Page 44 of Wood

Marcus gapes at him. I have never seen Marcus without words. What a delight.

“#GuardDogCaddie, right?” Geoff smirks.

Marcus actually laughs. Hell hath frozen over and fucking pigs are flying.

“I like you, Geoff,” Marcus says, leaning forward to tap on his always-open laptop. “I’ll arrange it, Ben. Head to Connecticut and I will set you up. Both of you.”

Geoff’s new black jacket fits his shoulders perfectly. His freshly shaved scalp on the sides gleams. My beautiful boy. He doesn’t fidget on the loveseat on my right, just lifts his left foot to rest on his knee and lets the raised knee press on mine. Calm. I grin and he winks. Showtime.

“So,” the female reporter starts, her blond hair pulled back into a severe ponytail and her lips deep red, matching her tailored suit. “Tonight we have some very special surprise guests, don’t we, Dennis.”

“We do indeed, Kathy,” replies her cohort, his black hair glossy and slicked back to a stylish sweep. “Joining us fresh from a third place win in Royal Banks, Ireland, we have Ben Vance and…”

“… his boyfriend, Geoff Patters.”

I reach out to grasp Geoff’s hand, and his grip is calm, reassuring.

“Ben,” Kathy almost squeals, “tell us about Geoff! He was your caddie, is that right?”

I grimace and reply. “Geoff is my caddie, yes. He is my rock on the golf course. And, yes. We are together.” I keep my answers short, light. I hold up our joined hands, then lower them to rest on Geoff’s knee.

“Such a surprise, Ben!” Dennis says. “The first out golfer! Why now?”

“Mostly, Dennis, I didn’t want to hide anymore. I want to be able to hold his hand in public,” I raise our hands again and gaze into his blue eyes, “take him on a date,” Geoff’s eyebrows waggle, “and just let the world know he is mine.”

“Doesn’t sound like much,” Dennis soothes.

I turn back to him. “Straight couples have it. It’s taken for granted. But when you risk your entire income if you are discovered just holding the hand of the person you love?” I shift my gaze back to the brilliant blues, “You re-evaluate. I am done hiding.” I kiss Geoff’s knuckles. “I love this man.”

“I love you,” he mouths.

“Any backlash so far?” Dennis asks.

“About what you would expect,” I reply. “Fans declaring their support and… lack thereof.” Dennis chuckles. “We anticipate some sponsors will not renew. Others will want to increase their support.” I shrug. “I have to live my truth.”

Dennis nods. I sense more than support there. Dennis is in the closet, I realize. A gay sportscaster.

“So, Geoff,” Kathy says, and I brace. Here comes the viper. “Tell us about #GuardDogCaddie.”

He smiles at her, that open, disarming look that belies the backbone beneath.

“Fans were very aggressive in New York. Very. I guess they have that reputation.” Again, Dennis chuckles. Kathy’s face is like a stone gargoyle. “We were trying to enjoy a meal, and they felt entitled to Ben’s time. Demanding autographs, selfies. Constantly. My man could not eat in peace. So… I stood up and became his Guard Dog. Yep. Gladly. Will do again. Anytime he needs me.”

I chime in. “He started making us reservations in private rooms so he could eat with me rather than us taking food for him to go.”

Geoff nods. “A Japanese place with the sliding doors?”

“Shoji?” Dennis offers.

Geoff smiles in thanks. “Yeah, those.”

“And a tiny study in the Bushmill Seaside, felt like someone’s office,” I laugh.

Geoff blushes. “Wasn’t sure you knew,” he chuckles. Dennis looks like he is melting.

“Sooo,” Kathy pauses. Oh, here it comes. “Are you the dominant in this relationship,” she actually uses fucking air quotes, “or is Ben the Daddy.”

I growl and Geoff gently squeezes my hand. Our signal. He’s got this.