“Everyonesaw the pictures, Kai.”
“I would say that it wasn’t what it looked like, but it totally was,” he begins. “Turns out that homeboy likes girls, but he likes boys, too. I got dragged to that party because it startedas a fundraiser for a foundation Cordarius supports. Young men’s mental health. It’s his first big event, and a bunch of the guys wanted to support him. Silent auction, the whole nine. I donated some signed cleats. Cordy gave a speech, and so did the youth advocate. The press was there, so everyone was on their best behavior. Around nine, the DJ started spinning and things started popping off, so I was getting ready to head out. Derrick had been drinking, and he’s all likelet’s dance, Kai; don’t leave me hanging, Kai.”
“Oh?” you say.
“He was all over some girl at first, but he kept making eye contact. I didn’t get it, but whatever. He was drunk, and I wasn’t overthinking it. Like I said, I was ready to leave. Then he comes over and is dancing all up on me, and asks me flat-out if I want to party at his with him and the girl. I tell him, hey, I don’t sleep with women. Thanks anyway, weirdo. He’s talking about James Dean and not being inhibited by gender, or whatever. Says that, if I want, he’ll ditch the chick and take me home. Says that everyone knows you and me are on the outs.”
“He said that?” you ask, horrified.
“Yeah. I asked him how he knew that, and he said that he watchedAccess Hollywood.I tell him not to believe everything that he hears. He proceeds to tell me how he knew when he came to Miami that he was just going to have to wait for his chance. I told him that he’s gonna be waiting a long time, and to go cruise with the other DL fellas down at the glory holes. Then I went home. Paps had plenty of opportunity to get good shots, though. It wasn’t a short conversation.”
“I see,” you say, because you are otherwise speechless. You remember the uneasy gut feeling that you had about Derrickback in the fall, and how you dismissed it. Maybe you need to listen to your gut more.
“Ster,” Kai says warily, “I hope you know that, just because we weren’t talking, I meant what I said. I don’t believe in breaks. I’m a taken man. I didn’t forget…”
“No,” you say. “Me neither.”
“I have your Christmas present,” Kai says. “I figured I’d just hold onto it until we worked our shit out. It’s not a car, though.”
“It doesn’t have to be. You didn’t have to get me anything.”
“Maeve says that you’re in LA? Why aren’t you with your folks?”
“They’re out here,” you say. “I put them up in a bungalow at the Pink Palace. I have to be on the West Coast right now for something that’s a big deal.”
“What is it?” he asks, just like you knew he would. “Have you been out West all month? You hate it out there.”
“I can’t tell you,” you say. And quickly add, “but I will, really soon. Few days. Just trust me that it’s really important.”
“Say less,” he says. “If you have stayed in California for a month, it’s pretty damn important.”
“Are you still going to be my date to the Grammys?” you ask, changing the subject.
“You kidding?” he scoffs. “Someone’s gotta help you lift all those heavy trophies.”
“There’s no guarantee that I’ll win anything.”
“Okay,” he says, all sweet sarcasm. And, then: “I want to see you.”
“I want to see you, too,” you say. “At the risk of sounding like that stupid song, what are you doing New Year’s Eve?”
“Hopefully kissing my man at midnight,” he says softly. “I have to be in Miami, because we’re playing at home on Saturday. Last game of regular season, then it’s off to the playoffs. We’ll be either second or third seed, depending on how things shake out.”
“Then I’ll be in Miami,” you say. “It’s a date.”
“Mmm,” he hums happily, smiling big. “I love you, baby.”
“I love you, too.”
By the time you’re done talking, it’s deep in the wee hours of Christmas morning.
Chapter Twenty-Three
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