Chapter Nineteen – Bryn

“So, Mr. Whitting,” the smiley faced reporter from the local newspaper says to me. Her tight red pant suit really clings to her slim body. It’s as severe as her cropped hair. “You guys have made the finals. The Pistons have had one of the best seasons ever, which some people attribute to you. What do you have to say about that?”

I get a warm glow in my chest as she says that to me. “Oh, well, I don’t know about that. It’s one hundred percent a team effort, but the fan’s support of me has been amazing. It’s kept me going. I haven’t always had my head screwed on through the whole season so I’ve had to have that support to keep me going.”

I have had media training, and I had a lot before this interview. Coach was very insistent upon that, but it’s all out the window now. I don’t know how I can be expected to remember what I can and can’t say. I would much rather be honest. I know I’m usually very private about what I talk about so I say nothing but things are good now. The season has been going so much better and me and Rebekah are going from strength to strength.

“Hmm, yes.” The reporter leans forwards as if we’re sharing secrets. “There have been some rumors…”

“Oh, I know,” I chuckle. “I have the Internet. I’ve seen all kinds of things written about me.”

She laughs appreciatively. “Yes, I see.” She pauses for a beat too long. “So, you care to discuss it with me?”

I don’t say anything right away, I tap my fingers against my chin while I plan this. I haven’t told Rebekah that I’m about to out us as a couple because I didn’t think I would, and I haven’t shared it with Coach either, but I’m sure I’ll be fine. I mean, Coach is okay with things as long as I keep playing well, which I have been.

“I’ve fallen in love.” The words fall out of my mouth quickly. “So, yes I’ve been very distracted.”

“Ah.” The reporter’s eyes light up with glee. I guess she thought that she would have to probe much deeper to get anything out of me. What she doesn’t know is that I’m an all or nothing type of person, and it’s been nothing for far too long. “I see. And you can share this with us, can you? We’re all very excited to know about the girl who managed to capture your heart. Although, I’m sure there will be many broken hearts along the way.”

I can’t help but laugh at that comment. “Oh no, I don’t think I’m the heart throb of the team. I’m pretty sure James is the one who breaks all the girl’s hearts. Everyone adores him, right? Much more than me.”

Me and James are on really good terms now, much better than I’ve ever been on with anyone before. Letting Andrew into my life was the start of something new. Now, I feel like I have some real friends on the in my life which is awesome. I didn’t know how much I needed that. Rebekah has forced me to re-evaluate everything.

“Oh, I don’t know about that.” The reporter – did she tell me her name? I can’t remember – cocks her head curiously. “But, I do feel like you’re missing the point here. That isn’t really the question that I asked.”

“Ooh, you are ruthless.” I laugh loudly. “But I suppose that’s why you’re a journalist. Look, there is someone very special in my life and we’re going through some exciting times, but I don’t want to share too much.”

“We have already heard that it’s one of the girls from the cheerleading squad., Rebekah Swartz. Is this correct?” Damn the bloody Internet and cell phones with cameras on. It’s impossible to keep a secret in this day and age. “And is it also true that there might be a little bun in the oven? Are the whispers correct.”

I hang my head low and shake it, bemused. “Why are you asking me all of this if you already know? I presume that you’re taking the stance that there’s no smoke without fire, right? So, you don’t need to ask.”

“We want to get your side of the story, that’s all. We want to hear things from you.”

I could get defensive hear and call her out for trying to pretend that she cares for me when that isn’t really the case but I don’t bother. What’s the point when the only end result can be bad for me? I might as well go with it, get my point of view out, and finally set it free. I want to scream it from the roof tops anyway, I want the world to know about us. I don’t want to have to hide the happiest thing of my life! The closest people in my life already know anyway, so why not? Even my father is aware, which is awesome. He’s here today, with Rebekah, waiting for me. They are still getting to know one another but at the moment everything is really good.

“Yes,” I finally say quietly. “It’s true. Me and Rebekah are together, in love, and going to have a baby.”

“Oh wow!” the reporter declares with excitement. “That’s wonderful news. I’m really glad that we get to report this directly from you. I didn’t think… well, you’ve always been so private before.”

“I haven’t had anything to share before,” I admit. “Not like this anyway.” I glance over to Rebekah who hasn’t yet heard me, and I smile. “In fact, I would like to dedicate all of my success to the love of my life and my unborn child. And I will be playing the final for them. If I win, it will be for them. They have gotten me this far.”

It feels really good to be able to say that, because it is. Maybe Rebekah did distract me for a while but that was my fault, not hers. I had seriously strong feelings for her and I didn’t know how to deal with them. But she’s also the one who got me back on track. She’s the one who forced me to face my demons and to just get on with it. Then, she kept me on the straight and narrow whenever I wanted to give up. I’m so grateful to have her in my life. I don’t know where I would be now without her. I don’t ever want to go through that again.

“So, this is wonderful news!” The reporter claps her hands together. “And it will only be made better by the Pistons winning the season. If you come out on top, then everything will be perfect.”

“Oh, it sure will.” I rise from my seat to shake her hand. It seems like we’re done now. “And we will win, just you wait and see. I’m going to make sure that this goes exactly as we want it to. I’m going to have it all.”

“That sounds like fighting talk to me! It’s good to hear the Pistons passion within you.”

After that, I say goodbye to the reporter and we go our separate ways. I reel my brain back over everything for a moment, checking that I didn’t say anything dumb. I know how these TV segments can work, I can be edited in any way possible. There’s a real chance that things can be misconstrued, but I hope not. I’ve given them a little bit of a bomb shell so hopefully they will just roll with that. Fingers crossed, it all works out.

“Well, Son, it was good to see you on the television,” Dad says happily once I get near enough for him to talk to me. “You look like you did really well. We couldn’t hear you, but you looked good.”

Rebekah wraps her hand around my waist and plants a chaste kiss on my cheek. My dad’s eyes light up with glee when he sees this and it makes me realize what I’ve known deep down all along. My dad hasn’t ever chased success and money, he really genuinely doesn’t care if I spend loads of cash on him. That’s been my fear, my hang up. I made the decision to work to give us financial stability. He simply wanted me to be happy.

“Oh, you two look so lovely together.” He smiles and glances down at Rebekah’s belly. “And you’re going to have a child. I’m about to be a grandad. I can’t believe it. I’m so very excited.”

Now that I’m less stuck inside my own head and I’m more aware of the feelings of others, I can’t help but wonder if this is going to be difficult for Dad. He lost Mom as she gave birth to me so this has to bring up some memories. I want to ask him about it and while he is being more open, I don’t know if I can start that dialogue.

“I hope that you’ll be very involved in our child’s life,” Rebekah pipes up. “We would love that.”

“Oh, I will.” Dad smiles at me. “And as you know, I looked after Bryn all by myself…” Rebekah has managed to pave the way for me, I don’t even know if she planned that. “So, I will always be around to babysit.”

“I hope…” Shit, my throat has almost closed off with emotion. “I hope you will, Dad. I know this is…”

“Don’t worry, Son.” He knows what I’m getting at, thank God. I don’t know how great I am with my emotions. “It’s okay. I know this isn’t the easiest thing in the world for any of us, but it’s a joyous occasion. This is amazing. There’s going to be a new life in the world! A baby that belongs to this incredible family. We’re all so lucky.”

I nod slowly, feeling so grateful to him. He’s trying his hardest to make this okay for us which is awesome. And who knows, maybe it’ll be the first step in us all moving on. Maybe even Dad will do so. It’ll be weird, seeing him with someone else after all this time, but I want him to be happy. I would like him to have some of the joy that I do, he doesn’t deserve to be miserable forever more. Maybe I’ll push him in that direction a little bit at some point when he’s ready of course. Perhaps… we’ll see…

“Right, well I don’t have anything else to do now, so we should get going. Why don’t we all go out for lunch?” I wrap my arm around Rebekah’s neck. “Oh, and by the way, I told the reporter about us so we really aren’t a secret anymore.” A warmth fills my chest. “I thought it was time for the world to know.”

Rebekah freezes and gives me a panicked look. “Oh my God, are you sure? This close to finals? Won’t that be… a bit stressful? And does you coach know that you’ve done this? I mean, what if he goes mad?”

I chuckle and pull her closer to me, laughing. “You know what, you are a worrier. I never noticed that about you before! I honestly wouldn’t worry about any of it, it’s fine. It will all be okay.”

“You sure?” She grips onto me tightly. “I’m a little freaked out now.”

“It will be fine. Nothing can go wrong now, can it? It’s going to be incredible.”

My heart swells up, I feel happier than I have done in a very long time. How can I be anything but ecstatic when my life is so amazing? Right now, I have everything that I thought I couldn’t. I really do have it all. All that time worrying that I couldn’t have anything… I’m the luckiest man alive.