Page 41 of The Virgin Game Plan (Rules of Love 2)
“I am here to out them. I’m outing them all. Guys like to cuddle!” Grant slams a hand on the dashboard for emphasis.
“I’m not ashamed to admit I’m a cuddle monster,” Crosby says. “I wrap my arms around Nadia all night long and don’t let her go. Space? Fuck that. I want her against me, and I want to be against her.”
“That’s my point,” Grant says, pointing at him. “But no one will admit it.”
“There are so many negative images of men in the media. Guys don’t like affection. Guys don’t have feelings. Guys don’t like relationships. Fuck that. I love all of the above,” Crosby says.
“Holden, what about you? Cuddle monster or solo sleep rider?” Grant asks, intensely serious.
I snort. “Who knows? It’s been a while.”
“Are you fasting, man?” Grant asks. “Like a woman diet?”
I shrug. “Seems that way.”
Crosby clears his throat as he turns on Van Ness. “But wait a sec, Grant. Didn’t you just disparage other dudes for cuddling?”
Grant nods. “I’m not disparaging dudes for wanting to cuddle or wanting to cuddle with me. I mean, I fully understand why they’d want to. Look at me. I’m the Mount Everest of cuddling,” he says, gesturing to his frame.
I laugh. “You want some coffee with that extra dose of cockiness you took this morning?”
“Nah. I’m full up. But thanks for the offer,” he deadpans, then continues. “But the thing is—I’m particular.”
“So you’re saving all your stores of pent-up cuddle energy for Mr. Right?” I ask.
“Yes. Yes, I am. Mr. Right gets all my cuddles,” he says playfully, then shifts gears lickety-split. “But now is not the time for cuddle convos. It is time for baseball and only baseball. Opening Day, men. Are we ready?”
“Always ready. I’ve even got my talking points handy for all the press.” Crosby slides into a gregarious tone. “‘It’s a brand-new season. And I’m ready to give my all every single day, every single game.’”
Grant picks up the baton, dipping into his most affable voice. “‘Do I think we have a chance at the World Series again? Of course we do, but it’s a long season, and you’ve got to play every at bat with your heart, mind, and body. That’s all you can do. Especially since every team wants the same thing.’”
Crosby whistles. “You’re the poster boy of media quotes.”
Grant flashes another grin. “The press loves me. The media had been champing at the bit for pro athletes to come out for years. For the longest time, sports were the last bastion of let’s pretend there are no queer players. Because that’s logical.”
“Of the seven hundred fifty pro baseball players, it made so much sense that none were gay,” Crosby says dryly. “Or any of the other majors.”
“Exactly. Then everything changed when Sandy Hildebrand bought the Dallas football team fifteen years ago,” Grant says.
Hildebrand was the first openly gay team owner, and once he started having Pride nights at the stadium and working with queer men and women who ran TV networks and big businesses, things started to change, both in college and the pros. Sponsorship opportunities poured in, the leagues opened up.
“That got the ball rolling,” I say, since I know the history he’s talking about too.
“Exactly. More athletes came out of the closet and the media flocked to them. Fans too,” Grant continues. “So now, I’m like a reporter’s wet dream.”
“Not if you say that to a reporter. ‘Wet dream,’” Crosby snorts.
“Maybe consider using ‘nocturnal emission,’” I deadpan.
“Duly noted,” Grant says.
“Meanwhile, I’m the opposite—the king of ‘no comment,’” I say.
“You weren’t last night,” Crosby points out.
I frown. He’d already gone when the reporter ambushed me and Reese helped me with what to say. “How did you know?”
“Nadia saw a quote this morning when she was scanning the press clippings. It was in a local athletes’ roundup thing.”
My heart rate surges.
Please let it be good.
I grab my phone, hunting first through my scads of messages. Good or bad, I’m willing to bet Josh texted me.
Yup, he did.
I open his note.
* * *
Josh: This is what I’m talking about. Quotes like this! “I’m excited about all the changes on the team and happy to be a part of it. Thank you so much.” Keep that shit up. We could even get you a press person just to keep you on point like that. More of that, man!
* * *
Holden: I’m on it. I’m meeting with somebody this week.
* * *
Josh: Great. You will soon master the art and science of saying nothing useful with a smile.
* * *
Holden: I hate lying.
* * *
Josh: It’s not lying. It’s spinning.
* * *
Holden: It’s lying because they can tell I don’t want to talk to them.
* * *
Josh: You did it last night. Do it again. Keep doing it. Got it?
* * *
Holden: Yes, Daddy.
* * *
