Calling the Ball by CL Mustafic

Author:CL Mustafic [Mustafic, CL]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: NineStar Press, LGBT, football, soccer, businessmen, athlete, in the closet, coming out
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2018-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

HENRICK COULDN’T BELIEVE how beautiful the sunset was out on the open water—the yellows, oranges, and reds turned into shades of pinks and purples surrounding a small yellow ball as Henrick tipped his head to try to hear the sizzle as the sun hit the sea. The second day of their little trip had been spent exploring Vlore before boarding the yacht for the journey back. They’d eaten the most delectable meal at a restaurant, where Tino had been treated like the celebrity he was, and Henrick tried not to draw too much attention to himself. He shuddered at the thought of how many people now had a picture on their phone of him and Tino together, strangers who could at that very moment be showing his face to god knew how many other strangers. He didn’t know how Tino could stand the lack of anonymity and privacy.

Hearing what he knew were Tino’s footsteps as he crossed the deck to join him made Henrick tear his eyes from the gorgeous sight of the almost fully set sun to take in the equally beautiful sight of his host. Tino was wearing a pair of loose, white linen pants and a button-up silk shirt—unbelievably the same color as Henrick’s eyes—that he’d unbuttoned the minute they’d gotten back where there were no prying eyes. Tino looked truly relaxed again. Not the fake relaxed—with a stiffness that only someone who knew him would recognize—that he’d been when surrounded by his adoring fans.

He held a bottle of champagne and two crystal flutes as he approached Henrick. “I thought we could celebrate a little tonight,” Tino said as he sat on the padded bench next to Henrick. Henrick took the flutes while Tino popped open the bottle of what was likely a very expensive bottle of champagne. Tino laughed at Henrick as he tried to catch the bubbly liquid escaping the neck of the bottle before it spilled all over the deck. Tino filled the glasses and set the bottle next to his feet. He raised his glass to Henrick.

“What are we celebrating?” Henrick raised his own glass, mirroring Tino.

“Life,” Tino said simply before he clinked the lips of their flutes together.

Henrick grinned and added to the toast. “To life and friends who let you be you and don’t run away screaming.”

Tino laughed as he sipped his drink. “Most definitely to those that don’t turn tail when things get weird. Thank you for today. I know that the scene at the restaurant wasn’t something you were prepared for, but you handled it like you’d been doing it all your life. I appreciate you not bolting out of there like I sort of expected you to do.”

Henrick sipped the champagne slowly, thinking over the afternoon once again. He hadn’t thought about leaving Tino to fend for himself, though he had to admit he hadn’t even known it was an option or he may well have done it. “I wouldn’t run out on you for something you can’t control.

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