Page 6 of Tough Guy and the Show Off

I grunt in acknowledgment, but I’m not sure what else I’m supposed to say. After a second, he gives up and stops staring at me.

We finish packing up and exit the room, heading to the hotel lobby in hopes of finding a bagel. The concierge tells us about a coffee shop two doors down that’s open right now, so we drop our bags and head out.

As we walk, I keep my distance from my best friend, afraid that even brushing up against him might weird him out after what he witnessed.

Standing in line, I stare up at the menu board like it’s the most fascinating thing I’ve ever seen while Trav checks his phone, rattling off all the gossip about other players.

“You ever heard of Berlin Daly?” he asks.

“The Olympic skater?”

“That’s the one.”

“He’s a total badass. He does these flips that seem impossible.”

“How do you know this but I don’t?”

I shrug, inching forward in line. “I like figure skating. I think it’s cool. What about him?”

“He was dating that snowboarding dude, the one who broke the speed record two years ago. Guess they’re having a public breakup that’s messy as fuck.”

I scrunch my nose. “That sucks. Bad enough your relationship ends, but for everyone to know about it has to sting.”

“Agreed.”

We make it to the counter and order two breakfast sandwiches, then step off to the side to wait.

“There’s some shitty comments about gay people in the article comments.” Trav shakes his head. “Grow up. Who cares who fucks who anymore?”

“Yeah,” I grunt.

“I mean, there are probably gay guys in the league, right?”

I tense up. Does he think I’m gay because I was fingering my ass? Straight people do ass play. It’s not my fault it feels good.

Our names are called and I’m saved from answering as we get our breakfast and walk outside to head back to the hotel so we’re not late for the team bus. I’m walking faster than normal, and for the first time ever, I want some distance between me and my best friend.

The next thing I know, Trav is speeding up and standing in front of me, blocking me, his hands landing on my shoulders.

“Talk to me, man.”

Looking past him, I ask, “About what?”

“Whatever’s going on in your head.”

“Nothing to talk about.”

“Then why won’t you make eye contact with me?”

Reluctantly, I pull my gaze to his. His eyes are a stunning blue that instantly relaxes me. I huff, laughing nervously. “Guess I’m feeling weird about what you saw last night.”

His brow creases. “Because you were jacking off? Dude, everyone does that. I’m surprised we haven’t walked in on each other sooner.”

“Not, um… not that part. The other thing I was doing. Maybe you think it’s weird or gay or…”

Trav’s eyes soften as he holds my gaze, his lips quirking into a slight smile. “No judgment here, man. You should know that.”

“I’ve just never… No one knows I do that. Sometimes. Not every time.”