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“And now you want me to attend this thing with you? I know you’re saying it’s just for me, to help me. But it feels like more. It’s a fancy event with all of your coworkers and everyone in the industry that you respect. Whatever else it is, it sure feels like a date. But what are you going to tell me when it’s done? That we should pretend the Hall of Fame doesn’t exist?”
I stared at Claude, caught off guard. “I don’t understand. Would you want this to be a date?”
“Merri, I have wanted everything we’ve been doing to be a date. You know all those times when I’ve passed you the ball in practice? Consider that foreplay.”
“I didn’t realize you felt like that.”
Claude calmed. “That might be because I’m not always great at sharing what I’m thinking. But I am now.”
I smiled. “Yes, you are. But, what if people see you at the event and they assume you’re gay. That might make it a lot harder to get on a team.”
“Then fuck football. If football doesn’t want me, I don’t want it. I would choose you any day over a sport that doesn’t want me. You’re what matters to me, Merri. Football’s just a game.”
“That’s really sweet.”
“I don’t know why you keep being surprised by that. I’m a sweet guy,” he said emphatically.
I laughed.
“I guess you are,” I said, staring up at the man I wanted to kiss.
“I’m glad you’re finally realizing this.”
“I am. And now you’re my date for the Hall of Fame game,” I said flirtatiously.
“It’s about time,” Claude joked, making me laugh.
“But we still need to get you into the showcase. And for that, we need to find you an agent.”
“What does that entail?”
“If we can, we should create a reel of your best plays from university. I can compile your stats. I think I already have them. And, I know you don’t like it, but you’re going to have to help me sell you to the agents.”
“What do you mean?” Claude asked, uneasy.
“I mean you’re going to have to charm them. You know, tell them why you think you deserve this. Sell yourself.”
If it wasn’t for Claude’s always cool demeanor, I would have sworn that he was panicking.
“I…” He began. “No.”
“What do you mean, no?”
“No. I’m… No.”
“Claude, you have to do this.”
“I don’t have to do anything.”
He jumped out of bed.
“I didn’t want this. You came and presented this to me like it was a done deal. But things keep changing.”
“I know, I’m sorry. But we can still get it. It’s just one more thing. After this…”
He cut me off.
“What? It’ll be something else?”
