Chapter 22
Drew
Drew hadn’t known what to expect with his simple, but very public, coming out.
With the rapid way the news cycle worked nowadays, the response was quick, noisy, and over pretty soon.
There were a few trolls who commented wretched things, but mostly the feedback was overwhelmingly positive and kind.
He was interviewed on a few sports podcasts, and some reporters from larger, established magazines and papers reached out.
He declined most of the more established news outlets, except for one.
He gave a short, thoughtful interview about why he believed diverse visibility was important in professional sports.
Everyone should have the chance to follow their dreams, he said, and it was hard to believe that you could follow a dream if you didn’t see multiple people like you living out a dream like yours.
If he could be that model for even one younger queer person, he was glad.
Estelle called him when she saw his social media post and took him out for a nice dinner the next day.
It was good to talk to her about the truth, to open up to her.
She was kind and very supportive, and asked good questions.
She threatened to physically harm anyone who spoke a word against him, and he begged her not to do that. There was no need for violence.
When they were finishing their wine after the food was all eaten, she said, “Can I ask you a personal question?”
“Sure. I might not answer, but you can ask.”
She smiled at his response. “Did you meet someone this summer? Is that part of the reason you came out, and part of the reason you’re so sad to be back?”
He looked down at his wine. Estelle knew him well and could read his moods. “I did,” he said. “His name is Gabriel, and I love him, but we can’t be together. I live here, and he’s out there, and that isn’t going to change.”
Estelle frowned. “Well, that’s a defeatist, bullshit answer if I’ve ever heard one.”
“Estelle!” He was shocked by her response.
“It’s true. You say you love him?”
“I do.”
“Then why are you letting anything get in the way of that?”
Drew didn’t have a good answer—or at least, an answer that was good enough for her. He told her the story of his relationship with Gabriel, and how they had always agreed it would be just for the summer. When summer ended, so did their relationship.
“Did either of you plan on falling in love?” Estelle asked shrewdly.
“No, I don’t think so. I didn’t.”
“Then the terms of your initial agreement changed. You agreed to have a casual physical relationship in the summer, which would naturally come to an end when the summer ended. You didn’t agree to fall in love, but you did fall in love.
That is an entirely different situation than just hooking up, pardon me.
Being in love is an entirely different set of expectations and standards than just casually hooking up.
You shouldn’t expect to abide by the same predetermined rules.
The situation changes, so do the rules.”
“I don’t know much about being in love.”
“None of us do, honey. We all just try to figure it out as we go, and hope that we’ll be forgiven when we mess it up.”
“Did I mess it up?” Drew asked, afraid that he had.
“I don’t know. I don’t know Gabriel, but I do know you.
You’re different now than you were when you went away.
You seem more sure of yourself, and you’re clearly happier when you talk about him.
It sounds like real love, and love like that is a rare thing.
If you find it, I think you should hold onto it. ”
“I don’t know what to do,” he said. He was exhausted, and he missed Gabriel.
Estelle took his hand. “That’s why you have me, darling. I’m your manager. It’s my job to figure things out.”