Epilogue
Brody
Five years later
I was never one for calling press conferences—all that attention on me wasn’t something I enjoyed. But after nearly fifteen years in the NFL, it was necessary, more for the fans than the media. And as we’d decided, Dev joined me. After all this time, we had to do it together.
“Hello, everyone. Nice to see y’all. We wanna thank the Brooklyn Kings for giving us this time and the use of their offices to have this press conference. Now that the season is over, Dev and I are here today to announce that we’re retiring.”
“We waited until we could bring you one last Super Bowl championship,” Dev interrupted. “You’re welcome.”
I chuckled, and Dev grinned, but from his bouncing knee, I could see how nervous he was. Ezra and Momma sat side by side in the front row, along with Lizzie, Fallon, and Kelsie. I leaned into the microphone.
“We’ve loved every single moment of our time with the Kings. I joined the team after Dev, but I’d always heard the talk about how they operated as a family, and when I got here, I realized it was true. And yet, it could still be damn lonely sometimes.”
We’d orchestrated how we wanted to do this, and decided for the big announcement, Dev would tell the world. I gave him a nod, and he pulled the mic to his face.
“You all know that five years ago there was talk of trading me. Aside from wanting to remain on the team I’d played with for my entire career, I had a much more important reason for staying. So I decided to throw the biggest Hail Mary pass of my career and went to the Kings’ owner, Armand Winters, and we talked, and I want to thank him for listening. For being more than just the team’s owner.”
Armand stood in the back and smiled at Dev’s acknowledgment.
“Armand Winters made today possible. The reason I wanted to stay, that I needed to stay, was because I wanted to be with the person I loved.” He took my hand, laced our fingers together, and placed them on top of the table for everyone to see. “The man I love. Brody Martin and I have been together and in love since college. Now we’re ready to start the next chapter of our lives, out and proud.”
Shockingly silent as Dev spoke, the room erupted with cameras and shouts from reporters. I winced, but Dev’s eyes twinkled.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” I murmured.
“I sure as hell am. Look at these vultures, ready to pounce.” He pointed to a reporter who’d always treated us well. “Darla? You have a question?”
She stood. “I-I think we all do, Dev. So, you’re gay. You and Brody Martin?”
I wasn’t about to sit like a statue and let Dev have to answer all the questions. “Yes. I knew if I wanted to play professional sports, especially football, I’d have to keep quiet about my sexuality. I never expected to find someone like Dev, but—”
“I’m one of a kind, what can I say?” Dev chimed in, and the entire room laughed. “And in case you’re wondering, I made the first move the night we won the Orange Bowl. I fell for Brody the first time I saw him because, well…” He nudged my shoulder, and my face grew hot. “Aside from the obvious, he’s the kindest, sweetest, most loving person I’ve ever met. I don’t have a family to speak of, and Brody and his mom took me in and made me their own. They cared about me.”
Time for me to interrupt Dev. “And Dev’s bein’ modest. I never thought I’d find someone who made me a better person, but his unrelenting love and support for me and our relationship allowed me to hope for a moment like this. You can’t imagine how it was growin’ up where I did, thinkin’ I’d have to be alone my whole life, but Dev just barged right in and told me we could do it. Together.” He squeezed my hand, and my eyes burned with unshed tears.
“Any other questions?” Dev asked.
“Are you going to get married?”
“Do you plan on having kids?”
“What do your teammates have to say?”
“What’re your plans for retirement? Are you going to go into broadcasting or coaching?”
I cleared my throat. “We were married in California, in a confidential ceremony, eight years ago,” I answered, and it was funny to see everyone’s reactions. “Only family and a few close friends were present. Now that the secret’s out, we’ll be doin’ it up right, here in New York.”
Dev took the other questions. “We haven’t discussed children yet, but that’s a private matter between Brody and me. As for our teammates?” He paused, and I knew it was emotional for him because Dev had never liked hiding who he was, even though he understood the need for it. “A few close friends know, but we kept it from everyone else, and I hated lying. I hope they forgive us and realize we did it for our own protection. I truly value my friends and teammates as my family.”
I watched as Momma wiped tears from her eyes. “I came out to my mother years ago, and she was nothin’ but supportive and lovin’. We hope that by tellin’ our story, it might help kids strugglin’ with their own identity. Plus, maybe it will put to rest the idea that gay men can’t play competitive sports. Our plans right now are to go down to my hometown in Georgia and help with some projects we’ve been involved with. After that? I don’t know.”
Dev squeezed my hand. “Thanks, everyone. That’s all for today.”
The questions continued to come, but we shut off the mics and walked away to join Momma and Ezra. She hugged me while Ezra spoke to Dev.
“That was very brave of you two,” he said. “I’m very proud.”
The crowd of reporters hovered, hoping for extra sound bites, but we knew better. The Kings had hired security for the event, and they ushered out the press quickly, until it was just the four of us, Lizzie, Fallon, and Kelsie. Armand Winters and Hayden joined our group and shook our hands.
Armand smiled at us. “Congratulations to you both. I know how hard this must’ve been, but you handled it with grace. It’s not easy being gay in a professional sports environment.”
I’d heard some of the gossip about Armand and how he and his father didn’t get along before he took over the Kings. It sounded like he and Dev shared that type of background, and I knew I was one of the lucky ones.
“Thank you for making it all possible.” I didn’t think I’d become emotional at leaving, but stepping away from a huge part of my life was like buckling in for a roller-coaster ride with no end in sight.
“The Kings aren’t going to stop their contributions to your causes, in case you were concerned,” Hayden stated. “In fact, we were wondering if you’d be interested in setting up a football camp for high school kids where you grew up, Brody. Maybe you and Dev could hopefully recruit some of your fellow athletes to help.”
Warmth settled in my chest. “That’d be great. I think we’d like that. We usually spend summers down south, so it’d be perfect. I’ll talk to some of the guys.”
“Great. We’ll be in touch.” They said their good-byes and left.
“Let’s head to Dev’s place for lunch.” Ezra pulled out his phone. “I’ll get the cars for us.”
Dev nudged me as we walked out of the offices. “You okay? I thought it went as well as could be expected.”
“Yeah. I’m just curious what the guys are gonna say.” The elevator came, and everyone got in but us. “We’ll take the next one and see you there. Momma’s got a key.”
We waited for the doors to close. “Me too,” Dev agreed, grim-faced. “My phone was vibrating like hell in my pocket during the press conference.”
“Did you look yet?”
He shook his head, an expression on his face I’d rarely seen since I’d met him.
Fear.
“And I’m not going to. I want to have a nice afternoon with the people closest to us. If people are going to shit on our happiness, it can wait.”
It made sense. These were friends we thought had our backs, and I preferred to think they’d be supportive. I put my arm around him and gave him a hug. “It’ll be okay. I know it.”
The afternoon was all we could’ve hoped for, and Ezra went above and beyond by ordering from Charles Pan-Fried Chicken. He then spent most of the time on his phone, eating in fits and starts. I wondered what was going on.
We feasted on fried chicken, ribs, pulled pork with mac and cheese, yams, and string beans. Momma had baked two cakes—carrot and devil’s food—and Kelsie had made cupcakes.
“Oh God,” Dev groaned, rubbing his stomach. “It’s a good thing we don’t have to play this Sunday. I may never move again.”
“Will you miss it?” Finally off his phone, Ezra joined us, and I nodded.
“ ’Course I will. Football’s been my life from when I was thirteen and went away to camp. I can’t say how I’ll feel once training camp gears up.”
“What about you, Dev?”
Stomach woes forgotten, Dev sat up and pinned Ezra with narrowed eyes. “All right. What’s the offer?”
Ezra cracked up laughing. “Damn, you’re good. Okay. It’s tentative, but as you can imagine, my phone’s been on fire. United Sports Network is interested in hiring Brody for commentary, and NFL Weekly wants you. I told them I’d consider it for you both as long as you’d always be in the same city, covering the games.”
“And they have no problem with our announcement today?” I had to ask.
Ezra whipped out his phone, scrolled for a moment, then read. “We’d be thrilled to have Blink Martin join us. He’s a role model for young people and players alike.”
My eyes smarted with tears. “I just wanna be happy.”
Dev wrapped his arms around me. “As long as we’re together, we will be. I think it’s a great opportunity for us. And like Ezra said, people need to see that gay men can play football. And win. Seven damn Super Bowls and twelve winning seasons in my career. No one’s ever gonna take that away from me.”
God, I loved his passion. It was the first thing I’d noticed about him on the field all those years ago, and it had never waned in all our years together.
The buzzer sounded, and Dev kissed my cheek and went to answer it. I heard him murmur into the speaker box. He met my eyes with an odd expression.
“What’s wrong? Who’s that?”
“Jonas and Marlon are here.” For the first time that afternoon, he pulled out his phone and checked his messages. A muscle ticked in his jaw, and I ran to him.
“What is it?”
He held it up so I could read the screen. Zeke had texted him.
Fake-ass man. I knew it. Sick perverts.
“Screw him.” I read farther.
Jonas and Marlon had each texted: We need to talk.
Dante texted: What the fuck man? You couldn’t tell us?
Lovell was the last: Whoa, dude. You serious? I never knew.
I couldn’t tell how Lovell and Dante actually felt, but for now it would have to do. At the knock on the front door, Dev opened it, and Jonas and Marlon stood waiting.
“Man, you coulda come to us.” Jonas grabbed Dev and hugged him. The relief almost made me dizzy.
Marlon grinned. “You make a cute couple.” I snickered, and he hugged me. “Good for you. Just so you know, Kelsie never told me about the two of you. I know she was doin’ what you needed, and I don’t care who you love.”
Marlon slung his arm over Dev’s shoulders while Jonas talked to me. “Happy for you, bro. You and Dev are the best. Glad to see you’re okay.”
“Yeah, we are. Thanks for coming by.”
Marlon walked past me. “I see you’ve got my favorite sweets.” But he bypassed the cakes to join Kelsie, who was hanging out with Momma, Lizzie, and Fallon. They’d gotten engaged the year before, and they greeted each other with a kiss. Kelsie had never looked happier.
“Did Kelsie say when the wedding is?”
“In the fall,” Dev answered. His brow furrowed. “Fallon’s gonna be bored as hell. I’ll have to figure out something more for him to do. I’m afraid I’m not going to need him in the same capacity as before, but I can’t fire him.” He nibbled on his lip. “Maybe I can find another guy on the Kings to hire him. I can’t just leave him out in the cold.”
“You’ll figure it out,” I reassured him. “He’s family, and we take care of our own.” I scratched my chin, thinking about this new step in our lives. “It’s gonna be a hell of a difference being up in the booth talking about the game instead of playin’ it.”
“And you can keep your hair long year-round. The way I like it.” Those green eyes twinkled. “Speaking of weddings…” Dev took my hand and pulled off the wedding ring. “I think we can do it publicly now. What do you say?” He slid it down my ring finger. “Invite everyone. I’m ready to throw the ultimate touchdown and win the Super Bowl of life with you.”
I removed his ring, placed it on the correct finger, then kissed him. “First and goal forever.”