I had played for coach since I was fourteen and in the ninth grade. He was a single man, coached football and baseball. He had previously been married many years before but divorced most of his adult life.
He was a ginger, kind of an average looking guy on the chubby side. He was six foot or so in height. For most of my experience he had been a disciplinarian and I thought he was way too hard on me at times.
That changed my senior year after an injury to my throwing arm. Coach let me use his classroom to study in, tutored me personally and stayed on top of my rehab. He made sure I was going to qualify to play college ball and graduate on the honor roll.
The week after graduation, I was at the batting cages by the field hitting off a tee. By myself I thought until coach came walking up. I was shirtless, covered in sweat. Coach offered to load the tee after each swing. I took 25-30 more cuts and told coach I was going to run a bit then hit the shower. When I finished my run coach was finishing his shower. I stripped then walked into the shower. As the water ran over me, I felt eyes on me as well.
I turned and made eye contact with coach. I startled him. He came to his senses and asked what I was up to this evening. I had no plans. He suggested I come over and watch some baseball and he'd grill us something. I agreed.
By the time I got to his house he was warming the gas grill. Coke in hand. He welcomed me in. The steak was decent, conversation good. We talked about my future, next years team. He asked me about my breaking up with my girlfriend. I asked him why he didn't have one or a wife. He said he was done chasing women. He was married to baseball and helping young men out reaching their goals. Just about then he paused and told me he wanted to tell me something but needed my word I wouldn't spread the word.
I was puzzled but agreed. He said what he just told me was a lie. He said he was confused after his divorce for a long time but had found he liked women and men.
I didn't really know what to say in the moment. He seemed to be looking at me for approval. I managed up an, "ok, that's great".
Coach immediately began apologizing for bringing that up. I interjected and told him it was quite alright. I had a secret of my own and wanted to tell.
I told him that I had feelings like he had. Then it was like the relief just swept over him. We talked about it further and told each other our experiences.