Page 50 of Full Split (Forbidden Goals #8)

NILES

Thankfully, USAG doesn’t waste time. Before we’re through with a celebratory lunch, Millie’s phone rings.

Everyone at the table goes silent, and she picks up.

“This is Millie Worth,” she says as she answers. She pauses to listen to the person on the line, her face serious. After just a few beats, her lips turn up on one side, and she winks at me. “That’s good to hear. Please send me the itinerary, and we’ll be there.”

She hangs up and looks at us, everyone holding their breath in anticipation. My heart is beating so hard, I’m fairly certain it’s shaking the table.

“USAG accepts our terms. Not only that, but they’re ready to move forward. Since we’re all here in town, they suggested a press conference tomorrow.”

The table breaks out in excited chatter.

“Tomorrow?” I say nervously.

We’d had a conversation about schedules and what she could accept on our behalf, but none of us expected it to happen quite this fast. It’s a really good sign that not only was our case air- tight, but that USAG would rather stand behind me than wait any longer.

It would have been better if they’d supported me from the beginning, but I’ll take the win, however small.

“You’re ready,” she says. “We’ve already gone over your statement points, and you’re a strong speaker, Niles.

I have every faith the press conference will go well.

And you won’t be alone. You’ll have Weston, Wyatt, and Sid up there with you.

Plus all of us who are able to attend will be in the room watching. ”

Mik nods in agreement. “You better believe I won’t hesitate to shut down any inappropriate questions. Just think of me as your unofficial PR manager.”

“Care to make that official?” I laugh.

Wyatt reaches over and slips his hand into mine, giving it a gentle squeeze. “You’ve got this,” he says out loud. “I’m here with you.”

When I look up again, I catch Mik’s eye. He gives me a small smile, then goes back to talking with Weston about an article he’s writing about the parallels between misogyny in sports and the vendetta against transgender women in athletics.

Wyatt let me know that he came clean to Mik about our relationship during their meeting.

He trusts Mik, but also he felt that Mik should know if he’s going to go out of his way to defend us.

Surprisingly, Mik didn’t seem to care. He said it was none of anyone’s business.

Aside from the allegations of harassment, none of our personal lives belong in the news unless we choose to put it out there.

Ms. Worth said the same thing when we told her.

It was important she knew so she could help defend us properly, but it wasn’t a problem. .

After lunch, Weston heads off with Cody and Brandon to pick up some essentials since they hadn’t planned on staying overnight.

Wyatt worked out a couple extra rooms in the hotel we’re staying at, and the hotel concierge offered to take our suits to be dry-cleaned overnight.

Rina apparently never leaves home without a toothbrush and back-up outfit, but she only lives a few hours away and has her car here.

She takes Shane and Vickie to the airport because they can’t stay, but they work out a way to share a live stream of the conference so they can add their voices of support in real time while it’s happening.

They’re contacting our teammates to let them know what’s happening so everyone can join in to show unity amongst the team. Most of it, anyway.

Millie Worth and Mik head back over to the USAG headquarters to discuss logistics and crowd control for questioning. They want to get a better idea of how large this conference is intended to be and have a hand in the setup so there aren’t any surprises.

Which leaves Sid with me and Wyatt to go over my press statement. We use a small conference room in the hotel that’s not being used. I go over the statement Millie helped me write a few times, then Wyatt and Sid go back and forth asking me different questions I might expect to hear tomorrow.

“You and Weston seem close. Is there any truth to the rumors about the two of you being together?” Sid asks.

“I’m pretty sure Mik and Ms. Worth are going to make sure the press knows those types of questions are not allowed,” Wyatt says.

“Not everyone will follow the rules. It is best to be prepared.”

He’s right. Ignoring the question, or shutting it down, might only make things worse. It’s better to be ready for anything.

“We are very close. We’ve known each other since childhood.

He’s like a brother to me. There is no truth to those rumors.

However, if there were, it wouldn’t be anyone’s business but his and mine.

Rumors about what happens in someone’s private life are inappropriate and only perpetuate the idea that LGBTQ+, especially trans people, are deviants or promiscuous.

I’d appreciate it if everyone here could help us all by stopping this narrative entirely. ”

“Very good,” Sid says.

Before Wyatt can come up with another question, Sid jumps in with another. “And the rumors about your coach, Wyatt Lincoln?”

My face immediately gets hot. Not just because of the question, but because of the way Sid is watching me so closely. Jesus, does he know too? I swing my gaze to Wyatt, who gives me a wide-eyed look of panic and a shrug from behind Sid’s back.

“Well maybe you could start by not looking right at him, yes?” Sid says flatly.

I clear my throat. “All allegations of illegal or inappropriate relationships are simply rumors with zero proof. I’d appreciate it if we could move on and stop giving attention and weight to these unfounded claims.” It’s not an outright lie, but it’s a deflection for sure.

Sid snorts. “Clever, but your execution needs work if you want it to be believable.”

Yeah. He knows.

“Sid…”

Sid cuts Wyatt off by putting a hand up. “I don’t need to know anything. I know you both well enough to know you aren’t some kind of predator. If you were, you wouldn’t have just quit working in my gym without speaking to me first. Also, I have a strong feeling Niles was the instigator here.”

My face gets even hotter. I just shrug, because what else can I do?

“We love each other,” Wyatt says.

“I can see that, too.”

“I’m sorry we kept it a secret.”

Sid makes a face. “I’m not. For God’s sake, I don’t want to know your business. But I do want you to come back to the gym after everything has settled. We will make sure you are not part of Niles’ coaching staff in any official sense, but I need you.”

“If the truth did come out, it could affect you.”

“Yes, and that’s why I say wait until the dust settles. You aren’t just an employee, Wyatt. You are part of the heart of this business. And you know I have no children of my own. Who else will take over when I am gone, eh?”

Wyatt looks dumbstruck.

“Anyway,” Sid says, casually moving on as if he didn’t just drop an emotional bomb in the room. “Your strategy is good. But have confidence, yes?”

I nod gratefully and smile up at him when he slaps my shoulder and stands to leave.

When I look over at Wyatt, he’s still staring down at his hands, one tear slowly falling down his cheek.

I get up and go to him, sitting on my knees in front of his chair and looking up at him. Lifting my hand to his face, I rub the tear away with my thumb. His eyes meet mine.

“I didn’t know he felt that way.”

“You’ve always been a bit oblivious to the way others love you.”

Dinner that night is a weird combination of relief, nerves, and excitement. Everyone is buzzing with adrenaline, like we’re about to get on the world’s scariest rollercoaster.

The company is good, and so is the food.

Weston cracks jokes, and Sid rolls his eyes.

Mik tells stories about his twin niece and nephew, and all the things they do to drive their mother nuts.

Turns out, Mik and Jason have a bit of a sordid love story themselves, but theirs ended up working out alright.

I have a lot of hope that we’ll get there, too.

We have the acceptance, if not the support, of the people closest to us. And we have each other. That’s all that matters.

Our happily ever after is only just beginning.

When we finally split up for the night, there’s a flicker of awkwardness in Weston’s expression as he sees Wyatt take my hand to lead me down the opposite hallway.

All of our rooms are scattered across the hotel and not adjoining this time.

Weston plays it cool, even nudges my shoulder and says, “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.

” He cringes as soon as it comes out of his mouth, making all of us laugh.

“Pretty sure that leaves us with a wide range of options,” I shoot back, smirking.

He snorts and makes a gagging sound. His laughter doesn’t quite reach his eyes, but I know he’s trying. And that’s what matters.

The moment we’re through the threshold of our room, I’m on Wyatt. I shove him against the door with more force than necessary, my hands tugging at his collar.

“Eager, are we?” He teases against my mouth, but he’s unbuttoning my shirt just as quickly.

“I’ve been staring at you in this suit all day, imagining how much I want to use your tie like reins to fuck you and then ride you,” I say, pushing his jacket off his shoulders. He helps remove mine as well.

Wyatt’s groan is low and throaty. “I’m sure we can make at least some of that a reality…”

He flips us so my back is at the door.

“I want you every which way I can have you,” he says, unbuttoning my slacks and shoving a hand down the back of my pants. His fingers delve into the cleft of my ass, teasing the puckered hole. “But first I need a taste.”