I interrupt Laura, “I can’t pretend we understand, because without knowing what’s going on, obviously, we can’t. But we want to, M, we want to be here for you.” I look toward Laura, who seems to be trying desperately not to speak, then back at Morgan. “You can tell us in your own time. We’ll give you that much. But if we see you in pain, see you upset, we’re going to come ask you. We’re going to want to help ease the burden. You have to understand that, right?”
She looks between Laura and me, then back again. Her shoulders slump. “Yes, of course, I understand. I know I seem like I’m being ungrateful, but I’m not, honestly.” Breaking free from our hold she walks over to a nearby bench. Looking around, I note the quad is pretty empty. I’m guessing everyone’s still in the lunch hall eating. Which, in a way, is a good thing as it gives us some quiet time. All three of us sit down and wait. “I did something stupid, I stole something and ended up getting arrested.”
“Oh my God, Morgan!” Laura gasps, covering her mouth quickly. I look toward her and shake my head slightly, hoping she’ll get the idea we need to let Morgan speak in her own time. She narrows her eyes at me, and I try to suppress a grin at her annoyance, before turning my attention back to Morgan.
“Max doesn’t know, and I don’t want him to,” she says referring to her older brother.
“What’s going to happen?” Laura asks softly.
Morgan shrugs and pulls at the cuff of her jacket. “I don’t know.” She looks across the open space and back to us. “Anyway, that’s why I’ve been upset and a little off.”
I know she’s lying, there’s more to it than what she’s telling us. But I can also see whatever it is, she needs to process it in her own mind first.
Laura obviously senses the same thing as me because she slips her hand into Morgan’s and gives her a squeeze. “Just know we’re both here, okay?” she whispers, and Morgan looks between us nodding. I can see the sadness and more than that, there’s hurt and fear in her eyes too. But she’s a trouper and holds it together before standing up.
“I need to get to class. Catch you both later?”
Laura and I nod and hum out our agreement before she walks away.
“There’s sooo much more to it than what she’s saying,” Laura growls the moment Morgan is out of earshot.
“True,” I agree. “But we need to let her be for now.” She opens her mouth to say something, but I hold up my hand. “Hear me out. There’s a reason she’s not sharing. She always tells us what’s going on. Sometimes she only tells you if she wants to be super private, but one of us will always know. If she’s keeping it to herself that has to mean she’s trying to work it through in her own head, right?” I question, and Laura begrudgingly nods. “We have to give her the time, and the respect to believe she’ll come to us when she’s ready.”
“And if she doesn’t?” I can feel the worry in every word she mutters.
“We won’t wait forever, Button.” I try to lighten the conversation by using my nickname for her. Circling her shoulders with my arms, I pull her in for a hug.
As we pull away, Tarrant comes around the corner with some of the football team. They mustn’t have a class right now. Tarrant raises his chin at them in a goodbye notion and makes his way over to us. My gaze darts behind him as I easily pick out Casper in the group, eyeing over his form, when I look back at his face I notice his eyes are directed at me. I smile at him, but he just stares back quizzically. I want to wink, to play a little.
I have this feeling if he’s gay, he either doesn’t realize it, or hasn’t accepted it, and that could mean real heartache for me in the long run.
The minute my last class finishes, I make my way over to the football field for practice.
“Hey coach,” I holler, heading into the changing rooms.
“Caden!” Aaron shouts the instant I walk in. He always says hello, but I get the feeling his acknowledgment today has more to do with letting the others know I’m here. I lift my chin in response and walk to my locker. The guys, for the most part, are okay with me. Once my sexuality was out in the open, Coach Stanford pulled us all to one side and gave us a pep talk. Lots of words about it being a modern day and age, and for the guys to take into account they don’t live in the wild, so to only act like animals on the field.
All but two of them took heed of Coach’s words. Timothy Duncan and Dennis Potts are two openly homophobic assholes, and they often make it clear they aren’t happy with me being gay—like I have a choice. They’ve never been aggressive physically. They’re big guys, both linebackers, they could take me on if it were the two of them against me. Thankfully, it usually stops at a few nasty comments. Except for during football, they keep away from me, like I might accidentally slip and stick my dick up their asses.
I pull off my clothes and glance across at Tim and Den. Both of them sneer at me and start talking without being discreet.
“There’s something wrong with a guy who chooses man ass over sweet pussy. He better not come near me.”
“Yeah, it would be good if Coach gave him… like, his own room to change in.”
Tim throws his head back with laughter. “Yeah,
