when Zach took off for training camp, but I knew we’d find a way. My biggest concern was him being at my house alone for the first time. Not that I didn’t trust him, because I did, but because Zach had eagerly accepted our invitation for him to join Nate at the house since I’d be spending so much of my time on the road. Their father hadn’t been pleased when they’d called to tell him they’d only be driving back to North Carolina long enough to pack their stuff, but he’d had no choice but to let them go. The move was good for both of them.
At Clint’s invitation, we flew up for the break. Apparently, his teammates who weren’t selected for the All-Star team made a big party of it every year. I balked at the suggestion that we impose on their time, but he insisted it’d be good for me. Beyond that, he told me it’d be good for Nate, because he’d get a chance to talk to the boyfriends who didn’t play baseball and maybe that’d put his mind at ease.
It wasn’t the same for us since I wasn’t part of their team and he couldn’t work his way into their tight-knit group to keep his mind off the long absences that were coming up, but it was something. Clint knew Nate was everything I’d wanted in my life and was doing what he could to make it work.
“I’m still not sure about this,” Nate confessed as we waited for our luggage to slide down the carousel. “I’m not going to know anyone. And as much as I love seeing you play, it’s going to be awkward sleeping alone in the hotel, knowing you’re somewhere else in the same building.”
It was a lucky turn of fate that Miami and Milwaukee were facing off shortly after the break. Then again, that was pretty much how everything in our relationship had been, almost as though the fates were working in our favor to give us as much time together as possible.
“Babe, I already told you, as soon as I can get away from the rest of the guys, I’ll be in your room with you,” I reminded him. I’d long ago secured tenure to have a room of my own, which meant I didn’t have to worry about anyone ratting me out for disappearing most of the night. If I missed a random room check, no one was going to give me a hard time because I’d never been one to make waves, as long as you discounted anything to do with me being unwilling to put up with the blatant homophobia in the clubhouse.
Even on that front, things were going well. I still held my breath, waiting for someone to slip up and let their taunts fly, but most of my teammates had proven they weren’t assholes. We’d even been invited to dinner with a few of the players and their families. And the wives in Miami all loved the hell out of Nate.
Yes, the media had caught wind of Nate and me being a couple, but Clint had been right; we didn’t make a big deal about our relationship, so the media talked about us for a day or two and then moved on to the next contrived celebrity drama.
“Okay, but I’m staying up here for three days on my own,” he complained. “What am I supposed to do while you’re gone?”
I laughed, knowing he wouldn’t have to worry about that for long. If my assumptions were correct, he and Mason would be fast friends. After all, he’d put up with Zach for his entire life, so Mason’s lack of filter shouldn’t be an issue for him. And with Nate’s newfound love of food, there was no way he and Cam wouldn’t have anything to talk about. Hell, he’d be lucky if he didn’t gain ten pounds in the few days I’d be in St. Louis.
“Just trust me,” I told him. Nate tried lifting both of our bags, which I promptly took from him. Ever since he’d admitted there were times in the beginning he felt as though he was there to help me, I’d gone out of my way to prove he meant more to me than an extra pair of hands. “We’re going to head straight to Eric’s place for the cookout. From what I hear, it’s legendary. All the guys who don’t leave town for the break head over and every year Cam