This was my Olympic moment. This was the place where I let go of the past once and for all, and moved on. In this moment, I was on top of the world, richer than I’d ever dreamed. I’d been out for gold, but I won a much bigger prize than I ever imagined possible. Love.
6
Epilogue
“If I know what love is, it is because of you.” —Hermann Hesse
Gabe
Derek didn’t question me when I asked him to meet at the beach after work. I felt marginally bad about extending a long day. No doubt he was tired. I had to make this worth it.
I straightened the edges of the blanket and sat cross-legged, watching the waves break in the distance. A few body surfers dotted the shore, getting in their last runs before the sun set. And a group of little kids skipped in the water while their parents watched nearby.
“Hey.” Derek set a hand on my shoulder and fell onto the blanket beside me.
I gave him an appreciative once-over, admiring his worn Levi’s and his muscular biceps straining his Bonne Terre polo. His aviator glasses were a sexy bonus.
“Hey, yourself. How was work?” I asked casually.
“Not bad. Super busy at breakfast, medium at lunch, but our reservations tonight are full. It might be my new autumn menu. Those veggies are a hit.”
“Veggies? Babe, people don’t go to restaurants for veggies,” I teased.
“Sure they do!” He took his shoes and socks off, then rolled up his jeans as he scanned the horizon. “Why isn’t everyone in school or at work? It’s already September.”
“But it’s beautiful. Gotta soak up the surf and sun while you can. Speaking of which…” I shifted sideways and pulled out the small cooler I’d hidden behind my backpack and sweatshirt. “Want a glass of wine?”
Derek widened his eyes comically. “You brought a picnic?”
“Yep. It’s an impromptu date night,” I announced as I uncorked the pinot grigio. I handed him a plastic cup and poured the wine with a surprisingly steady hand.
“Wow. What got into you?”
“Hey, I’m Mr. Romance. And…we didn’t have time to do this during summer. Cheers.”
I tapped my cup to his and took the smallest sip imaginable. I wasn’t in training anymore, but I was way too nervous. If I started gulping wine, that bottle would be dust before the sun went down and I’d have to try again another day. Wasn’t gonna happen. I had this.
But not quite yet.
I straightened my legs and played footsie with Derek while I yammered on about life after the Olympics. Not that much had changed. I still coached for two clubs, assisted the head coach at my alma mater, and practiced with the national team. Theoretically, I was supposed to have more time to help out at the bistro, but kissing my boyfriend in front of the press had set off a firestorm in the media.
Look, I wasn’t a celebrity, and water polo wasn’t a well-known sport in the US, but every side story was seemingly of interest during the Olympics. And somehow that kiss was significant to more than just the two of us. Moreover, the public loved the shots of my dad hugging Derek and me.
When I was asked to give a few interviews and talk about being an LGBTQ athlete when I arrived home, I agreed. Not for myself. But for the scared kid I used to be.
Coming out publicly had never been part of my plan. I didn’t think my bisexuality mattered, but being visible now did. I knew for a fact it would have helped me to know there were other athletes like me out there when I was a teenager. And seeing parents, like my dad, actively support their queer kid was a bonus.
So yeah, I could add diversity and LGBTQ ambassador to my résumé. I was proud of it. And I was pretty damn proud that my parents both stepped up to voice their support. Hell, my dad even joined PFLAG.
I couldn’t claim that my relationship with my father mended overnight, but we were finally in a better place. The Olympics were the one thing that had always stood between us as a common yet lofty goal. It had created so much friction, but ultimately it brought unity to our family.
Derek had bonded with my dad’s family during the games. He genuinely liked my brothers and my stepmom and suggested it might be nice to extend an olive branch and invite them to spend time with us in California before school started.
They’d ended up renting a beach house nearby for a week. It was cool to get to know my brothers. Spending time with them helped me push aside the last bit of angst I’d been carrying around for over a decade. And I saw more of my father in that week than I had at any one time in…years. Honestly, it was nice.