Chapter 32 Shane
THIRTY-TWO
SHANE
Jed and I fall into a comfortable routine.
We room together at away games and take full advantage of having short stints basically living together, a glorious combination of orgasms and falling asleep cuddled up together.
The second beds in our hotel rooms go untouched.
And when we’re home, Jed’s at our place more often than not.
He’s settled into the crew seamlessly. Kind of like he’s meant to be there with us.
We haven’t discussed the “R” or “B” words yet. I’m hesitant to say anything because the woo-woo part of me thinks saying it out loud will jinx how perfect everything has been.
My gaze follows the baseball on the TV soaring into the stands. I drop my head on Jed's shoulder and groan. “I can’t watch this.”
We’re catching the end of the Jetties’ game. Our game started an hour earlier than the Jetties, and Araujo fucking dominated on the mound—complete-game shutout, no walks, nine ks, only three hits. We cooled down, showered, and still made it back to the townhouse before the Jetties finished playing.
The TV goes black. “Me either,” Paulie growls. “God, it’s fucking painful.”
The Jetties are struggling. Honestly, that might be an understatement. It’s still early in the season, but damn, with the way they’re playing, we’ll have no shot at the playoffs. They were down twelve to two in the eighth. Sorry, fourteen after that two-run home run by the opposing team.
Shelby lets out a squeal, and Maddox chuckles. I frown at them. They’re snuggled up on the loveseat. Maddox has a book open that they’re both reading. I don’t blame them for reading during that game. We should have all taken a page out of their book. Heh.
“Are you two reading your dirty books again?” Paulie cocks one of his thick brows.
Maddy and Shelby turn glares on him. Like ferocious status, so much so I inch discreetly behind Jed’s frame.
Maddy has a serious mein on a good day, add a glare and he’s like a Doberman.
Don’t mess. Shelby is about as ferocious as a squirrel with her round cheeks and large brown eyes.
But don’t underestimate squirrels. They’re feisty.
“That sounded a lot like judgement,” Shelby says and tosses her ponytail. “Don’t you think, Madz?”
“Sounded like someone wants you to stop having sex with him if you ask me,” Maddy returns, his green gaze sweeping up and down Paulie with disgust.
“Hey!” Paulie cries, lifting his hands like a busted perp. “I was just teasing. I’m sure your dirty books are full of, like, deep meaning and stuff.”
I wince. He’s totally digging himself deeper.
Maddy holds the book to his chest, and Shelby covers it with her hands like she’s trying to shield it from Paulie’s words.
“Romance is powerful,” Shelby says, bristling.
“It is. It helps people.” Maddy juts out his chin.
“Really helps them—heal, understand others better, escape when they need to. When I thought it would never happen between me and East, I read a lot of stories about characters in my situation who eventually found love elsewhere. I needed that hope.”
“Maddy,” East whispers.
Damn. That’s heavy.
Maddy shoots him a reassuring smile. “It’s okay, babe. We got our love story in the end.”
“It’s empowering.” She jabs her finger at her boyfriend.
“In a world run by men, it gives women a space where they can control the narrative. Where queer love’s beauty shines.
It gives people from marginalized groups a chance to see themselves in a love story when the world insists there isn’t room for them. ”
Madz nods stiffly in agreement. “And so what, the characters we read about love both emotionally and physically. Not sure about the rest of you, but it’s fairly common to have sex with your romance. I bet you’ve been receiving dividends from Shelby reading these dirty books.”
“I know I have.” East raises his hand. His eyes widen. “Ohmygod. From Maddy. Maddy. Not Shelby,” he sputters and glances at Paulie.
I burst out laughing and collapse onto Jed’s chest, body shaking against him. Oh, East.
Paulie grins. “Relax, East. You know it doesn’t bother me.”
Jed leans into me, lips brushing my ear. “I feel like I’m missing something here.”
I turn to him, my mouth grazing his—totally accidentally, of course. “East and Shelby used to date. East, Maddy, and Shelbs all went to GCSU together.”
Jed’s eyebrows lift to his hairline. “Wait.” He glances at the two cuddled together on the couch. “So you both…” He looks at East, then back to the duo. “And you’re?”
Maddy snorts. “Yeah. We both. And we’re.”
What the fuck even is this conversation right now?
“Huh,” Jed says. “Wild. An ex and current partner being best friends isn’t something you see every day.” He glances between East and Paulie. “Nor best friends surviving dating the same person. You guys are an…interesting group.”
That’s for sure.
“So, what are these books?” Jed leans forward and snatches the book from Maddy—who immediately scrambles after it. Shelby’s eyes go wide, her mouth parting on choked-off noise.
“I wouldn’t mind dividends.” He glances at me, a mischievous glint in his dark eyes. I like the way he thinks. We glance down at the book.
And stiffen.
“The fuck!” I burst out, and my glare snaps to my two friends who are no longer my friends.
Jed takes the book out of the book sleeve cover Maddy had it in. No wonder he was hiding it! There it is. Glaring proof. Jed holds it up and shakes it.
Paulie and East gasp, Paulie’s hand shooting to his heart.
“Shelby!” He shakes his head like he doesn’t even recognize her.
“Maddy?” East asks, his voice small. “How could you?”
Maddy’s eyes slide shut, and he winces. “I’m sorry,” he whispers. “I didn’t think you’d find out.”
“I can’t believe this.” I stare in disgust at the book cover. “Hockey romance.” The words are like acid on my tongue. “What is this Bromantic Puckboy nonsense?”
“It’s the most popular sports romance,” Shelby whispers.
We all jerk like we’ve been struck.
“So, what…we’re like second best?” I ask.
Shelby and Maddy avert their gazes.
“Football,” they mumble.
“Third?” Paulie asks.
Shelby delicately clears her throat. “That would probably be soccer or rugby.”
“Rugby?” Jed and I exclaim together. What the literal fuck?
“What’s wrong with baseball?” Easton looks like a kicked puppy, and I feel that in my soul.
“Yeah,” I wave at the book. “Why not Bromantic Ballplayer?”
“Uh… Um…” Maddy shares a glance with Shelby. “Baseball is…fine.”
“Fine?” Paulie’s voice goes high-pitched.
“It’s just not as sexy,” Shelby says with a grimace.
Ouch. Ouch, ouch, ouch.
“We’re not sexy?” I ask, staring beseechingly around the room.
“Urm.” Shelby bites her lip. “I mean. You are all very sexy. But the game…it can be kind of slow and boring—”
“Ohmygod!” I cry and clutch my heart. My dead heart that my friends just stomped all over.
Paulie blinks slowly, sinking to the floor as he mouths “boring” over and over.
“Just compared to other sports,” Maddy rushes in. “You guys know I love baseball. I am a ballplayer. But come on. Hockey, football, and rugby are all high-impact sports. Faster paced.”
“There are some baseball romances out there,” Shelby adds quickly. “Actually, in that universe,” she points to the book. “There’s a baseball player. Well, he got injured in college, so he doesn’t make it. But he becomes this amazing sports agent!”
A nostalgic grin spreads on Maddy’s face. “Ah, I love that one. Classic fake dating. Though I’m partial because one of the characters in that one is named Maddox.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “I can’t believe you two are cheating on us with hockey!” I look to the rest of the group—my real friends. “All in favor of banishing them, say Aye.”
A chorus of “Aye” echoes through the room.
Maddy lets out a sigh. “Come on, guys. We don’t actually think hockey is the superior sport. Plus, this series is so good.” He looks at me and Jed, then glances pointedly at the book. “You two would really like this one in particular. Teammates to lovers.” He bounces his eyebrows.
I cross my arms and harrumph. “Sounds boring.”
Jed turns the book over in his hands. I don’t like the look on his face. It’s too…contemplative. He glances at me and lifts his eyebrows. “I mean, maybe…”
My mouth drops open. “JJ! No! Don’t go to the dark side.”
This is getting out of hand. I hand the book over to Maddy and Shelby. “Here. Here’s your dirty book. And it’s not dirty because it's a sexy romance. It’s because it’s hockey. You betraying betrayers that betray.”
Jed’s lips twitch.
“What’s going on here?” Frankie’s voice pulls my attention to the kitchen.
He had disappeared into his room to study.
He has to take these really difficult exams for his job, so oftentimes he’ll post up in his room and just study.
For hours. Now, that is something that qualifies as boring. Not baseball.
“These guys,” Shelby points to all of us. “Found out what Madz and I were reading, and they’re very upset over it.”
“Oh, what book?”
“The Puckboys series by Saxon James and Eden Finley,” Maddy says.
“Oh, I love that series! Have you guys read their entire universe?”
“Obviously,” Maddy and Shelby say in unison.
I throw my hands up. Because, really? “Clearly, you two need to get new partners,” I say to Easton and Paulie.
“Hey. Stone was ready to dive right in,” Paulie points out.
“Yeah, and I’m having second thoughts about my choice in boyfriend too,” I grumble.
The room goes silent.
“Boyfriend?” Jed asks.
My eyes shoot wide. Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no. My mouth did the thing again. Where it made words that were supposed to be inside words outside words.
“I mean, yeah,” I say with a laugh. “Boy. Friend. Like two separate words. It’s an adjective, you know? Because you’re my friend who’s a boy. Just like East and Paulie are my boy friends too.”
Jed covers his smirk with his hand, his brown eyes dancing at me. He clears his throat. “Ah, I see. Just you hanging out with all your boy friends.”
“Yes.” I glare at him. “And one girl friend. Because Shelby.”
“Of course.” He nods seriously.
He’s poking fun at me so hard right now. It’s not very nice. I’m tripping out right now.
Jed looks around the room. “This wasn’t a conversation I thought we’d have in front of the entire house, but with how tight this group is…why the fuck not?” He turns to me. “Sunshine?”
“Yeah…?” My eyes are wide.
He grins at me. “Wanna make this official?”
“Fuck yeah!” I jump up from the couch and punch the air. I do some celebratory hip thrusts, and my friends’ laughter fills the living room.
Jed grabs me by the waist and pulls me back into his lap. “Easy, boyfriend. Don’t hurt yourself.”
I fall back on him with a sigh. Oh, that’s reeeal nice.
“Shane and Jed, sitting in a treeee,” Paulie sings.
“F-U-C-K-I-N-G,” Frankie finishes.
I shake my head, my cheeks aching from my grin. Of course, Frankie would make it an R-rated version.
“That sounds kind of dangerous,” East says, and everyone bursts out laughing.
Damn, what a good night.