Waqas exhaled. “Father would like to see you.”
Jasim said nothing.
“Good luck in the match.”
Jasim watched until the car was out of sight.An olive branch or a trap?
He found Newt and Leigh in the drawing room with Paolo,Nicolás, Marcelo and Joaquin. They all had a drink in their hands. He wished Ru was there too. The other members of the team got on fine with Newt and Leigh. Jasim had never heard any homophobic comments about them or anyone else. Could he trust his team? His mouth went dry and he made himself a gin and tonic.Not much of a Muslim, am I?Was he actually considering coming out? Right now?If he couldn’t trust these guys, who could he trust?
But if they told their partners, wife in the case of Nicolás, how fast would word spread? And when a journalist broadcasted that news, would that be the tipping point for his family?Member of the Saudi royal family comes out as gay.There was no way back from that. But just a few trusted friends? Could he risk it? Somehow, he wanted Ru by his side when he told them, but Ru needed to rest. The relief that swept through him was an indication that he wasn’t yet ready to step out of the closet.
“Dinner in ten minutes,” Mary said from the door.
“Thank you.” Jasim smiled at her.
“How’s Ru?” Paolo asked.
“Bruised but okay.”
“What happened?” Leigh asked.
“He was hit across the face with a crop then knocked off his horse after being hit by a mallet wielded by my nephew.”
“Deliberately?” Newt asked.
“Sadly, yes. Ru told him to stop pulling at Joni’s mouth and Ahsan took exception.”
“Why don’t you ask him to eat with us?” Newt said.
“That’s a good idea,” Paolo said. “I bet he’s not eaten anything tonight. I’ve got his number. Shall I call him?”
Jasim’s heart almost jumped out of his mouth, but he managed to nod.
“Hi, Ru,” Paolo said. “How are you feeling? … Good. Have you eaten?… Would you like to come and have something to eat with us at the house?… Leigh and Newt and the team… Okay. Come now. We’re in the drawing room. Just walk in past the pool.”
Jasim’s pulse was racing. “I’ll ask Mary to set an extra place.” He left the room with his heart pounding. The others didn’tknow,did they?
By the time he got back, Ru was in the room talking to Newt.
“We’re ready to eat,” Jasim said.
The table had been laid outside and the lights were on under the parasol. Somehow Ru ended up sitting next to him. How had that happened? Jasim had waited for everyone to sit down and the place left was next to Ru. Chance or…? He swallowed hard. Newt was on Ru’s other side.
“How are you feeling?” Jasim asked.
“I’m okay. I just needed to rest.”
“Would you like a beer? Or wine?”
Most around the table were drinking beer.
“I’ll stick to water, thanks,” Ru said.
“I’m sorry I let Ahsan continue riding when I should have stopped him after he’d hurt Joni. If I hadn’t been trying to keep my brother happy, I’d have not acted like that.”
“I understand.”
Jasim stood up. “Before we start eating, I’d like to say something.” He waited until he had everyone’s attention.Say it now. Just say—I’m gay. It’s not that difficult. A few words and it’s done.“I… Today Ru saved the life of my four-year-old niece who’d fallen into the swimming pool. Since Ru only learned to swim a short while ago, it was a very brave thing to do. Thank you, Ru.” Jasim raised his gin and tonic, then took a swig before he sat down.What a fucking coward I am.
