Tim adjusted his hold on Isaac, snaking his hand around Isaac’s midsection.
“I want to thank you,” Tim said.
“For?”
“For not saying anything about our relationship. I could just focus on diving today.”
“Of course.” Isaac stroked Tim’s back. “Although the security guards had a role there.”
That was true. Tim and Donnie had met with security at the Aquatics Center a few days before to give them photos of Pat before Tim felt confident Pat had actually gone home. Only approved reporters would be let in during the competition. Whether others snuck in or not, Tim didn’t know about it, and he’d felt safe enough to push it out of his mind.
And once Pat flew back home, the tabloid media seemed to have lost interest in Tim.
Tim understood that media coverage was part of being an elite athlete, but there was a line between doing puff pieces for TBC or the occasional Sports Illustrated story and the kind of media attention Pat had brought into Tim’s life.
“I try not to dwell,” Tim said, tracing patterns along Isaac’s skin with his fingers. “Pat was bad for me. Our relationship went sour before I ended it. I see clearly now what kind of man he is. I don’t miss him, and I don’t regret telling him to go home.”
“That’s good,” said Isaac.
“I never want that particular media spotlight on me again. If I get press coverage, I want it to be for diving, not for who I date.”
Isaac was silent for a long moment. He exhaled loudly, shifted his weight a little on the bed. “You do realize that if we go public with our relationship, we’re in for some of that, right? I just did that big interview with Marcus Holt. They edited out some of what I said, but the bottom line is that half the world knows about my alcoholism right now. I did lose a couple of sponsorships over it, but not as many as I expected, probably because of my medals. And because of those, I’m in the spotlight. You know, one of those emails I just checked? It was Sports Illustrated trying to get in touch with my new agent because they want me to do a photo spread or maybe even a cover.”
And Tim did know that, at least in the back of his mind. He didn’t love the idea of his sex life being so public, but it would be, with someone like Isaac.
But Isaac would never show up at one of Tim’s meets with a camera crew. He’d never call a photographer he knew to tip them off that he and Tim would be in a certain place that day. And he would never use Tim, not the way Pat had.
“I’ll be honest,” Tim said. “I’m not looking forward to that. I don’t want to hide, but I don’t want to talk to reporters about us either. I want what we have to be between us. Which I guess is not possible.”
“Fuck ’em,” said Isaac. “We can say as much or as little as we want. You don’t want to talk about our relationship with the press? I don’t either. But maybe I want to, I don’t know, hold your hand sometimes.”
Warmth spread through Tim’s chest. He laid his head on Isaac’s shoulder. Isaac could be so heartbreakingly sweet sometimes. “There are some important differences between you and Pat. First, if we go public, it will be on our terms. It will be on my terms. You and I will decide what’s right or wrong for us to say.”
“That’s true.”
“Second, I know you’re not using me for your own gain. We’re just… together.”
“I am really gonna kill that guy.”
Tim sighed, happiness bubbling up through him. He propped himself up on his elbows and looked down at Isaac. He wanted to see Isaac’s eyes when he said this last thing. “Here’s the most important thing, though. After Pat and I had been together for a while, my gut started telling me something wasn’t right. Those feelings all turned out to be correct. When I broke up with Pat, I promised myself I would trust my instincts from then on.”
Isaac bit his lip. “I see where you’re going with this, but are you sure? Because if I ever fall of the wagon….”
“I’ll help you get back on. Because my gut tells me that you are a good man, Isaac, one with some flaws and some demons, but a good man in your heart.” Tim placed a hand on