Page 19 of Man to Man Coverage (Rangers Football: Hard-Hitting #6)
Rex
D evlin says he’ll handle everything as we walk with Deacon into the classroom.
Before we got off the elevator, he asked me how the twins had heard about us, and I finally had to tell him that they are dating the charity chick, Maryanne Merryweather, and she also has Google alerts set up on all the players.
I’m not sure if Deacon already knew about their relationship, but the way his eyes flashed and jaw tightened tells me I messed up.
But that’s a problem for another day.
The three of us walk in and Deacon steps to the front of the room, pausing the playback reels and turning up the lights. He tilts his head to Devlin. “The floor is yours.”
Devlin clears his throat, scanning the room and meeting every coach and player in the eye.
“Yesterday, a tweet about me hit the net. I’m not sure who saw it, but I want to address the rumors with my teammates before they grow out of control.
Most of you know I’m bisexual and have dated men and women since high school.
Since the beginning of the season, I’ve been dating a teammate, Rex Williams. The simple fact is we’ve been dating for months and it hasn’t affected the team one bit.
If any of you suspected, you never had the proof or the balls to ask the question or lodge a complaint, so I expect no one should have a complaint now. ”
I don’t know what comes over me, but I take a step forward and grab Devlin’s hand to keep mine from shaking. “We’re in love. I love Devlin Frank with all my heart and I hope you accept it and we continue to play football like we already do.”
My words are met with utter silence, but the only person I care about is the one standing next to me. I squeeze his hand and then let go, my cheeks burning hot as I search his beautiful eyes which are currently a mesmerizing blue-green.
“I hope that was okay,” I whisper, so only he hears me.
“It was perfect, babe,” he says in an equally low voice.
“Fuck yeah!” Declan claps his hands, quickly joined by Aggie, Jepson, and Jaxson.
“I have no problems with who you or anyone on this team dates. As the team captain, an owner, and your quarterback, all I care about is we are healthy, happy, and playing our hearts out. I want every single one of us wearing a championship ring this year, and we can only do that as a cohesive team.”
Murmurs of yes and absolutely rumble through the room, the players and coaches nodding their heads and flashing us thumbs up and/or smiles.
Deacon uncrosses his arms and walks to Devlin’s other side.
“At the beginning of this season we issued a gag-order on the team without telling you exactly what it was about. I’m sure there were rumors running rampant, but in the end the point was that we are a team, a family, and we protect our own.
The President of Communications, Deidre Scott, will take care of any chatter outside of this organization, but inside it we take care of each other.
If you are approached by any media outlet or gossipy little girl at the club, you shut that shit down with a no comment . Everyone good?”
Another series of yeses filter through the crowd.
“Great. Let’s get back to the reels so we can play this damn Christmas game and go home to our families.” Deacon nods to our seats, and just like that, life is back to normal. Devlin and I slap palms, and I shakily walk to my seat in the back next to Jepson and Jaxson.
The twins bump fists with me and then the room darkens once again.
I’m sitting here in a state of disbelief.
What the hell happened?
I came out to my team. I publicly professed my love. And now I’m sitting four rows away from the man I love, unable to kiss his perfect mouth, or have him hold me until my nerves calm down and I feel like me again.
Deacon taps my shoulder and whispers, “Come outside.”
In a daze, I follow him into the hallway.
Devlin, who I never saw leave the classroom, holds out his hand and pulls me into the next classroom, the door closing behind us.
He wraps his arms around me, pulling me tightly against his chest. We don’t speak, but the love radiating through his skin speaks volumes.
He rubs my back and presses his forehead against mine, his green eyes with their gold flecks shimmering with unshed tears.
“You said you would tell me you love me when I least expected it, when it really meant something, and although I want to hear I love you from your lips every day for the rest of my life, your proclamation to our teammates today means more to me than any championship ring. I love you so much, baby.”
“There’s one more thing I want to say.”
“What is that?”
“This team might be a family but in you I found my home. You are my king, I am your prince, and the cosmic forces that brought us together will make sure nothing tears us apart.”