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Dad sized him up. “You’d have to stay for all nine innings. Longer, if it goes into overtime.”

Nick threw his hands up. “Nothing’s worth that. I refuse. Baseball sucks.”

“You really don’t know how to negotiate, do you?”

“I haven’t had to learn, because you usually give me everything—I mean, no, Father, whatever are you talking about?”

“Uh-huh. I’m on to you, kid.”

“As you should be,” Cap said, groaning as he rose to his feet. “Keep an eye on this one. He’s either going to do great things or turn to a life of petty crime. Jury’s still out.”

“Most likely petty crime,” Nick told him. “Because then I’d get to see your pretty face every day.”

Cap reached out with a big hand and ruffled Nick’s hair. Nick scowled.

Cap grinned at him, his mustache looking as if his lips were spreading wings. Nick hoped one day he would be capable of epic facial hair. He’d tried to grow a beard over the summer, but he’d somehow only gotten one weird, gnarly hair coming out of his chin. He thought about keeping it but realized it probably wouldn’t do if he ever met Shadow Star.

Good thing, then, since the alley rescue happened. Shadow Star probably wouldn’t have posed for a picture if he’d had that chin hair.

Dad shook Cap’s hand. “Come on in. Sorry we made you wait.”

“No big deal,” Cap said, grunting as he climbed the remaining steps. “I was early. Missus made me walk. Doctor’s talking her ear off aboutcontrolling cholesterol levels,which means that I have to choke down whatever nasty concoction she found on the internet.” He glanced back at Nick. “You don’t know any vegans, do you, Nicky?”

“No, sir.”

“Good. Keep it that way. They can’t be trusted. But what she doesn’t know can’t hurt her, right? A beer sounds good right about now.”

“She already called me,” Dad said from the kitchen. “I picked up low-calorie beer for you.”

“That woman,” Cap muttered. “Meddles in everything. Still gay, Nicky?”

“Yeah. They say I’ll never be rid of it. Apparently, my body is riddled with homo—”

Cap waved a hand at him. “Yeah, yeah. I hear you. You’re lucky. You can get yourself a man and not have to deal with all this nonsense.”

Nick frowned. “I don’t think that’s how it works.”

“Maybe I’ll give it a go,” Cap said, rubbing his mustache. “My secretary says your dad is dreamy, whatever that means. Think I got a shot?”

Nick stared at him in horror. “Why would yousaythat?”

“So I could see the look on your face,” Cap said, shaking his head. “Oh, Nicky, don’t ever change.”

Dad came out of the kitchen, two beers in hand. He paused in the entryway to the den, eyes narrowing. “Do I even want to know?”

“Having some guy talk,” Cap said, patting Nick on the back. “Ain’t that right?”

“You can’t marry Cap,” Nick said to his dad. “Not only is that a conflict of interest for your job, it’s gross. He can’t be my stepdad!”

Cap laughed, bending over and slapping his knee.

Dad gaped.

The doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it,” Nick shouted, hurrying toward the door where hopefully his salvation awaited. He didn’t want to see Dad and Cap cuddling on the couch.

Seth was standing on the tiny porch, shuffling from side to side. He wore khakis and a wool pullover that looked really soft.