him shrewdly, and Lee wanted to squirm under the intense gaze, but he made himself hold still. Holding up one hand, she ticked off her comments.

“One: you were out at Rutgers. Two: you had a boyfriend on the down-low who’s not so down on the low at the moment. Three: the kiss at the brew?—”

“Hold up a sec. Stu’s been talking?”

“To anybody willing to give him the time of day. Guy’s kinda of a tool. What’d you have? A friends with bennies deal?”

Lee sagged. “Yeah, mostly. Is he a problem? Because I can?—”

She waved off his offer. “It’s North-Central Jersey. A dime’s throw to New York, and doesn’t everyone explore their sexuality in college? Being queer there is kinda expected. Seriously, I’ve got Anders with guys, girls, and everything in between.”

Lee chuckled. That was the way it went with pansexuals, but that didn’t help with his throupleship dilemma.

“So I know about Drew. Tell me about the other guy?”

Lee grinned, and she laughed. “Mac. Mackenzie Connor. He’s Drew’s best friend. His family owns The Other Diner over on S. Lamar.”

“I know the place. Good food. Friendly people.”

“Yeah. Mac’s dad is a fan. Cowboys convert. Shares season tickets with two of his buddies.”

“Nice.” Caitlin’s smile was wicked. “I’ll send him some merch and have Mariah ship over some promotional items to keep on location if you don’t think he’ll mind.”

“Since he once commented about painting the place white and gold, I doubt it.” They shared a conspiratorial snickering grin.

“Excellent, but let’s get back to you. Right now, the scope of your relationship is being kept within the confines of the team. What happened at the brewery stays at the brewery. We spend enough money there that we negotiated having the staff sign NDAs. It helps that Dr. Rosie’s brother-in-law owns the place.”

Caitlin leaned forward, bracing her arms on the desk as she stared at him. “Lee, it’s a known factor that you’re out, so the question to you is: are you planning on bringing your relationship out of the closet as well? You need to discuss it with Drew and Mac because this will affect them. We have plenty of LGBTQIA+ representation in sports now, we have out couples, but we don’t have any triad relationships. You’ll be breaking ground. The diner will feel the repercussions. They might need to hire security until the media frenzy dies down.”

“Fuck. I hadn’t thought of that.” Lee chewed on his thumbnail, now more worried about Momma Connor and Ken than about himself.

“Well, considering how flighty the news is, I don’t think it’ll last long, but you need to consider it, nonetheless.”

“Okay. Thanks for the heads up. Looks like I have a bunch of people to talk to before I make any decisions.” Lee paused as Caitlin picked up a pen and jotted notes into a file with his name on it. He had one more question before he started making calls. “If we do choose to, you know, come out, who do you suggest we use to release our story?”

“That's easy. I’ll set you up with Casey West of Football Fandom. He plays for your team.” She winked, then laughed. “Now get the hell out of my office. I’ve got work to do.”

Lee stood and headed out, pausing in the doorway. “Thanks, Caitlin. I appreciate your help.”

“Anytime, Lee. Anytime.”

CHAPTER 38

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