Page 73 of Josh’s Play

“Did we just confess our love for each other?”

“I mean, I think so?” We rested our foreheads against each other and laughed as we took in the gravity of the moment.

“Hey, Josh,” I said without moving my head. He nodded but kept the connection with me.

“Call me that again.”

“My prince?”

I nodded.

“My prince. My prince, my …”

I kissed him again before pulling back and confessing, “I love you.”

“I love you too.” We locked eyes for a moment and took each other in.

“I’m going to Buffalo after I graduate.”

“That’s amazing.” Josh hugged me tight. “I’m so proud of you.”

“I meant what I said. You’ve been sneaking around with me, for me, and I don’t want you to have to do that anymore. Can you drive me home for Easter weekend? Meet my family, head back early on Sunday so you don’t miss your time with your niece? My dad will drive me back.”

Josh looked at me as if trying to figure out if I was serious. I kept our eyes locked to tell him I was.

“I mean, if it’s what you really want?”

“It is. And I’d like to meet your family as well. And maybe you can tell Devon.”

“Cam …”

“We told them I was gay when we met in Buffalo. Denny was surprised Coach Weadner hadn’t mentioned it. I told him he doesn’t know.”

Josh removed himself from my lap, sitting close enough to me that our sides were still connected. He held my hand and turned in slightly to look at me. He was doing that thing where he stared at me like he wanted to study every line and blemish on my face. He was reading me like a book, and it felt like he could tell everything I was feeling. I didn’t hate it.

“How’d that go?” Knowing how carefully he was studying me, I thought about it before I answered.

“I don’t think anyone in the room was homophobic, but they are all really practical. Denny said it doesn’t matter, but that it wouldn’t make my life any easier.”

“Not an untrue statement.”

“Not an untrue statement,” I agreed. “He seemed surprised when I told him I didn’t intend to come out. Said he has kids my age, and he thought we were all about oversharing.”

“Oversharing?”

“Yeah, his word. One of his staffers said that if I changed my mind, the team would support me, and that I had nothing to worry about. I watched him as he looked around the room at everyone until they all nodded.”

Josh hesitated. “And your parents?”

I found the question odd but answered it nonetheless. “They agree that I shouldn’t come out. It’s all good.” I didn’t elaborate that it had taken some doing for me to convince my parents to agree to that.

“So, Easter weekend?”

Chapter Nineteen

Josh

“Hang on.” I stood and sent a text while Cam looked at me questioningly. I got the answer I expected and held my hand out to Campbell. “Come on.”