12. Webber
Jonathan just left,and fuck if I’m not sad. Like, legitimately, my dog just died level sad.
“What the fuck am I supposed to do with this?” I ask my empty condo.
I’ve never let anyone get this close before. Ever.
I did the whole hookup scene in college and even after I got drafted. I’d been out since high school, much to the detriment of my relationship with my father and in opposition to his advice. He told me I’d never be accepted in Major League Baseball as an out gay man.
I feel like I’ve proven him wrong, but there’s always that annoying voice in the back of my brain that tells me if I wasn’t out, I might have been offered a full-time position on the team by now. Like I always do, I shove that shit down and forget about Chuck Webber and all his nonsense.
I have bigger problems right now.
I just called a man “baby”.
The worst part? The only person I want to talk to about my problems just walked out my door.
Webber
When the hell did you worm your way under my skin??
Fox
I didn’t give you a choice, gorgeous
Webber
I see that. You’re sneaky… you know that?
Fox
Yep.
Just got back. Half an hour to spare.
Webber
Where is the team headed next?
Fox
Like you don’t already know.
Webber
I don’t keep up with your schedule Jon
Fox
The printed schedule on your fridge tells a different tale
Oh you didn’t think I’d see it?
You’re adorable
I’m gonna fuck your adorable ass the next time I see you
Webber
You’re lucky you’re so damn sexy
Fox
I am, aren’t I?
SIX WEEKS LATER
“How’s the elbow holding up?” I ask Farrell in the hallway.
“Good. Thanks. I definitely feel my age the last few weeks, but I think I’ve at least got the rest of the season in me.”
“Wait, what?” I ask, surprised at his words.
“Yeah, I’m retiring after this season. I’m nearly forty, Webb. Digging after line drives and taking bad hops gets harder and harder every damn game.”
Flabbergasted is an understatement. “Well… damn. Wow, that was not what I expected you to say.”
He shrugs. “I’m just grateful you’ve been here to keep us alive in the playoffs. Couldn’t have done it without you, big guy.”
I nod and make my way towards my locker. I just got done with batting practice, so I sit down and dig my phone out of my bag.
Webber
Keep this to yourself obviously but…
Fox
Don’t keep me waiting Greyson
Webber
Farrell just told me he’s retiring when the season ends
Fox
No shit?!
Webber
I know
Fox
He’s an institution in the infield. Baseball will be worse off without him.
Webber
Jonathan!
Fox
What?
Webber
I’ve played his damn spot for a total of four weeks this season so far. And we’re only nine weeks in.
Fox
Yeah and you’ve done a damn good job at it
Webber
OMG are you really not getting this?
Fox
Wait… you mean…
I realize he’s fucking with me. Jackass. But I can’t help but smile. This is one part of him I lo— one part of him I like. Like.
Webber
I hate you
Fox
That’s not what you said Tuesday night on that video call
Webber
I am unamused
Fox
Hahahahaha
Oh don’t be like that baby
Webber
Don’t “baby” me right now Foxworth
Fox
I hope they offer you ten million a year
You deserve it
Remember way back at the start of the season when I asked you who your favorite shortstop was?
Webber
Yes
Fox
You’re mine
Webber
You’re just saying that
Fox
I’m not
And you’re smiling… tell the truth
Webber
I can’t help nobody ever told me they were proud of me when I was a kid so your silly words of praise make me inexplicably happy
Fox
That is some sexy vocabulary Webber
Webber
Go away
Fox
Now you know that’s not what you want
Webber
Yeah well you being here and fucking me into the mattress isn’t an option so…
Fox
Hahahaha true
You do have a game to play and I’m supposed to be 937 miles away
Webber
That’s absurd that you remember the exact number…
Fox
I’m exceptional. What can I say?
Webber
Wait… supposed to be?
Jonathan?
Jonathan Mays Foxworth!
Fox
Did you just middle name me?
I step into the dugout from the tunnel and walk to the top step, looking around the stadium just like I always do. But very unlike always, Jonathan fucking Foxworth sits in a seat just behind the home dugout.
My face probably looks like I saw a ghost as he waves at me. I lift my hand and wave, shocked to see him. Jonesy sits beside him, both of them wearing Nashville hats and signing autographs for kids sitting around them.
My surprise slowly melts away as I climb to field level and walk towards their seats.
“Jonesy. Fox. What are y’all doin’ this far from Nashville on your night off?”
Jones shrugs. “Fox said he needed to check on some things, so I packed a bag and came along.”
I raise a brow in Jonathan’s direction, silently asking if I’m the thing he needed to check on.
He just throws back a smile and settles farther into his seat. Wordlessly.
“Lucky we’re at home tonight, huh?” I ask, my eyes never leaving Jon’s.
“For sure,” Jones says, nodding. “It’s always nice to sit back and enjoy a game every now and then.”
I nod. “Well. I’d offer y’all my family suite tickets, but I figure you won’t use them.”
“Nope. Wanna be close to the action,” Jonathan says as he tosses a handful of sunflower seeds in his mouth.
“I imagine you do.” I smirk and tip the brim of my hat. “Maybe I’ll see y’all after.”
“Count on it,” Jon says.
I walk back into the dugout, shaking my head and smiling as I sit on the bench to settle in for the duration.
Everybody’s healthy. Everybody’s bats are hot. I won’t get any playing time tonight.
Sure enough, nine innings later, I’ve sat in the same spot all night, watching the game I love with rapt attention. It took everything in me to keep from looking at Jonathan all night. If anyone got even an inkling of us being more than friends, the media would have a fucking field day.
“That Fox and Jonesy?” I hear a rookie say behind me.
“Yeah,” I answer. “They had a night off.”
“And they flew to San Antonio to watch a baseball game? Atlanta off too?” The rookie pushes further.
I shrug. “Don’t know. I just popped my head out before the game and saw them. Shot the shit for a second and let them enjoy the game. And now that it’s over, you’re gonna leave them alone and not bug the shit out of them.”
He nods nervously, ducking into the tunnel to head for the locker room. My phone rings as I head towards my truck in the players” lot.
”You better be meeting me somewhere to fuck me until I can”t walk,” I say in lieu of a hello.
Silence echoes back down the line, and I freeze. Suddenly, laughter mixes with ”What the fuck?” and I realize I just said that where Jones could hear it.
”Guess I know what you had to come check on now, Fox,” he says through his laughter.
”There goes our secret,” Fox says, his smile evident in his voice.
”Fucking hell,” I mutter as I throw my bag into my backseat.
”I”m going to the hotel, and it sounds like you”re going to Webb”s or somebody”s gonna get dumped,” Jones says, barely holding himself together.
Finally, I can”t help it. I give in and chuckle at the situation. ”Sorry,” I say. ”Not my finest hour.”
”From the sounds of it, that”ll probably be when Fox gets to wherever you are.”
”Ha, ha, ha, Jonesy. Very funny,” I say, but I can”t resist the smile creeping across my face.
”I”ll see you in half an hour,” Jonathan says. ”Want me to bring anything?”
”Just you,” I say.
”Oh my god,” Jonesy says, his newfound knowledge finally registering. ”You two are fucking and I”m the first one to know?”
”It”s new--” Jonathan starts to say.
”It”s not just fucking,” I finish for him.
”Yeah,” Jon says, and I hear a smack that was likely his hand against Jonesy”s shoulder. ”He”s my boyfriend. He said so himself.”
Regardless of the shitstorm this could cause in the media, I can”t seem to give a shit.
Well, damn. I really do have a boyfriend.