After they leave, I sit alone, processing what happened. It wasn’t the explosive confrontation I’d feared. He didn’t call Cal a name, he didn’t call me a name. It could have gone far worse.
Still our relationship won’t be the same. But my thoughts and fears hovered on the edge of every conversation anyway, just silently. Now they know.
When I walk back out to find Cal waiting for me, his face anxious and hopeful, I remember why I did this.
“How bad?” he asks.
“They’re flying home early.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” I take his hand. “They need time. Maybe they’ll come around, maybe they won’t. It’s done now.”
Cal studies my face. “Are you okay?”
I press my lips together. Am I okay? My family is disappointed, confused, hurt. Tanaka stormed out. But now I’m standing here with Cal, no longer hiding, no longer pretending...
“Totally.”
Finally, Rex strides over.
Cal tenses.
I tense.
Rex appears around the corner. “Everything alright?”
“My family needs some time to adjust.”
“That was brave,” Rex says thoughtfully, glancing toward Jeremy.
I frown. “Wait. Did I do some ethical misdeed?”
Rex’s forehead has more wrinkles than before.
“Put Cal in a bad position? Because we weren’t sure what would happen, and we got closer than we normally would have.” The words tumble out, but they make my soul writhe, because Jesus, what would have happened if I’d decided to stay in my apartment? What if I’d slammed the door in Cal’s face and gone about my normal life? What if he hadn’t followed me onto those jet skis? Or his jet ski hadn’t broken down? Or Jesus, what if I hadn’t noticed he was missing until it was too late? What if we hadn’t found the island? What if we’d—
“Everyone thought you two were dead,” Rex says. “I’m happy to hear that’s not the case.”
“I’m happy too,” I say, and he grins back.
“Congratulations to you both,” Rex says .
“You’re not upset?” Cal asks, and I hate the wobble of his voice.
“Well, I’ll continue covering hockey myself. Luckily, you know other sports.”
“I do.”
He smiles. “I’m tolerant of stable relationships.”
“Even gay relationships?” I ask.
“I have a feeling there will be another coming out announcement coming soon,” Rex says, and he walks toward Jeremy.
Cal frowns. “Jeremy is out. Exceedingly out.”
“I don’t think he was referring to Jeremy,” I say. “I think he was referring to...” I stop. That has to be wrong. Is Rex in a same-sex relationship too?
