Page 28

28

CREW

We pulled up to my parents’ place just before ten.

I half-expected someone to already be waiting on the porch, arms crossed, ready with a hundred questions. Word traveled faster than lightning in July in Harvest Ridge. The fact that no one had popped up yet was suspicious.

As we walked up the steps, I muttered, “Can’t believe we haven’t been swarmed yet. Usually by now the Welcoming Committee would’ve rolled up with pitchforks and pound cake.”

Knox huffed a laugh. “Miss Connie slipping in her old age?”

I smirked. “Doubt it. She probably sent out a group text the second we checked into the motel.”

I knocked once out of habit, then opened the front door.

“Can I help?—”

My mom’s voice cut off as she stepped out of the kitchen, her eyes locking on me like I’d stepped out of a memory instead of a rental car.

Her mouth dropped open. “Crew? ”

“Surprise.” I reached out my arms for a hug. “Guess Miss Connie’s gossip train is running slow this week.”

Mom crossed the room in a heartbeat to put her arms around me. “You didn’t tell me you were coming home.”

“I know. It was a last-minute decision. We’re on our way to Raleigh.”

She pulled back, her hands on my face for a second like she was making sure I was really standing in front of her.

I motioned to Knox beside me. “This is Knox. He’s my … ah … teammate.” The word teammate still felt sour on my tongue, but it wouldn’t be long before I could tell everyone the truth.

Her gaze shifted to him, still misty but smiling. “Nice to meet you, Knox.”

“You too, ma’am.” They shook.

“You boys eat yet?” Mom asked, already on autopilot.

“We’re okay. Grabbed some breakfast sandwiches at the diner. Is Dad around though?”

“He’s out in the shop. Why?”

“I need to talk to both of you. And Finn, if he can swing by. Can you call him?”

She nodded. “Of course, is everything okay?”

“I’ll explain when everyone gets here.”

She disappeared down the hall, and a minute later, I heard the back door creak open.

My dad stepped inside, wiping his hands on a rag, and stopped in the doorway. His stare found me and for a second, he just stood there. Then he crossed the room and pulled me into a hug that caught me completely off guard. “Didn’t know you were coming in,” he muttered. “Damn good to see you, son.”

“You too, Dad.”

When he let go, I motioned to Knox. “This is Knox. We’re teammates.”

My dad offered a firm handshake and a solid smile. “Welcome. You a corner guy?”

“First base,” Knox confirmed .

“Ah. Good spot. Glad to have you out here.”

“Finn’s on his way,” my mom called from the kitchen. “Y’all want tea?”

“Sure,” I answered. Sweet tea in the south was exactly what I needed to put me at ease. Though something stronger would be better but seeing as it was only ten in the morning—seven back in Portland—tea would have to do.

Mom disappeared again, and we all eased into the living room. My dad took his seat in his recliner, and Knox and I sat side by side on the couch. My knee bounced, and I caught my fingers twisting together in my lap.

A few minutes later, my mom returned with two glasses of sweet tea and handed them over.

“Thank you,” Knox said.

I echoed him quietly, gripping the glass and taking a long sip.

Then the front door opened.

“Well, damn,” came Finn’s voice. “Look what the cat dragged in.”

I placed my tea on the coffee table and stood. He reached me in three strides and wrapped me in a bear hug that squeezed the breath out of me. “About time you came home.”

“I missed you,” I admitted.

“Missed you too, bro.” He stepped back and looked at Knox. “And I know who you are. You’re the Seawolves’ first baseman.”

Knox offered his hand. “Sure am. Nice to meet you.”

Finn shook it. “You’ve got a hell of a swing. I watch whenever I can.”

Knox glanced at me, then back to Finn. “Thanks. Appreciate that.”

Finn dropped onto the arm of the couch and leaned forward slightly. “So, what’s going on?”

I grabbed my tea, took a slow drink and looked at the glass.

No turning back.

I’d played this conversation a hundred different ways in my head—on planes, in hotel rooms, alone in the dark after road games. Sometimes they got angry. Sometimes they didn’t believe me. Sometimes they hugged me and said they already knew .

But not once had I actually pictured myself in this exact room with Knox sitting beside me, his leg brushing mine, and my family staring at me.

This wasn’t just telling them I was bisexual. It was admitting I’d been hiding a part of myself from the people I loved most. And no matter how much I told myself I had my reasons, the guilt sat heavy in my gut.

I just hoped the truth would feel lighter.

“I wanted to come home because …” The words trailed off before I could catch them.

No one rushed me.

I took a breath and reached over and slid my hand into Knox’s.

My mom’s breath caught.

My dad balked.

My brother’s mouth fell open.

“Knox isn’t just my teammate.” I kept my voice even. “He’s my boyfriend.”

Silence.

Just the clock ticking and the low hum of the fan overhead disturbed the stillness.

It seemed like hours passed before my mom spoke first.

“Crew …” Her voice cracked. “Why didn’t you tell us sooner?”

“I didn’t know how,” I admitted. “I was scared of how you’d react.”

“Because I go to church?” she probed.

I nodded slowly. “Yeah. Partly. Not because I thought you’d hate me or anything. Just… because I’ve heard what people in your congregation are ‘supposed’ to believe. And I didn’t know where you really stood.”

She reached across the coffee table, her fingers curling lightly over mine. “I don’t understand it all,” she whispered, “but you’re my son. I could never stop loving you.”

“You don’t have to understand. Just knowing you still love me means everything.”

“Always.” Mom let go of my hand.

Dad cleared his throat. “I drove trucks my whole life. Missed birthdays, holidays, most of your games. I got no room to judge how you live your life, Crew. I just want you to be happy.”

“I am,” I assured them.

Finn grinned like he’d known the whole time. “You could’ve just told me, jackass.”

I huffed a breath, shaking my head. “Wasn’t that easy.”

“You know I’ve always got your back, right?” He stood and hugged me again.

“Yeah,” I murmured. “I do.”

Everyone stood and more hugs were exchanged. “Is it okay to say welcome to the family?” Mom asked Knox.

He looked over at me and I smiled, giving him the okay. For the first time in hours, maybe days, I actually felt like I could breathe.

“I’d like that,” Knox said to my mom.

“Good. Now you boys can’t be strangers anymore. I want you both here during the offseason even if it’s only for a couple of weeks, or Thanksgiving or Christmas.”

“Deal,” I replied.

My dad glanced at the clock. “You boys need to get going?”

“Yeah. We’ve got a game tonight.”

“What time is your flight?”

“Soon, but there’s actually one more thing.”

I sat back down and could feel three pairs of eyes landed on me at once.

“I ran into Mallory yesterday,” I began. “At the Dixie Mart.”

My mom blinked. “You did?”

“Yeah. She was there with her son. His name’s Grady.” I let out a breath. “And she said he’s mine.”

My dad’s brows shot up. Finn froze. My mom’s hand went to her mouth.

“I guess she got pregnant right before the draft and that’s why she broke up with me. She’s been raising him on her own.”

“And you just found out?” my mom questioned.

“Yeah, she told me this morning. We went to her parents’ house before coming here. I asked why she didn’t say anything. She said she wanted me to focus on my career. That she didn’t want to hold me back.”

Finn let out a slow breath, dragging a hand over his jaw. “Three and a half years …”

“Yeah.”

My mom’s eyes welled. “Does he know who you are?”

I shook my head. “No, but I asked her to bring him to Raleigh so I could spend some time with him. I want to be a part of his life.”

Dad leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “You really think you’re ready for all this?”

“I have to be,” I replied. “He’s mine. And I don’t want him growing up wondering why I didn’t show up.”

My mom reached for my hand. “We’ll help however we can. Just say the word.”

Finn’s face softened. “Damn, man. First you come out, then you then you tell us you have a kid. You really don’t mess around.”

I huffed a laugh. “Yeah, well … figured if I was gonna drop bombs on y’all, might as well do them at once.”

After we said goodbye, I gave my mom one last hug that I didn’t want to end. My dad clapped me on the back. Finn walked us out and told me to text him when we landed.

Once we got in the car, I pulled away from the curb and headed out of town.

“You good?” Knox asked gently.

I blew out a long breath. “I think so.”

“You did it, you know. All of it. And you’re still standing.”

“Yeah.” I turned my head to look at him. “And what about you? Not only did I find out I have a kid, but you found out the guy you’re dating has a son.”

Knox shrugged like it wasn’t even a question. “Then I guess I’m dating a hot dad now.”

Something in my chest cracked open again, but this time it wasn’t panic. It was relief. I grabbed his hand and kissed the back of it. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Once we landed in Raleigh, the sky was starting to shift with the late afternoon light. With no time for a hotel stop or downtime, we grabbed a rideshare and headed straight for the stadium.

As soon as we walked into the clubhouse, the noise swallowed us—music thumping from the corner speakers, conversations overlapping. Typical game day energy.

Parker was waiting near the back lockers, tablet in hand. He looked up the second we stepped in. “Figured you two would cut it close.”

“At least we made it,” I replied, tossing my bag into my locker.

“How’d it go?”

“Better than I expected,” I admitted. “Not easy. But good.”

“Yeah?” His gaze held mine. “You all right?”

I gave a nod that actually felt real. “Getting there.”

He jerked his chin toward Knox. “You?”

Knox grinned. “I’m good, but he cried twice. Pretty sure he’s still dehydrated.”

“I did not,” I snorted.

Parker huffed a laugh. “Well, make sure he drinks something before he passes out. You’re behind the plate tonight, Stratton.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

He turned to head toward his office and Knox stepped in beside me, grabbing his jersey from his locker. “Think he missed us?”

“He won’t admit it.”

I peeled off my shirt and started getting into my gear. Behind me, someone hollered from across the room. “Hey, Stratton. You bring back souvenirs or just your ugly face?”

“Bite me,” I shot back.

And just like that, I was Crew Stratton again. Not the son. Not the surprise dad. Just a catcher, getting ready to do my job.

For the first time ever, I didn’t feel like I had to hide one part of my life just to hold on to another.