Page 39 of Sensation Fantasies 3

“Are you sure you want me to go tonight?” Vaughn asked as I got dressed in my tux at his place. I had been in town for a few days because of the All-Star break, and tonight was the ESPY awards.

“Yes,” I simply stated. It wouldn’t be the first time we were out in public together, but it wasn’t as though we had paparazzi snapping our picture either. Wewould,though, once Flirting with Fire hit it big, and I was certain that would be within a year.

I was one step closer to being okay with that.

The limo door opened as it pulled up to the hotel where the awards were being held. I took a deep breath and got out. When Vaughn got out and stood beside me at the red carpet, I looked up at him and said, “I’m ready.”

“Okay. I’m here for you.”

“No,” I stated, and turned to face him fully. “I’mready.”

His head tilted slightly. “Ready?”

“Yes.”

“Here?”

“Is that okay?”

“Yeah,” he breathed. “I want this too, but you have more to lose than I do.”

I knew I wouldn’t lose anything that wasn’t worth losing. I wasn’t going to lose my career, but I might lose a few friends. I didn’t care.

“It will be fine.” I reached out my hand for his.

Vaughn looked down and then laced his fingers with mine. Pictures were being taken in front of a backdrop, and without dropping Vaughn’s hand, we stood together and smiled before walking away toward the ceremony.

People looked, people whispered, but I didn’t care. I was gay and proud. Proud to call Vaughn Evans mine.

“And the winner of the Best Major League Baseball Player ESPY Award goes to …” I waited with bated breath as the host opened the envelope. “Slate Rogers, Center Fielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks!”

My eyes widened as people started to clap.

“Go get your award.” Vaughn nudged my thigh.

I stood and started to walk toward the stage in shock. I didn’t think I would win because it was an award based on fans voting and there was no way to know until the time. I accepted the trophy and turned to the mic.

“Wow, thank you. I’m so thankful and honored to accept this award.” More clapping. “I could stand up here all night and thank everyone from my parents to Coach Thomas for helping me become the best player I can be, but there’s actually something that I want to tell everyone. Something that has been weighing heavy on me almost my entire life.”

I swallowed. “Some of you may have noticed that I came with someone tonight. We were holding hands, and the person I was holding hands with is a man. For so long, I was worried about what my teammates or fans would think. I wanted people to see me for a good ballplayer and not focus on my love life. And while I don’t plan on retiring for seven or so more years, it‘s time for me to tell you who therealme is. I, Slate Rogers, am gay, and tonight I’m anactivegay major league baseball player.”

Cheers erupted with clapping, and I muttered a thank you before walking off the stage. People were still cheering me when there, in front of everyone, I kissed my man. He wrapped me in his arms.

“God, I fucking love you. I’m proud of you,” he said into my ear.

“Thank you, and I love you too.” I just hoped that others would follow in my footsteps now that I was the third openly gay active baseball player because it didn’t matter who you loved off the field.

Love is love.

The End.