“Only because I laid it out for you on a silver platter,” Ramsey reminded him. Barty was a good agent, but Ramsey was better, and Ramsey wasn’t going to let him get ahead of himself.
“Well, it doesn’t matter now, right?” Barty retorted.
For a second, Ramsey almost told him to do it again. He didn’twantto figure out how to do long-distance. It was going to suck, sometimes. Maybe even a lot of the time. But then, he thought of how willing Nate was to do it, selflessly, just so Ramsey could stay withhisteam.
Instead, he said, “No, no, it doesn’t.”
“And you’re okay with staying in Buffalo,” Barty clarified.
Ramsey took a breath, let it out. He’d never imagined himself in a relationship of any kind, nevermind a partially long-distance relationship with not just another professional athlete, but afootball player.
“Yes,” Ramsey said.
“And you’re not going to change your mind.”
Ramsey rolled his eyes. “You forget who you’re talking to, Barty. I’m not gonna fucking change my mind.”
“Hey, you already changed your mind,” Barty reminded him.
“I . . .” He hadn’t, actually. Because he’d never wanted to make the decision in the first place. He’d only been thinking of how best he could fiercely protect this miraculous situation he’d found himself in. And maybe, just a little, he’d been acting defensively, remembering Wes and Marcus, and how that had ended.
“Actually, no, I didn’t change my mind,” Ramsey corrected. “I just needed a reminder of what I already knew was true.”
Barty was quiet for a moment. It was unlike Barty, so Ramsey should’ve expected what he said next, but even Barty could surprise him once in awhile. “Like the sound of your personal problem. Though, if I’m being honest, it doesn’t sound much like a problem but a solution.”
Ramsey froze. Because it was true. In so many ways—ineveryway that mattered—Nate was the key to his lock.
“Yeah, uh. Yeah. That’s true.”
“Good,” Barty said. “Let me know when you want to talk more about it.”
“How do you know—”
“You will,” Barty said firmly.
Ramsey had initially hired Barty because hecouldn’tnegotiate for himself, and Barty had seemed like the best possible option. Creative but not too creative that he’d ignore Ramsey’s clear directives.
But maybe he’d been underestimating Barty this whole time.
“I will,” Ramsey agreed.
Barty chuckled under his breath. “Go talk to your personal problem, okay?”
He didn’t need to be told twice. Hanging up, Ramsey tossed his phone onto the couch to go join Nate in the shower.
The next morning, it was still early when Ramsey let himself into Wes’ apartment. He needed more clothes and to deal with some emails on his laptop.
He’d assumed Wes would be there, but he hadn’t expected Wes to be sitting on one of the barstools, giving him the eye as he walked in.
“Hey, Dad,” Ramsey teased lightly, hoping it might alleviate the incoming lecture. “Yes, I had a great time. Yes, I was safe. I promise.”
Wes rolled his eyes. “I had breakfast with Brody and Dean yesterday.”
“Yeah, they told me that they were going to.” Ramsey set his overnight bag down on the couch.
Wes shot him a look. “You’re really serious about him.”
Ramsey supposed that now was as good of a time as any to have this conversation. Maybe he could’ve put it off, but there was no point in doing that.
