Page 24

24

CREW

I tugged my jersey into place and grabbed my wristband from my locker as the other guys laced up their cleats, finished tape jobs, and swapped jabs about their walk-up playlist. Parker stood near Matthewson at the lineup board, both of them in their seafoam-colored warm-up jackets, going over the batting order.

Drew Rockland stood with Mejia by the couch area, discussing pitching mechanics. I caught the tail end of whatever he was saying, something about the fastball spin direction. Rockland wasn’t loud or flashy, but every time he showed up, pitchers listened. Not because he used to be some superstar—though he’d had a decent career—but because he knew what the hell he was talking about. Even Castro, the pitching coach, didn’t mind Rockland giving advice to our pitchers. No one ever acted like it was weird that our manager’s husband was hanging out in the clubhouse either.

No side-eyes.

No whispered comments.

Nothing .

Sabato flopped down beside Ramos. “Think Mejia’s finally figured out that slider? Or is Rockland just sweet-talking him?”

Ramos smirked. “Man could probably convince me to eat kale.”

They both laughed, and that was it. Just normal clubhouse chatter.

Then the door opened, and Gage Statler walked in. Matthewson’s husband was dressed casually in a Seawolves T-shirt and jeans and he made a beeline for Matthewson. The two of them talked for a second, then Gage leaned in and kissed him quickly, like he didn’t care who saw it.

Matthewson didn’t flinch. Didn’t check to see who was watching.

I did though.

No one else seemed to care. Not one guy looked twice.

I turned back to my locker, pretending to dig around for an item I didn’t need, just to give myself a second to breathe. Being around the Seawolves and seeing how easy it was for the coaches to be out and proud made me think more about coming out myself. If I ever did, I didn’t want it to be dramatic.

I just wanted what they had.

Someone I could share my life with. A kiss before a game. Someone waiting for me after home games. Not hiding behind closed doors like when Knox and I played on the Rockies.

The night of the ESPYs, we hadn’t talked about the past. We’d let our time together be what it was; both of us knew it was only a one-time thing. We had mentioned maybe meeting up when the Seawolves played the Twins. Our plan was vague, like neither of us wanted to admit how badly we needed it to happen.

And yeah, it was still weeks away. But for the first time, I wasn’t sure I could keep going like this—acting like I didn’t care, like it didn’t matter that I couldn’t have what Matthewson had. What Parker had.

What I wanted.

Not just with Knox, not just for a kiss before a game, but for me .

Coming out didn’t have to mean coming out with someone. It didn’t have to be some big reveal tied to a relationship or a headline or a public moment I couldn’t control. Maybe it could just be ... mine.

And if the media picked up on it, or if people found out, maybe that wouldn’t ruin everything.

Maybe it would just make it a little easier to breathe …

Three Weeks Later

My shirt clung to my back as I made my way into the clubhouse. Morning drills had been brutal, but nothing I couldn’t handle. I headed for my locker, half-tuned into the usual music from someone’s speaker and guys just shooting the shit.

Then I saw a familiar bag.

It was propped up in front of an empty locker across the room, a temporary nameplate stuck above it. My steps slowed, like my brain was trying to catch up to my body, because I knew whose bag it was.

When I got closer to the locker, I saw the name written on a piece of masking tape: Singleton.

No way. No way it was my Singleton.

I walked over to the lineup board.

Singleton – 1B

My heart skipped a beat. “Knox Singleton?” I muttered, mostly to myself.

Matthewson, who stood off to the side with his tablet, peeked over at me, then at the board.

“Yeah. You didn’t hear? He got traded to us last night. He’s active today. Starting at first.”

I tried to play it cool. “Huh. Didn’t see the trade news.”

“He’s a solid guy. Played for the Twins, and now he’s with us. Wait … Didn’t you two play on the Rockies together?”

I nodded, still processing the info. “Yeah, we did. He’s a good guy and will fit right in. ”

Matthewson gave a small nod. “Good to hear. He’s talking with Parker now.”

It was like I needed to see for myself that Knox was in the same building as me, so I made my way toward the skipper’s office. The door was closed, but just as I was about to turn and head back to my locker, the door opened.

My stare met Knox’s and at the same time, we both beamed.

“Hey,” I greeted as he stepped into the hall.

“Hey.”

After a brief pause, we gave each other a bro hug. I wanted it to be more. Wanted to wrap both arms around him and feel his entire body pressed to mine, but since we were in public, I couldn’t possibly.

We pulled apart, and my eyes connected with Parker’s as he sat at his desk.

“We played together in Denver,” I clarified.

“I know.” My manager smiled. “Mind showing Singleton around?”

“Not at all.”

My hand itched to reach down and lace our fingers together, but instead, I motioned with my head for Knox to follow, and I gave him the grand tour of the clubhouse.

When we got to a rarely-used closet at the far end of the hall, I pulled him inside and locked the door.

“I had no idea you were traded,” I whispered.

“I was surprised you didn’t call or text me.”

“I didn’t see the trade news. You should’ve called or texted me.”

“I had packing to do.”

“So it’s like that?” I teased.

He stepped closer, his body brushing mine. The space was tight, but I didn’t care. I reached out and cupped his cheek.

“Nah. It’s like this.” Before I could think, he was kissing me.

It wasn’t slow or hesitant. It was like we’d both been waiting for this, and as soon as our lips met, I wanted more. I drew him closer until no space remained between us. The kiss deepened and became hungrier. Like a few weeks apart had been too damn long.

We broke apart, both of us breathless. I ran my thumb over his bottom lip. “Come over after the game,” I murmured. “We need to talk.”

He didn’t hesitate. “Text me the address.”

“Better yet, I’ll drive us.”

After we beat the Reds 3-2, Knox climbed into my passenger seat, his hair still damp from showering. I tossed my game bag in the back and then slid into the cab.

“Not that I’m surprised, but that off-balanced throw from Jacobs you snagged was awesome.”

“Coming from you, I’ll take it.”

“Think you’ll like it here?”

“Yeah,” he answered. “Already feels better than Minnesota did.”

I nodded, eyes on the road. “Parker runs a good ship. Matthewson too. The guys are great and you’ll fit right in.”

“Hope so. Seems like you’ve got a solid team.”

I glanced over. “So do you now.”

We didn’t say much else. Not because it was awkward. It just didn’t feel like we had to fill the silence.

When I pulled into my building’s garage, I parked and leaned back in my seat.

“This feels kinda surreal.”

“Yeah.”

He turned toward me. “You ever think we’d end up on the same team again?”

“Not once. But I’m so happy we did. I missed you.”

“I missed you too.”

We got out and headed inside. I flicked on the lights and dropped my keys on the counter while he walked in. He didn’t seem surprised by anything. Just gave the place a once-over as he strolled further inside.

“Looks like your place in Denver. Just … smaller.”

“Same furniture,” I said with a shrug, “different city. ”

He nodded and stepped closer, then nudged his head toward my bedroom. “Bed still comfortable?”

“Yeah. Same bed too.”

“Good.” He smirked.

Without another word, I kissed him. He kissed me back, quickly sliding his hands up my arms to grip my shoulders. We didn’t break the kiss as he guided me back toward my bedroom. I grabbed a handful of his shirt and pulled him closer. The heat between us grew as we stumbled a little, and the edge of the bed bumped against the back of my legs.

When we finally pulled apart, his breath came in quick pants, and his forehead pressed against mine. We stood there for a second, eyes closed, still holding on to each other, just trying to catch our breath.

“This feels easy,” I murmured and turned on the light on my nightstand.

“Too easy?”

“I don’t know.”

His hand drifted up my neck, thumb brushing under my jaw. “Maybe it’s just supposed to be.”

“Maybe.”

He leaned in again, and I didn’t stop him. Didn’t want to. I kissed him harder this time, like I could make up for every night we hadn’t done this. He grasped the hem of my shirt and slipped it over my head.

He let the shirt fall wherever and shoved me back onto the bed. I hit the mattress hard. The second he straddled my hips, he kissed me again.

I slid my hands under his shirt, feeling the heat of him, the strong lines of his back and shoulders. I needed more. Needed him.

“Off,” I breathed against his mouth, tugging at the fabric.

He grinned as he yanked it over his head and tossed it aside. My hands were on him before his shirt even hit the floor, sliding over his chest, tracing the V of his hips, memorizing every inch all over again.

He leaned down to brush his mouth against mine. “I missed this.”

“Me too,” I whispered back.

He took my mouth again, deeper this time, making me feel every second we’d lost. Neither of us rushed. It wasn’t just about getting off; it was about this . About us .

His lips moved down my throat, across my chest, biting lightly at my skin until I was arching into him. I fisted my hand through his hair as he went lower.

When he palmed me through my jeans, I groaned and rocked up into his hand. “Did you miss this dick too?” I teased him, my lips against his ear.

He chuckled, fingers already working my fly. “Missed all of you.”

I lifted my hips as he shoved my jeans and boxers down together, leaving me bare beneath him. His hand wrapped around my shaft, and a ragged breath tore from my throat as he stroked me tightly.

“Thought about this. Every damn day,” he admitted against my neck.

“Yeah?” I hooked my fingers under his waistband, tugging the button free.

He pushed up enough to kick off his jeans. When he pressed against me again, his erection brushed mine, both of us hard and leaking, and we slid against each other easily.

I grabbed the back of his neck and kissed him again—harder, deeper—until I couldn’t breathe. Then I broke away and reached blindly for the nightstand. Once I got a hand on it, I yanked the drawer open until I found the lube and tossed it onto the bed between us.

“You sure you want me to top?” he asked.

I stared up at him without hesitation. “Yeah. I need you inside me.”

Hunger and possession darkened in his eyes but he didn’t say anything else. Didn’t need to.

He grabbed the lube and coated his palm, stroking his length with slow, steady pulls while watching me like he was already inside my head.

I slid my hand down too, jerking myself to match.

“Fuck, look at you,” he breathed out, pumping his cock. “I love watching you touch yourself.”

I wrapped my hand tighter around my shaft, matching his rhythm, our eyes locked. “Couldn’t stop if I tried. ”

“But don’t come yet,” he rasped. “I wanna feel you break when I’m inside you.”

I gritted my teeth, dragging my fist over the flushed head, the tease almost painful.

“Then get inside me already.”

He coated his fingers again and I spread my legs wider. He worked my hole, his fingertips gliding over the tight ring before easing one inside. I groaned low as my hips rolled into the burn.

“Fuck,” I gasped. “More.”

He worked a second digit in, stretching me open with practiced, deliberate precision. I clenched around him, the hot glide making my thighs shake.

“So fucking tight,” he muttered, circling my rim before sinking deeper.

Panting, I clutched the sheets as I watched him rub more lube over his shaft and line it up against my hole.

He pushed in, the blunt head forcing me open and dragging a ragged sound from my throat. He didn’t rush. He made sure I felt every thick inch as he buried himself inside me.

“Jesus,” I rasped. “You feel so fucking good.”

He grunted, and when he was as deep as he could go, he paused, giving me time to breathe.

We stayed like that, staring at each other until his hand slid to my jaw, and he ran his thumb over my bottom lip.

“I tried to move on,” he muttered. “Tried to forget how you felt, but couldn’t.”

My chest tightened so hard it hurt. “I didn’t want to either,” I admitted. “I still love you. I always have.”

“I still love you too,” he replied. “Doesn’t matter where we are: you’re still mine.”

I hooked my legs around his waist, holding him inside me, refusing to let the world take this away from us again. “Yours,” I breathed. “Always.”

He kissed me briefly, then pulled back and slammed into me.

“Fuck, don’t stop,” I gasped.

“Not gonna,” he panted, grinding into me with perfect rhythm to split me open over and over.

I fisted the sheets tighter as he pounded into me, every brutal thrust sending fire through my veins. He moved like he was trying to carve himself into my body, into my fucking soul.

“God, Crew,” he gritted out, his hips hitting deep. “So fucking good.”

“Harder,” I gasped, digging my heels into his back. I needed more; I needed everything.

He gave it to me rough and relentless until I was writhing under him, my cock trapped between us, desperate for friction.

“Touch yourself,” he ordered.

I didn’t hesitate. I wrapped my hand around my dick and pumped fast, chasing the edge he was driving me toward with every thrust.

He slammed into me again and again. Our bodies were coated with sweat.

“I’m close,” he growled. “Gonna fill your mouth. Open up for me.”

Before I could think, he pulled out. I let go of my cock and grabbed his thighs as he straddled my chest. His hand wrapped around his shaft, jerking fast and rough, eyes locked on mine. I opened up, needing it. He cursed low, muscles straining, and then he came—hot and hard—spilling into my mouth and down my chin. I swallowed what I could and licked my lips.

But he wasn’t finished.

Knox slid back down my body, and wrapped his hand around my cock. “Not leaving you like this.”

He took me into his mouth deep, sucking hard like he was starving for it.

My head slammed back against the mattress as my hips jerked helplessly. “Fuck?—”

His mouth tightened around me, while his tongue dragged under the sensitive ridge, and I broke apart. I came hard down his throat, my entire body locking up, a shout ripped from my lungs.

He swallowed everything and didn’t stop until I was shaking and gasping beneath him .

Then he crawled back up and kissed me hard, the taste of sweat, cum, and everything filthy between us still on his skin. I grabbed the back of his neck. “You’re mine,” I whispered against his lips. “Every fucking inch.”

He didn’t answer—just pressed harder into me like he couldn’t stand even a centimeter of space between us.

I held him there, our hearts hammering wildly against one another.

We were wrecked, raw, and still shaking, but he was here. That was all I needed.

My sheets were pulled halfway up, my arm stretched behind my head while Knox laid on his side facing me, his fingers dragging slowly across my stomach, tracing my six-pack. He hadn’t stopped touching me since we’d fallen back into bed. I never wanted him to stop.

“Still can’t believe this actually happened,” he murmured.

I peered over at him. “Us or the trade?”

He grinned. “Both.”

It was quiet for a while after that, but it wasn’t weird. Just comfortable.

I took a breath and shifted a little under the covers. “I’ve been thinking about coming out.”

His hand paused, then continued its slow trail across my stomach. “Yeah?”

I nodded, looking at the ceiling. “For a while now.” I hesitated, letting the words sink in before I continued. “Seeing Parker with his husband, Matthewson too ... It made me start thinking about it more. I don’t know if I’m ready yet, but I want to be.”

Knox didn’t respond right away, then he scooted closer to rest his head on my shoulder, his breath warm against my skin. “And now that I’m here?”

I exhaled softly then turned my head slightly to meet his gaze. “I want it even more.”

“Whatever pace you need, I’m here for it.”

I blew out a breath as my eyes drifted back to the ceiling. “You always make things feel easier than they should.”

He chuckled quietly. “Pretty sure that’s just us.”

I reached over and brushed my knuckles along his jaw, the feeling of his stubble against my skin reminding me how much I missed him. “You really missed me?”

Once he met my gaze, a soft smile spread across his face. “Yeah. I tried not to, but I did.”

“Good. ‘Cause I missed the hell out of you too.”