Page 53 of Legend

“You’re a right little shit, Milligan,” Tom says, not without affection.

I just laugh in response. “This fucking a teammate thing’s going to be so much fun.”

“I hope that’s not the only thing you like about dating me?”

“Not even close.”

“Do you want to come back to mine?” Tom asks as he starts the car and pulls away from the car park once training has wrapped up for the day.

“No. I mean yes. I mean...” I take a deep breath “I do want to come back to yours, but I should probably tell my parents that I have a boyfriend. Don’t worry, I won’t tell them it’s you. It’s just that they’re going to be wondering where I’m going all the time and I don’t want to lie.”

Tom’s quiet for a moment, and I worry I might have said something to upset him—maybe I should have waited to bring this up post-sex?

“Tell them it’s me,” he finally says.

“What?” I look at him in shock. “Tom, they don’t have to know. They’ll respect my boundaries when I say my boyfriend isn’t out.”

He's thoughtful for another quiet moment, but when he speaks again it’s not to accept the out I’ve given him. “No. They should know. Jill and Trevor are your parents, and I know how close you are. I don’t want you to keep anything from them.”

“But…Tom—"

“Plus I think we’ve established I’m a possessive fucker,” he says, cutting me off. “I want our circle to know you are mine.”

I swear if I looked in the mirror right now, I’d find the heart eye emoji staring back. “You’re really sure about this?”

Tom sighs. “Yeah, I’m sure. I’m going to miss you tonight, though.”

“Are you seriously pouting right now?” I laugh at him. “I'll come over after I've spoken to them. I think my obsession has turned into addiction. You’re not going to be able to keep me away.”?

“I don't want to keep you away.”?

My heart swells at his words. A few days ago, I thought my friend and teammate Tom, who had only just started to tolerate me, was acting weird. We are now in a relationship, have had sex, and he's come out to our entire football team. It all feels like a very gay fairytale. Now I just need to make sure he falls in love with me and keeps me forever.?

“Do you think your parents are going to be okay with us being together?” His knuckles whiten with his death grip on the steering wheel. “I’m closer to their age than yours. Fuck, they’ll probably hate me. I’m the man who was mean to their son, before sexing him up, and then forcing him to keep his first relationship a secret.”?

“Did you really just say ‘sexing’?” I can’t help laughing.?

“Babe, this isn’t funny. They’re going to hate me.”?

I reach across the console to give his thigh a gentle squeeze. “They’re not going to hate you. They already like you.”?

“They like Tom Whitford, Pride F.C Legend.”?

“No, they like you. They think you’re funny and endearing and a great dad...”?

Shit.?

Keegan.?

“Wait. What about Keegan?” I screech. “And Courtney? What are they going to say?”?

“Keegs loves you, and Courtney already knows. I went round hers when I freaked out and left you after that kiss.”?

My heart beat starts to go back to normal. “Okay, so if your family loves me, why do you think mine won’t be the same?”?

“The age gap, Archie.”?

I just shrug. “It is what it is. I know my parents and they won’t blink an eye about it.”?

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