Chapter 37
Kyle
I roll onto my side of the bed in a state of ecstasy and let out a satisfied moan.
“That good?” he says with a wry smile.
“Always,” is all I can manage to say.
“Good. Round two in the shower?” he says with that cheeky grin and leads me into the shower where we plan on getting dirtier.
My alarm goes off at 4 am. With a grunt, lots of swearing, and with no help at all from AJ, I turn it off.
“W-whatsthatnoiseugh?” he mumbles. I look at him with his head in his pillow and bare arse sticking out of the duvet.
“My alarm,” I say matter-of-factly.
“Wwhyisyouralarmmakingsounds?” he asks, still with his head face first in the pillow, a little bit of drool pooling from his mouth. He looks adorable despite everything. I stroke his fringe out of his eyes and kiss him on the forehead.
“I’m going for a run.”
“Me too.” He makes a motion to get up and stumbles out of the bed. I try to catch him, but he is much taller and stronger and falls into a naked heap onto the floor.
“Ow,” he manages to say and looks up at me accusingly. I can’t help it, I laugh and then look down at his crotch to see he’s at full mast again. “How? How are you always horny?” I ask in feigned bemusement.
He shrugs and says, “No idea. You don’t complain, though.”
“I notice you’re speaking fine now,” I reply, tipping him a wink.
“And I notice you’re hard too. Again.”
“How can I not be with you around? Now, are you coming for a run or not?”
He grunts and holds his hand out to be helped up. Part of me wants to see him struggle, but I also want to go for a run with him, so I help AJ to his feet.
We get dressed and head out for an early morning run.
AJ is slow at first, but once we get halfway around the park, he manages to pick up the pace, and he actually seems to be enjoying it.
The—very—early morning sun is peeking its head out as the moon takes its regular hiding spot for the day, and I can tell it’s going to be a hot day.
There’s no official training today; our manager gave it to us off due to winning the league yesterday.
AJ’s “gaffer,” as he calls him, has given him time off too, but we are both back in training with our clubs tomorrow.
In seven days, we will play in the European Cup final together.
After that match, we will be holding a joint press conference and “come out” to the world.
I notice I’ve become more and more like my dad. I’m seeing things in segments of time and ticking things off like he does. Thinking about him makes my heart hurt. Despite him not loving me anymore for who I am, I still love him.
Mum has texted me a few times, telling me she is working on him each day and has been slipping in LGBTQIA+ shows on the TV. She hasn’t told me how he’s responded to those. I don’t hold out hope.
We run past the park’s extravagant water fountain for the second time, signaling the last lap of our run.
“Last lap, let’s make it count,” I say, my words only slightly being forced through with a strained breath.
I turn to see AJ, his face red and sweat pouring off him, but he’s still smiling. He gives me the thumbs up, and we run the last lap. I run a little slower to keep pace with him under the guise of motivation, but in reality, I want to be as close to him as possible.
A few onlookers take photos of us and others cheer us on. It’s heartwarming in a way, and I hope they will continue that energy in a few days’ time.
Back home, we jump in the shower again, but there’s no time for extra activities in there.
The run has taken it out of both of us, and besides, Trish has made us breakfast. She returned from her trip with Mel, and brought some baked goods and whipped up some shakes.
I don’t know what I would do without her, and we both know that.
The smell of fresh baked bread, raspberry jam, and fresh coffee waft their way from the kitchen all around the home. I run down the last few steps, clad in gray joggers and a black top, and dive into the food. “Thanks Trish,” I say between mouthfuls.
AJ isn’t far behind me, but he is more polite as he takes a plate out of the cupboard, and places his selection on it, and then spreads the jam on.
“Built up an appetite I see?” she says, scanning us both.
“Went for a run,” I say, keeping it light.
“Before or after sex?” She wriggles her eyebrow at us.
“Don’t answer that, it’s a trap,” I say to AJ.
“So, it was before. Good. Don’t be hyperextending something before the final, though.” She winks at us. AJ goes bright red and ducks his head down, tucking into his food.
“Trish, there’s something I need to talk to you about,” I say, my tone has gone from playful to stern. Her face snaps to me, eyes slightly wider, but she does not give the game away that she seems a little worried.
“If it’s about the jokes. I’m not going to stop. You knew pretty quickly what I’m like and I’m not changing. I—”
I put my hand up to stop her. “It’s not about that at all.”
“Oh, good,” she says, adjusting herself on the kitchen stool.
“I want to give you a raise. You do so much around here and I want you to know how much I appreciate you.”
Her eyes go wide.
The sunlight breaches the blinds and stretches its golden heat over the kitchen, basking us in a wonderful warm glow.
“You don’t have to do that,” she says, seemingly struggling for words.
“But I want to, and I’m going to. I’ll draw up a new contract and you can get people to look it over. You’re an important person in my…” I look over to AJ, “in our life, and I want you to be looked after like you look after us.”
Trish, quite clearly overwhelmed with emotion, stands up and gives me a hug, which is out of character. Old me would have stayed rigid, but new me, the one that AJ has helped create, hugs her back.
“And you,” I say, turning to AJ, “here, I want you to have this.” I take out a key from my wallet and place it in his hand. “This is your home too, if you want it? If you want me?”
AJ grips my hand with the key and squeezes gently before kissing me tenderly on the lips.
“Baby, I’ve wanted you for as long as I can remember.
You are my home.” He kisses me again and looks me in the eyes.
“And no, I don’t care how cheesy that sounded, because I love you.
I love you so fucking much and I’m not going to hide it anymore.
Kyle, I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember.
You’re my world and my days are better because you’re in it.
” He kisses me again firmly on the mouth.
Trish clears her throat, making us separate.
“You are both adorable. But sickening.”
“AJ, I love you too. More than I’m willing to admit.” I turn to Trish, “I love you too. Not in the same way I love AJ, but there’s not many people I love, so take that as a compliment.”
“He’s right. I’ve never heard him say it to anyone else before. Looks like Mr. Cranky Pants is softening,” AJ says, nudging my arm.
“I can always take my words back,” I say with a growl.
“Meh, but you won’t, Mr. Softy Pants.” AJ kisses the top of my head, and I swear if he wasn’t so bloody perfect, he would be annoying.
“Okay, enough niceties, I’m sure after breakfast, Trish, is going to insist on us doing a fuck load of burpees in preparation for training again tomorrow.”
“You bet your perky little ass it is,” she says, downing the rest of her drink. We follow her lead and then head upstairs to get ready.
Training back with the team, and I’m feeling it in my glutes today.
Partly from the burpees and partly from AJ.
I push through, though. The final is in sight, and I need to keep focused.
One more game and history beckons either way.
I sprint up and down the training pitch with the ball at my feet, weaving in and out of the cones like they’re defenders.
I do it over and over until my lungs start to burn.
I hear the assistant manager say I broke my personal best, and that makes me smile.
“Run like that in the final and they’ll have no chance,” Colten says from his defenders’ training setup, “and I’m once again thankful we’re on the same team.”
“We’re lucky to have ‘The Wall’ on the team too,” I say to him, and pat him on the back as I stride off to the ice bath. It’s been noted I’m in a ‘happier mood’ as of late, and I don’t even want to tell them to fuck themselves in response. I’m growing!
Back in the locker room, I wrap a towel around me and sit on the bench in my usual space by the door.
“Okay, everyone, fall in,” my manager says, beckoning everyone with his hands.
We form a semi-circle around him, all in various stages of exhaustion from the session, and in various stages of dress.
“We fly out to Portugal tomorrow and we’ll have our final training session before the Cup Final. Whatever happens, know that we are a team and we will win together, support each other, and fight for each other.”
Something in my stomach twitches. I try to push it down, but I know I need to say something. I raise my hand, everyone turns to me, and my manager, with a baffled look on his face, gestures to me to speak.
“If it’s okay with you, Mr. Robins, I would like to make an announcement to the team, before I make the announcement in front of the media, if you understand what I’m saying?”
Mr. Robins blinks as if in confusion, and then he smiles at me, “If you feel now is a good time, you have the floor.”