Chapter 80

He chuckled. “Do you have any response to that?”

“Oh. Um…I think…He…I…What was the question?” I’d never taken on water in the pool. On dry land, I was drowning. Coach Keller tugged on his left finger with his right hand. What the fuck does that mean? I’m a swimmer, not a fucking major league pitcher. What’s with the signals from behind home plate?I turned my attention back to the reporter. “Mathias and I used to be…We trained together, so I know…he’s…um…” I looked toward Mathias.

Coach offered another signal—twirling fingers—like “wrap it up.”

“I’m gay.”

The cameras clicked furiously. Reporters started writing. Coach Keller cringed. I couldn’t imagine why anyone would care who Mathias fucked, but it seemed to be big news in the swimming world all of a sudden, as dozens of reporters were all talking to him at once, most of their questions impossible to decipher.

“Are you coming out?” one asked him.

“Why did you choose this moment to make the announcement?”