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The plans were made.They might be shit, but they were made. My face was painted, my hair was styled, and my hat got brushed. Daddy even wiped down my boots and chaps - then helped me into them both. By the time we pulled out of the hotel, I looked just like a bull rider.
J.D. and Tanner didn't. Ok, Tanner was in his gear, but J.D. just had on jeans and a T-shirt to go with his hat. Daddy looked about the same as he drove J.D.'s truck, smiling a little when he revved the engine needlessly. Clearly, my father was still a boy at heart.
But when we got to the arena, Max and Grace were waiting. J.D. and Tanner grabbed their gear, then we split up. Max went with the guys. Grace stayed with me, leaning against the bed of the truck as the boys headed towards the arena. For a little too long, the silence hung thick and heavy.
Finally, she looked over. "I'm gonna ask you a question, and you're free to tell me to shove it up my ass."
I huffed out a weak laugh. "Ok?"
"The rumors true?"
I licked my lips, debating telling her - nicely - to shove it up her ass. Then again, she had a wife. This probably pissed her off as much as it did the rest of us. Then there was the fact that I didn't really have a whole lot to lose - and I wanted to trust this woman.
"We're all together," I said, looking over and meeting her heavily painted eyes. "All of us, Grace."
She nodded slowly. "So queer and polyamorous. Yeah, that's a very good reason to keep your private life out of the contracts."
"Kinda what I thought."
"And one hell of a reason for me to make sure this works." She pulled her phone out and started typing. "Troy's one of those 'woke' types," she said as her thumbs continued moving. "Nice guy, but jumps on every possible social justice issue ever. This?" And she smiled. "Right up his alley."
"I'd prefer not to out the guys," I said quickly.
Grace just shook her head. "I'm not. I'm making this a sexist thing. Oh, and using gay as a slur, as if it's wrong, and as athreat. Making it clear Tanner's your boyfriend, which is why he got dragged in."
"The men helping me," I said.
"Mhm," she agreed. "Which is a very believable line. The problem is going to be how we get people to care. I hate to say it, but some will say you deserve this."
"I do," I assured her. "They don't. A man being a gentleman to a girl in need should not be thrown under the bus for it."
"Nice," she said. "Think you can add in a few Gods and Christians to that?"
My eyes narrowed. "Why?"
"Public persuasion," she said. "Our metrics show the PBR viewership skews heavily to men and Christian."
I grimaced. "Not sure I can, but I'll try if it fits."
"Only if it fits," she said, gesturing that it was time for us to go.
I hung my gear bag over my shoulder. My chaps swirled around my feet. My hat was pushed down low on my brow. My spurs weren't on yet, but no one would notice that part. Side by side, like a pair of badass bitches, Grace and I walked towards the entrance to the convention center.
There wasn't a lot of press, but there was enough. I saw at least three cameras - there may have been more - and five different microphones being pushed at the guys. J.D. was walking on his own with only a bit of a limp, but that was normal for him. Tanner was on the far side, looking like he had no clue anyone was there.
In the middle was my daddy and Max. While Dad kept pace with J.D., Max was holding up his arms and patting the air. Even from back here, I could hear the clamor of voices, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. Didn't take a genius to guess, though.
Sure enough, when we got close enough, Max said, "We have no comment at this time. I don't know where these rumors came from, but that's all they are. Thank you."
He turned for the doors J.D., Tanner, and Dad had already gone through. That left the crowd of press ready and salivating for the next victim: me.
"Cody Jennings!" a man called out. "What do you think about the rumors?"
I looked at Grace and she nodded. So, moving around her, I walked towards the cameras. "What rumors?"
"It was leaked to ESPN that J.D. Adkins and your boyfriend, Tanner Burns, are in a gay relationship."
One side of my mouth curled upwards. I couldn't stop it, so I decided to just go with it. "Wait. So, lemme get this straight. My boyfriend's doing what with my mentor?"
