Epilogue
EPILOGUE
ETHAN
NEXT APRIL
Welcome to Boston. Cabin crew, doors to arrival, crosscheck, and all-call.
Flying beats driving, at least between Tampa and Boston. I’m looking forward to two days of recovery before our home opener. We dash out of the plane, grab our luggage, and head for the exit, eager to get home after a long day of traveling.
James winces as we get hit with a blast of unseasonably cold air while leaving the airport. Turning to me, he adopts a pleading expression. “Can we quit baseball and live somewhere warm?”
I laugh. “We have one season’s worth of savings. Let’s revisit that next year.”
After leaving Toronto in January, we spent two amazing weeks in Panama. James and I were both craving time alone with each other after going to Machias and then Toronto. I loved the constant sunshine, while James got a kick out of teaching me the wildest, most inappropriate phrases in Spanish and trying to trick me into saying them out loud. Much to his disappointment, I reminded him that I learned Spanish in high school and that I can’t be fooled that easily.
Things between us are going great. While we aren’t completely ready to come out to the whole world, we don’t exactly hide ourselves away, either. Letting the team, and the public, draw their own conclusions about us is the most comfortable option, at least for now.
All that aside, James and I are both primed, ready, and relaxed for the upcoming season. James books us a car to take us back to the apartment, and before long, we’re being whisked up to the 37th floor in the private elevator I’ve come to know so well.
I unlock the door and step into the entryway. “Home sweet home, just the way we left it.”
James offers a small smile before silently heading up to our room to unpack. Between the whirlwind of seeing family, traveling, and spring training, we were speaking to our agents about extending our contracts with Boston. Both of us got renewed provisionally for the next season, but we’d like a bit more stability.
And no-trade clauses. For sure. James and I are staying together no matter what, but I’d be way happier if we keep playing in the same city. Those clauses aren’t necessarily rare, but they aren’t guaranteed, either. All we can do is sit back and wait for whatever news comes out of Ashley, who is now a key point of contact between us and the team.
I’m fixing myself a sandwich in the kitchen when James comes back.
“That was fast,” I say.
James laughs. “Unpacking can wait. I need some Ethan time.”
Smiling, I step back from the counter to give him space. He sidles up and snakes his arms under mine, tightening them around my back.
“Mmm.” He sighs, then squeezes me some more. “Time to make up for the last six hours of being in public.” James leans up to plant a soft kiss on my lips before going back to nuzzling my chest. He always knows exactly how to make me melt, and I hug him back.
“I gotta take advantage of our time together, just in case,” he says. “I just want to know .”
“We’ll find out soon enough. Ashley said she’d call us with an update today, right?”
He’s about to reply, but his ringtone beats him to it. James fishes the phone out of his pocket and glances at the caller ID.
“It’s Ashley. Speak of the devil.”
He picks up.
“Ashley! Hi, it’s great to hear from you,” says James. “Ethan’s here too and you’re on speakerphone.”
Ashley laughs. “Hi to both of you.” She clears her throat. “Normally I’d ask to speak with each of you separately, given the sensitive nature of the team’s contracts.”
I lean in closer, my hair almost brushing against James’s.
“However, since you two are together, I figured I could let you both know that your renewed contracts have been finalized, and that you should be hearing from your agents shortly.”
“That’s great, Ashley.”
“No problem at all. There’s another thing I’d like to mention, though.”
James and I glance at each other, then back at his phone.
Ashley continues. “While you should closely review the contents with your respective agents, I’m happy to let you know that both of your contracts include no-trade clauses.”
My heart stops.
“So we’re both staying in Boston,” James says.
“Yes, for at least the three years of your renewed contract.”
“That’s amazing news, thanks for letting us know,” I add.
Ashley signs off and James’s phone goes dark. We sit there in silence for a second, letting the news sink in.
Just for a second, though. I reach over and pull James into a tight hug, my fingers pushing through his short hair. He’s startled at first but eases into it, wrapping his arms around me.
“We’re sticking together,” I mumble through my wide, uncontrolled grin.
“Yeah.” James rests his head on my chest. “I’m relieved and happy, and… I don’t have any more words, but this is huge.”
Tilting my head to face James, I brush my lips against his and let myself fall deeper into the charged pull that brings us together. Out of breath, I lean away, resting my outstretched arms on James’s shoulders while he places his hands over the small of my back. We share a silent look, gazing into each other’s eyes with a level of love that I didn’t even know could be real.
The gap between us shrinks once again as James draws himself closer. Sighing, he nuzzles his face into my neck. I kiss the top of James’s head, the warm light from our floor lamp filtering through his hair in a blaze of red and orange.
“It’s so good to be home,” James whispers through his massive smile.
And he’s right. This is home.