Page 18 of The Kennedy Rule

“Quit stalling,” he says and takes another bite out of his burger. “You’re not getting out of this.”

No. I don’t suppose I am. I feel the blood rush to my cheeks again as I contemplate how to say what’s on the tip of my tongue. That thing that’s been itching for me to voice for ages, but my father has made clear it should remain unspoken.

“We’re waiting.”

“Oh.” I look around the room. “Is there an audience?”

“Yes,” Gavin presses, staring me down. “Out with it.”

I swallow. It feels like my stomach has dropped through the floor. I’ve never said this out loud and Gavin is probably the last person I should be telling. How am I supposed to know if I can trust him?

“Come on, Connor. Fair is fair.”

I can’t take the intensity of his pushing anymore. Finally, I whisper, “I’m gay.”

He lights up like the Luxor and points at me. “I fucking knew it!” he yells and claps his hands together.

My jaw drops and my eyebrows shoot up. “What?”

He shakes his head at me. “I’m never wrong.”

I get my features back in order and fix him with my gaze. “Never wrong about what?” I ask as my heart rate picks up. As far as I know, most straight men don’t spend time speculating on these sorts of things. And there have been a few moments in the past two days that had me wondering about him. Moments that felt an awful lot like flirting.

He stares back at me. “Who’s gay and who isn’t.”

I raise an eyebrow. “And why would that be of any particular interest to you?”

He shrugs and pops what’s left of his burger into his mouth. “Because I’m always on the hunt for who might enjoy me slamming them against the boards, if you know what I mean.”

My mouth goes dry. Because yes, I know what he means. And yes, I might even have had fantasies about it. “Have you?” I ask.

“Have I what?”

“Slammed anyone in the league against the boards.”

“Yeah.” He laughs. “Everybody.”

“Not like that, asshole. Like you were just implying.”

He shakes his head. “No.”

“So there’s no one else like us?”

“There might be.” He shrugs. “I’ve definitely gotten a few vibes here and there, but no one who’s been a definite yes or who has been forward enough about it.”

I roll my eyes, feeling defeated. “So no one who’s as obvious as me.”

“You’re not obvious.”

I don’t believe him.

“Really, Connor. You hide it well. You just can’t hide from me.”

“Great,” I say and slump in my chair. “Don’t tell my father that unless you’re looking for a payday. The only man I’ve ever been with got paid handsomely to keep his mouth shut.”

Gavin’s expression turns hard. His lips press together, and his eyes burn with rage. “Your father is a real fucking piece of work.”

“To be fair, he only paid the man because he was blackmailing me with a tape he made of our one-night stand.”