Page 7

7

BARRETT

Stetson was a complete animal.

I called for a pitch that should have been an easy ball for us, but Stetson swung. The crack of the bat rang out in my ears, and Stetson easily claimed first base. One of the outfielders sent the ball hurtling toward second base, but not fast enough. Stetson slid onto the plate, and the move was proclaimed safe.

I was impressed—with more than the sport. I watched intently as our second baseman helped a dirt-covered Stetson to his feet. Stetson stood, muscles rippling beneath his uniform and my mouth watering in response. He swapped his helmet for his cap and when those baby blues came into view, my heart seemed to stop.

Goddamn . Levi was right. This boy was the one we’d been looking for. As if he could sense me staring, Stetson met my gaze. His eyes blazed and his jaw clenched. I sensed… something. Something more than the intensity of the game. But the next batter stepped up to the plate and I was forced to shake it off.

* * *

The Thrashers were good, damn good. We held our own, but by the seventh inning, impressive stolen bases and wild pitches had them two runs ahead of us. We could still come back from it, but with that Tasmanian Devil on the field, it wouldn’t be easy.

As the season’s star rookie, all eyes were on Stetson. Mine especially. After seeing him play, I wanted him just as much as Levi did, but I still couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

When we entered the clubhouse for a break, I grabbed a bottle of water and fell into a chair. I’d gotten slammed in the ribs by a fastball and waited for the team’s medic to make their way over. I knew Levi would come see me, but he wanted to go see Stetson first. Our teams battling it out in the first game of the season had to be serendipitous.

By the time Levi joined me, I was relaxed in my seat with my shirt off while the medic checked me over.

“You okay?” he asked, crouching in front of me.

“Fine.” I leaned in to accept the kiss he offered me. “I’ve been hit worse. Have you seen Stetson?”

Levi’s face fell. “I tried. He didn’t want to talk to me.”

“Why?”

The medic cleared me with instructions to ice it as soon as the game was finished, and I stood to redress.

“When I asked him over for dinner tomorrow night, he said, ‘Why don’t you ask your boyfriend?’ and stormed off. That boy has one hell of a temper.”

It dawned on me then. “Wait, he did know you had a boyfriend, didn’t he?”

“Everyone knows we’re together, Bear.”

I reached out to touch him. “I know it feels that way, but five years is a long time. Especially in sports. I think we need to consider the idea that he didn’t know. At least, not until today.”

Levi sighed. “He was watching earlier when you kissed me. Maybe I should go explain.”

“No,” I said, pushing on his shoulders as he tried to stand. “Let him work out that anger on the field. If you go back over there and go all ‘Daddy’ on him, it might throw off his game.”

Levi smirked. “You mean you don’t want him to slip up?”

“Hell no! He’s keeping us on our toes.”

“Two minutes!”

I finished off my water and tossed the bottle in the trash. “If he’s meant to be your boy, we’ll figure it out. I promise.”

Levi at least made an attempt to relax. “Okay. I trust you.”

I leaned in for another kiss, grunting into his mouth as he reached around to give my ass a squeeze. “Get ‘em tiger,” he whispered.

The second I took to the field, my head cleared. I wasn’t lying when I told Levi I could leave the drama outside the stadium. When I was out here, my mind was centered on the game and the game alone.

By the bottom of the ninth, fatigue was evident. The game was neck and neck. The next out or the next run would settle it. The Thrashers had two outs, one person on second, and Stetson was next to bat. This time, he didn’t even look at me as he stepped up to home plate. An uncharacteristic chill shot down my spine.

I made the call, the pitcher wound up and threw. Stetson swung.

And missed.

“Strike one!”

“Get out of your head.”

“Fuck off pretty boy,” he spat.

I laughed. “Wow, you’ve got a mouth on you. You didn’t know about me, did you?”

“Sue me for thinking the man sucking my dick was single. Don’t worry; I’ll back off.”

“You’ve got it so wrong. We both want you, Rookie.”

Stetson’s head swiveled like that chick in The Exorcist . “What?”

The pitcher saw that opportunity and took it, hurling a curveball right at us. I grunted when it connected with my chest.

“Ball!”

“Pay attention,” I hissed. “We’ll talk later.”

Thankfully, Stetson listened. I wanted to win, but not because I was distracting the batter.

“Drop your elbow.” Stetson glared at me, but listened anyway. His next swing sent the ball flying over the outfield.

Home run.

I stood, wincing against the ache in my legs. I’d need a three-hour ice bath once I got home.

I kept my distance as the rest of the Thrashers met Stetson at home plate. He surprised me by finding my gaze through the flurry of chests and shoulders. “Later,” I mouthed.

Most players left the clubhouse after the game, some going home for the night and others retreating to the hotel. Few lingered in ice baths or the showers. I entered the home team’s clubhouse, banging on the door to make myself known.

Stetson stood in front of his section, hair damp and wearing nothing but a pair of gym shorts. He pulled on a t-shirt before facing me. “What do you want?” he snapped, snatching his phone from his duffel and pretending to forget I was there.

“I was hoping we could talk.” I rested against the wall, arms crossed over my chest.

“About what? Whatever joke you’ve got going with Levi? I didn’t know rookie hazing extended outside the team.”

“Can I sit?”

He shrugged. “It’s a free country.”

I took the seat next to him, taking extra care to keep some distance between us. “Why do you think we’re pranking you?”

“There’s no way both of you want me.”

“Why not?”

“Because you have each other.”

“And?”

“What else could you possibly need?”

“I think Levi’s already talked to you about that.” I paused to give him time to answer, but when he didn’t I continued. “Ever heard of polyamory? Non-monogamy?”

“Yeah, in romance novels. That stuff doesn’t exist in real life.”

“Actually, it does.” I felt a smile pull at the corners of my mouth. Finally, I’d learned something that wasn’t public knowledge about America’s Little Rookie. “You like to read?”

Stetson narrowed his eyes at me. “Not if you’re about to make fun of me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. You and Levi have more in common than you think.”

“And what about you? What’s your thing?”

“I cook.”

Stetson fell quiet for a beat, then it dawned on him. “You’re the one who made breakfast?”

“Trust me, if Levi cooked you wouldn’t be here to tell the tale.”

Finally, the boy cracked a smile.

“Don’t tell him I said that.” I rolled my bottom lip between my teeth. “You really didn’t know?”

He shook his head. “I tore my rotator cuff five years ago. At the time, they didn’t think I’d play again. I sort of swore off all things baseball for a while.”

“I promise neither of us intended to keep it from you. I think we’re so used to everyone knowing who we are that it never crossed our minds to explain it to you. I’m sorry.”

Stetson didn’t respond. Instead, he returned his attention to his phone. I took that as a sign that our conversation was over. I stood, feeling the ache settle into my muscles. “Where’s your next game?”

“San Antonio. I fly out tomorrow.”

“You should go get some rest.” He still didn’t look at me, but didn’t tell me to fuck off again either. I took it as a win. “Please don’t let our ignorance factor into your decision. Levi really likes you. I like you. You were a spitfire out there today. You really made us work.” I started to back out of the room. “Plus, you’re kind of pretty to look at.”

That was a risk, but Stetson’s signature grin curled his lips. “Hopefully I’ll see you around, Stetson.”