11. Lucas #2
“What? No…” He didn’t believe me.
“The VPL appeared while he was standing there. And you should’ve gotten a good look, your face was at the right level.”
“I was trying not to die of embarrassment. I thought I was too obvious. There’s no way he was interested. You’re just trying to make me feel good.”
“What are y’all whispering ‘bout back there? You’re like two little schoolboys.”
“Nothing, Mr. Walker,” I teased him back.
Ninety minutes later, and the women were kicking ass. If China was their biggest competition and they kept up the intensity, they would certainly get the gold medal.
O leaned in to whisper, “Do you really think he’d like someone like me?”
I stopped my eyes from rolling. O always got like this around any guy he thought was cute. I leaned over to whisper back. “Like you? Cute, muscular, kind, incredibly intelligent?”
“You know what I mean.” He lowered his voice even more. “I’m black.”
I knew I had to tread lightly. O was teased in school both for being gay and for his skin color. Nothing shitty had happened at college yet, but as a non-white person myself, I knew it wasn’t easy, especially with so many forms of systemic racism still present.
“Based on what I saw of him and his family in Brisbane and what I know of Erika, I don’t think your skin color would ever be an issue for him or his family.
They’re pretty liberal. And I’m telling you, he was definitely interested.
You have nothing to be scared of. If you want, I can get his number from Erika. ”
“No, that’s okay.” There was a minute of silence before he added, “I’ll think about it.”
He must’ve been antsy because he asked if I wanted a drink or snack or anything, then headed down the stairs. My suspicions about Austin were confirmed because he got up to follow O as soon as he was out of sight.
I waited for five minutes. Ten. Fifteen.
I was about to text O when he reappeared in the arena.
With Austin at his side. They were both looking at each other and chatting.
Pearly whites shining on both their faces.
Austin took his seat next to Erika. O took his between Alex and me.
I could see he was trying to hold back this big, goofy grin.
I just stared at him, seeing if he would break.
And he did. He unleashed his smile and turned to look at me.
“Well?” I asked.
He leaned in and whispered, “I won’t be needing you to get his number for me after all. Uh...he gave it to me himself.”
I returned his smile and clapped him on the back. “That’s awesome. I take it you were talking to him this whole time? You’ve been gone almost twenty minutes.”
“Uh...yeah,” he answered, scratching his head. “We lost track of time.”
“Good for you, man. I’m happy for you. You deserve a little attention.”
“I...I don’t know how little it is.”
“What was that?”
“You were right.” His eyes darted around and his whisper was even quieter. “It was kind of hard not to notice it in his sweatpants since you pointed it out.”
I just laughed. Sweatpants were a weakness of mine. I was happy to have passed on the habit.
I had convinced O to let Austin send the first text, so I was happy - not as happy as him, of course - when the advice paid off.
“He texted, Luke!” O practically yelped, shoving his phone in my face. “He texted!”
“Well, what did he say?”
We were in the locker room, getting dressed for the team finals. Alex was stretching on the floor, his earbuds snugly in place.
“‘Good luck today. I’ll be cheering for you.’”
“And what did you send back?”
“Nothing yet. I don’t know. I’m so bad at this. What should I send?”
“Whatcha sendin’ to who?” Colton interrupted, strolling in with his bag over his shoulder.
O clammed up immediately, but I put my hand on his knee. “It’s okay to keep it to yourself, but they’re your teammates. And queer. Their advice will be helpful.”
“A text to Austin, Erika’s brother,” he blurted.
“What about Austin?” Cam said, a few seconds behind a very Cheshire-y Colton. I should’ve seen that happening. I glanced at O to see if he was still comfortable.
“Uh...we exchanged numbers yesterday,” O explained.
“Oh,” was all Cam said, putting his bag in his locker and pulling out his comp suit. “Ohhh.” It finally dawned on him.
Colton chimed in. “That’s great, Orion. If I wasn’t half-hitched myself, I’d bark up that tree.”
“Are you mad, Cam?” O asked.
Cam turned quickly, his eyebrows wrinkled. “Why would I be mad?”
O shrugged. “I dunno. Aren’t you close to his family? You’re like his brother or something practically, right?”
“I’m close with Erika. I didn’t even know Austin had…”
“Turned into such a muscle stud?” Colton finished.
“That. Definitely that,” O agreed.
“Not quite what I was going to say, but yeah. I hate to admit it, but I hadn’t asked about Austin in a few years, I guess.”
“So, you figurin’ out what to text him?”
O nodded and explained what he had received.
“Well, that’s easy, kiddo. Just remember to kiss.”
“Kiss what? Kiss him? How can I do that with a text?”
“No, K-I-S-S. Keep it simple, stupid.”
“You could’ve just said that, Colton.”
He ignored me. “Send something like, thanks, happy you’re here. Or thanks, winky face. Or thanks with a heart. Depends on what reaction you want from him.”
“I want him to like me.”
“Definitely the heart,” Cam and Colton both said at the same time. I nodded in agreement. I watched as O practically shimmied on the bench and typed.