25. Twenty-Five
Twenty-Five
Seth
I reread the email, but it doesn’t make any more sense than the first time I read it. Tyler didn’t seem thrilled when we ran into his dad in the library, but he didn’t say anything about it after the fact. He just shrugged off the entire conversation. Maybe that alone should’ve been a sign, but when it’s combined with the cryptic email from his dad about wanting to have a meeting with me, I know something is up. I should let Ty know. See what he says about the whole thing. With a few taps of my thumb, I switch over to the text message chat I have going with my boyfriend.
Me: I got a weird email this morning. It’s from your dad, he wants to have a meeting with me.
Dots appear as Ty types something back, but it takes a couple minutes to get his response.
Tyler: Can you skip out on it? He wasn’t thrilled about us dating when I told him at dinner.
I have to reread Ty’s message as I realize what that means. He came out to his dad. Sure, it doesn’t sound like it went over well, but it still means something that Ty told his dad about me.
Me: You said he’s a dean here, right? I don’t think I can blow off a meeting altogether.
Tyler: I’ll think of something. Just want you to know what you’re walking into. Don’t expect him to welcome you into the family.
Me: Do you wanna meet up and talk about it?
Part of me hopes he says yes, but it might be best if we don’t meet up tonight. Tomorrow is our last game of the season, and we have to get on a bus early in the morning to get there in time to play. It’s a few hours drive, and we need to be rested for the big game. I’m anxious enough about that without the worries about Ty’s dad. It figures that he would email now when I’m caught up on playoffs and finals. Fall semester is almost over, and I was looking forward to spending some extra time with Ty over break.
Tyler: Wish I could. I have some homework to get done before we leave tomorrow. Maybe we’ll get to talk on the bus or after the game.
It’s a vague promise of a conversation, but we both know there’s the possibility we won’t get the same room during this game. I leave the email unanswered for now and try to take my mind off it. Even if Ty’s dad doesn’t approve of us dating, it doesn’t sound like Ty wants to break up. If anything, he’s been more affectionate lately. He even kissed me before practice this morning right out in public where other teammates could see. Sure, most of the guys that were around were the other guys on the team that are gay or bi, but that’s practically half the team at this point. Maybe more for all I know. It’s almost funny when I think about it. Must be something in the water with the way it’s changed just over the last two seasons.
I stand up, stretching my hands out over my head before I strip out of my clothes down to my boxers. I’m not tired enough to go to sleep, but I can at least get comfortable and watch a show on my phone. Maybe it’ll trick me into falling asleep. Worth a shot anyway. As I lie down and get comfortable, a different thought occurs to me, the way Ty moaned when I fucked him.
Damn, I know I probably jumped the gun by letting him talk me into sex, but I don’t regret it for a moment. Maybe we’re moving fast, but it’s not like we don’t already know each other. We’ve been teammates for years and it’s not like we did a great job of keeping our feelings out of the mix during our whole friends with benefits thing. I need to figure out a time for us to go on a real date now that it’s actually official. Maybe we can talk about that too, when we get the chance.
I turn on a show on my phone, focusing on the screen as I lie down in my bed. Slowly my eyes get heavy and eventually I drift off.
The morning is a rush of tossing things into my bags. By the time I’m ready, I have just enough time to hit the cafeteria before I need to meet the team at the bus. With a breakfast burrito in hand, I make my way across campus to the parking lot. There are a few familiar faces there, but I don’t see Ty just yet. Coach gives a quick nod in my direction, and I do my best to finish my breakfast before we need to head out. More guys show up, and I notice Walsh’s truck pulling into the lot. I’m expecting Ian to climb out, but Koch and Bennett exit the truck first followed by Ian, who hangs back for a moment to say something to whoever is driving. “Hurry up,” I call out. At least with them here, I’ll have someone to talk to.
The bus is here now, and Coach just gave the okay to load our bags and grab seats. Bennett and Koch walk up the stairs in front of me and take a seat next to each other, to no surprise. Koch snuggles into his boyfriend and not so quietly whispers in his ear. “I love you.”
On impulse, I take the bench behind them, stretching out to block anyone from sitting next to me until Ty shows up. Bennett wraps his arm over Koch’s shoulders and pulls him in before saying the words back. I lean over the bench they’re sitting on to add in my two cents. “Aw, I love you lovebirds too.” A few of the guys close enough to hear us laugh, and I turn my attention to the rest of the bus. “No distractions tonight! We’re going to win this thing!” I call out and cries echo mine as the guys get hyped. Then I see Ty stepping onto the bus. His eyes meet mine as he gets closer, and I shift my legs to make room for him. He looks half-awake as he sits on the bench beside me.
“Up late studying?” I ask.
“Yeah, might try to get some sleep on the bus,” he answers. He scoots closer to me, mostly ignoring the driver as he goes over the safety regulations. As the bus drives down the highway, Ty leans into my side and falls asleep. I wrap my arm around his shoulder and help him stay in place as he sleeps. My eyes drift to the bench in front of me and I notice Bennett and Koch in a similar position. Even though I was joking around and teasing them earlier, part of me is a little jealous of their relationship. I don’t know if I’m at the I love you stage yet with Ty, but it feels like we’re getting close. Sure, there’s been a few hurdles along the way, but this feels right.
I pull out my phone and play a game for a bit. By the time the bus stops in front of the college we’re playing at, my phone is practically dead. I shake Ty by the shoulder until his eyes blink a few times, and he focuses in on me. “Time to wake up, Sleeping Beauty,” I tell him, and Ty’s cheeks go red. It’s not that I meant anything sexual by it, but his reaction sends me back to the way he blushed when I called him baby in bed. Ty clearly has a thing for pet names and maybe a slight praise kink. It’s information worth hanging onto for later.
“Thanks for letting me sleep,” he says while we wait our turn to get off the bus. There’s some idle chatting as we file into the locker room and change into our jerseys for the game. A few guys chose to show up for the bus already dressed up and they huddle together, talking defense for tonight. Koch is at the center of the group giving tips about weaknesses for his old school. He’s fired up more than most, eager to win in a way that seems a bit personal. Bennett is nearby, keeping his eyes on his boyfriend as we strategize. Coach makes the call to put Koch in as goalie for the night since we’re playing UWY. There’s a strange sense of calm that washes over the team as we step foot on the field.
My earlier worries about Ty’s dad disappear and I keep my focus on the ball. UWY gets possession of the ball, stealing it from Ty. He makes it almost to the goal, but Koch blocks it, passing the ball my way. I get almost to the center line when another UWY player intercepts. It’s pretty evenly matched with both teams, and it seems like we’re getting nowhere until just before the end of the first half. Jackson assists and we get the first goal of the game. The second half is just as bad. UWY gets a goal, tying the game. In the end, we win with a final score of 2-1. The team explodes into cheers and yelling as we celebrate our win.