Page 106 of Lost Boy
“Ridiculous. I’m sorry, young man. I’m happy to have you both in my store, especially state champion and MVP Ryder Cruz.” The old man shakes Ryder’s hand enthusiastically.
“Thank you, Paul, really. We need more people like you in the world,” Sofie agrees, making Paul blush.
“Oh, it’s nothin’. Just common decency. You kids know where to find me when you’re ready to check out. And if any of you like to sing or play music, I’m having a little talent show here. There’ll be a prize at the end, and some of my old record exec buddies will be here, looking for new talent.”
“Ooh! Ooh! Fallon! You have to sign up!” Sofie shouts in excitement, bouncing on her toes.
I’ve been thinking about putting myself out there. Ryder makes me want things I’ve never dreamed of. Love. Success. Music. Happiness. And even basketball. I see all of these things in my future with Ryder, and more importantly, I actually see a future. I can visualize things now, instead of just a deep, dark cavern where my dreams and aspirations should be.
“You should, baby,” Ryder murmurs, a rush of warmth flooding me at the public endearment.
“I’ll do it,” I say before talking myself out of it.
“Eeeee!” Sofie squeals, clapping her hands together and doing a twirl. Luckily no full dance move this time.
“It’s two weeks from this weekend, so you’ve got time. We’re looking for interesting covers. Show us your creativity with up to three songs. The flyers and sign-up form are by the door, so you can grab more information on your way out. I look forward to seeing what you’ve got to show us, young man.”
“Thanks,” I mumble, grabbing my last album choice and heading for the clothing area. I’m ready to go home, listen to my new albums, and mess around with my boyfriend before Joel and Al get back to town. Not that we’ll let that stop us. Especially not now that we’ve had sex.
He’s unleashed a beast in both of us, and I want nothing more than Ryder’s huge cock spearing me open every night. The change is startling. I’ve never even been interested in a person before. Absolutely no one. But now I can’t get thoughts of Ryder out of my mind.
CHAPTERTHIRTY
RYDER
Another week of school passes, and it’s such a relief that no one at the academy cares that I’m gay. No one even bats an eye. They just care that we beat Jefferson High, completely sweeping the floor with those assholes. Cole was a little surprised, but nothing phases him, and Jamie, of course, has always known. Gracie, Taylor, Alexis, and the other girls practically swooned at my ‘grand display of romance’ when I climbed the bleachers and kissed Fallon in front of everyone, claiming him and declaring my sexuality in one fell swoop. Two birds with one stone. No doubt.
I added a state championship patch to my letterman jacket. Fallon wears it to school every day, despite it getting warmer. There aren’t any dress code violations against such things, even though it’s usually girls wearing the oversized jackets of their boyfriends, not small emo boys with blue hair. It’s a school-issued piece of clothing, so even though a few of the older teachers sneer at us, none of them can say anything.
It feels good to have a break from basketball, even if it won’t last. I got accepted to my dream college just outside of LA, and apparently, they also don’t care if they’re about to have their first gay player. Gay Latino player. I’m not the norm. I know this. And it’s fine. I can be an outlier.
With my future secured, basketball on pause, and my sexuality public, I need to have the talk I’ve been avoiding with Dad. Well, not really avoiding per se; it’s more like neither of us has had the time.
After they returned from San Diego late Sunday night, Joel had to get caught up with work, and Dad had things around the house to manage, as well as his other restaurants. He hasn’t slowed down for a minute, let alone to talk.
But now, it’s Friday night, and he’s relaxing in the movie room downstairs with Joel. They’re in matching plaid pajamas, drinking wine.
“Oh. I can come back later,” I say, slipping into the hallway.
“Ry!” Dad calls out, so I amble into the room once again. “Come sit and talk to me. I’ve been meaning to talk with you since last weekend.”
Joel moves to leave, but I stop him. “No. You should stay too. We’re all family, right?”
“Right,” he confirms with a small smile and a tight nod.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was gay,” I blurt out unexpectedly, even to myself. I stare at Dad with wide, nearly panicked eyes, blinking rapidly. I run a hand through my curls, scratching my head at why I did that.
Fallon is upstairs napping after a long week of school, so I figured I’d have this talk with Dad on my own since he’s not very chatty with other people anyway.
“Ryder,” Dad says with a strained voice. His dark brown eyes soften even more than usual, and he pats the couch cushion next to him. “Come, mijo. Sit. Please.”
I listen to my dad, feeling like a little kid again instead of a young man ready to graduate and move away from home to play ball in college.
“Don’t ever apologize for who you are or how long you keep it to yourself. You don’t owe me an explanation, and you never did. It’s your life, and you have to live it at your own pace. When you’re ready. Not others. And I just need to tell you again how proud of you I am. Not only for winning the championship but for your bravery in coming out in the absolutely spectacular way you did. You made this old papa bear proud, mijo. I’m always proud of my children, but Ryder, this was something special.”
“It was very special, and I’m so proud of you too, Ry. As your coach, your friend, and—”
“My possible future stepdad,” I supply, cutting him off and repeating what Sofie always teases them with.
