Page 82 of Don't Puck Up

Coach groaned and scrubbed his hands over his face.

Keeley exhaled heavily. “Your privacy is about to become a thing of the past,” she warned. “It won’t be one press conference and then it’s over with.”

I smiled, my cheeks heating. “He's worth it.”

“All right, love bird, get out of my office,” Coach ordered gruffly, but his voice held a smile.

I eased myself out of the chair and headed for the door but paused before I exited. “Thanks, Coach, and you, too, Keeley. This hasn’t been easy, but your support really means a lot.”

I pulled open the door and walked out without a backward glance. I was used to fronting the press, but I’d never felt the same mix of nerves and excitement before. Everything in me fizzed like I had champagne in my veins, anticipation giving me a spring in my step. With a grin and butterflies in my belly, I headed toward the player entrance where Kam and Locke were waiting for me.

***

The press conference room had three entrances—one directly off the corridor where the locker room was, one with an attached waiting room that had a live feed, and a third where the press entered. I stood at the second entrance, the one rarely used.

I squeezed Kam’s hand, and she smiled encouragingly. “You’ve got this, hon. That speech is great.”

Locke tipped my chin up to his and pressed a lingering kiss to my lips. I would never get enough of him doing that. It had barely sunk in that he and V were the same person. I still pinched myself that I’d even met him, never mind had seen him nearly naked. I didn’t know that I’d be able to wrap my head around the fact that he’d been inside me until I actually saw it with my own eyes. But I knew his scent, how he held me, and what his touch felt like, and there was no doubt in my mind it was him behind the mask.

I think I’d suspected it—maybe not consciously, but there were too many coincidences to be someone else. But none of that mattered.

He straightened the knot of my Seals’ purple tie. I’d paired it with a matching purple button down and a dove grey suit. It was familiar and usually comfortable, but this time, not so much.

“It’s perfect now.” He smiled and ghosted his fingertips over the side of my jaw that wasn’t bruised.

“It’s strangling me.”

He pressed his lips to mine again and murmured, “It’s just the nerves. Think about everybody being naked.”

I barked out a laugh. “No, then I’ll think about the two of you naked, and I won’t be decent enough to leave.”

I was ready. I hoped. My palms were sweaty, and my stomach was in knots. But there was a calmness inside me too. I could feel the weight about to slip off from my shoulders, and getting ready to shrug off the vestiges of the weight of the world was driving me forward. Freedom from it was within my grasp.

Keeley was briefing the press team now. She was telling them that I wanted to make an announcement. I wondered whether anyone would jump to the conclusion that I was retiring.

Keeley’s assistant opened the door, and I entered. But I stopped dead in my tracks. They were still there. Tonight’s star players—Gauthier, Hux, and Rune—were supposed to have already cleared out of the room. I hesitated, but when Gauthier motioned me over, I slid into the closest free seat, between him and Hux.

I smoothed my tie and asked my captain in a whisper, “How did you guys get roped into having to stick around for this?”

Gauthier shot me a look. His brow was furrowed, and he tilted his head in question. “Seriously? We’re supporting you. We'd never let you sit up here and do this alone.”

I swallowed down the lump in my throat, at a complete loss for words. I was so fucking lucky to have them in my life.

Hux squeezed my shoulder, and Keeley handed the reins over to me. The plan was for me to read the speech my agent had largely prepared, answer a few questions, then disappear where I’d come from. Kam and Locke were watching on the monitor, and we already had an exit strategy planned after a debrief with Keeley and Coach.

I drew my speech out of my pocket and unfolded it, then adjusted the microphone. I looked around the room and sucked in a deep breath.

This wasn’t right. Not like this. I folded the speech back up and put it away. I had more to say than what was written there, and I needed to get it out.

“Thank you, everyone, for sticking around. I know it’s been a long night.” I looked across at my teammates and gave them a nod. “I've lived in the shadows for a large part of my life. It started when I realized I was different.” I paused, then licked my lips, my heart beating a mile a minute. Hux squeezed my shoulder again, lending me his strength.

“I didn't just like girls. I liked boys too.” There were raised brows and shocked faces, but there were also a few nods and small, encouraging smiles. Keeley had hand selected which reporters were invited to tonight’s press conference, and for that, I was grateful.

“Religion played a large part in my life growing up. I went to church a couple of times a week and prayed every night. My family's beliefs are strict.” I exhaled heavily. “I didn’t fit within the mold they have of what a God-fearing person should be. I tried for years to bury who I am to force myself to fit, but it's a part of me in the same way I’m right-handed and have brown hair.”

I looked over at Gauthier and he nodded his encouragement, then rested his hand on my forearm.

“My wife, Kamirah, was the only person to know my secret for years. It’s only been through her unending love, support, and encouragement that I began to accept myself. I don't think I truly did that until recently. The thing is, I can no longer hide from myself or the world.”