Scoring in Cedarwood Read online

  “See? You fit in more than Zeppelin let on.” Paul scrubbed the soap from his cheeks. “Don’t let him get to you. We’re a team. We look out for each other.”

  “Zeppelin thinks I’m the reason the stadium was defaced,” Tanner said. He rinsed the shampoo from his hair. “I probably am, but it’s not fair to put that all on my shoulders.”

  “It’s not.” Paul rinsed once again. “But you’re bigger than that. You’re here to play ball.”

  “I know.” He’d given himself that speech in his head a thousand times, but when Zeppelin had hurled insults, the shit from his past came back at full force. “He reminds me of my father.”

  “Didn’t want you to come out?”

  “No.” Tanner turned the water off and covered his lower half in the towel. “He thought I was lying to myself.”

  “He, like Zep, was wrong. They are wrong.” Paul dried off and followed Tanner out of the showers. “You’re in a safe place. It doesn’t seem like it when the coalition and Zep decide to be dicks, but we’ve got your back. Your boyfriend has it, too.” He clapped Tanner on the shoulder. “I need to get something to eat. Find me and we’ll warm up together.”

  “Sure thing.” Tanner waited for Paul to leave the area before he dressed and shoved his feet into his boat shoes. His heart lightened. The feeling of belonging at Dane’s home and now at the stadium quashed his fears concerning the coalition and hate speech. He left the locker room in favor of the meeting space. A buffet of sandwiches, fruit, a veggie tray and other goodies had been set out for the team. He selected a roast beef sandwich and bowl of grapes, then wandered into one of the empty loges. He closed the door. If he’d figured his time correctly, he had forty-five minutes to eat before he had to report to warm-ups.

  Tanner pulled his phone from his pocket and snacked on the grapes as he called Dane. He wasn’t sure if the doctor would answer, but he’d never know if he didn’t try.

  After two rings, the call connected. “Hello?” a female voice asked.

  He froze then checked the phone display. He’d called Dane, right? Tanner fumbled for words. “Hi. May I speak to Dane?”

  “Sure. He’s finishing up with a patient. Just a moment,” she said. “Who may I ask is calling?”

  “Tanner Fox.” He couldn’t say Dane was his boyfriend. They hadn’t established such terms between them. “I live with him.”

  “Foxy lives with our doctor? Wow,” she said. “He never mentioned you. I wish he had. I’m a big fan. I went to Gary to see the games a few times. Tickets for the last game, probably right before you were traded last month, were a present from my husband.”

  “Nice. I’m glad you were there. I’ll be in Cedarwood for the remainder of the season, so if you can, come to one of the games.” Always talk up the team. The more people in the seats, the more exposure and revenue for the team and everyone else. “I hope to see you there.”

  “I’ll check the schedule, but I have to admit, I forgot we have the team.” She laughed. “And I work for one of the major sponsors.”

  “Then you should know.” He chuckled and continued to snack on the grapes. “Do you think Dane will be much longer? I don’t want to be a bother.” He tried to chew without being noisy. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t worry. It’s not normally his weekend to work and until this flu came along, we weren’t quite so busy.” She paused. “Here he comes. It’ll be just another moment,” she said. “I’m glad I got to talk to you.”

  “Same goes for me.” He swallowed the grapes. “Silly question, but I’ve been chatting with you all this time and I have no idea who you are.”

  “That’s not a question, but a fair note. I’m Sandra, one of the receptionists at the practice. Dane gives me his phone while he’s in with patients in case there’s an emergency and so I can take messages for him.”

  “Well, nice to meet you, Sandra.” He nibbled on more of the grapes. He appreciated Dane’s resourcefulness. But he should’ve guessed the doctor would have a plan—he was a born scheduler.

  The connection crackled then filled with static before clearing. “Hello?”

  He knew this voice. “Hi, Dane.” Tanner hurried through the bite of grapes. “How’s your day been? Rough?”

  “No, I’d say busy. We’ve had so many patients in and out today.” Dane sighed. “What about you? Any news on the graffiti incident? Any new ones? You’re okay, right? I’ve been worried about you since I called this morning.”

  “I’m fine and between baseball games.” He settled back on the seat. The tension within him faded. “I thought I’d touch base with you. The worry, by the way, is mutual. I was afraid you’d be targeted because of me.” Admitting the truth helped, but he wished he could be in the same space with Dane.

  “You’re in one piece, then?”

  “I am, but I know a doctor who can fix me if I’m broken.” He dismantled the sandwich and rolled the roast beef into a cylinder. “I hear he makes house calls.”

  Dane snorted. “I do.”

  “And his house calls are pretty darn exciting,” Tanner murmured. He wanted to say more but didn’t dare in case the wrong ears were listening to his conversation. He wasn’t ashamed of his relationship with Dane, but if Dane wasn’t ready to take things public, then he respected Dane’s choice. “How much longer do you have to be at the office?”

  “I’m here for another hour. The official hours are up in ten minutes, but I’ve got two patients on the way up for appointments Sandra made because they’ve purportedly got the flu. I’d rather see them and get them meds than wait and the virus worsens.” Dane sighed. “I know why we extended the summer hours on Saturdays, but I wish we hadn’t. I’m tired.”

  “I’ll bet you are. You woke up early this morning.” Tanner picked at the cheese on his roast beef sandwich. He loved Cheddar but wasn’t in the mood for that flavor. “Think you might make the game?” He wanted to be sure there was a ticket for Dane.

  “I’m trying.”

  Tanner stared out at the field. Words filled his mind, but he wasn’t sure what he wanted to say. “I’d like to introduce you to my friends—my teammates.”

  “I’d love to meet them.”

  Was Dane happy about the possibility? Scared? Tanner couldn’t gauge his tone. “A couple of the players invited us to a barbecue.” How would Dane take the invitation?

  “Us?”

  Again, Dane didn’t sound happy or upset. Tanner suppressed a groan. “Yeah. They invited me and a plus one.” He wasn’t about to say boyfriend—not yet. He needed to know Dane would join him.

  “I—” Dane grumbled something Tanner couldn’t understand. “I need to go. I’ll be at the game at some point. You can introduce me all you want.”

  Not the overwhelming and resounding approval he’d expected, but Tanner could deal. “Okay.” He paused. “I can’t wait to see you. I’m dying for some of your special doctoring.”

  “Are you?” Dane asked.

  “Yes.” Without a doubt.

  “If I didn’t have patients here, I’d ask for details,” Dane said. “I’ll see you at the end of the game, if not before.”

  “See you soon.” He hung up. He wished he could spend more time on the phone with Dane. He liked the game of tag and the initial delight in Dane’s voice. The giddiness filled Tanner and spurred him forward for the game. He’d slept with Dane and things were still tenuous but going in the right direction. He’d see his man soon and could rest beside him. His teammates wanted him around and he’d found a home. Life was good.

  * * * *

  Dane groaned as he drove to the stadium. He’d wanted to be there an hour ago, but as per usual, he’d taken on one more patient and stayed past closing time. He hadn’t wanted to let anyone down, yet he’d forgotten to consider Tanner’s feelings.

  Sandra’s words rang in his ears. ‘The world won’t end if you leave. The patients can go to the ER or another doctor can come in to help.’

  But he was the one on call. He
needed to be available. He also deserved a personal life. He’d come in plenty of times during his off-hours. He’d helped and stuck around when he could’ve left.

  Now he had someone to come home to and a life.

  He pulled into the parking lot. A dull ache started behind his eyes. The lot had already cleared out, save for a handful of cars. The stands, from his vantage point, seemed empty, too. Damn it. He’d missed the game completely.

  Dane parked in the staff lot in the sponsor section then locked his bag in the trunk. Despite feeling safe at the stadium, he kept an eye out for the coalition. He hadn’t heard anything new concerning the group, but still. He had to be vigilant.

  Guilt washed over him. He should’ve found a way to get to the game before now. Christ, this was why he sucked as a boyfriend and friend—he put his work in front of his personal life.

  He left his car and locked the vehicle before he headed into the facility. The woman at the gate stopped him.

  “Do you have your credentials?” she asked. She pointed to the badge she wore. “I know you’re one of the sponsoring doctors, but we have to see your credential card.”

  Shit. Did he have it? He looked through his wallet and finally found the identification. “Here you go.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Bloom.” She smiled. “The game is over. We lost by five.”

  He walked through the turnstile. Well, shit. “It happens. We’re still a young team.” He paused. “I had to be at the office all day. I wish I hadn’t missed the game, but maybe it’s not so bad.”

  “We won game one by two runs. Foxy scored the winning homer and got the base runner in.” She handed him a program. “If you run into Foxy, get his autograph. He’ll love the attention. I made sure to have him sign mine earlier.”

  “I will.” He could have much more at home, but he wasn’t about to tell her that. “Thank you.”

  He headed to the upper deck and located Devlin’s loge. He peeked through the privacy window and spotted Devlin with his arm around Raji. A pang of jealousy hit Dane. He would love to be cuddled up right now—not with Devlin or Raji. With Tanner. Christ, he had it bad for Tanner. He jiggled the handle then opened the door.

  “Hi,” Dane said. “Sorry I missed the game.”

  Devlin sighed. “We need to lock that door before we get close.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Hi, Dane.”

  Raji blushed. “Nice of you to join us.”

  “Did you watch the game?” Dane asked. “You’re the owner and one of the sponsoring doctors. Don’t you have a vested interest in winning? How about an interest in the health of the team? Shouldn’t one of you be in the dugout?”

  “We got one win today,” Devlin said. “It’s better than none and why are you so testy?” He shifted in his seat. “Too many tough cases today?”

  “I missed the game. That’s why I’m testy.” Dane stood tall. He snagged a bottle of water from the table. “I made a promise and I blew it.”

  “I didn’t think you’d get here in time,” Devlin said. “But don’t worry about that promise. He’ll live.”

  Right. Dane fought the urge to roll his eyes.

  “Lots of tough cases?” Raji said, repeating Devlin. “Flu?”

  “Whatever this strain is going around Cedarwood, it’s nasty and everyone seems to be catching it.” Dane sat on one of the empty chairs. The players were off the field. Kids ran the bases and the mascot danced with a few of the adults. Dane downed some of the water then swallowed. “We could’ve used a few extra hands to see all the patients today.”

  “I wouldn’t change this job for anyone or anything,” Raji said. He stroked Devlin’s thigh. “I’m happy right where I am and, snotty comment aside, I’m the team doctor, but everyone is fine. If something had happened, I’d be in the dugout in seconds.” He pointed to the doorway on the side of the loge. “I’ve got direct access through there.”

  “I see.” Dane nodded. He doubted Raji would stick around if he and Devlin split. Dane hoped they stayed together. Raji was a decent guy and more what Devlin wanted in a partner.

  “Did you see the graffiti?” Devlin asked. “The crew went right to work cleaning it up after the police did their thing.”

  Did their thing? “They opened the crime scene to you?” Dane asked. “Truth be told, I didn’t look.”

  “Lindsay asked a thousand questions, but he’ll get the story in the paper, so the team will get promotion. Any notice in the media is better than none.” Devlin clapped Raji on the shoulder then stood. “The game wasn’t without hiccups. An anti-gay chant was started and Tanner was pelted with hot dog wrappers and beer cups during the seventh-inning stretch.”

  “Are you shitting me?” Dane blurted. He tensed. “That’s terrible.” He’d checked the app, but there hadn’t been a mention of anyone throwing things or anti-gay chants. “What did you do about it?”

  “The individuals throwing things were removed from the stadium by the guards. I tried to convince Tanner to take the rest of game one off, but he refused and hit a home run—just not the winning run. He wanted to show the haters he wasn’t going to be bullied. I respect his decision, but I can’t have that kind of interruption at the game.”

  “He’s an interruption?” Dane narrowed his eyes. “You said you wanted him because he garnered attention.” He liked Tanner’s pluck, but damn. Sometimes backing down wasn’t a bad thing. “I wish the coalition would stop. Tanner and the rest of the team don’t deserve to be treated that way. He and the others aren’t throwing their sexuality in anyone’s face. He and the rest of the team are living their lives. So what Tanner’s gay? Big fucking deal. I’m gay. I’m not out to convert people. I just want to be a doctor and keep people healthy. He wants them to enjoy the game of baseball.”

  “Trust me, I hear you,” Devlin said. “The outbursts are bad for business. People want to come to the game to have fun and to be with family. Slurs and thrown objects aren’t helping our cause or making the coalition’s, either.”

  “No.” The more Devlin talked, the more Dane wanted to see Tanner and make sure he was okay. He needed to feel Tanner in his arms. The only way he’d be happy was to have Tanner with him. He left his chair and stuffed his hands into his pockets. He couldn’t hold still. Damn it. The coalition could back the fuck off.

  “For a guy who said he wanted to keep everyone at arm’s length, you sure look worried about Tanner.” Raji grinned. He remained seated but stared at Dane. “You’re not masking your feelings well at all.”

  I’m not.

  “Do you want to see him?” Devlin asked. “Don’t throw away a good thing. The spark is there. Don’t chuck it because you’re afraid.”

  “Devlin.” He couldn’t believe what he’d heard. “You said there are rules. Swore it to me. You can’t change your mind. Either hands off or the rules don’t apply.”

  “You’d give up an obvious connection because of a rule?” Raji asked. “Dane. Consider what you’re doing.”

  “Jesus.” Dane raked his fingers through his hair. He needed time to think of how to shut this down with Raji and Devlin. They were pushing way too hard. “Just—how do I get to the locker room? This door?”

  “Yeah,” Devlin said. He left his seat and blocked the exit. “Dane, I thought you’d keep Tanner in line. I expected you to push him away like you do with everyone else who tries to get too close. You want a lover to care, but not when things go to shit. I figured you’d treat Tanner the same way—with a bubble around you. He’s nothing like your usual type. He’s young, rugged, tough and not needy. The moment I saw you peruse his photo, though, I knew you’d hit it off. I tried to warn you concerning the rules because I thought you’d still push him away even if you noticed the connection. I was wrong. I see the way your eyes sparkle when you talk about him and how the spring has returned to your step. The concern for Tanner is touching.”

  His irritation rose. Devlin knew him way too well and had pegged him. He hated his friend for being so right. “I don’t
like to break rules.” Dane wasn’t lying, but who was he kidding?

  “And walking away from Tanner is something you don’t want to do.” Raji stood. “I get it. I felt the same way about Devlin. I wasn’t going to give him a chance because he’s the owner and I’m the team doctor. I have things to do besides be with him. When I’m on, I’m all-in with the players. But I’m not the personal trainer. I don’t have to be down there all the time and I can have a life. Once I decided I wanted to go for Devlin and followed my heart, life turned around. I saw the world in a new light.”

  “You’re going overboard with the clichés.” Dane sighed. Whatever. “Look, everyone knows I’m gay. I don’t mince words. I’m out and proud. I don’t owe the coalition a damn thing. I’m sure they hate me. Tanner is another subject. They do hate him. They want him to leave town and they won’t stop until he does. He wants to play ball and that’s what I want him to do.”

  “No one’s questioning his sexuality.” Devlin shrugged. “The crowd concerned him, but you’re right. I didn’t acquire him because of his popularity alone.”

  “He thinks you did,” Dane shot back. “I know he’s gay. The coalition knows. You know. He deserves better than to be treated like a freak or a problem.”

  “I saw his potential and that a fresh start would do him some good. It’s already helped,” Devlin said. “I have the feeling you’ve seen it all along.”

  “Maybe.” Yeah, he’d noticed Tanner’s potential. Who wouldn’t? The man had magnetism.

  “Go downstairs and see him. Keep things on the down-low as long as you feel necessary. You might realize you’re keeping silent for nothing. Besides, I can’t stop what nature and fate want. Don’t you try to quit on it, too.” Devlin winked. “Enjoy.”

  Dane didn’t say anything because the words weren’t there. He left the room and headed down the staircase. His brain hurt. He’d pushed and warred with himself about being with Tanner, only to have Devlin’s blessing. Would’ve been nice to have that okay to start with. He might not have been attracted to Tanner. Then again, Tanner was crazy handsome and hard to miss.