Across the divide

Chapter 8: Secrets and Stolen Moments

Over the next few weeks, Liam and Mateo’s secret relationship grew. It became a series of stolen moments—quick touches in the hallways, whispered conversations after practice, and late-night texts that were filled with vulnerability neither had ever shown before.

They’d meet up at the park on weekends, away from prying eyes, where they could just be themselves without the pressure of their reputations weighing on them. One evening, as the sun set and they sat on a park bench together, Mateo leaned his head on Liam’s shoulder.

“I like this,” Mateo said softly, his voice unusually calm. “Being with you. I never thought… well, I never thought we’d be here.”

Liam smiled, feeling a warmth spread through him. “Me neither,” he admitted. “But I’m glad we are.”

Mateo lifted his head and looked at him. “Do you think we’ll ever tell anyone?”

The question hung in the air, and Liam didn’t know how to answer. Part of him wanted to tell the world, to let everyone know that what they had wasn’t a rivalry anymore. But the other part of him—the cautious part—was scared. Scared of what people would think, scared of losing everything they had fought for separately.

“We will,” Liam said, though even he wasn’t sure when or how.