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Ted and Roy had never intended to love each other.
Well, technically, when Ted first met the gruff, aging football team captain it had been his whole plan to win the man over. Platonically of course. He remembers fondly the warmth that had bloomed in his belly when Roy glared at him and said the words, “this is why it's hard to love you.”
And then later, the moment he and Roy had traded romcom quotes in the quiet streets of Roy’s old neighborhood as he tried to convince him to join the coaching staff. Neither Ted nor Roy could deny they were drawn to each other, they understood each other’s own specific brand of masculinity, as different as those brands were. Roy never considered for a moment that he didn’t just love this man, he was in love with him. He had Keeley after all.
Until he didn’t have Keeley and he was alone in Marbella and she didn’t even have time to call so they could talk things out, but Ted had time. Somehow between coaching and Kansas and Henry, Ted found time to talk to Roy at least a little every day. Even when Roy didn’t answer, it had kept him afloat, kept him from tumbling too far into the depths.
When Roy was back in Richmond he found himself yet again gravitating towards Ted, who was back from Kansas, both of them missing someone significant. Roy and Keeley weren’t quite broken up, weren’t quite together, and Ted and Michelle had worked out a consistent schedule for him to see Henry, but more often than not, the two of them sat sullenly together thinking about what they didn’t have.
Roy found himself knocking on Ted’s door every Friday like clockwork, a 6 pack of beer under his arm or a bottle of wine and they would sit at Ted’s kitchen table or on his couch talking or watching a movie or reading quietly, Roy verbally reacting to surprising plot points making Ted chuckle. A couple of weeks of this and Roy had a particularly rough night; he and Keeley had officially called it quits. Ted greeted him at the door with a smile, but when he saw the other man’s drawn, pained expression he pulled him into the house quickly and into his arms.
“It’s over innit,” Roy had growled into Ted’s chest, and Ted had sighed, holding the other man with a hand against the nape of his neck as he started to cry.
“Tell me what happened. You know I love you both, I’m so sorry Roy.”
“It was mutual in the end,” Roy said finally, after taking a big gulp of air. “I realized it wasn’t just about Keeley being a boss and doing what she wanted. I’m proud of her. But it's also about me, getting what I want.”
“And what do you want?”
Roy pulled back and looked at Ted. They were still standing in the entryway of Ted’s flat. “I want…I don’t know. Someone who can be there for me. Someone present to spend my nights with. Time with Phoebe. Not fuckin’ going to galas every weekend and pretending to be young forever. I want something like…this.”
Ted felt a lump in his throat. He had never considered that his relationship with Roy could be romantic in any way. That he could have a romantic relationship with any man. He could maybe admit looking back that he had been attracted to a few men here and there, boys in his youth that had made him blush when their eyes met or that he went out of his way to befriend, but never enough to rethink his sexuality. Roy gave him a curious look.
“And, I don’t know, I think maybe I might want to be a father myself someday. And with Keeley doing her thing, it’s not the right time for her, and I would never want to make her choose.”
Oh. Roy was not talking about Ted. Because Ted certainly couldn’t give him children, not biologically, and Roy was certainly straight; of course, Ted was reading this all wrong. He tried not to look too embarrassed as he finally guided his friend into the flat gesturing toward the couch that Roy fell into gratefully.
“You know, I’m proud of you Roy. For being able to communicate what you want and asking for it. I know better than anyone it's not the easiest thing to do.” Roy grunted.
The two changed the topic, looking for anything else to distract Roy from feeling old and washed up and lonely. It was getting late, and Ted suggested Roy stay, Roy hesitating only briefly. There was too much of Keeley in his house still, he couldn’t imagine being alone there. Ted lent him a change of clothes, made the narrow couch into a bed as well as he could, and left Roy to sleep.
They had Saturday training this week because of a big match coming up, and Roy got ready in Ted’s living room, groaning as he tried to work out a kink in his neck from the couch. In fact, his whole body hurt which was honestly a welcome distraction from heartache. The pair met Beard downstairs to walk to Nelson Road, Beard seemingly unphased that Roy had spent the night.
“Shoot, I forgot to text you,” Ted said regretfully, eyeing Beard’s hands holding just two cups of coffee.
“S’all right,” Roy growled. “I’d need 3 times that amount of caffeine to feel well-rested after a night on that fuckin’ sofa.”
“You could have come and curled up with your old coach,” Ted joked as Roy grimaced, but was surprised when Roy responded, “be careful what you wish for.”
The next Friday Roy was back, less distraught but still in the mood to drink too much and not go home. Ted offered to take the couch this time, but Roy scoffed.
“You’re older than I am, that fuckin’ back of yours will be screaming. Come on then,” he gestured with his head towards Ted’s bedroom and Ted flushed. When Ted didn’t move Roy just walked in and started going through Ted’s drawers before changing in the bathroom.
“You know I was just kidding…”
“So what, are you going to kick me out?” Roy said it gruffly, but Ted could feel the tension and the hope radiating off him.
“‘Course not,” Ted said softly, taking his turn in the bathroom and getting in his tiny bed, trying his damndest to keep his distance from the ex-footballer taking up the other side.
-
Every Friday became more than Fridays, and they don’t talk about what it means or how they feel. Beard started bringing 3 coffees instead of 2 and suddenly Roy’s sister had Ted’s number because she knows that’s where she can find him if he was not answering. Occasionally it's Ted picking Phoebe up from school and sometimes it's Roy answering Ted’s phone when Henry calls and he can’t get to it. Suddenly their lives are becoming increasingly interwoven and their friendship that was based on both of them missing someone who wasn’t there became a relationship focused on someone who is.
But it was decidedly not romantic and Roy missed the romance, as much as he hated to admit it. He didn’t ask Ted if that was something he missed too because it would be too close to Roy admitting that he would be open to something romantic with Ted. Admitting that he was already a little bit in love with him and that he couldn’t imagine life without him. But he also didn’t think his heart could handle another rejection.
So Roy got on the apps and started dating. He hated every second of it. Roy had known since he was a boy that he was attracted to men and women, but not only did he not have the language for it at the time, he knew it wasn’t something he could pursue as a professional footballer. He hadn’t wanted to complicate things. Going to drag brunch with the Yoga Mums had reminded him of all the things he had set aside to live his dreams, but now that he was retired and lonely he figured there was no harm in exploring every side of himself. Maybe his crush on Ted was really just his interest in men, maybe any man would do, he tried to tell himself.
After a Wednesday game, Sam poked his head into the coaches’ office inviting them all out for drinks that night to celebrate.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Ted smiled, pulling on his puffer jacket, as he and Beard got ready to walk to the Crown and Anchor. “Roy?”
Roy couldn’t meet Ted’s eyes. He didn’t mean to make it weird, but he was embarrassed. “Can’t.”
He could feel Ted’s eyes on him. There was no convincing lie he could tell, at this point Ted knew his schedule. Knew Phoebe was at a week-long youth football retreat. And likely knew that Roy was hiding something.
“Bummer, coach,” Ted said, not calling him out. “We’ll miss you.”
Roy nodded, still not making eye contact. As Ted walked out he leaned over to Beard to ask quietly, “any idea what's up with that?”
Beard shrugged, “Thought you’d know. He’s got a date.”
Ted froze in his tracks. He was trying not to be dramatic but Beard's answer wasn’t at all what he expected. Beard looked at him strangely, and Ted shook his head and gave him a small smile. “Just surprised that’s the first I’m hearing of it.”
“Uh-huh.”
Ted was hurt. He wanted to text Roy and ask why he didn’t tell him. If he didn’t trust him. But part of him knew he was hurt because he was jealous. And he hoped that Roy hadn’t mentioned it because Roy was feeling the romantic energy Ted was feeling too, but it was such a longshot it wasn’t worth considering. He stared glumly at his beer all night and determined he’d try to talk to him when he came over Friday. He hadn’t told his therapist about the conflicting feelings he had for Roy, but he had had a lot of conversations focused on being direct about his feelings with the people he loved. And he was starting to realize how much he might love Roy.
Roy didn’t come over Friday. Roy hadn’t missed a single Friday at Ted’s in months and all of a sudden he was dating and skipping hangouts and Ted was more than a little distraught. He avoided Roy at practice on Monday, not in a petty way, he just didn’t know how to look at him without getting upset all over again. Roy tried to engage with him, as much as Roy engaged with anyone, but Ted’s responses were short and to the point and Roy got exasperated and left early, lying about an errand he had to run.
But Roy regretted it. Regretted no-showing on Ted, regretted the bloke he’d been seeing who was nice but not Ted-nice and handsome but not Ted-handsome and regretted bowing out of practice early. He texted Ted to ask if he was around, and when Ted said “sure” he showed up at his doorstep, a 6-pack and a new jar of peanut butter as a peace offering. Ted smiled but was fidgety as they sat at the kitchen table and the pair drank quietly for a while. It was Roy who broke the silence first.
“Go on,” Roy growled, “Tell me what’s wrong with us, gaff.”
Ted sighed, “I feel like I’m blowing this out of proportion but as much as we hang out together, I was hurt that you didn’t tell me you were dating again.”
Roy grunted, his eyebrows lifting a little in surprise, “I’m sorry. It’s fuckin’ awkward, innit?” Ted assumed Roy meant dating in general, but Roy really meant it's awkward to tell Ted, his unrequited crush.
Ted looked at him, peeling the label off his beer bottle nervously, “Who’s the lucky lady?”
“Philip.”
Ted’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. Philip. A woman named Philip? Probably not. Ted felt almost giddy at the revelation that Roy wasn’t straight, which confused him because Ted was supposedly straight, but he’d have to unpack that later.
Ted didn’t say anything in response so Roy filled the silence, “But I don’t think he and I are going to work out.”
“No?”
And it was the little glint Roy saw in Ted’s eye, whether he imagined it or not, that made him feel a little bolder. Made him want to push a bit more and see if there really was something there.
“I think,” he responded slowly, never dropping Ted’s gaze, “I think I’m interested in someone else.”
Ted smiled. The motherfucker smiled and Roy smiled back and they still didn’t talk about it. Instead, Ted answered a FaceTime from Henry and passed the phone to Roy when Henry asked to tell him about his soccer match and they got ready for bed.
There was no training the next day and Ted woke up with a slumbering Roy on his chest, his arm thrown around Ted’s waist. They had long given up the pretense of no cuddling as tiny as the bed was and as often as Roy stayed. Ted quietly extricated himself, slipping on a hoodie and practically sprinting to Beard’s. He knew it was early but he felt bad when he realized he had dragged Beard out of bed. Beard just wiped a hand over his face and let Ted in, making them a pot of coffee.
“Sorry to barge in on ya’ like this, Coach, my mind is just moving a mile a minute and I, uh, well I needed someone I could trust.”
“Ah so we’re finally doing this then.”
Ted quirked an eyebrow at Beard. “Whaddya mean?”
“I’ve been buying 3 coffees for weeks, Ted. And Roy stopped rubbing his sore neck after the first one.” Beard shrugged as Ted’s face reddened.
“We haven’t been, I mean, that is what I wanted to talk about but…,” Ted trailed off and Beard just looked at him expectantly.
“I know you,” Ted started. “I know you’ve lived a thousand lives, and, ya know, had all sorts of partners,” Beard nodded, “and I reckon you know me pretty well too. I don’t know that I’ve ever felt like this, Beard-o.”
“About a man?”
“About anyone. But am I foolin’ myself? I mean I don’t want to lead anyone on or make myself out to be somethin’ that I’m not. If…if this is something that I haven’t felt in 46 years it can’t possibly be real, can it?”
“All people are different people, Coach,” Beard responded quietly and continued when Ted looked confused. “Roy isn’t just any man, he’s Roy. You don’t have to love every man on Earth. You just have to love one.”
Ted looked dumbfounded, but like he understood. He rested his chin on the palm of his hand deep in thought. Beard took a sip of his coffee and looked at his friend, and was pleased he could be there as he discovered something new about himself. Something that might lead him to some real happiness. It was all Beard had ever wanted for him.
“Just talk to him. Don’t try to be something you’re not, just tell him how you feel.”
Ted nodded. He left Beard’s flat and picked up pastries, a latte for him, and a tea for Roy. He let himself in quietly thinking Roy might still be sleeping but instead he found the man wearing a Wichita State Shockers t-shirt and boxers, making eggs and bacon. Ted smiled, adding the pastries he brought to the mix, and greeting Roy with a, “Mornin’!”
“Ted,” Roy grunted in response. “Where were you off to?”
Ted waved a hand. “Ah, had to confer with my ol’ pal Beard.”
“Yeah?” Roy smirked. “Were you fuckin’ talking about me?”
Ted laughed and blushed. “Indeedy we were. Roy, listen, I…”
Before Ted could launch into a spiel, Roy brought him a plate of eggs, bacon, and a pastry and pressed a kiss lightly to his lips. Ted was lost for words. He could feel Roy’s stubble against his mustache, the softness of his lips, the heat radiating from his skin and then it was over and Roy was stepping back to get his own plate. It was 100 new sensations and Ted wanted to feel it over and over and over again.
Roy waited patiently. The night before had flipped a switch in him. The idea that Ted could be jealous, and, more importantly, the potential for ruining this relationship they had built because Roy was too chickenshit to make his feelings known, pushed him to press his lips to Ted’s before he could talk himself out of it. Ted was still in shock, but Roy could wait him out. He could wait as long as he needed to.
“Roy, I…didn’t want to let myself even imagine that you could feel half of what I felt for you. Every time we went to bed I stared up at the ceiling and told myself if this was all I got, if all we had was this partnership and not the romantic bits, well I could live with that.” Roy looked at Ted, both of their eyes welling with emotion. “But…,” Ted said slowly, “this isn’t something I’ve ever done before, fallen for a man and, well,…I don’t want to overpromise.”
Roy shrugged. “We’ll take it slow. As long as you're honest, I believe in us. Nothing has to change right away.”
“Except for, uh…,” Ted paused and Roy looked at him curiously, “except for the kissin’. I, well, I think I’d like if we kept that part.”
Roy chuckled and scooched toward Ted, leaning over to kiss him once more.
-
Roy was right. Nothing much changed. Now that their feelings were established and reciprocated it was a gradual lean towards something more, a new willingness to touch and learn each other. Nights were still spent watching movies and drinking beer except now it was with Roy’s legs in Ted’s lap or both of them ignoring the television, too busy making out like teenagers on the couch. They still went to work together when Roy slept over, but now sometimes they left together too. And going to bed got significantly more exciting. Ted discovered new ways that Roy could leave him speechless and Roy found new ways that Ted could pull a litany of curses and praises from the stoic man.
Three months into their relationship, Ted was sitting next to Roy on the couch, FaceTiming Henry, who wished them both a goodnight, after which Roy said, “So.”
Ted’s stomach immediately dropped. “So” was bad. “So” was "this isn’t working." As if Roy could read his mind, which Ted thought very well might be true, he lifted Ted’s chin to look at him and kissed him deeply. So deeply Ted forgot that Roy had even been talking. Ted reached for the hem of Roy’s shirt but Roy stopped him gently.
“So it's been 3 months,” Roy said quickly this time to not give Ted a single second to spiral, “what’s the verdict, hm?”
“The verdict,” Ted was confused, not only because all the blood in his head had rushed to his lower half.
“Are you attracted to men? Or is it a fluke,” Roy smiled so Ted would know he was teasing.
Mostly.
Ted scoffed, “Not a fluke. Not even close. You know that day when we first started dating? And I had gone to talk to Beard? He, sage as all get out, said ‘you don’t have to love every man on Earth. You just have to love one.’ And boy was he right.”
“You love me?”
Ted looked at Roy like he’d grown 3 heads. “Of course I do. Don’t you ever doubt that. ‘s not a phase. I’m in this for the long haul, Roy-toy.”
Roy groaned, “PLEASE don’t call me that. But me too. Love you that is. I love you, Ted.” Ted grinned and Roy leaned in, kissing Ted chastely at first and then sliding his tongue smoothly between Ted’s lips tasting the beer and popcorn they’d been having. Suddenly, Roy pulled back.
“Fuck. You,” he pointed an accusatory finger, “keep fucking distracting me.” Ted held his hands up defensively and waited for Roy to say what he needed to say. “What I was trying to get at was…should we tell people?”
“Like journalists?”
“Fuck no! Like your fucking ex wife so she stops looking startled when I answer the phone, and Rebecca and Keeley and…I don’t fucking know, people! I don’t want to push you, you’re closeted, but…”
“Are you…not closeted?”
Roy looked at him, eyebrows raised, “Shit. Guess I am. Huh.”
“Sweetheart,” Ted said softly, pulling Roy towards him on the couch so he could hold him in his arms. “Whatever label I decide to use or you decide to use, it doesn’t matter. I will scream from the rooftops that I am in love with Roy Kent. That we have a fantastic life together. I will say, I'm not looking forward to the tabloids and opinion pieces, but I can live with it.”
Roy turned in Ted’s arms so his stomach was against Ted’s chest, his nose pressed into Ted’s neck. “What if we only tell the people we trust? Keep it out of the news as long as we can.”
“Hell, let’s give it a shot.”
The general homophobia of the media ended up being Ted and Roy’s saving grace. Tabloids never assumed that Roy and Ted were out on a date, even when they were doing things like sharing ice cream and playing putt putt. As long as they kept the PDA to a minimum they had been free to explore every facet of their relationship at the pace that they pleased. They tell Rebecca, who was happy for them, and Keeley, who was surprised but not judgemental, and they tell Henry and Michelle, who both needed a little while to process but accepted them with nothing but love. Henry wanted to come to London and meet Roy again, officially, as soon as he could and Michelle surprised them by agreeing that next month when Henry had a week off from school he could go meet Ted’s boyfriend.
It was after another FaceTime with Henry that it was Ted’s turn to start a difficult conversation. “So,” Ted said, dropping his phone on the couch, “I need to ask you something.”
“Okay,” Roy turned to face Ted, taking both of his hands in his own.
“Way back when, when you and Keeley ended things, part of the reason I assumed this,” Ted gestured between their bodies, “wouldn’t work out is because you said you wanted kids. And I, uh, well I know there are workarounds there, but I have Henry and I just…I don’t want you to pick me over a dream of yours. With Henry coming next month I wanted to, you know, talk about that now in case I have to have another difficult conversation.”
Roy reached his hand up, cupping Ted’s check and stroking a thumb along the older man’s cheekbone. “Ted, I adore that little boy like he was my own flesh and blood. Like I fucking love Phoebe. I know we’ve got a long way to go and I can’t promise you that I won’t still wonder what it would be like, a little surly baby Roy,” Ted chuckled, “Let’s see how Henry’s visit goes, hm? Talk about it after?”
Ted agreed. His fears weren’t entirely assuaged but it was enough for now to know that Roy adored Henry.
Ted knew Roy was good with children; he’d seen Roy with Phoebe and gone to elementary school end of year programs with him. But seeing Roy and Henry together felt like it opened up a whole new part of Ted’s heart, like he was looking at something he didn’t know could exist. Roy tried to give Ted as much father-son time as he could, considering the kid was only there for a week, but Ted said every morning and evening Henry asked about him and so Roy showed up. He put together legos, he carried the boy on his shoulders around the stadium, he brought Phoebe for sleepovers. Ted tried to stay in the moment but he couldn’t help but snap a picture when Henry fell asleep on Roy’s chest watching Star Wars or held his hand to tug him towards the ice cream truck.
On Henry’s second-to-last night in London, Ted and Roy were tucking him into bed on the couch, Roy reading a few chapters of A Wrinkle in Time which was a favorite for all 3 of them when Henry looked at them both very seriously.
“Dad, what do I call Roy?”
Ted and Roy glanced quickly at each other before Ted spoke, “What do you mean bud? You’ve been calling him Roy, he’s Dad’s partner.” Before Henry came they had settled on partner rather than boyfriend, it felt more accurate to what they had.
“No, I know that,” Henry smirked. “But I can’t JUST call him Roy. Phoebe calls him Uncle Roy.”
Roy wrinkled his nose, “Yeah you’re not fucking calling me that.” Ted agreed vehemently, he would not have his son walking around calling his partner ‘Uncle.’ “Why do you need something else to call me?”
Henry looked at him like he was being ridiculous, “Because I love you! And you’re like my other Dad but I already have a Dad so I can’t call you Dad…” Henry trailed off deep in thought and Roy felt like his heart was about to beat out of his chest. It was pure joy, the idea that Henry would want to call him Dad. Ted noticed how overcome he was and reached out a hand to him, and Roy gripped it tightly. Henry noticed none of it, as he had finally thought of something suitable, “What about Papa? My friend Ashley at school has two dads and she calls one Papa and I think that’s cool.”
Ted got a little misty himself, his eyes darting to Roy, “What do you think, Papa?”
“I think I’d be fucking honored,” Roy grinds out through gritted teeth, not wanting to cry in front of Henry.
“Well,” Ted said, standing up and wiping at his own eyes, “I guess that settles it. G’night Henry.” He leaned over and kissed the boy’s forehead, Roy doing the same.
“Night, Dad. Night, Papa Roy.”
As soon as the door shut, Roy fell apart in Ted’s arms, a mess of tears and snot and emotion. Ted pulled him onto the bed and just held him quietly. When the tears slowed he finally spoke.
“Roy, I…I know this must be hard on you. I understand if it's too much to have Henry calling you that when you want a kid of your own. If you want to, to go after that, well—”
Roy lifted up from Ted’s chest, flabbergasted. “Are you fucking mental?” Ted’s eyebrows knit together in confusion. “Being Papa Roy is enough for me. It's more than enough, Ted, it's everything.” Ted smiled, his turn to be held while he let slip a few tears of happiness. They fell asleep like that, on top of the covers until Henry tiptoed in after 1 am claiming a nightmare and Roy scooped him up and got everyone in bed, Henry squeezed tight in the middle.
1 year later
A year and four months after Roy and Ted got together, the media was still none the wiser. They shared a home, a bigger house with fewer memories of past relationships, and a bedroom for Henry, to which they invited their team regularly who all thought of them fondly as Coach Dads. Everyone who needed to know already knew which was enough for Roy and Ted.
It had taken time, but Roy and Keeley had become friends. Not besties, but close enough that Roy, Ted, Rebecca, and Keeley got together for dinners when they could. Keeley had asked the pair if they could make an appearance at a charity event she was putting on and Roy had agreed for the both of them. Roy and Ted would have a coach vs coach penalty shoot-out, on which people could place their bets, with all the money going to the charity of the winner’s choosing. Most people thought Roy was obviously a sure-win, but with his bum knee and the amount that Ted had learned at AFC Richmond, Roy wasn’t so sure. Either way, he was looking forward to it.
The week before the event Roy realized he had made a mistake. He was preparing for Henry's arrival by making a grocery list when he realized that the event coincided with their time with Henry. Roy wasn’t sure how Ted would feel about taking him where there would be all sorts of press, and, unfortunately, everyone they knew that could babysit would already be there.
“Tehhhhd,” Roy called nervously to his partner upstairs, “I fucked up!”
He heard Ted shuffle towards the stairs and waited patiently for him to make his way down.
“What’s up, buttercup?”
“Our shoot-out-whatever-the-fuck is while Henry’s here, I’m sorry. I’m gonna have to call Keeley and tell her we have to pull out, see if maybe Beard and one of the boys can sub in…”
Roy was already picking up his phone when Ted stopped him. “Honey, I’m sorry I’m not seeing the problem. I’m sure Henry would love to go.”
“I know how you and Michelle feel about the fucking press, ’s not like a game where he only shows up at the end on the big screen.”
Ted shrugged, “I think it’ll be okay. Honestly, I doubt any journalist will want to talk to a 9-year-old at a charity event anyway. But if it’ll make you feel better I’ll tell Michelle.”
“Thank you,” Roy said, kissing Ted’s cheek. Ted smirked.
“You’re right though, Henry gets here so soon,” Ted said, a curious tone to his voice, “there’s probably some other things we might want to do to prepare to have a kid back in the house.”
“I fuckin’ know, I’m making a grocery list,” Roy said obliviously, turning his back on Ted to look through the cabinets.
Ted wrapped his arms around Roy’s middle, placing a kiss on the side of Roy’s neck. “I was thinking more like things you and I should do now, that we can’t do with a kid around.” Ted continued kissing Roy’s neck and shoulders and Roy groaned.
“Fuck it,” he growled, turning quickly in Ted’s arms and pinning him against the counter. “You can go grocery shopping then.”
“Deal,” Ted laughed, kissing Roy like his life depended on it.
-
Michelle gave Ted and Roy the okay when they called to let her know Henry had made it safe and sound. They told Henry about the event as they tucked him in, and he couldn’t wait to cheer them on. When they arrived at Nelson Road the next morning, they released Henry and Phoebe to run to their heart’s content on the pitch and met up with Keeley to get any last-minute details. It was lucky they did: Keeley realized they had each accidentally worn the other’s jersey and they had to quickly dip into the locker room and change. Ted and Roy came back onto the pitch, standing with Henry and Phoebe until the shoot-out began and a reporter came over to ask them a few questions.
“How do you think your knee will hold up out there Roy?”
“I just hope I don’t get carted off on a stretcher,” Roy grimaced. The reporter laughed but Roy didn’t.
“And Ted, how do you feel going up against the great Roy Kent?”
“Oh, I know most people think he’s got me beat,” Ted said, a twinkle in his eye, “but what they don’t know is that he taught me everything I know.” Roy smirked, holding none of the love back from his gaze.
“What do you think, Little Lasso, who’s going to win, your Dad or Coach Kent?”
The question was out of the reporter's mouth before Roy or Ted could react. Henry had never dealt with the press, but it was a simple enough question at a charity event after all; hopefully, no one would try to use their kid for a scoop. Henry looked at them both, taking the question seriously.
“I think Papa.”
Roy smiled but caught himself when he realized the reporter thought the boy was talking about Ted and schooled his face back into its trademark grimace.
The reporter laughed, “Family loyalty, huh? You’ve got a lot of faith in your Dad to beat a legend like Roy Kent.” Roy was surprised at the jealousy he felt that Henry got to talk about Ted. He loved being Papa, but it was a sharp reminder that Henry wasn’t his not in the eyes of everyone else. The reporter was turning away when Henry called out in his little exasperated 9-year-old voice, “noooooo, I meant Papa Roy,” pointing up at Roy for good measure. Roy and Ted stiffened and the reporter seemed confused, but before he could ask a follow-up question it was time for Roy and Ted to take the field.
Ted didn’t know how to feel. They’d been in their bubble for so long that it seemed a little anticlimactic for it to burst this way. And he didn’t truly know if the reporter knew what Henry was trying to say. He held his own during the shoot-out, but his head was stuck on his relationship which meant his heart wasn’t in it and Roy won by 2. Ted smiled as they met in the middle of the field, shaking hands like competitors and not two men that were going to hit the shower together as soon as they got home. But then Henry was running at Roy, and Roy was lifting him in the air and putting him on his hip even though he was getting much too big for it. And there was Phoebe running for Ted who slipped her up onto his shoulders, and Ted and Roy looked at each other and saw mirror images of pure joy. Roy shifted Henry onto his back and then leaned forward and kissed Ted, right there on the pitch.