Page 78 of Dickathlon

“Oh, nice. You and your boyfriend getting away from the city? That’ll be nice.”

“Who are you and what have you done with my fifth grader?”

Sawyer’s best friend, Forrest, chimed in. “Coach Ty, you’re on your phone more than you think, and it’s pretty easy to tell when it’s him.” He mimed a huge toothy smile.

“I…had not realized it was that obvious.”

“Bro, you’re totally in love!” Vaughn yelled from the bleachers.

“Ugh, you sound like my brothers. And what are you guys, like, twelve? How do you know what love is?”

“Well, I might not know what real love is, but you’ve at least got TV show love. All the signs are there, Coach,” Vaughn said, jumping down to the gym floor.

“It’s been six months. It’s not love.”

“Denial is to be expected in the face of true love,” Forrest said.

These kids are relentless.

“Okay, that’s enough. You guys need to get your own lives. I can’t believe you know this much about my personal life. How has this happened?”

“You don’t really hide it,” Sawyer answered.

Forrest added, “We have eyes and ears, Coach. You and Quinn-”

“La la la! You three, go to the locker room with the others and have a good break. I’ll see you at practice next Monday.”

I herded them towards the locker room, half embarrassed that they knew so much, and half proud that they were so chill about it.

* * *

Quinn caught me packing in my room. “All ready for your big trip?”

“God, yes! Three kids today at the end of practice basically told me I’m in love with Declan.”

“And?”

“‘And’?! Isn’t that ridiculous?”

She leaned against my door frame, arms crossed. “Is it?”

I stared at her, while holding the pink Aussiebum speedo Declan gave me for Christmas in my hand.

“Ty, sweetie. I like the guy I’m dating right now, but not how you like Declan. You were smitten with him before you started dating, and now, it’s done. It’s over. I don’t want to tell you how you feel, but from what I’ve seen and what I’ve heard you say, it’s a lot like love.”

“Huh.” I stopped to think about that for a sec.

“Plus you guys fuck like rabbits, so there’s that too.”

I pointed a finger at her. “We haven’t fucked yet.”

“Well, cum like rabbits doesn’t sound as good. Speaking of fucking, you ready for it?”

“You think it’ll happen this weekend?”

“Don’t bullshit me, Ty. I’ve seen your dildos. You’ve been practicing and it’s because you know it’s happening on this trip.”

“Well, Dec hasn’t said that specifically, but I’ve hinted at it, so I think he knows I’m ready.”