Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
KENNETH
“What the hell, Kenny!?” Lyle Gillies, pitcher of the Bellport Blue Jays, and my best friend, storms into my office. “You could have mentioned this any of the hundreds of times I’ve seen you this week.”
I lean back in my chair. “Chill out, Gil. Nothing was finalized then. The lawyers made it clear I had to keep it a secret until the press release. You know I would have told you otherwise.”
“Yeah, but it’s me. Who the fuck am I going to tell?” He throws his hands up.
“You really want to go with that line? How about the time I told you my parents were getting a divorce, and it was a secret? Or how about the time you convinced me to sneak out when we were teenagers and then blamed me when we got busted? Or how about—?”
He cuts me off with a growl. “Ok, fine. I’m not the best at secret keeping and sneaking around.”
“No, you’re not. Which is why you found out when everyone else did. It’s also because I’m not supposed to show you favoritism. You know this.”
At my words, he scoffs. “Everyone on the team knows we’re bros. They’re fine with it. Half of them ask for favors, and the other half wonders if we’re fucking.”
I reel back at the mention of sleeping with him. Not for any other reason than he is absolutely like a brother to me. A biological one. Same mother and father. That’s how familial he is in my head, despite us not sharing a single ounce of DNA.
“Why do they think we’re fucking?”
He gives me an all too familiar grin. I’m reminded just how long we’ve been friends. “Could be all the times we get spotted together. I’m also spotted with a lot of chicks too, so they’re going with bi for my status.”
“I don’t know why they’re even speculating about who I'm sleeping with.”
“Or who you’re not. Aren’t you still in a dry spell?”
Dry spell? Yeah, sure. That’s what we call not having sex in over a decade. I’ve pretended to. When I was younger, my female friends would help cover for me. People assumed we dated, so they didn’t look any further.
When I reached adulthood, and my parents started talking about ‘extending the Meyer family tree’, I began paying actresses to stand by my side at events.
It stopped the chatter for a bit, though I know it’s only a matter of time before it returns with a vengeance.
There's nothing more important to them than our family name.
Which is why me owning the Bellport Blue Jays is such a sticking point for them. I’d fought for ages to keep the team as an act of rebellion, but when an offer came in from the other biggest affluent family in town, I couldn’t hold off any longer.
Not because I’m relenting to my upper-crust responsibilities. It’s that I simply can’t say no to the Bellport family.
“We’re not discussing my sex life. You’re supposed to be down at practice, not up here in my office. I need better security if they just let anyone past.”
“You need better security, period. And possibly a new best friend,” he grumbles as he stalks over to the window that gives a view of the field.
I know what he sees when he takes it all in.
The empty seats. The dirt. The fresh-cut grass.
The chalk diamond that has ruled our lives for as long as we’ve been friends.
Back then, it was sneaking off to play baseball with some of the other kids our age.
I did it to get away from my family duty while Gillies was in it for other reasons—like the escaping his fucked-up family kind of reason.
“How about I work on the security, and you keep the role of bestie?”
“Give me a good reason I should stick around. You’re not even sharing the juicy gossip with me anymore,” he replies, arms crossing as his brow furrows.
I sigh, then move to stand beside him. I keep my voice low when I speak because despite us being behind a closed door, I can’t know who might be listening in.
“A good reason, huh? How about the real purpose of Bellport buying this team from underneath me?”
He turns to face me, his scowl deepening. "Is there another reason than power? They already own the hockey team, and Bellamy is the king of football. Gathering this one is like their sports holy trinity.”
I snort at the description. He’s not wrong really.
Bellamy Bellport, the new owner of the Bellport Blue Jays and the namesake of the city, is the star player for our football team and has been for a while.
His brother Jake decided he wanted hockey here for some reason, so a while back, he bought, built, and branded a new team from scratch.
The Bellport Blue Jays have been the last sports holdout in the area. I didn’t think they’d want to try to take it from me since the only people left to get involved in sports were the two siblings who wanted nothing to do with athletic pursuits.
Carmen, the first of the two and the eldest sister, is a doctor with a flourishing practice, an adoring husband, and a cute baby. Aside from her, there’s Royce, the second youngest and co-middle child with Bellamy. But I can’t think of them now. I won’t be getting any more work done if I do.
“There’s more to it than that. You can’t say a word about this though. I’m only privy to it because Bellamy was willing to share his vision with me.”
“What vision? We’re the Bellport Blue Jays, a mediocre team with a group of misfits that other teams don’t want.”
I’d have to correct his train of thought eventually, but now wasn’t the time.
He needs to get back down to the field before Coach Nyxsin notices and reams his ass out again for being up here to talk to me.
I’ve only got a little bit of time left before my whole ‘I’m the owner and I’m covering for him’ power dries up.
“You know Bellamy’s partner Finn?”
“Of course, I do. Everyone does after that proposal.”
I nod as I recall the very public Super Bowl proposal that shocked the nation.
“Well, Finn apparently loved that Jake bought the hockey team and then started dating two of the players. They’re trying to build a safe space for queer players.
With two Bellport brothers headlining the other big sports in town, this is the only one without a pride flag or queer sibling at the head of things. ”
Gillies’s hands go to his hips. “Wow! That is not at all what I thought you’d say.”
“Yeah, I know. Shocked the hell out of me when Bellamy told me in the meeting. He flat out said that he wants to redo it all so everyone is aware we have a zero-hate policy for anyone who wants to come out or for any openly queer athlete coming into the team. I think he even plans on recruiting some new trades and players.”
“Can’t say I’d mind that so long as I get to stay. I’d hate to miss out on the fun.”
I eye my friend. “You know you could have come out already if you wanted to. I wouldn’t have let anyone give you shit about it.”
His jaw drops. “Me? I’m not… this isn’t… You’re wrong. I’m straight, dude. I meant for anyone else. Or for you.”
“For me?”
“Yes, for you. We both know you’re still hung up on a certain someone and have been for years.
Too bad you ruined it by being an absolute ass,” he says before chuffing a laugh.
He glances back at the field, then bounces on his toes.
“I’ve got to get down there. Drinks tonight? I’ll rag you about this more then.”
Before I can tell him we won’t be discussing anything about anyone at all tonight, he’s out my door. Only the scent of grass and sweat linger behind. It reminds me of my own history with the sport I love so much.
In a different life, I’d have been beside Gillies on that field. We’d have maybe gone on to play for a bigger team, somewhere far away from Bellport so we’d both get to live as our true selves.
Too bad for us both it didn’t work out. His shitty family and my overbearing one made sure of that.
So I did the next best thing. I bought a team and hired him.
And now I’ve gone off and sold it. I can only hope it doesn’t wind up being a big fucking mistake.
My cell goes off as I’m heading into Bellport Brews, the quaint coffee shop where Gillies and I have our “drinks” when we go out.
For as much as I love a stiff drink every now and then, I much prefer to keep a clear head.
The less loose I am, the tighter my lips.
And the tighter my lips, the less likely I’ll spill secrets I shouldn’t.
“Let me guess,” Demi says as she leans on the counter with a flirty smile. “A large hot chocolate, a croissant warmed up for fourteen seconds, and a bottled water?”
Sure, it sounds pretentious. It’s not though. I’m merely specific. At least this way, there’s no confusion about what I do and don’t want. Everything is clear and straightforward.
“That sounds amazing. Yes, please.”
She winks at me, then turns to fill the order. I pull out my credit card, waiting for my chance to pay and tip as usual. Demi always complains that it’s too much, to which I remind her my family is loaded, and I’m not hurting enough to cut back paying someone who does an excellent job.
Hell, I even tip people who aren’t all that good at their work. I figure they could be having a bad day. Or maybe they’re new to the job. It’s not my business. If the economy paid the service industry better, I’d be less inclined to help when I can. As it stands, I’m doing more than my part.
“Here you go. Enjoy.”
I take the tray with my goodies over to a table in the corner as I wait for Gillies to arrive. He’s perpetually late. No matter how many alarms he sets, he just can’t seem to focus enough to make it out the door on time.
Knowing it’s no use in waiting for him to start, I sip on my hot chocolate as I take in the rest of the patrons of the shop. I recognize a few people who come around, though I don’t know any of their names. As my gaze sweeps across the door, I find one familiar face in a sea of strangers.
Bellamy Bellport struts into the shop with his husband, Finn, at his side. The pair is lost in their own world, oblivious to anyone else around them. My gaze stays locked on them through the entire process of searching for a treat, buying said treat, and then cuddling on a couch close to my table.
It’s only when Gillies struts in fifteen minutes late shouting, “Kenny!” that Bellamy notices me. His eyes whip my way, curiosity in his stare. I smile politely, then shush my friend.
“Could you be any louder?” I grumble.
He grins wider, then puffs his chest like he’s going to yell.
“Don’t. You. Dare.”
Gillies gives a stuttered laugh as he expels all the air he took in quickly. Shaking his head, he drops into the seat beside me.
“You’re no fun.”
“I’m plenty of fun. Just don’t need to draw attention to myself at every turn,” I reply.
He rolls his eyes as he nabs the bottle of water from my tray. “You used to be fine drawing attention to yourself. That’s exactly how you wound up foot-in-mouth with the person of your dreams.”
I groan and cut my eyes over to Bellamy. He’s staring at me while Finn goes to town on a muffin the size of his head.
“We cannot talk about that right now.” I keep my tone low as I tilt my head towards the couch as discreetly as possible.
Never one to pick up a hint, Gillies looks right over. His eyes widen, then he’s up and moving over to the couch without a care.
“Bellamy Bellport! Is that you? I’ll be,” he says all slow and drawn out. “Fancy meeting you here.”
“My little one wanted a snack after practice. Couldn’t resist stopping by.” Bellamy shakes Gillies’s hand, then motions toward me. “Why don’t you two join us? We’d love the company.”
Finn nods around another mouthful of food. Of course, he would. He’s like the angel baby of the universe. That’s what the media says anyway. He’s the soft and sweet to Bellamy’s big and strong.
I sigh softly, then resign myself to whatever happens next. Hopefully my friend won’t be a dick and overshare with Bellamy the feelings I have for a certain sibling of his.
We make small talk for a few minutes, thankfully with nothing too personal coming into play. I drop my guard, happy to just hang out with people who understand my lifestyle—both the family money part and the sports team part. It’s rare to find anyone who gets both sides.
“This year is going to be a big one. You’re sure you’re ready for what comes next?” Bellamy asks when there’s a lull in the conversation.
I shrug as I focus on his features. He’s not asking to be mean. There’s genuine worry underneath his kind smile. I know because it’s the same look he’d shoot Royce after a run-in with me when we were kids. I’d always watch from around the corner as Bellamy consoled them.
“I’m as ready as I can be. The team deserves the best, and I’m sure the Bellports can give them that.”
Proud of my answer, I jolt when Bellamy and Gillies both break into laughter. They share some kind of look I don’t understand. I’m not even sure I want to understand it. Instinct tells me it’s only to make fun of me.
“Sorry to cut the comedy sketch short, but we’ve got to run. I’ve got an early morning tomorrow.”
Neither of us mention that it’s still fairly early in the day. The real reason he’s leaving isn’t my business. He might really be the type that needs to relax in the evening before bed.
Finn waves, giving a soft-spoken, “Goodbye” as they head out.
“They’re a cute couple. Complete opposites, but cute as fuck,” Gillies tells me after they’ve cleared the door.
I snort a laugh, then shake my head. “I think opposites is what the family goes for. Carmen’s married to that super shy guy, and Jake’s got two boyfriends last I heard. They don’t do anything half-assed.”
“Well, if they’re into opposites, you might still be in luck. Because the opposite of Royce might just be you,” he teases.
I fight the shiver his words bring forth. It’s too far-fetched a dream to even consider. No matter how long I’ve wanted Royce to be mine, they simply can’t be. I’ve burned that bridge so fucking bad, I don’t see how it can be mended.
But if I were the wishing type—you know the shooting star, lucky penny, wishing well type—then I’d spend every single one to get a shot at forever with them. Royce Bellport is everything I could want in a partner. And I, Kenneth Meyer, am everything they don’t.