“Nonna, you can’t bring that in here!” Vince cried over the hubbub in his private room at HC Memorial. His head was better than it had been an hour or so ago, but it was still throbbing. Two dozen members of his family cajoling and shouting around his bed wasn’t helping.

The nursing staff had called his family at home to inform them what had happened, not realizing what they were unleashing on their ward. Vince had barely been put in this room for five minutes when the horde had descended. There were a lot of strong emotions going on for so late at night.

Vince’s dad was shouting with his uncles. For what reason, Vince wasn’t sure. His mom was praying by his bedside, even though the doctors had all been very positive with him. Several of his cousins and siblings were demanding to know exactly what had happened. Little Caterina was live blogging the whole thing and Tony was trying to work out the channels on the television.

Only Maria had bothered to ask Vince how he was feeling and had given him some water.

Now Nonna was forcing her way through the throng, snapping at people in Italian as she hefted what Vince suspected to be a large pot of her chicken and green pesto linguine that she must have brought with her from home.

“The boy must eat!” she cried, slamming the tin pot the size of a hubcap down on the nightstand by Vince’s bed. People gave her a little space as she produced a bowl and fork from her purse. She then proceeded to dish up a healthy serving of linguine and push it into Vince’s grasp. “Eat, eat,” she commanded, waving her hands in front of her like she was shaking a Magic 8 Ball between her crooked fingers. “You feel better. Eat!”

“Yes, Nonna,” Vince said. He was still feeling a bit queasy, but surprisingly, a few mouthfuls of her wonderful, still warm pasta managed to settle his stomach.

“So y’all are serious,” Lucy said. She pressed her fingers to her temples and shook her head. “Drew did this to you. Drew Morton.”

“That snake,” his sister, Rosa, said. “I never did like him.”

“Me neither,” agreed Maria and several other women in the room. Even his brother Cosmo nodded and crossed his arms. Cosmo never usually noticed anything unless it was in a short skirt.

Vince frowned and placed his fork down. “I’m sorry. I should have known.”

His guilt was enormous. He was embarrassed he’d subjected his family to Drew’s nonsense for all these years. But way more than that, he was horrified that Drew had attacked Koby.

It didn’t take a genius to work out that Drew had also wrecked Koby’s sculpture right after his and Vince’s argument. But then Vince had gotten to wondering as he’d lain in that MRI machine…had Drew been the one to wreck Koby’s work before? And before that, even worse, Vince had recalled how Drew used to brag about ‘giving the nerds shit’ when they were at high school.

Specifically, the ‘art nerds.’

Vince had been so fucking naive, wanting to believe the best about his former friend. He’d told himself it was just a bit of teasing, maybe some name calling or cracking jokes.

He was starting to suspect his good old buddy Drew had been one of the ‘big guys’ that had kicked the shit out of Koby on a regular basis.

Shame curled in Vince’s stomach. If that was the case, he’d as good as let it happen. He was just as bad as those assholes that had terrorized someone he loved so much.

Did he have the right to love Koby, knowing what he did now? Not that he’d told Koby how he felt yet.

He’d been anxiously looking for him, but Vince hadn’t seen him since he’d arrived at the hospital. He’d asked the nurses who had shoved their way past his family to treat him, but none of them had seen anyone by Koby’s description.

Had Koby gone? How bad were his injuries? Vince had to know.

He couldn’t think of a time he’d been more enraged than when he’d run in to see Drew punching Koby. Vince had heard sounds of a scuffle from a few feet down the hall. But nothing had prepared him for the sight of his lover crying out, trying to protect himself from the onslaught of blows.

Fury boiled in Vince’s guts and his throat clamped as he relived the moment. It took him a minute to calm down again, reminding himself that Koby was okay and they’d be able to talk soon.

For now, he poked at his linguine whenever Nonna looked his way and tried to pay attention to the questions flying around him.

“What does this mean now, huh?” His dad jabbed his hand at Vince. To an observer, it might look like he was mad at Vince. But that was just how Italians showed they were worried and upset. “You talk to Hernandez yet? What did he say?”

“No, Dad,” Vince said patiently. “When would I have had a chance to call him?”

“You can’t play like this, though,” one of his uncles cried.

“How long is this going to bench you for?” asked another.

Vince licked his lips. Oh, god. Did he tell them now? It made sense. But he hadn’t even officially discussed the idea with Hoffman yet. He hadn’t felt this certain about anything in years. But still, saying it out loud made it real.

“Vince?”

Vince’s heart skipped a beat. He sat up in bed and thrust his linguine into Tony’s hands, who happily began eating it without hesitating. “Koby?”

The room went oddly quiet as people parted ways like the Red Sea. There he was, standing in the doorway. Koby Duvall.

There was a bruise already developing on his jaw and his lip was split. He’d cried all his eyeliner off and looked surprisingly younger and way more tired. Although that was probably due to the tears as well, Vince realized. His sweater and jeans looked dusty and his Dr. Martens were scuffed.

But Vince’s heart sang.

“You were at the house,” Maria noted as Koby stepped into the room, his hands shoved into his jeans.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said as he approached Vince’s bed. “I hope I’m not intruding, but the nurses said it was okay to come in and I was mighty worried about Vince here.”

Vince smiled, his heart swelling at Koby’s Texan manners kicking in. Vince wanted to reach for him and take his hand. To pull him down and kiss him. But he couldn’t do any of those things.

Not yet.

Fear gripped his heart, but he cleared his throat and beckoned Koby closer.

“Drew attacked Koby and ruined his artwork,” Vince explained as Koby came and stood by his side. Vince’s family were looking at them both with curious expressions.

“You owe my son a great thanks for stepping in,” Vince’s dad said, almost as if he was testing Koby. Vince’s temper flared his dad would do that now, but Koby didn’t blink an eye.

“I do, Mr. Russo,” Koby said quickly, his words full of sincerity. “He really did save me. I’m just so very sorry he got so hurt, too.”

“He doesn’t owe me anything,” Vince insisted, gripping the bedsheets to stop his hand from jerking for Koby’s

Vince’s dad shook his head and gestured to Vince. “But how you gonna play now, huh? You’ll be benched the whole season.”

Fuck. This was it. Time for confession number one.

“Actually, Dad. Everyone.” Vince rubbed his sore chin and took a deep breath. “I don’t want to play anymore. At all.”

The room exploded with people shouting and gesticulating with their hands. His dad grabbed what was left of his hair as he began to rant. Lucy yelled how shit the Harriers had been recently, anyway. Rosa begged him to reconsider. Cosmo demanded to know what Coach Hernandez thought. Tony blinked as he swallowed a mouthful of pasta, looking like he’d missed why everyone was upset.

Little Caterina was filming the whole lot with a gleeful expression, her mouth open in disbelief. Vince wondered if he should stop her posting her Insta story. Then he realized he didn’t care.

“Guys, guys!” Vince yelled, making them calm down. “I’m sorry, but my heart’s not in it.”

“Vinny,” his mom, cried shaking her head. “But you love football. You’ll get better. It’ll be okay.”

“He’s got a serious head injury,” Maria reminded everyone. “That might never go away.”

“It’s not just that.” Vince glanced at Koby. He was beaming down at him, giving him strength. “I like playing, don’t get me wrong. But I prefer coaching. That’s my real joy. And with my melon all busted up, waiting for an excuse to pop, it makes sense to hang up my cleats now and start coaching. It’s what I want.”

Several people frowned and exchanged looks. Little Caterina was typing furiously.

“In Tulsa?” his dad asked. “With Hernandez? I thought you said you hadn’t spoken with him.”

Vince beamed at them, hoping to express a confidence he didn’t feel. “No, not Tulsa. Hidden Creek. I’m going to work with Hoffman and the Penguins.”

“You can make them not suck!” Tony cried.

“Home!” his momma cried even louder. “My boy is coming home?”

“That’s awesome.” Maria grinned from ear to ear. “We’ve missed you, cuz.”

“I am going to get so many story hits,” Caterina whispered in happy disbelief, still typing like crazy.

“Rina, stop that!” her mom snapped.

But Vince shook his head. “It’s okay, I don’t mind.”

Then Vince looked at his dad, who was chewing his lip. “Is this what you want, son? What you really want?”

Vince would have nodded more emphatically, but he was being careful with his sore head still. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of it sooner. Hoffman pointed out how much I care more about the team than I do playing on the field and it just clicked.”

He swallowed and glanced at Koby again. Here went nothing. Confession number two.

“Hoffman said some other real smart stuff that made sense to me, too. But…uh. I’m not sure you’re gonna like it. But I ain’t no damn good at keeping secrets. I don’t want to keep any secrets, more’s the point. So, well, jeeze. I hope y’all aren’t mad or nothing.”

“Vinny,” his mom said anxiously. “Are you dying?”

“What, Mom? No!” Vince cried, unable to stop himself from laughing. But Koby was shaking his head slightly, his expression concerned. “It’s okay,” Vince said to him. “I want to do this.”

Koby took in a slow breath, then nodded. “If you’re sure, I’m with you.”

Vince smiled. “I damn well hope so.” Koby’s expression changed from worried to warm in a second.

“Vince, what’s going on?” His dad looked between Vince and Koby. Uh oh. Vince wondered if he was working something out.

He didn’t want anyone guessing, though. He wanted to own this. So there was no time for dragging his feet.

“I’m pansexual,” Vince blurted. He’d had time to think on it, and he liked Koby’s word the best for himself as well.

Tony glanced from his bowl of pasta to Nonna’s pot. “Pan…what?”

Vince licked his lips and swallowed, then took a deep breath. “Pansexual. It’s similar to bisexual. It means I’m still attracted to women…but also men and people that are in between men and women.”

“What’s in between a man or a woman?” Vince’s mom asked, incredulous.

“Hang on. Are you telling us you’re gay?” Lucy asked.

Maria shook her head. “Pan is different than gay.” She grinned at Vince. It looked like she was as enlightened as he’d hoped. “Congrats, dude. That’s awesome.”

“I don’t mind the word gay as an umbrella term.” Vince glanced at Koby and hoped he was getting all the words right, “But, actually, it’s kind of cool to say queer nowadays. So, I’m a little queer or pan, whatever you wanna call it.”

“No, no,” Vince’s dad spluttered with a laugh. He scowled and threw his hands toward Vince. “How do you know this, huh? How are you a ‘little bit gay’? You’re gay or you’re straight, and…Vinny, come on? You’re a man!”

Vince swallowed, knowing this would be difficult for some of them to take in. “Yes, I’m a man,” he said carefully, then looked at Koby. “Who’s in love with another man. If it’s okay to call someone who’s agender a man?”

Koby’s eyes slowly went wide, a tentative smile playing on his lips. He nodded. “It’s fine,” he whispered.

“Wait,” Vince’s dad cried. “This guy? He’s so-”

“Handsome!” Nonna said loudly.

Vince had honestly thought she’d been asleep in the comfy chair in the corner. But it was like she popped out of nowhere, reaching up to pinch both of Koby’s cheeks. Vince realized she was still wearing her slippers.

“Handsome and kind boy. I see, I can tell.” She wagged her crooked finger as Koby went pink. It was good to see some color back in his cheeks. “I like this one, Vinny.” She nodded and looked around for her purse. Then she – somehow – produced a second bowl and fork. Before Koby could react, he also had linguine pushed into his hands. “Too skinny, though. You eat for Nonna, now.”

Koby looked between the pasta and Vince’s family, before turning his gaze to Vince. Then he transferred the weight of the bowl to one hand and reached for Vince with the other. Vince didn’t hesitate to take it between his own hands, careful of the IV line as he cradled it.

“I…” Koby was apparently stuck for words, which wasn’t like him. But he smiled shyly at Vince, then addressed his family. “Your son is very dear to me, Mr. and Mrs. Russo. I…I love him, too.”

Vince squeezed his hand then lifted it to kiss the back of it. He felt dizzy. He knew they’d said it before in the ambulance, but this felt more real.

Maria let out an ‘aww’ sound. Little Caterina looked like she might explode as she mouthed ‘totes feels!’, her thumbs going like crazy over her phone screen. Tony looked thoroughly confused. Vince’s dad rubbed his forehead and frowned. Vince’s mom’s eyes were wide and anxious.

Everyone else just seemed to be looking to Nonna to take their cue. Nonna was beaming at Koby with her hands clasped against her cardigan. Then she seemed to think of something and looked at Vince in concern.

“The gays.” She flapped her hand toward him. “They can have the marriage and the babies now, yes?”

Vince snorted, unable to look at Koby but he heard him chuckle too. “Nonna, we just started dating,” Vince said between gritted teeth. “But, yes, marriage and babies now.”

Nonna clapped her hands, smiling again. “Then it’s good. It’s good,” she said. She sighed and shook her head at Koby. “Very handsome – and beautiful,” she added thoughtfully. “Best of both.”

“Thank you,” Koby said bashfully.

“Vinny.” His mom shook his arm gently. “Is this – I mean – are you happy? Is this what’s going to make you happy? It’s a lot of changes all at once.”

Vince grinned and shared a look with Koby. He felt like he was overflowing with gladness.

“I haven’t been this happy in years, Mom,” he said truthfully.

His mom seemed to absorb that, nodded once, then turned to look at Vince’s dad. “You hear that, Enzo?” she said firmly. “Our son is happy. Isn’t that wonderful?”

Vince’s dad looked between Vince’s mom, Nonna’s very determined smile, the rest of the family, and then Vince and Koby, still holding hands. “Oh, yeah,” he said with an over-exaggerated shrug, as if that was what he’d been saying all along. “Wonderful, of course.”

Vince wasn’t sure his dad was all that comfortable with the turn of events, or even that he fully understood everything that was going on. But he nodded and smiled at Vince, rocking on his heels with his hands in his pants pockets.

“Thanks, Dad,” Vince said. “Thank you, everyone. I hope you’ll all welcome Koby to the family.”

“He must come for lunch,” Nonna said sagely.

“I’ll need to meet your mother, Koby,” Vince’s mom said. “Koby? Is that short for anything?”

“No, ma’am,” Koby replied, looking mildly terrified.

Vince laughed and kissed the back of Koby’s hand again, getting his attention. Chatter grew all around them as Vince’s family all began talking animatedly between them. But for a second, it was just Vince and Koby in the world.

“Is that okay?” Vince needed to quash that last sliver of doubt.

“What?” Koby asked.

“That I love you.”

Koby beamed. He placed his bowl of linguine down by the tin pot and held Vince’s hands with both of his. “Depends.” Koby arched an eyebrow and grinned.

“On what?” Vince asked.

“If you feel like being my boyfriend, all official like?” Koby asked. “Because I love you too, Vince Russo. If that’s quite all right?”

Vince was smiling so hard it hurt. “I so want to kiss you right now,” he whispered over the din of his family.

“I think that might be a bit much for them,” Koby suggested with a wink. “Owe me one later?”

Vince allowed himself to really feel the happiness of this moment compared to the despair he’d gone through the past few days. It was like he’d been living his life in black and white, ticking along thinking everything was fine. Then he’d stepped into the Technicolor world of Oz, like Dorothy, and found where he really belonged.

“You can have all my kisses, baby,” he promised. “For as long as you want.”