Chapter 10

Sebastian puts the phone down and goes to the fridge. What could he do that was fast and beautiful? Shrimp Scampi, of course. He took out the ingredients and in 20 minutes he had the dish assembled on the island like a professional.

Take the phone, take the photo and send it to Theo. “Shrimp Scampi. It smells wonderful. I'll do it for you." The response was almost immediate. "How delightful. If it tastes as well as it looks, you'll have to make a pot of it for me.”

Sebastian puts the phone down, picks up his fork and starts to eat, but before he puts the food in his mouth, he stops and thinks. “What is wrong with me? I look like an 18 year old. Frankly Sebs, to help and support the kid, you don't have to drop your age down to his." Sebastian puts the food in his mouth and chews in annoyance. When he finishes eating, he picks up his cell phone and leaves it in his room. Go back to the living room, pick up the laptop, and connect to the office.

He only read 2 pages of a document before giving up. He couldn't concentrate. “Would Theo be all right?", " Would the dorm idiots have left him alone?". When he was going to close the laptop, a new email warning entered, and he read the subject. “Seminar project on Applied Economics and Management. How Applied Economics and Management is the ideal degree for anyone working in business management. Speaker Sebastian Jones, CEO of Salvato inc. and former student at Cornell University. The seminar lasts 12 hours and is spread for 4 hours each day. A total of 3 days.”

Sebastiam closes the email, and leans back on the sofa. Where did he end up being doing a seminar? 12 hours talking about what? Was there a subject for 12 hours? He sighs, opens the email and replies that he accepts. At least it would make the new dean happy. As if the man were on top of the computer waiting for the answer, Benjamin immediately sent an email asking when he was available. Without thinking, he replies “Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Today is the 9th, so it will be the 19th, 20th and 21st. If it could be in the afternoon, that would be perfect”, since he had gone into that hole, at least in the afternoon, he would be able to think better.

The rest of the day went well and when, at 10 pm, the cell phone gave a message signal, he was already in bed and ready to sleep.

“Just to let you know I'm going to sleep. Tomorrow I have to wake up early. I decided to go to the lacrosse try outs. As I only have classes at 10, there's time”

The message did not end with a good night. It sounded like Theo wanted to talk.

"Very good. I bet you'll get that. Sleep well to wake up refreshed. I'm already in bed and almost asleep. Tal to you tomorrow."

Sebastian tried to convey that the conversation ended there, as smoothly as possible. “Good night” was the message he received. Without a single imoji. “fuck” curses Sebastian, “did he realize he was sending him off?”, and why was Sebastian so upset?

Theo looks at his phone for a few minutes, then puts it down on the bedside table. He was being an idiot. Sebastian was a very important and busy man. It's true that he had helped him, he hadn't cared about his sexuality and even given him his phone number, but he couldn't have time to exchange messages with a guy he'd just met.

However, the conversation ending after 2 sentences made him sad.

Sebastian was everything he'd read about him and more. He was generous, humorous, fun, and hot and sexy.

Theo covers his face with his hands. What the hell is he thinking? Hot and sexy? Well, Sebastian was all of those things; hot and sexy and straight. Theo turns and buries his face in the pillow. He couldn't fall for the stupidity of falling in love with Sebastian. Him and Sebastian were never going to happen. “it's best to only text at night, because he's crazy enough to send security to come look for me and to sleep.

When the alarm goes off at 6 am, he runs to take a shower and goes back to his room. He stuffs his old high school gear into his backpack, all of it professional gear, proudly bought by his dad, before he was just nobody in his life. Warrior Lacrosse Evo QX Gloves and Stick, STX Stallion 900 Shoulder Pad, Maverik Rome Arm Guards and Cascade S Helmet, all the best stuff. Probably too good for tryouts, but it was what he had. He grabs his backpack, holds his helmet and stick, and walks out the bedroom door at exactly 7 am.

In the hall, a group of young men, still drunk from the previous night, were jumping over each other, playing, as they made their way to the showers. When they see Theo in those preparations, they stop to look him up and down.

Theo stops and looks at them, but quickly starts walking again.

- Damn, he's a lacrosse fairy. Yeah, I wasn't expecting that.- one of the boys says.

- Shut up. You want Sebastian Jones to destroy your parents' company? I spoke to my dad yesterday and he told me not to come between Sebastian and what he wants if I want him to keep his company. - another boy says, elbowing his friend.

Theo was already at the door of the dormitory, but he heard everything and he was smiling. It seems that Sebastian is feared in the business world.

When he finally arrives at the lacrosse training camp, only a few newbies are there. It took half an hour for the entire lacrosse team, those left after the finalists left, and the coach to enter the field. The veterans look at the newbies and laugh. Theo didn't feel any discrimination, as he'd been through it in high school.

- Girls, my name is coach Dylan Jefferson, and you may call me coach. – shouts the coach – are you ladies ready to play with the big boys? Do you want to join my team? Are you ready to lose your shit for this game?

Theo rolls his eyes. That kind of talk only denigrated women's lacrosse. The coach was a baboon.

- Looks like one of you doesn't agree with my language. - the coach says, looking at Theo directly.

Theo doesn't open his mouth, but he feels that everyone has turned their eyes in his direction.

"Shit, I just wanted to go unnoticed" - He thinks

The coach approaches, takes the stick out of his hand and takes a good look at it. Then look at the helmet. Returning the stick to Theo, the trainer says:

- I guess that inside your backpack there is only professional equipment. Do you think owning a generous hundreds of dollars worth of professional gear will guarantee you a spot on my team? - Theo keeps his mouth shut. - Well, I imagine you think so, but the answer is no. I don't like you just looking at you. You don't show quality, you're going to use that equipment to clean the leftover food from the pots in the cafeteria.

All the veterans laugh and even some newbies chuckle.

The trainer returns to his position and recommences.

- Those handsome boys behind me are the cream of Cornell University lacrosse. You are nothing but girls near them. You don't even deserve to play in the girls' lacrosse team.

The trainer was really trying to tease them to see how they performed under pressure, but kept being disrespectful of the girls lacrosse team.

One of the seniors tilts his head and looks at Theo.

- Coach, do we have gays on the team?

Theo blushes up to his ears.

The trainer turns to the boy who spoke and asks:

- Why do you ask? Do you need to unclog the pipes?

Everyone laughs and another veteran hits the first guy with his helmet on the other guy's head.

Theo takes a breath, it looks like there were gays in lacrosse after all, because the guy who hit the first guy winks at him.

- You there, with the XPTO equipment, what's your name - the coach asks.

- Theodore Hansom, but everyone calls me Theo.

- Hanson, yeah. And you were a lacrosse player in high school?

- Yes coach. - Theo answers him.

- Position?

- Attack. - the veterans laugh.

- which high school?

-St. Anthony's.

- ohhh that Theodore Hanson. – looking at the veterans he says – you have competition. The St. Anthony's lacrosse team won the championship 3 years in a row, and he was the captain of the team and was considered the best player in the 3 years.

Theo blushes, under the gaze of those present.

- have you been training? - the coach asks.

- No coach. Since I finished high school.

- if you wanted to keep playing, why did you stop?

-Other family matters – Theo showed that he wasn't going to go into that matter.

- no problem. With intensive training, you'll be good in a week. Let's start the tryouts. There's no past worth your while if you don't show what you're worth on the field. Go get dressed. I want you on the field in 5 minutes.