Across the divide

Chapter 9: The Slip

Keeping their relationship a secret wasn’t easy, especially when the people around them started noticing the subtle changes. Their friends, used to seeing Liam and Mateo constantly at odds, were the first to suspect something.

One afternoon, during soccer practice, Mateo’s best friend, Marco, pulled him aside. “What’s going on with you and Liam?” he asked, his tone curious but not accusatory. “You guys haven’t been at each other’s throats lately. Did you finally call a truce or something?”

Mateo hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. “Yeah, something like that,” he muttered, avoiding Marco’s gaze. “We’re… getting along better now.”

Marco eyed him suspiciously. “Getting along better? Since when do you two get along at all?”

Before Mateo could respond, Liam jogged over to where they stood, and Marco raised an eyebrow at the interaction between them. It wasn’t hostile or competitive, just… natural. Marco wasn’t the only one to notice. Their teammates exchanged looks, whispering among themselves.

Later, when Liam and Mateo met up in secret as they often did, Mateo couldn’t shake the feeling that their secret was slipping through the cracks. “We’re not as subtle as we think,” he said, his voice edged with worry.

Liam nodded. “I’ve noticed too. Maybe we should… I don’t know, ease people into it?”

Mateo gave a nervous laugh. “I don’t think we can ease anyone into this. But maybe you’re right. Maybe it’s time.”