Out in the Offense (Out in College 3)

The board issued a private apology to me and publicly offered me a scholarship for my final year. And yes, I was starting quarterback. The difference this time was that I had an idea of what I wanted to do with my life. Or at least I had a path and some general direction. It could take years, but I might just make it to the NFL one day after all. To be play caller for an elite organization would truly be part of a dream come true.

I already had the other part of that dream. I was out. Fully and completely and very proudly out of the closet. And the crazy thing was that others wanted to hear my story. I’d been interviewed and asked to speak for various LGBTQ organizations to give my perspective on being a gay athlete. For someone who’d been buried in a dark closet for years, it was life-changing. I couldn’t imagine talking freely about my boyfriend or our life together even nine months ago. Now, I couldn’t shut up.

Sure, it bothered me sometimes that my parents distanced themselves from me. My sister tried to be supportive, and my mom checked in with an occasional phone call or text, but my father had gone radio silent. For the first time ever, I spent the holidays elsewhere. I thought I would have been more shaken, but honestly, I expected it. I was never going to be what my dad wanted. He hoped for a version of himself, and a gay son wasn’t it. But that was his problem, not mine. I had friendship, joy, and more love in my life than I’d ever imagined. I wouldn’t give up a moment of it just to make him more comfortable. That wasn’t love. I knew the difference now.

“Like I said, Buttons wouldn’t approve. C’mon, let’s check out the cat crap,” Rory said, slipping his hand in mine.

I chuckled at his playful gruff intonation and let him lead the way to a ginormous array of cat scratching posts. I bypassed the humble traditional posts and marched straight for the one that looked like a cross between a jungle gym and a mini palace. It was a series of boxes with steps and tethered balls and a private box, ideal for ignoring humans.

“This one,” I declared decisively. “It’s perfect.”

“It’s huge,” he deadpanned, pointing at a small version, with fewer balls and stairs. “What about that one?”

“Hmm. Kinda boring. This is a castle, that’s a…condo.”

“Cats dig condos. And if you think about it, she likes small spaces. Too much room might intimidate her,” he reasoned patiently.

“Maybe you’re right. Besides, we’ll need a place for the dog bed later,” I singsonged.

“Drip, drip, drip…”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re torturing me till you get your way. I’m on to you. You think if you say dog once a day between now and Thanksgiving, you’ll get a puppy for Christmas.”

I furrowed my brow in annoyance. “Will it work?”

“Probably,” Rory admitted. “I love you, baby. I’d give you anything you wanted if I could. A dog, a cat, a cow, a winning lottery ticket, a private tropical island…you name it and I promise I’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen. The cow might be tricky. Not sure where we’d put it. And the lottery ticket might be a two-dollar scratcher but—”

I set my hand over his mouth and removed it quickly to seal my lips over his. I could have sworn I saw stars when I finally pulled away. “All I want is you.”

“No cow?”

I shook my head and grinned so wide my face hurt. “No. Just you. I love you too. Let’s get the small one.”

“That’s the spirit.” Rory nipped my chin playfully, then whispered in my ear. “I’ll give you something big when we get home, QB.”

I snickered at his juvenile comeback and kissed his cheek. “I can’t wait.”

And why wait anyway? Patience might be a virtue, but I’d learned it was equally important to know when to act, to seize opportunity and use my voice. I’d come out on the offense…and with this man by my side, I was truly free.