Andrew is the last to retire from the Exy.
THE LAST.
When Kevin retires because his game is starting to decline (age is catching up with him) and the chronic pain in his hand becomes unbearable, Andrew contemplates suicide to spare Kevin the satisfaction of seeing him be the last to retire.
Seven years earlier it had been Boyd, though Andrew didn't care at all. Five years earlier, Moreau ended his career to become the head coach at USC, replacing James Rhemann. Jeremy Moreau ended his career three years earlier to be with his daughters and husband, though he was far from retired (apparently, Jeremy was now a famous activist and surfing champion). Neil retired two years earlier after breaking his leg in an illegal play. Although he didn't suffer permanent damage, his 39 years and the long rehabilitation indicated that he would never again be the fastest on the court.
After extremely difficult months, Neil decided to leave the Exy when he was offered a job as a sports commentator.
He was a pain, the players' nightmare, and one of the most-watched commentators in the United States.
And then there was Kevin.
Andrew, somehow, was the last one left.
Andrew could have retired. It was over. It was all finished.
He was the most decorated goalkeeper in the world of exy, the one the new generations aspired to be. He had two damn Olympic medals and countless trophies. Andrew hated those accolades and wasn't planning on getting any more.
He could have retired, yes.
How the hell had he ended up being the last idiot in exy if he didn't even want to play?
When Andrew told Kevin, Kevin almost had a heart attack because, apparently, Andrew's age hadn't affected his game at all.
So Andrew tried to make his game worse. He slowed down. He trained less. He decided to laze around in goal whenever he felt like it. He pretended to be too old to keep up with everyone else.
But his reflexes betrayed him. Besides, he was addicted to the looks of disappointment and hatred he received when, breaking through the defensive line, Andrew crushed the opposing team's hopes by preventing their goals. The more hopeful the opposing team was, the more Andrew enjoyed watching them crumble.
No, no.
Andrew had to stop immediately.
If lowering his performance and simply announcing his retirement didn't work, there was one more thing he could do: sabotage his own career.
So, at a press conference, someone asked Andrew how he was going to relax after the game, and Andrew replied:
"I'm going home to my… husband."
Andrew and Neil weren't married. Andrew and Neil would have hurt each other's feelings before referring to each other as "husband," but it was the quickest way to get the message across.
After a brief silence, Andrew persisted.
"My husband, Neil Josten, the loudmouth addicted to exy"
The world went crazy.
Neil was live on air when Andrew dropped the bombshell. The cameras captured his reaction. Andrew spent the next few hours enjoying watching Neil's face go from paralysis to disbelief, and then to a gaping mouth for a few seconds of absolute silence. His first words when he regained his voice were: "We're going to commercials… No, shut up and cut it NOW!"
Andrew made a sticker with Neil's face and some GIFs that he used to mock him.
The first thing Neil said to him was: "You could have warned me sooner." And the first thing Andrew replied: "I thought dropping uncomfortable truths live on air was your thing. Or have you lost your sense of humor, you old fool?"
Then someone said: "I hate you to the very marrow of my bones" and the romantic conversation ended there, because they moved on to more pleasant things.
Andrew didn't answer Kevin when he called, nor Aaron's incredulous question ("Husband? Tell me Neil isn't my brother-in-law, Andrew. Tell me, damn it!"), nor Nicky's tearful voice messages telling him how proud she was of him.
He simply waited for his career to fall apart. Finally.
When his agent called the next day, Andrew was almost pleased. Almost.
When she told him he was getting support from the entire fanbase, his team, the whole sports world, and that, apparently, he was now a symbol, Andrew stuck the phone in the oven.
He had to restrain himself from sticking his head in it too.
"You had to say you were retiring, you know?" Neil said.
Andrew slowly turned his head toward him, crudely imitating the girl from The Exorcist.
Neil bit his lip and tried not to laugh.
And that's how Andrew Minyard became the greatest goalkeeper in history… and one of the world's biggest gay icons.
