Page 15 of Saved By the Pitcher

Mike was beginning to get on board with their quirkiness. “Now what?”

James looked away with a bit of bashfulness. “I can’t even say. It’s too sick.”

“Okay, now you have to tell me,” Mike implored.

James sighed with resignation. “Billy made a comment once that you were so hot, even he would rub one out with you.”

Mike’s jaw dropped. “Uh, thanks?”

James laughed. “So now, he texted me for your number so he could send you a dick pic. He’s yanking my chain, of course. He wouldn’t.”

Mike regained his composure. “Well, as cute as your brother is, I’m kind of enamored by someone else. I’d rather be yanking that guy’s…chain.”

James’ face heated as he glanced away, unable to hide a bit of a grin. “Oh yeah? Who would that be?”

Mike pulled James by the front of his shorts until they were bumped up against each other face-to-face. “I think you know.” Mike leaned in closer to kiss James, but James pulled away with a jerk.

“Sorry,” James mumbled. “It’s not that I don’t want to. It’s just, people could see.”

Mike realized he should proceed with more caution. “Yes, you’re right. I’ll be more careful.”

James shook his head to signify it wasn’t a big deal, and they resumed their exit from the box. “I have to think of how to respond to that little fucker.”

Mike laughed. “Here. Hand me the phone.” James was hesitant, but then handed his cell over. Mike typed a text response to Billy and hit send.

“What did you type?” James wondered.

“I typed that it was me—Mike—and I gave him my number and told him to put up or shut up.” Mike looked at James’ shocked expression and wondered if he had crossed a line. “I assume he’ll know that I’m joking, as well?”

James broke into a grin. “Hmm, I think so. Problem is, he’s such a little phisher, I could see him sending the pic just to call your bluff.”

Mike chuckled. “Well, maybe it will give me a preview of what I can expect from you? Are you built like him in that department?”

James’ coloring from his Scandinavian mother revealed his embarrassment once more. “First off, my brother and I aren’t in the habit of playing ‘show me yours and I’ll show you mine.’ Secondly, we don’t resemble each other at all and I assume that applies to everything. We had different mothers and we both favor them as opposed to our father. Thirdly, aren’t you being presumptuous when you suggest you’ll be seeing my equipment?” James’ smile showed he wasn’t offended.

“Am I?” Mike asked as they made their way into the hall.

James didn’t answer. Mike wasn’t sure if it was because he wanted to be a tease or if it was because James hadn’t decided. It was then that Mike’s cell pinged.

“Uh-oh,” James groaned.

Mike looked down at his phone. There was a text that started ‘this is Billy.’ Mike was somewhat relieved there was no attached photo. When Mike opened the text, he was shocked to read Billy’s warning not to sleep with his brother. A follow-up text was displayed. Mike read Billy’s message that if he were to sleep with James or even intimate that he wanted to, it would be game over. Billy’s message explained that James feared relationships, and if Mike wanted more than quick sex, Mike would need to be patient and try to help James see he could have more.

Mike was reeling from the message, surprised by the implications as well as Billy’s gumption and interference.

“Was it him?” James asked.

“Huh? Uh, no,” Mike mumbled. “It was business.”

Once they left the ballpark, James noticed that Mike had become quiet. His flirtatiousness had vanished. Mike offered to take James home in a car provided by a private service, and James wondered if Mike’s silence in the limousine was because he didn’t want to be overheard by the driver.

“Everything okay?” James ventured when they were only a couple of blocks from James’ apartment.

“Hmm? Oh, yes. Everything is fine. I do have some pressing business to address, though. Maybe a raincheck on dinner?”

James felt his heart thud. All day, he had been coaxing his brain and other parts of his body to behave, focusing on the ballgame instead of the tickle of Mike’s leg hairs against his, or the touch of Mike’s strong hand caressing his back. James had been too afraid to escalate anything for fear someone could communicate back to his father about what they’d seen. Now he could have been with Mike in the privacy of his apartment, and Mike was going to bail. He racked his brain to think of whether he had said something off-putting. He didn’t think it was Billy’s dick-pic threat because Mike had played along. James tried to reason with himself that maybe Mike was being honest that a business issue was pressing.

“Okay,” James replied, knowing his tone didn’t hide his disappointment.