Page 13 of From Coast to Coast
“Well…I don’t fucking know!” I throw my hands up in exasperation, frustrated that I can’t come up with a solution or punch something. “That’s so messed up, though. I can’t believe they even care. I forgot—swear to god—until you mentioned it tonight. What business is it of anyone else who you like to sleep with?”
“I think they consider it their problem when it’s a gay man in the locker room they get naked in. I could try explaining that I’m not attracted to every guy the same way they’re not attracted to every girl, but why should I? I shouldn’t have to say that. They should trust me because they know me.”
“Right,” I agree. “Fucking right.”
“Listen, I tried. When I first came out, I tried to play the game and talk to them about it.” He shrugs, fiddling with the phone in his hand. “But I’m tired, Remy. I just want to play hockey, and hopefully not get reported to HR in the process.”
“And not have fun doing it.”
“I had fun tonight,” he says. I try to smile, but it feels strained.
“Well, if I hear any homophobic bullshit, I’ve got your back. I’m not?—”
“Don’t,” he cuts in sharply. “Just…don’t. Z already did that and all it’s done is make him an outcast as well. This is a contract year for you. Don’t make things harder for yourself on my account.”
As though the conversation is over as far as he is concerned, he looks down at his phone and turns his back to me. He’s hunched over, shoulders curled inward as he types out a message to somebody and I desperately try to think of a way to continue this argument until I can win it. My phone buzzes again, and I’m distracted by thoughts of that damn app.
“I think I’m going to go to bed,” is all I can come up with.
“Me too,” he agrees, sighing at whatever he sees or doesn’t see on his phone and putting it back in his pocket. He smiles at me, a touch sheepishly. “You pissed, now?”
“Yeah, a little bit,” I admit, and he laughs. He’s got a nice laugh—a deep rumble that I bet sounds fantastic with an ear pressed to his chest, listening to it vibrate through your eardrum.Look at you, Remy, download one gay dating app and suddenly you’re having inappropriate thoughts about your male friends.I decide not to spend too much time thinking about how much I like the combination of Grayson’s dark hair and blue eyes, even though I’ve just noticed that as well. “I’ll see you tomorrow, though.”
“Want to grab breakfast in the morning? I’ve lived here long enough to know all the good places,” he offers, and I nod gratefully.
“Sounds great.”
Sitting on the edge of my bed, I pull off my socks and toss them toward the hamper. There are two notifications now. Flopping back onto the bed, I hold my phone over my head and open the app. I bypass the newest messages, one of which is from a man named Ted who wants me to know that he’s got a butt plug in and is waiting for me to come rail him. Pausing to block Ted, I open Brody’s messages and breathe a sigh of relief that he’s not looking to be railed right now.
Brody
Mine was pretty fucking great, too.
You up to anything exciting tonight?
Ree
Well, Ted did offer to let me bone him, so I guess that’s always an option.
Brody
Ah, and would this be Ted of the butt plug?
Ree
Wow, I guess I’m not as special as I thought I was.
Brody
I think I’m going to pass on the Ted experience.
Ree
Same. I’d rather talk to you, anyway.
I wait, holding my breath and feeling a stirring of nervousness. I’ve never flirted with a guy before, and am pleased to find that it feels exactly the same way flirting with girls used to. He takes long enough to respond that I start to think he won’t. It was such an innocuous comment, and isn’t that what we’re here for? Flirting? At least I’m taking things slow and not starting things off with an unsolicited dick pic.
Brody