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“Nice pink, Cods,” Gravenberch commented with a chuckle as he sipped at his smoothie. It was the day after the Arsenal win, and most of his teammates
Gakpo smoothed the hem of his new brown sweater, complete with pink harlequin diamonds. It was something he’d never wear by his own choosing, but this was different. “Lucho gave it to me.”
Gravenberch rolled his eyes. “Why don’t you just confess to him already? I think everybody in this building knows by now that you like him.”
Gakpo's eyes widened as he rapidly shook his head. “It’ll be awkward. We play on different teams.”
“So do Bobby and Flaco!”
“We’re in different countries.”
“So are Conor and Jarell!”
“We’re from entirely different continents.”
“Bull. Crap. You’re just nervous for no reason.”
Gakpo sighed in defeat, throwing his arms up into the air. “Okay, maybe I am. It’s just…what if he doesn’t feel the same way?”
“Everybody knows Lucho’s pining for you in Bavaria.”
“It’s not that easy! I…I want to belong, okay?”’
Gravenberch's expression softened as he took Gakpo's hand. “You do belong. You belong here, with all our teammates. More importantly, you’re my brother.”
That elicited a tiny smile from the forward. “I guess you’re right.”
“Of course I’m right, Cod-fish! I’m a genius! Now, what do you say I help you confess to Lucho?”
“You’ll do that?”
Gravenberch nodded sincerely. “Of course. If I can’t have my crush, I want to help you connect with yours. Now hand me your notes app, and I’ll help you write.”
*
Dear Lucho,
I guess I should spit it out. I like you. Not like a friend, or a brother. I love you in THAT way.
I should’ve confessed sooner. I would’ve confessed sooner, but then we were focused on winning the league, and then we had the summer internationals. Then July came, and everything felt like an awful tornado, and suddenly you were in Germany for a medical.
I love you. I don’t know for how long, but it feels so natural that it must’ve been a while. You’re like a bundle of golden sparkles that warms up my heart like hot cocoa near a campfire. (Ryan is laughing over my shoulder as I type this.)
I wish you’d have stayed. Why didn’t you stay? Were you unhappy here? Did we do something wrong? Did I do something wrong? Or did you just want new pastures?
Ryan convinced me I should spit this out. But now that it’s in an email waiting to be sent to you, I’m not so sure I should. Am I making things complicated for nothing?
Please call me when you can. I love you.
—Cody🩷