Chapter 24
Donovan
It’s been a few weeks since Stephen’s first professional game, and there’s been radio silence on all fronts.
I’d watched the interview in horror as the vulture reporters picked at him, putting him on the spot like that.
And to do it when he should have been celebrating, it made me hate them even more.
Speaking of people I hate, I’d seen red when the reporter mentioned Kyle.
Fucking Kyle. I knew he was an asshole, but to do something like this…
Well, I was so close to setting the entire motorcycle club on him, they would have destroyed him too.
But I wouldn’t do that to Stephen; I’d never want to draw more light onto the situation.
I was expecting to hear from him, but there’s been nothing, and there haven’t been any official statements either.
I’ve been stalking the Warrior’s social media pages like a crazed fan, but they’re not saying a single word about the incident.
Rumors and speculation are running rampant.
Seeing the support for Stephen is heartwarming, but seeing the hate from people that don’t like it has been terrifying.
I always understood why he needed to keep his sexuality separate from football, and this has only solidified that.
Beth draws me out of my thoughts as she nudges my side. “Can you believe we made it?”
“To graduation? No way.” I go back to fussing with my graduation cap, which no matter what I do will not stay on my head.
“Here, let me,” she says, taking over and using pins to keep it in place.
“Thanks. We really did it, Beth.”
“Yeah we did.”
“I just wish I knew what was next for me,” I say.
My mind has been so focused on Stephen and how he’s coping with all of this, I haven’t even been thinking about what I need to be doing.
But one thing I know for sure, after seeing the way those reporters treated him, I’m not sure journalism is for me, at least, not if I have to invade people’s privacy like that.
“The future will sort itself out,” she says. “For now, all we need to worry about is not face-planting on the stage when we get our diplomas, then surviving a club BBQ with both Sofía and Miguel in tow.”
“Oh my god,” I groan, “please don’t, I swear I’ve had anxiety dreams about both of those things.”
“What, you don’t think Miguel and Walrus are gonna become best buds? He might invite Walrus to join him for a round of golf.”
“Christ… can you imagine?” I laugh, the thought of my stepdad and Walrus playing golf together is too much.
“Come on, they’re calling us to our seats,” she says, linking arms with me as we make our way to find them, before giving me a kiss on the cheek when we separate to find our places.
I wait anxiously as the president of the university starts calling names, watching the other students file up and shake his hand. As we move through the alphabet, getting ever closer to G, I can’t believe this is happening. I’ve graduated; it’s time to figure out what I want to do…
“Donovan Gálvez.”
I step onto the stage, and I’m met with the loudest cheer so far. Looking out into the audience, my mom and Miguel are waving at me, as they stand alongside Diablo, Tank, Pretty Boy, and Slim, who are all stamping their feet and hollering.
“That’s our boy!” Tank yells.
“Go Donovan!” Pretty Boy shouts.
“Get it, little bro!” Diablo cheers.
I laugh as I collect my diploma and have my photo taken, the photo will probably look ridiculous, but I don’t even care, having them here to support me means more than any stupid graduation photo.
I arrive at the clubhouse with my mom and Miguel; it’s the first time she’s been here since before my dad went to prison.
If she’s nervous, she’s not letting it show, and Miguel just looks curious.
Walrus lets us in, pulling me into a hug and congratulating me, which is a first, before shaking Miguel’s hand and smiling at my mom.
“It’s good to see you again, Sofía,” he says. “We sure are proud of Donovan, you did an amazing job.”
“Thank you,” my mom says. “Your family is well?”
“They are, I’ll show you photos later. You won’t even recognize the kids; adults in their own right.”
Mom chuckles and links her arm with mine. “I often wonder where the time has gone.”
Walrus smiles and nods, before pointing to the tables and chairs dotted around, inviting us to make ourselves at home.
There’s a man at the grill I don’t recognize, but he seems happy talking to Tank and Pretty Boy.
El Jefe sits with a woman I also don’t know, but with the way he’s gazing at her, I’m assuming she’s his wife.
Beth and Diablo are nowhere to be seen, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out what they’re up to in their new apartment.
Slim waves us over to his table. Before Winbrook, he was the club member I spent the least amount of time with; he’s not a big talker, keeping himself to himself.
But Beth told me how much he helped her out when she lived with him, and how great he was when she talked to him about my situation.
He’s actually spoken to me more in the last couple of weeks than he has the entire time I’ve known him, and I’m looking forward to moving in with him until I can figure out what I want to do next.
“Hey,” I say, sitting next to him. “How come you’re by yourself?”
“I’m not; I bought my neighbor and her kid, they’re just inside.”
“Oh,” I look around, but they haven’t reappeared yet.
“You need to help me,” he says. “The kid wants to talk to me all the time, but I don’t know how to talk to an eight-year-old.”
“And you think I do?”
“Just talk to them like an adult,” my mom says, “kids are smart, they don’t want to be treated like a baby.”
A young woman and a boy approach our table, taking the seats on the other side of Slim.
“Hi,” I extend my hand. “I’m Donovan, a friend of Slims.”
“Hi,” she says, her voice shy and nervous. “I’m Daisy, his neighbor.”
“I’m Jake,” the kid says. “Are you a biker too?”
Daisy chuckles, “Sorry, he’s been asking everyone that, I think bikers are his new obsession.”
“That’s okay.” I turn to Jake. “I’m not a biker, sorry. But my brother is, and you’ll meet him later; he loves kids too, so make sure you ask him lots of questions.”
Slim turns his laugh into a cough, and my mom taps me lightly on the shoulder, knowing Diablo will freak out if a kid starts asking him questions about bikes.
“Mijo,” she mutters, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Speak of the devil,” Slim chuckles, at the sound of Diablo’s bike outside.
The afternoon turns into evening, and the food is nearly gone.
Everyone is full and sated, content after good food and company.
Out of nowhere there’s a loud knock on the gate and we look around, wondering who it could be considering that everyone is here.
Walrus makes his way over and opens it, taking a moment to talk to the person on the other side, before opening it fully to let them in.
My heart literally feels as though it stops when Stephen steps through, looking incredible in jeans and a white T-shirt, which is showing off his physique in the best way.
“Mom, Mom, look!” Jake shouts, pointing at him. “It’s Stephen Choi!”
“Who’s Stephen Choi?” Daisy asks. “And how many times do I have to tell you it’s rude to point.”
“He’s the new wide receiver for the Warriors, Mom!”
I feel everyone’s eyes on me… they’re starting to put two and two together, knowing he’s friends with Jamie and Max, but now he’s here. I don’t know how I manage because my legs feel like jello, but I stand and move towards him.
“Stephen? What are you doing here?”
“I needed to see you,” he says.
His eyes look determined, confident, and it pisses me off.
I’ve wanted to reach out to him for weeks, but I haven’t because I didn’t want to interfere with his life or distract him from football.
But he has the nerve to just show up here, in front of my family and friends, not even a message to say hello first.
“Well did you ever think that maybe I don’t want to see you?”
“Baby?” he whispers, confusion crossing his face.
“I’m not your baby,” I say, “we’re not together anymore, Stephen. Or have you forgotten? Maybe I’ve moved on, maybe I’m someone else’s baby now.”
I know it’s petty, but I’m really pissed off that he just showed up here with no warning. His eyes darken and he steps into me, cupping my face in his hands, he leans in and kisses me.
Fuck. I forgot how good kissing him feels, but I make myself stand strong, not engaging with him, keeping my hands by my side, however much I want to literally climb into his arms.
He pulls back from the kiss and looks me straight in the eyes. “Don’t ever say something like that to me again. I told you, you’re mine.”
I push him off me, which is not easy to do considering his size, but I do my best.
“I’ve already told you I don’t want to be your secret; I deserve someone who wants to be with me openly.”
“Donovan,” he says, pulling me towards him by my shirt, wrapping his arm around my waist and holding my body close.
He nods his head at the crowd that’s all watching us, their faces a blend of shock and intrigue.
“I just kissed you in front of all of your biker friends, does it look like I want to keep you a secret?”
He kisses me again, claiming my mouth with his, and this time I have no restraint. I can’t process what he’s telling me, but right now I just want to kiss him. My arms wrap around his neck as he holds me tight, making it very clear to everyone who’s watching that I’m his.
Cheers and shouts erupt from my brother and his friends.
I can’t believe they’re seeing me kiss another guy, just a few months ago this felt like an impossible dream.
Embarrassment creeps through me, I’ve never been in this situation before and the thought of all of them watching me kiss someone is too much. I pull back, feeling myself blush.