Page 149 of Gym Bros
“Oh.” She’s silent, then, “Oh.Samuel…”
“It’s not another fighter or anything, he’s different. He’s…anyway we’re together. We’ve been together for almost two months.”
“I—aman?”
I make an executive decision not to tell her who it is, because she might know about him, or even have met him, and also I don’t need her Instagram stalking my boyfriend quite yet.
I’m hoping she can meet him in person at Thanksgiving withme by his side so we can experience all the weirdness of it together because it’s gonna be weird, guaranteed. My dad might have some unkind thoughts about it—not necessarily about me being bi, but about me fucking his rare and precious client. Breaking the news in person should keep things polite and easy.
“Has this always been something you were…interested in?”
“Since I sawhimthe first time? Pretty much. And now it’s like—I’m happy.”
“You—soundhappy.”
“Well, we make a good team.”
“Does he have a name?” she asks.
“He does. Maybe you can set an extra plate at Thanksgiving?”
“Oh—we’rethatserious.”
“Yeah,” I say grinning to myself. “We are.”
“Okay.”
I roll my eyes because I think she believes that as much as she believes I can win a fight without getting my ass handed to me.
“I thought you were trying to move to Texas.”
I don’t think I ever said that specifically—just that there were some good gyms in Texas. “Well, if it comes to that—I’ll figure it out, but for now I’m here, and it’s all good.”
“It certainly sounds like it. Does your father know?”
“Not yet. Let me tell him, though. Okay? I will soon.”
“You want me to keep thisa secret?”
“Not for long, I promise. Just let me get through this weekend—let us all get through this weekend, and I can do it right.”
“Oh, lord. The last time I kept a secret from him was when I was pregnant with you, and I think I lasted three hours.”
I laugh. “If it helps, just remember it’s not cool to out someone.”
“You—ugh.Sam. I will wring your neck for this.”
“You got this, Mom. You’re tough.”
She sighs, but it sounds more indulgent than anything else. “I can do it. Under protest, but since this is the first time you ever asked me to keep a secret, I don’t want to fuck it up.”
I grin as Beauty and I reach the bottom of the hill. “That’s the spirit. I’m gonna go now. I have a hill to scale.”
“Good luck this weekend, sweetie. Be careful. Protect your head.”
“I promise,” I tell her. “Love you.”
“Love you, too. Text me as soon as it’s over.”
