“Shit, that must have hurt.”

“Yeah, he had to ice it for two days. But after that there was no mention of women, and of course my sister was hurt, she wanted to be a tennis star’s wife.”

“Wow. I can’t believe it! Do you and Harrison talk about it?”

“Yeah, we joke about it all the time. We’ve been doubles partners for ten years now. He’s like a brother to me. He helped me cope with my feelings, and coached me through the transition to the gay lifestyle.”

“But you’re not out,” Lara asked kind of disappointed.

“No, it’s complicated for many reasons.”

“Well, uncomplicate them.”

“That’s easier said than done Lara.”

“Explain it to me then.”

“It’s both a business and personal reason why I am not out,” I said and I sigh. She gives me a look to go on. I sip my drink, because I could loose her quickly.

“Come on, sometimes it’s good to talk about it,” Lara said giving me that look that makes my heart melt, the look that makes me give in to her each time I see it.

“Ok, well, I’m not out to my family because my father’s Irwin Fairbanks, he is city’s D.A. He plays golf with a lot of the judges and attends quite a few of the governor’s dinners. My mother is in this women’s group, the Orange County Republican Women’s Coalition. She’s getting their woman of the year award in a few weeks. So my parents aren’t really supportive of the whole gay thing.”

“How do you know this? Your parents could really surprise you.”

“Yeah I know. But it freaks me out to know that they just might disown me.”

“Well, you obviously have a lovely group of friends who would do anything for you.”

“Ha, yeah, I’m sorry about that by the way,” I said, feeling myself blush.

“It’s ok, really, it was sweet,” she said and smiled, “so I am assuming that was your personal reason. What the business reason?”

“In my private life I can be who ever I want, but in my public life, I can’t be who I really am. My life is different than you’re used to. I’m not quite famous, but I’m famous enough. I get the occasional photo taken of me. My agent makes the rules.”

“Well it seems to me like you need to get a new agent.”

“Well, there’s nothing I can really do at this point. I’m not where I want to be at in my career and Johnathan has helped me so much over the last ten years.”

“Some help,” she grunted.

“Hey I wouldn’t have gotten this deal with Subaru without him, and no one wants his or her kids looking up to a big homo tennis player.”

“I wouldn’t mind my daughter watching you play.”

“Yeah, that’s comforting,” I laugh, then the full realization of her comment hit me, “wait, what? You…have a daughter?”

“Yeah,” she said and waited for my reaction.

“I, uh, don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. Her name’s Rebecca, Bex, for short and she’s three.”