Chapter Nine
Renny
Meantime, back in the hotel bar of our alma mater, my nerves were everywhere.
My heart thumped with anger and excitement seeing Brent after all these years.
Here we were, holding hands in public, something we never could have done as undergrads in Missouri.
No looking over the shoulder wondering who was watching us or if our safety was in jeopardy.
We had grown. Times had changed.
“Thanks to you, Renny, I learned to appreciate books and reading,” Brent said.
“My life wouldn’t be what it is now without you.
You made me realize there’s more to life than just playing a sport.
Learning about feminism, genders and sexualities, the toxic masculinities plaguing athletics at all levels.
You were my guy. You were always such a saint, and a scandalous man, in my book. ”
I snickered, thinking about the scandal of our past and the imaginary pedestal Brent was putting me on in the present. He was so unaware that I was not pedestal worthy.
“Brent, you haven’t known who I really am for over twenty years. My life is a mess. But it was nice hearing the awards banquet script to remind me that at least publicly, I’m not as much of a mess as I say to myself. The stories I could tell.”
“Same for me.” Brent squeezed my hand. “I’d love to hear some of the stories sometimes. I hope seeing each other unexpectedly like this is a sign that we should reconnect again—as friends, of course. I don’t want to complicate my divorce, you know.”
“Taking another break from Macy, I see.”