Torn (15 page)

“Nate, are we going or what?”
demanded Billy as he rapped his knuckles on the window. Sky grabbed her purse
and shot out of the car faster than if I’d pulled an ejector seat button, the
moment completely lost. I grabbed my bag from the trunk and locked up the car,
jogging to catch up with them as they approached the main entrance. I couldn’t
wait for our exhibition game in a few weeks. I loved playing, whether it was in
the batting cages with the automatic pitcher, out on the field with my
teammates, or just me and Coach working on my pitching, but nothing beat the
adrenaline rush of a packed stadium, the crowd’s cheers and shouts of
encouragement. My dad was responsible for my love of the game. He’d shown real
patience explaining all of the rules to me as a six-year-old when we watched
the major league games on TV. They became our ritual, and when he got me my
first bat for Christmas, that was it, I was hooked. I soon discovered I had a
talent for pitching, with a fast arm and the ability to switch hands from left
to right, as well as throwing balls that threw my opponents. That had soon gotten
me noticed in high school and put me in high demand. Dad’s dream had been to
see me on TV,  on the pitcher’s mound for a major league team. Even though he’d
never get to see it, I was going to do it. He was my incentive.

“You need anything, send Josh
down to the locker rooms, he has an all-access pass as everyone knows him. He
can use the vending machines. I’ll see you later. Hope you enjoy it, Sky.”

“I’m sure I will. Good luck,” she
smiled.

“It’s only a team practice,
hardly high stakes,” muttered Billy with a roll of his eyes.

I resisted the urge to bite back
and reluctantly left her with them, jogging down to the locker room where all
of the guys were already changing, laughing and joking raucously.

“Hudson, you’re late!”

“Sorry, Coach. I’ll be two
minutes.”

I stripped down and took out my gear
from my bag, tugging up my tight pants and doing up the zipper, then bending
down to pull on my socks and tie my cleats.

“Hudson, lose a bit of damn
weight, will you? With that gut, you’re putting the rest of the team in a bad
light.”

“Fuck you, Saunders,” I laughed,
straightening up to throw a pretend punch into his stomach. I was in great
shape. I had one of the best fitness levels on the team, as well as best
physiques. If anyone needed to train more, it was him. His gut had gotten soft
over the summer. Too much drinking and not enough time in the gym.

“So, she here?” he asked, cocking
his head as he waited for my response.

“Yeah, she’s here,” I confirmed,
grabbing my shirt and pulling it over my head.

“Hmmm, can’t wait to see the girl
that has you blowing us off because you want to spend time with her. You’re
getting soft in your old age, dude. Looking like that and being our ace
pitcher, you could have a different pussy every night of the week.”

“I’ve done that, it’s gotten old.
This thing with her, it’s not just about my cock. I really like her.”

“Hey, guys,” Saunders hollered
through cupped hands around his mouth. “Hudson’s in love,” he sang.

I groaned as there was a chorus
around the locker room, including the words “No way” and “Whipped pussy.”

“It’s not love, alright? I’m just
considering something more serious. It’s gonna happen to all of you one day, I
just got there first.”

“How does she feel about this?”

“Playing hard to get, which only
makes me want her more. There’s a limit to how long I’m gonna sit back and wait
for her decision, though. I’m close to just saying ‘Fuck it,’ grabbing her, and
kissing the hell out of her.”

“Jesus, Hudson. You haven’t even
kissed the girl yet? You must have developed amnesia or something, the guy I’ve
known for years wouldn’t have waited to kiss anyone. He took, on his own terms.”

“I know,” I nodded, flipping my
cap up and fixing it on my head. “Just doesn’t feel right with her. She’d have
run if I pulled that shit on her. I’m playing the slow game, I just hope I hit
a home run soon because my balls are turning blue.”

“Got to say, never thought I’d
see the day Nate Hudson was depriving himself to win the girl. Not sure if I’m impressed
or if I need to get your head checked. Both of them. Is it still working?” he
joked, as Coach yelled for us to get our asses out onto the field.

“Trust me, it’s still working,
especially around her. I have to think about Coach to get it to deflate.”

“Yep, that’d work every damn time,”
he laughed, slapping my back as we headed up the tunnel toward the light.

Sky

I guzzled some water, my eyes
trained immediately below us, waiting for them to come out onto the lush green field.
It was obviously well cared for, as there wasn’t a lot of natural greenery
around this state. The stadium was empty, rows and rows of red seats circled
the field and there were only the three of us sitting here, but I didn’t care.
I still felt exhilarated at the thought of watching him play, not to mention
seeing him in his uniform.

“Josh, I didn’t bring anything to
drink. Can you go get me a soda from the machine?” Billy asked, reaching across
me to hand him some cash. As was usual, when the three of us went anywhere now,
they always flanked me where possible.

“Billy! Seriously?”

“So I forgot a drink, big whoop.
Get yourself and Sky one while you’re at it.”

“Sky?” Josh asked as he stood up
and pocketed the change.

“I’m good, thanks. I never go
anywhere without my water in this damn heat.”

“Yeah well, Billy should know
better. See you in a minute,” he replied, shooting Billy a dark look.

“Whatever,” Billy muttered under
his breath as Josh strode off.

“What’s going on with you two?” I
asked. “You seem to be at each other’s throats constantly.” I reached into my
bag to rummage out the UNLV Rebels’ baseball cap that Nate had signed and given
to me.

“We’re fine,” Billy responded,
casting a glance behind him as I secured my hat in place. “Listen, Sky, I know
we already hang out a lot, but … the thing is, I’d kinda like to hang out with
you on my own.”

“Without Josh?” For two months,
it had always been the three of us. We’d even been nicknamed the three amigos
at college because we were inseparable. Nate joined us when he could, but not
as often as I’d like.

“Yeah, but more than hang out,”
he nodded, dropping his chin to his chest. I studied him, feeling confused as
he took a deep breath. “Thing is, I’m … I’m not talking about hanging out as
friends, Sky. I wanna, you know … shit, this is tougher than I thought it would
be.”

“You’re asking me out?” I asked,
trying to keep the surprise out of my voice so as not to offend him. He nodded
and slowly lifted his gaze to mine, his wary green eyes highlighting the mass
of freckles across his nose.

“I know I’m no Nate Hudson, I
haven’t got his swagger, looks, or appeal, and I’m not Mr. Sensitive and
attentive like Josh, but I’d make you laugh every day.”

“You definitely would,” I agreed,
with a soft laugh of my own as I reached out to take his hand in mine, trying
to figure out a way to let him down gently. “I’m really flattered, but I told
you I’m not looking to date anyone right now.”

“But you would if the timing was
right?”

“You’re one of my best friends,
Billy, but weirdly I feel like I hardly know you. You constantly use your humor
to deflect any really personal questions about you or your life. I don’t even
know what’s wrong with you, why you get those headaches and disappear for ages,
then come back in a mood. How could I ever go out with someone who doesn’t
trust me enough to be honest with me?”

“So that’d be a no, never then,
huh?” he bit as he yanked his hand out of mine and shot up to his feet.

“Billy, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean
to upset you.”

“Whatever, this night really
fucking
sucks.”

I jumped as he kicked the low concrete
wall in front of us, then grabbed his bag and stormed off. Shit! I put my head
in my hands, my elbows resting on my knees, and took a few deep breaths. This
was why a girl should only have gay male best friends, no risk of any
misunderstandings or upsets. I sat up as I heard raised voices behind me and
looked around to see Josh and Billy at the top of the stands, arguing. Both of
them looked furious, and I couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to it
than me turning Billy down. He stalked off, and Josh jogged down the steps
carrying a can.

“You ok?” he called as he
approached.

“Yeah, I guess. Is Billy?”

“He’s pissed. I told him to go
and cool off for a while. Did he really ask you out?” Josh flopped down onto
the seat next to me and raked his hand through his hair with a frown on his
face. I nodded my confirmation and Josh screwed up his face. “God damn it. I’m
gonna kill him, the little shit.”

“Josh!” I exclaimed. “What the
hell is going on with you two? Like the constant barbs at each other aren’t bad
enough, now you’re acting out of character as well.”

“He knew, he knew I was going to
ask you out tonight myself, we discussed it. I’ve been a bag of nerves all
night, then he sent me away and he went behind my back and got in there first.”

“You were going to ask me too?” What
the hell was in the water at the moment that was making them all crazy?

“No, I was going to ask you,
period. There was no ‘too’ about it until he tried to screw me over. I take it
you said no to him, since he’s verging on the Vader dark side right now.”

“I did.”

“Will you say no to me as well,
or do I have a shot?” He held my gaze, his liquid green pools almost
hypnotizing me with the amount of hope radiating from them. I opened my mouth
to speak, then heard the sound of loud chatter filling the air and my name
being yelled in that husky tone of Nate’s that always made my skin prickle. I
looked down over the roof of the dugout to see a group of guys in their
uniforms, and it was like someone had stolen the air from my lungs to see Nate
standing at the edge of the group, working a ball into his pitcher’s mitt. His
cap was pulled low over his eyes and those tight, tight white pants were clinging
to his muscular thighs. Holy shit. I was liable to orgasm on the spot the
minute he threw a ball and I saw his tight ass as he leaned forward. I smiled
and waved, hoping my cheeks hadn’t turned a bright shade of pink, and forced
myself to look away and back at Josh. “No, I don’t have a shot, do I? Not with
Nate in the picture,” he said bitterly, disappointment flooding his face. I
grabbed his hand as he went to stand up.

“Josh, don’t go. I’m not saying
no because of Nate, I’m saying no because I’m not sure how I feel, about either
of you. I came here with no intention of getting involved with anyone, but both
of you have spun my head. I just need a bit of time to untangle how I feel and
make a decision. I really like you.
Both
of you. Please don’t get mad at
me too. Just give me some time, ok?”

“You really mean that, you like
me and Nate?” He sounded shocked, and it was written all over his face. I
smiled at him shyly and nodded, then cupped his face with one hand and kissed
him on the cheek.

“I do. You’re so sweet, caring,
and attentive, a great listener and so easy to be around. You’ll make someone
an amazing husband one day. And your parents didn’t skimp when it came to
handing out the handsome gene either, you and Nate got equal shares.” I ran my
thumb over his sharp cheekbone and smiled as he blushed. “You’re so different
in other ways though. I wish I could say I knew which of you I liked best, but
I like both of you, for different reasons. I don’t want to have to choose until
I’m sure, that wouldn’t be fair to anyone. I know it’s not like you’re both
going to hang around waiting for my answer, but that’ll be on me if I lose out
by waiting too long.”

“Don’t tell me Nate asked you out
tonight, too?” he sighed.

“Actually no, he beat you both to
it and asked me out the day I first met you all.”

“Yeah, that’d be Nate, fast mover
and fast pitcher. Hang on a second, that was two months ago, and he still
hasn’t gotten you to say yes? Either my brother’s lost his skills, or you
really aren’t sure,” Josh beamed, brightening up instantly. I laughed and shook
my head.