He leans close, brushing his lips over mine again. “Yeah, I do want you in the shower. And then I want you at this party with me, too.”
I blink. “Shit. You’re going to make me go to parties.”
“Only after championship games and major milestones.”
I sigh. “You’re going to win so many damn championship games.”
Orlando laughs. “That’s the plan.”
When he stands to walk away, I grab his wrist. Orlando turns to me, and I hold his eye, steadying myself as I prepare the words.
“I love you, Orlando,” I tell him.
Light flashes through his eyes. “I love you, too, Troy.”
EPILOGUE
ORLANDO
One year later…
It’s a fast pitch from Harley, but the batter nails it, sending the ball soaring to far right field. I jump to my feet, my heart kicking behind my ribs as Troy tears across the grass, hurtling himself at the baseball.
He catches it right before he slams into the fence, then holds it triumphantly over his head as the small crowd cheers.
Tonight’s game is the final match of the season for Philly’s recreational LGBTQ league. It only took a few months of constantly bringing it up to get Troy to sign up. And even though I thought he might quit when he got placed in the outfield, he’s come to love his new position.
Not quite as much as he loves being on a team again, though. I grin to myself as I watch some of the other players congratulate him on the catch while they switch sides.
Troy’s team holds strong, and the Sluggers pull ahead and win it, 3-2. Afterward, I wait patiently with all the other partners on the side, joking around until he comes out, a half-grin cocked up on his face.
“Guess you’re happy about the win,” I say after I take him in a kiss.
Troy pulls me close with a grunt before letting go. “You see that catch?”
“Good hit in the third inning, too.”
The league is competitive, but no one is trying to make a career of baseball. Troy was anxious about how he’d fit in at first. Like I expected, though, he’s quickly found his place among the other players and teams, and competing again has brought a new burst of energy to his life.
I know what’s good for my man.
“Are we meeting up with the team at the regular bar?” I pull out my keys. “I’m driving, so you can get drunk with Elsie and her wife if you want.”
Troy waggles his brows at me. He’s in his sweaty white t-shirt, and there’s still a glow on his face from the game.
Fuck, I’ll never get over how hot this man is.
“What?” I ask with a chuckle. “Why are you doing your eyebrow thing?”
“Because I’ve got a surprise for you before we head to the bar,” he says and nods backward. “This way.”
We promise a few people that we’ll meet them soon, and Troy leads me to the outbuilding behind the dugout. Inside there’s a locker room and some storage, but after glancing around quickly, he goes straight to a big wooden door.
“Managed to borrow the key,” he grumbles, showing me the key before he turns and unlocks the door.
Troy hits the light as I step in after him to the big storage room. An old set of lockers lines one wall, and there’s a bunch of random baseball equipment to the side, bases and helmets and some umpire uniforms.
I take a deep inhale. “Damn. This room even smells like baseball.”
