“Social media’s going feral over the two of you,” Tank continued. “The comments are wild. Social media says you got the gays calling pro football their new RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
“No shit.”
Piper grinned.
“You okay with all this attention?”
Piper shook his head. “No, but the money was nice.”
Tank watched him.
“Yeah, I’m sure,” he said. “I’m still shocked you did it, it’s not your vibe, but I get it, feed the fucking machine, right?”
Piper’s phone buzzed on the bench. He glanced down.
Tank looked too, but Piper flipped the phone facedown before he could read the screen.
“Whatcha hiding?” Tank asked.
“Nothing.”
The coach’s voice cut across the room.
“Five minutes!”
Players started moving toward the field. Pads snapped. Piper stood, slipping into his practice jersey.
This part made sense to Piper, on the field, practicing what he excelled at, made him feel safe.
The team was headed to Chicago for an away game that evening.
***
Seattle
On the opposite end of the coast, Noah walked into the Seattle facility with a quad latte from Starbucks in one hand and his phone buzzing in the other. Notifications were rolling in, either shaming him or praising him for the campaign.
Darius ran toward him. “Noah, dude, this underwear thing is wild.”
The campaign was everywhere. Sports talk shows. TikTok edits. One post read: LEAGUE RIVALS OR SOMETHING MORE? Noah shook his head and shoved the phone into his pocket.
The locker room greeted him with slow clapping, blasting music, and immediate shouting.Stay Flyby Three 6 Mafia playing over the speakers.
“LOOK WHO BLEW UP THE INTERNET WITH HIS HALF NAKED ASS.” His teammates yelled.
Noah laughed.
“Shut the fuck up.”
One of the linemen slapped him on the ass.
“You and Ashton, huh?”
“It’s a fucking campaign.”
“Sure it is.”
Laughter rolled across the room. Noah dropped into his locker, shaking his head.
