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“Stardom, not all what it’s cracked up to be?” I ask, taking a seat in the easy chair next to him.
He turns his frustration on me, shoving his phone in my face. “Apparently fucking not.”
Taking the phone from him, I hold it a reasonable distance from my face until the small letters are no longer blurry. On the screen is a news bulletin, and the headline reads: ROCKETS THIRD BASEMAN TUCKER WAKEFIELD COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET.
Beneath the headlines is a picture of Tucker with his friend Andrew Garner where they are holding hands and leaning into one another. It’s a very endearing image. The fact it was shot with what appears to have been a telephoto lens ruins the sentiment though. As does what is written within the rest of the article.
I’m not surprised at the news, Trenton and I—along with all his brothers—already knew, but I am surprised that it is in the news. “What happened? I thought you and Peter were getting along and had an agreement about what he could write. Why would he write this kind of an article?”
He stands and begins pacing the floor, tugging a hand through his hair as he moves from one end of the room to the other. “I did too, Oliver. I’m not sure what happened.” Plopping back down on the couch, he places his face in his hands. “That’s what I get for trusting a fucking reporter, I guess.”
“Look at me,” I tell him, placing a hand on his thigh.
He slowly lifts his head, and when his eyes meet mine, it nearly breaks my heart. Of all the Wakefield brothers, Tucker is the last one I’d think would ever be affected by the garbage written by an unknown publication. Honestly, I think it has more to do with who wrote it rather than the article itself, but that’s not my business.
“This will blow over with time. What I suggest you do in the meantime, embrace it because in business any PR…”
“...is good PR. I know. It’s just–” He lets out a long breath. “I was hoping to officially announce our relationship with Andrew by my side. Not like this. Andrew will probably never speak to me again. We hadn’t even discussed when we would go public.”
“Don’t be too hard on him. I was in his shoes once. Scared to death of what might happen to me, or my career if I’d said anything. It was Trenton and his inspiring words that helped me see love is love in whatever form it comes in.”
I reach for Trenton’s hand. Fresh out of the shower, his perfect timing brought him to me.
His warm lips cover mine for a moment. “It didn’t take much convincing, baby.”
“Mmm, it sure didn’t. Damn, you smell good.”
He chuckles, taking a seat on the arm of the chair. “Careful, we wouldn’t want to give Tucker a show he can’t unsee.”
Tucker mimics gagging. “That’s the last thing I need right now.”
The small bout of shared laughter lessens some of the tension in the room, but Tucker is still distraught over things.
“In all seriousness though, brother. Ollie is right.” Trenton absentmindedly rubs circles over my shoulder blade as he doles out advice. “The cat is basically out of the bag now. Sure, you could deny it and ask the news station to retract the article, hard to do with the picture of you and Andrew. But it's not impossible. Or you can embrace it. In my opinion, the latter is the most reasonable for you because let’s be honest, you’re a horrible liar.”
I squeeze Trenton’s hand, reminding him to be sympathetic to his brother. It wasn’t too long ago when we were going through the same thing. He squeezes back, acknowledging me, before placing a kiss on the top of my head and continuing. “Making that decision is something only you can decide. Not us and certainly not that son of a bitch Peter. Give yourself some time to think about what this headline admission means to you and only you.”
Tucker swipes a random tear that breaks free from the corner of his eye as he nods.
Glancing at the phone screen one last time, I swallow down the memories of when Trenton and I were early on in our relationship. Sure it wasn’t headlines, but I held my breath each time we told someone new, hoping they wouldn’t pass judgment. Most of them didn’t.
Handing the phone back to Tucker, I try to ease his mind. “I bet there’s a logical explanation for this. Maybe reach out to Peter. Find out why he would blatantly call you out like that?”
“I’m not sure that’s such a good idea,” Tucker replies.
“That picture,” I say, nodding toward the phone. “Says it all. There’s only one other man I know who has as much pride and love in his stare as Andrew has for you.” Craning my neck, I find those emerald orbs pinned on me. “And I cannot wait for the day that he utters the words I do.”
The room is suddenly so quiet you can hear a pin drop.
Trenton takes my chin in his hand and my skin tingles beneath his touch. My whole world is seated merely inches from me. I want to wrap my arms around him and pull him onto my lap. Show him just how good he makes me feel. But I also relish in the torture of waiting to see what he’ll do next.
The intensity with which his stare roams over me has me shifting in my seat.
He grins.
Fuck me. I’m going to be late for work.
CHAPTER FOUR
