Page 69 of The Poster Boy

The panel opened with introductions of each of the players and some basic facts about what position they played in their sport. And then the questions started. The first one was directed at Marek, and I watched the way he furrowed his brow as he concentrated on every word of the question lobbied at him.

“It’s no secret that you were outed. How did that affect your life, and do you wish things would have happened differently?”

Marek smirked. “I’ll say right off the bat that wishing things were different doesn’t change the reality of what happened. So I don’t bother making wishes like that. Being outed was difficult. It was horrible. It could have been dangerous for me like it’s dangerous for a lot of people. It would have been nice to be able to come out in my own time, even though my experience with that is just as uncomfortable. Coming out has always been a catalyst for change in my life.”

Marek had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand as he talked about how he first came out and his parents disowned him. He praised Kelsey, his sister, who took him in after and made sure he got to stay in the sport. All of this was common knowledge now, but Marek acknowledged her support and sacrifices whenever he could.

“I have a great team behind me. They’re a good bunch of guys, and I’m one of the luckiest players in the league.”

The questions then shifted to the other players. The attractive rugby player next to him, Camden Crawford, talked about his own struggles in his sport and his own triumphs. His team was in the US for some reason, and he was happy he’d been able to make time to speak at the panel while he was over here.

It felt like the panel dragged on forever, but that could have been my impatience to have Marek alone.

Then the inevitable question came up.

“Marek, are you seeing anyone?”

Marek should never play poker. He blushed and ducked his head a little as he leaned in toward the mic. “Maybe.”

Very nonsuspicious of him.

The rugby player next to him laughed, which started the rest of the room.

“Is your boyfriend out?” the reporter asked when the laughter died down enough to be heard.

“If I had a boyfriend, I’m sure he’d be out to the people who mattered.” In an ocean of onlookers, Marek’s gaze met mine and softened. “And if I had a boyfriend, and he wasn’t out, I hope that I’d be patient with him and that he’d forgive me if I wasn’t.”

It was the perfect answer.

I didn’t know when I’d be ready to be out to the whole world, but I did know that when I was, Marek would be there next to me.

The End.