Throw. Catch. Stretch. Breathe.
Stop living inside your head, Jack. Everything is fine.
It doesn’t take long for fans to file in and fill the seats. A guy near the rail shouts something. I can’t make out all of it, but I catch just enough to make my shoulders tense.
“…The Coyotes are a bunch of dick-sucking pussies.” It’s loud enough to punch me right in the throat. My hands go cold.
Andres stiffens so fast it’s like someone pulled a string in his spine. He turns, eyes narrowing toward the man, and I know that look. That look is violence wrapped in a PR-friendly package.
I step in front of him without thinking, like my body moves on instinct.
“Don’t,” I whisper.
Andres's gaze snaps to mine.
“Mi sol,” he says, voice tight. “He?—”
“I know.” My throat burns. “Just… don’t. Not here. Not like that.”
Andres's throwing hand curls into a fist at his side. I reach out and hook a finger into the side of his glove, grounding him the way he grounds me.
“Focus on the game,” I whisper, forcing steadiness into my voice. “Let’s win and show that asshole we’rewinnerswho suck dick.”
His eyes soften, just a fraction, and he nods once. “Okay,” he breathes.
Sometimes my protector needs me to protect him. Well, more like prevent him from jail time and a PR nightmare.
Kai jogs over, eyebrows up. “Everything good?”
Andres's expression goes blank. “Fine.”
Kai looks at me and I give him a tight smile that isn’t a smile. His jaw shifts, like he understands without being told.
“Cool, cool,” Kai says, too casual. “So I’m gonna go ruin their pitcher’s self-esteem.”
We both snort and I smack him with my glove. “How the fuck does your wife put up with you?”
The look that’s plastered on his face says it all. “My tongue and dick do a lot of convincing.” He hits the bill of my hat and then jogs off.
Brooks appears at the edge of our bubble, eyes sharp behind those stupid sunglasses. He glances toward the stands, then back to us.
“Need anything?” he asks, voice low.
Andres's mouth tightens and I shake my head. “We’re good.”
Fuck, why is everyone so observant all of a sudden?
Brooks nods slowly, then says, “Look, just know… none of us give a shit about you guys being together. You’re our brothers and we love you for who you are. Plus, we all knew it was going to happen. Fuck everyone else. Let’s go out there and make their team lose so hard that they cry.”
Then he walks away like he didn’t just offer felony-level loyalty.
Bottom of the first inning.
First base is my home, glove ready, body loose, brain locked in.
Ball. Batter. Pitch.
Crack.
