Robert drove through the quiet night streets.
Before Gavi, the last time he'd kissed a guy was when he was around his age. Teenage years were a time for experimentation. Back then he'd done a few things with some teammates but it wasn't anything serious. At that age, anything or anyone could get you off.
It didn't mean that he was gay. He always liked women. He married a gorgeous one and loved her, there was no denying that.
Yet why had he kissed his eighteen year old teammate and made some kind of agreement to continue? It was sheer madness.
Foremost in his mind was that he wanted to kiss Gavi again. Was this something they could continue in secret? Or was the question really, was it worth continuing?
The closer he got to home, the more doubt crept in. He couldn't risk his relationship with his wife and family over some goddamn affair with a kid who couldn't take no for an answer. He had to tell Gavi right away that it had been a mistake. Yes, Gavi would hate him for the rest of the season but that was just something they'd both have to get over.
He pulled into his driveway, parked the car and stared blankly at the garage wall. Robert had to take that first step to formally end things with Gavi before it got more complicated. It had to be done now. He took his phone out and was about to text him when he saw a text from his wife. 'Klara refuses to go to sleep unless you give her a bedtime story. You're coming home soon right?'
'Just arrived,' he wrote back.
He sighed and put his phone away. He'd have to find time to write to Gavi after everyone was asleep.
After continuing the ongoing bedtime tale about a World Cup princess, Robert finally retired to his bedroom with his wife Anna. She was lying in bed, patiently waiting for him. He placed his phone on the nightstand so he could get to it later.
"I tried to continue the story you started," Anna said. "But Klara complained that everything I was saying made no sense. I don't know where you get your imagination from."
Robert climbed into bed next to her. "I'm a natural," he said. He reached to turn off the bedside lamp before settling in. He was glad that it was late enough that he wouldn't have to face her until morning. He was about to kiss her good night when she spoke.
"Gavi's very sweet. The girls love him."
Robert pulled back. The last thing he wanted to talk about was Gavi. He was thankful for the cover of darkness so Anna wouldn't see his guilty expression.
"He really does admire you a lot," she continued. "It's adorable. This was a nice gesture on your part."
He gave a silent sigh and said nothing.
Anna cuddled up next to him. "Maybe next time we can all go to an amusement park, or the zoo or something else fun."
"Don't be ridiculous," Robert spat out, his tone more angry than he'd intended for it to come out.
"What?" she asked, tone perplexed as she leaned away.
"We're not adopting him for fuck's sake. He has his own parents, his own family."
Anna tutted. "There's nothing wrong with Gavi having another father figure. Especially since you see him so often."
Robert muttered a curse in Polish. "It's been a long day. I just want some sleep, okay?"
"What's wrong with you?" she asked, her movements indicating she was sitting up in bed now. "I'm just giving some nice, innocent suggestions and you act like I insulted your mother."
