Chapter 82

Devon hugged me first. I didn’t want to let go. “I can’t breathe.” But then I did, before he turned blue.

“Way to go, Aquaman!” Cal threw his arms around me and kissed my cheek.

“Isn’t it past everyone’s bedtime?” I joked.

“It’s worth missing a little sleep,” my mother said. I hugged her more gently but just as long.

My father shook my hand. “You have no idea how proud…” His voice caught. “How proud we are of you. For everything. What you did took a lot of work. What you said took a lot of courage.”

“We saw you on TV,” Devon said.

“And looked for the press conference online,” Mama added.

I didn’t want to talk about that. “I haven’t officially made the team for Rio yet, you know.” I gently flicked one of the colored rings.

“You will,” my mother declared.

“How come you didn’t say you’re gay too?” Devon asked.

Cal snickered.

“I…uh…I’m not sure,” I said truthfully. “I guess because they told me not to.”