from the other side of the room.
“My advice? Get some class or get some therapy,” Roger went on. “Because you’ve got a long way to go until you’ll ever be on Hunter Perry’s level.”
The rest of the team seemed to agree with what Roger had just finished saying as they responded with a brief round of applause, even throwing in a few hollers and whoops of approval. As I looked around the room, taking in each of my teammates’ moments of support, it was a struggle to not break down and cry in front of each and every one of them.
Fuck.
I never imagined that it was going to be this way. I never thought that they’d be so supportive of me like this.
And I couldn’t deny that it was one of the best feelings I’d ever felt in my life.
When Roger was officially done speaking to Tristan, he rested a hand on my shoulder. “You good, man?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I’m good.” I smiled over at him as I nodded along with my own words. “I’ve never been any fucking better.”
“Oh my God. Is that really what happened?” Patrick’s eyes went wide as he looked over at me from across our table at Madame Gigi’s. “Roger really pushed him down like that?”
“Honestly, he had it coming,” I replied as I gracelessly stuffed an egg roll into my mouth, casually lifting it away from the plate. I then offered that same plate to Patrick before I pulled my hand away from its edges like it was on fire.
“Shit. Sorry,” I apologized. “I forgot you’re on a diet for your show—”
“It’s okay. I’ll have an egg roll or two.” Patrick smiled as he reached down and grabbed one off the plate.
“Really?”
“Really.” He smiled at me again. “I think you might have been right about me pushing myself too hard and just taking everything way too seriously. And to be totally honest, if I came to Madame Gig’s for a second time and didn’t even get to try most of the food on the table, I would lose my mind.”
“I’m happy that you’re taking things a little slower,” I admitted. “I was really worried about you, Patrick.”
“I’ve been pretty worried about you, too,” he replied as he bit through his egg roll. “Did you see what they’ve been saying about you on social media and stuff?”
“No.” My face fell before I asked my next question. “What have they been saying about me?”
“Well, there’s a lot of people right now that think that you, me, and Dakota were in some kind of three-way relationship that just went off the rails.” Patrick laughed as he spoke. “They’re saying that we were all in love with each other, but you wanted to split up the group and just be with me instead.”
“Where the hell did people come up with that theory?” I was mystified at the thought.
“I have no idea.” Patrick shrugged. “But it’s not completely off. I mean, for a long time, it did feel like we were all in this together, with Dakota coming behind us and taking pictures in different places.”
“Yeah, but she was just doing that to cover—”
“To cover your tracks so everyone would still think you were straight,” Patrick finished my thoughts for me. “I know. I was there. I remember.” Patrick then went quiet for a moment before he spoke again. “Are you sure about me, Hunter Perry?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you sure I’m really worth all this trouble?” Patrick went on. “Are you sure you don’t just want to go back in the closet? Go back to people thinking you’re straight so you don’t have to get into fights with your teammates? Or fights with anyone?”
“Patrick, you’re worth everything to me,” I replied. “And I want a future with you, which means, no more closet talk. I’m out, and I’m going to stay out, and I want you by my side every step of the way.” I then moved my hand over Patrick’s own before I said with a clear and concise tone to my voice. “I love you, Patrick McEntire. And that’s not going to change anytime soon.”
Patrick beamed in response before he said in return, “I love you, too, Hunter Perry. And that’s never going to change.”
20
Patrick
I quietly sat in the theater and watched Keaton rehearse for his main role in Giselle. He was landing every turn, his balance perfect as he gracefully moved along the stage, taking everyone who watched him on a ride with the emotions of