Page 54 of Hey, Stepbro

"I'm queer," I say, my voice ringing through the locker room.

There's a moment of stunned silence before the other guys start speaking all at once. Some are supportive, others intrigued, and some are plain confused.

I try to tune out their voices and focus on the support I've already received. Justin and Pablo are both standing behind me, their hands on my shoulders, their support radiating through me.

Finally, Coach comes forward and puts a hand on my shoulder. "Brock, I want you to know that we support you no matter what. Your sexuality doesn't change who you are as a person or a player, and we're proud to have you on this team."

A wave of relief seeps through me, and I know that I've made the right decision. It may not have been easy, but I know that being true to myself is worth it.

And with the support of my friends and teammates, I can do anything.

"Let's head out." Justin slugs my chest.

As we leave the locker room, Justin and Pablo walk with me, their arms slung over my shoulders. They both have huge grins on their faces, and I can tell that they're proud of me.

"You did it, man!" Justin exclaims. "You came out to the team!"

I smile, a sense of accomplishment washing over me. "Yeah, I did. And it feels pretty damn good."

Pablo nods in agreement. "It takes a lot of courage to do what you did," he says. "You should be proud of yourself."

A ten-ton weight's been lifted off my shoulders. For the first time in a long time, I can breathe. It's ironic because, two months ago, I didn't even realize I was into men.

Everything’s different now, and I'm excited to see where my newfound sense of freedom takes me. But one thing is for sure: I have the love and support of my friends, and that’s priceless.

I bask in the knowledge that I'm free to be who I am.

To my surprise, Blakely is waiting for me by the sidewalk. I approach him, a sense of calm floods through me. He smiles at me, his eyes full of love.

"Hey," I say, smiling back at him.

He takes my hand and squeezes it. "Hey. How was practice?"

I look around at my teammates, all of them chatting and laughing. Justin flashes me a thumbs up.

Should I tell Blakely I came out of the closet? It seems like the perfect moment to share the news with him. I look into his eyes.

"Actually, I have something to tell you," I say. "I came out to the team."

Blakely's eyes widen in surprise. "Really? That's amazing!"

I hug him. "It feels really good to be open and honest about who I am."

Blakely pulls away and looks at me, his eyes shining with pride. "I'm so proud of you. You're incredibly brave."

"I couldn't have done it without you. Honest to God, even if I'd discovered my sexuality with someone else, I doubt they'd help me feel this way. It’s because of you."

"It's kind of hilarious," Blakely teases, "because you have a gay dad and all. It shouldn't be a big deal."

"I know, but it is."

I lean in and crush my lips against his. It's a long, passionate and steamy kiss that feels like it could last forever. Heat radiates from Blakely's body as our tongues intertwine and our mouths move together.

His hands move up my back to my neck, sending shivers down my spine as he pulls me closer to him. I wrap my arms around his waist, the strength of his body beneath mine.

We pour out all our love for each other into this single moment. The world fades away, and the passionate embrace we share lasts until we have no more breath left to give.

When we finally pull apart, a sense of peace settles over me. I know that no matter what happens in life, Blakely will always have my back and will always be there for me when I need him most.

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