Page 122 of Edging Coach
I was dozing off on the bus somewhere between Abbotsford and Kamloops when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I had to blink a few times just to pull myself out of the darkness. After I’d tugged my phone free, my eyes took a second to adjust to the bright light.
Then they did, and I was instantly wide awake.
An incoming call. From Devon.
I glanced around. The rest of the team and coaching staff were passed out, trying to catch some sleep after an intense and frustrating game. There was no privacy. Not on a bus. Not with people in every row. I couldn’t risk anyone overhearing, or even seeing him on my screen.
With my heart in my throat, I declined the call, but I quickly texted him.
Can’t talk, on the bus. Text? Are you okay?
I didn’t think I’d ever been more relieved to see three gray dots appear on a screen. I held my breath, blood pounding in my ears as I waited for him to hit Send. Was he telling me off? Was he venting to me? Was he just filling me in before he blocked me and moved on?
C’mon, c’mon. Please, Devon. You’re killing me.
Finally, the bubble appeared.
The guy, he’s a friend. Just an old friend. I don’t know why they’re saying I have a boyfriend, but now everyone’s talking about me being gay, and fuck, I didn’t want to be out. Not like this.
I grimaced, sick to my stomach on his behalf.
I’m sorry. They shouldn’t have outed you like that whether the guy’s a friend or a boyfriend. Has the club said anything to you?
They made me do a press conference tonight. Fuck it was gross.
“Jesus Christ,” I whispered over the rumble of the diesel engine. I’d had to do press conferences over personal matters. It was utterly disgusting and violating even when it was information I myself had volunteered, like when I came out and later when I got married.
Devon hadn’t consented to this.
That’s fucked up. Do they at least have your back?
Yeah. And they’re digging into who leaked the photos, but I doubt that’ll go anywhere.
The gray dots appeared and disappeared a few times. He was probably gathering his thoughts and figuring out what to say, so I waited.
I think the reporter got tipped off.
How do you figure?
Wheels says they’ve been sniffing around ever since I got to Vancouver. Like weirdly into my personal life. I think someone knows something.
Oh shit. I haven’t said a word. I swear to God.
I know. I never thought it was you.
Do you have any idea who?
There was silence for a long moment. Not even gray dots—just silence. My heart was pounding so hard, it was drowning out the engine and the road noise.
Finally, Devon wrote back.
I think it was Hairs.
Ironically, that had my hair standing up on the back of my neck.
Really?
Yeah. Things were… weird. When we were rooming together. IDK if he ever suspected us, but he knew something.
