Ace (Brian & Lexi, #1) by Kate Aaron

Author:Kate Aaron
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay, gay romance, athlete, mm romance, tennis, gay athlete, sportsmen, contemporary gay romance, contemporary mm romance, gay sportsmen, gay tennis
Publisher: Croft House

*****

I’d never seen the press room so crowded. I was ushered to my place behind the long table against the back wall and stared forward at a bank of camera lenses. Hands waved from every corner, everyone desperate to question me. My stomach rolled. This was a terrible idea.

Another official sat at my side, the club’s press officer. Placing a hand over the mic on the table, he asked in an undertone if I really wanted to proceed. I didn’t, but I nodded anyway.

“Let me help,” he urged. “Is there anything off-limits?”

“Lexi,” I answered immediately. “I’ll answer questions about myself but I don’t want to discuss him or our relationship.”

He nodded, uncovered the mic and indicated for the first question.

“Brian, are you gay?”

I fought not to roll my eyes. Blindingly obvious, but at least easy to answer. “Yes.”

“How long have you known Lexi Horvat? What’s your relationship with him?”

“Mr Scagill does not wish to discuss Mr Horvat,” the press officer chipped in. “Can we please keep the questions to Brian himself—or better still, today’s match?”

The journalists chuckled. No chance.

“When did you realise you were gay?” one called out.

“Do the other players know?”

“Have you experienced homophobia in the locker room?”

“Do you know any other gay players?”

“Please wait until I point to you,” the press officer cut in, exasperated. “You’ll all get a turn.”

I leant forward, my arms resting on the cool surface of the polished table. “Look, I’m not going to speculate about other players,” I said. “A lot of them know I’m gay and I’ve never had any problems. No one’s ever been anything less than professional towards me. My being gay has nothing to do with who I am as an athlete and at the end of the day, I’m here to play tennis. Today I let my personal life overshadow my professional life and for that I’m sorry. I’m especially sorry if I detracted anything from Jan’s victory. He played well, he deserved to win, and I wish him all the best for the final.

“Yes, right now I’m seeing someone, but this isn’t the time or place for me to discuss that relationship with the media. As far as I’m concerned, I’m the same person I was this morning. Nothing has changed. I’m disappointed to have been eliminated from this tournament but it obviously wasn’t meant to be this year.”

“Brian, what do you plan to do next?”

“Well, I’ll take a couple of days off. Watch the final—obviously.” I smiled and the journalists smiled with me. “After that it’s business as usual, I’ll head to America and get in training for the US Open.”

“Will you be seeing Lexi while you’re in America?”

I glared at the questioner. “No comment.”

“Brian, are you in love?”

My tongue locked to the roof of my mouth. The journalists waited, pens poised, expressions eager. The bloody headlines would write themselves. I couldn’t speak.

The press officer leant forward and spoke for me. “No comment.”

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