The End Zone (Atlanta Lightning 2)

It was clear most of them were from a cell phone, probably people trying to capture a celebrity, random people seeing Darren Edwards out and about. I assumed that how often I was with him was what sparked curiosity. The wedding photos had to have been a guest who noticed us talking. The ones from the hospital were professional, likely paparazzi trying to catch a glimpse of him because of the injury, and oops, there I was again.

The most damaging were from the hotel because…how did you explain that? Him sleeping over, multiple nights in a row? Hanging out was one thing, but sleeping at my hotel?

Is there something in the water in Atlanta?

Darren Edwards’s secret relationship with a man!

Divorcing the billionaire for the football star!

I was going to be sick. Pulling my gaze from the screen, I found Darren. He wasn’t speaking, just staring at the computer, his jaw tight.

“There’s no proof in any of those photos,” Jada said.

“There are just as many photos out there of Darren and Anson,” Deon added.

“Why the fuck does it matter?” Lee said. “There’s already one queer guy on the team.”

“We deny it,” Mia said. “We say Jeremy is a good friend, and later, when we’re the ones controlling the narrative, we say that something grew from there.”

“No,” Darren said softly, but I wasn’t sure anyone heard him but me.

Deon, Lee, Mia, and Jada all plotted and planned around us, coming up with a story and what the next steps should be.

“This really isn’t as bad as it could be. There’s nothing incriminating in any of these. The hotel thing is the worst, but we can find a way to spin it. Can’t a man be friends with a gay man without it meaning more? So all we need to do is—”

“No!” Darren cut Mia off. “I’m not lying. I’m supposed to say he’s not my man and then come out later and be like, Just kidding! We’re totally boning!”

“Darren!” I snapped. Jesus, he couldn’t put it another way?

“Fuck that. It’s not who I am. I’m not doing that shit. It’s one thing to hide it, but lying is a whole other story.” He turned to me. “Sorry, Angel. I didn’t mean that how it came out.”

I wanted to fix this. Wanted to make it better. Wanted to wrap him up and hold him, but then I also wished I could rage at the whole fucking world. Why the hell did any of this matter? Why did who Darren loved make a difference to anyone?

“Maybe you should take some time—at least a day. You don’t need to make a rash decision.” Jada placed her hand on his shoulder and squeezed.

“I’m not lying.” Darren shook his head. “I’ll look like a fucking joke. I’m sure as shit not going to stop spending time with him. Now that the rumors started, they won’t stop. It’ll be worse when I say it’s not true now and then admit it later.”

“I love you, little bro. I love your honor, your strength, and your resolve to do what’s right. I’ll support you no matter what you want, but you need to think about the possible repercussions.”

“All I’ve been doing is thinking about that shit!” Darren shoved to his feet. “My fucking arm is shattered, I’m almost a free agent, and I’m in a relationship with a man. If you think much of anything else has been on my mind, you’re wrong. But it’s done. It’s fucking out there. We can’t go back now.”

But would he want to? If he could? Would Darren go back? Was it all too much?

No one spoke. I wasn’t sure anyone breathed as Darren paced the room.

“We can put the brakes on things for a while…just until this blows over, you get through your free agency and know what your future holds.” The words felt wrong coming off my tongue.

Darren froze, then turned and looked at me. “You wanna do that? You wanna break it off with me?”

Panic squeezed at my heart, wrapped a fist around my lungs too, nearly suffocating me. “No. Not at all. I’d be miserable, but I would do it. You’re making all these sacrifices to be with me and—”

“It’s not a sacrifice,” Darren said, his voice wrapped up in emotion. He walked over to me, and I stood. He hooked a finger under my chin and tilted my head up. “I’ve never felt this way. I told you I didn’t think I could feel this way. I’m in, and when I’m in something, I don’t quit. I’m in love with you. I’m not going to let other people’s bigotry fuck that up.”

Jada gasped, but then everything else around me went fuzzy. I was pretty sure there wasn’t anyone in the world other than me and Darren. Blood rushed through my ears. My heart felt like it beat its way out of my chest and into his. I couldn’t believe this had happened. “I’ve never felt this way before either. I know our situations aren’t the same, but I love you too, and this, you, you’re different for me.”