Caleb,
I’m here with my boyfriend at the Marriott. If you’re looking to have some fun, we’d love to have you over. Call me at 816-555-1212.
Juan
Hmm, there was that phrase again—“to have some fun.” Was that what he was all about? Hook-ups and having fun? He crumpled the paper and tossed it to the floor. He didn’t have time to think about that right now.
He walked back to the kitchen, where he found Lucas looking up “baseball” on Wikipedia.
“Seriously? You’re going to read about baseball?”
* * * *
Lucas swiveled his head to find Caleb looming over him, his lips twitching. God, those lips. Would he ever feel a kiss like that again? So light, and yet, the sweetest of his life. That kiss held promises. He didn’t care what Caleb said. He knew he felt it, too. It didn’t matter right now, though. Lucas had meant what he’d said about being someone’s secret. Besides, his priority now had to be learning aboutbaseball.
He watched Caleb round the table and take a seat.
“What? Reading is how I learn. How most people learn,” he responded defensively.
Caleb stared at him, appearing incredulous for a moment. “Yeah, well, baseball is unique. It’s a living, breathing thing. It has heart. It has strength. It becomes a part of a person. It’s not just a game, Lucas. You have to feel it to learn it,” he stressed as he lightly punched his own chest with his fist.
Lucas stared at him slack-jawed. Was Caleb serious? He seemed to be, but was the man just messing with him? “Feel it?”
Caleb sighed. “Okay, let’s go over a few things. I’m going to give you the basics and then I’ve got agame for us to watch on DVR. I’ll explain as we go.”
Lucas nodded cautiously, not sure he would ever really understand baseball, or any sport for that matter, but he needed to give it a try. He was still new at his job, and if his boss felt like he wasn’t doing his best, the man might not keep him around for the news spot.
Caleb scooted his chair closer. “Have you ever played baseball?”
“T-ball. One time. Kindergarten. Got a black eye.”
“How the hell did that happen? Did someone hit you with the ball? The bat?”
Lucas felt the flush creep into his face. “Um, yes and no,” he told him, hoping that would be the end of it.
Caleb sat back. “What does that mean?”
Lucas twisted his mouth and shrugged. “Well, I mean ‘yes,’ the bat hit me, and I mean ‘no,’ it wasn’t ‘someone,’” he replied, using his fingers as air quotes. He kept his eyes on Caleb’s face, waiting for him to understand.
Caleb’s lips quirked into a smile and his eyes crinkled. “You’re telling me that you hit yourself with the bat?”
Lucas tilted his chin and blushed. “I hit the ball and accidentally threw up the bat and it…landed on my face.”
“Holy cow! I’ll bet that hurt like a mother!”
“Definitely. Anyway, my mom took me to the ER and I never played T-ball again.”
Caleb smiled. “I guess my life could have changed if that happened the first day I played, too. Glad it didn’t.”
“So, as you can see, I basically know nothing.”
“No problem. We’re going to start with the basics. Let’s go over the positions in a team first. Okay?”
Lucas nodded and listened as Caleb explained the positions, their locations on the field, their responsibilities, and more. Caleb’s enthusiasm flowed out in his voice and his animated demeanor, and it was contagious. Surprisingly, Lucas found himself learning and enjoying himself.
Once Lucas understood the basics, Caleb put on a baseball game in the living room and gestured for Lucasto take a seat on the sofa. The man grabbed the remote, but sat at the opposite end.
Lucas was surprised at the disappointment he felt, although it meant Caleb was respecting his wishes. If Caleb only knew that the more Lucas was around him, the more he wanted Caleb to kiss him again. But heneeded to stick to his guns. He couldn’t hide who he was. Not for anyone.
“Earth to Lucas. Come in, Lucas.”
He jerked out of his thoughts and smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, I was…daydreaming.”
Caleb cocked his head and narrowed his eyes, studying him. “Are you okay? Am I throwing you too much info at once?”
“No. Seriously, I’m fine. You’re a great teacher,” he said in a rush, eager to get back to learning so he didn’t have to keep staring into Caleb’s sky blue eyes.
Caleb didn’t look like he believed him, but he turned back to the television and started the game. “This is from last year’s World Series. It’s got some great plays.”
* * * *
They spent the next two hours watching plays, pausing and discussing the game, until they were midway through. Caleb paused it again. He rose from the sofa and stretched his arms toward the ceiling.