A Year Away

Chapter 11

I haven't told the team yet. It's been about three weeks since I told the Kloses and I still haven't told them. Erik told me it would be fine, and I believe him, but I just don't feel the need to yet.

I feel good, like really good, and I just kind of want to soak up the sun while I have it.

While I have it. I know it won't last forever, it can't. One day I will have to go back to South Carolina, but I don't have to stay there, and I'm sure as hell not going to.

"Nicky," Erik nudges my elbow. "What do you think?"

I look in the direction Erik nods to and huff at him. "Really? This again?"

"What?" Erik fakes innocence.

I close my locker. "That's the fifth guy you have pointed out this week. Seriously, it's getting annoying."

"I just want to know what your type is." Erik follows me out of the hallway and through the doors to the sidewalk. "So we don't have to compete for guys or something."

"We aren't going to compete for guys." I say rolling my eyes. There are multiple reasons this is true. Number one: I'm only going to be in Stuttgart for another month and a half, I want to soak up more of the culture and the team than waste my time with a relationship. Number two: I might be feeling better about being gay, but I'm still not okay with it. I'm pretty sure if I kissed a guy right now, I would have a panic attack. Number three: No one seemed attractive. 

Okay, that was a lie and brought us to Number four: No one seemed attractive because the only man in Germany that could make my heart race and my stomach flutter was the guy currently walking next to me. That's why I knew we weren't going to have any problems, Erik couldn't date himself, and I like Erik. I like Erik a lot. 

"You can't be sure." Erik presses.

"You had a crush on Müller, we definitely don't have the same tastes."

"Tastes change. The guy I have my eyes on right now is nothing like Fynn."

I pretend not to notice my heart dropping into my stomach. It makes sense. Erik has been comfortable with himself for years, there is no way he hasn't dated before. "Really? Who is he?"

"Can't tell you," Erik shrugs. "I would have to kill you if I did, and I quite enjoy your company."

I smile. "You aren'y so bad yourself."

Erik smiled back. "So, you have no game this week, any plans?"

I shrug. "Probably just chill. Anna talked about getting the seniors together to hang out. I think she talked about going to dinner tomorrow."

"That sounds fun."

"You'll probably be invited. Being a senior and an honorary member of the team."

"Probably. Do you want me to go with you?"

"I always want you with me." I close my eyes. Did I really just say that out loud? I'm so out of practice from doing this crush thing that I'm losing terribly. 

Erik's smile over takes his face and my heart beats painfully against my sternum. "Then I could love to come. Did she say where she wanted to go?"

"Some Italian place."

Erik hums. "She's doing that."

"Doing what?"

"Ida speculated that Anna is going to start trying to make moves on Fynn. Apparently they've been hanging out more after school and before practice. She thinks it's a sign she's going for the kill."