Changeups and Curveballs 4/14
Fourth Inning:
Got a feeling inside (Can't explain)
It's a certain kind (Can't explain)
I feel hot and cold (Can't explain)
Yeah, down in my soul, yeah (Can't explain)
I said ... (Can't explain)
I'm feeling good now, yeah, but (Can't explain)
Dizzy in the head and I'm feeling blue
The things you've said, well, maybe they're true
I'm gettin' funny dreams again and again
I know what it means, but …
Can't explain
~
Every time I see your smile it makes my heart beat fast.
And though it's much too soon to tell, I’m hoping this will last.
I just can't get you off my mind, and why would I even try?
Even when I close my eyes, I dream about you all the time.
He had a few hours before the start of the game, so he sat grabbed his laptop to return some emails; which was when he remembered the email Reid had sent him with his interview answers. Luke laughed and decided that two can play the game Reid had started.
He finished the email and sent it back to Reid.
from luke.snyder88@gmail.com to dateSun, May 22, 2011 at 12:25 AMsubjectRe: An Interview Actually Worth Asking1. You are said to be the best pitcher to come out of the American League since Greg Maddux, what are your thoughts?
Greg Maddux is a putz. I’m better. (Also, they say I’m the best to come out of MLB since Greg Maddux. Maybe work on the wording of that question.)- The wording is just fine, Reid. Also, no one but you says MLB, just so you know. Just because you have delusions of grandeur, doesn't mean everyone else buys into them.
2. You have a reputation of being a hothead on and off the field, do you think that’s accurate and/or a fair assessment?
I’m passionate and it’s not my fault if other players are big babies and haven’t dropped their testicles yet. Baseball is a man’s sport and if you can’t handle it, get off the field. (Are you trying to start a fight with this question? Surely, there’s a better way to phrase that.)-First, you started the first fight with me, and I'll give you the passionate part. Secondly, the hothead comment came after you screamed at a little league player for not having the right hand movement at a camp. He probably didn't have descended testicles yet. I'm not sure how that's his fault.
3. Who were your personal baseball heroes or legends growing up?
If you’re as good as me, why would you need to have other players as a hero? That makes no sense. (Really, what am I five, Luke? A grown man would not answer this question.) Yet you answered it anyway. So what, you're not a grown man or you're a liar? Which one is it?
4. If you were traded, where would you like it to be?
What a stupid question. Nowhere. I don’t want to be traded. Therefore, it’s a moot point. (Seriously, another trade question? Get off it.) Looks like it wasn't so stupid after all, huh? Just be glad I'm not a hothead like you and can talk to people.
5. Favorite thing about Boston?
The local sights, and by sights I mean hot guys who walk around in clothes that are too tight. (You should really be more specific in your questions.) Like I said, slut and only you would take something innocent and deprave it.
6. Are you seeing anyone?
Sure, I see lots of people. I just saw my general manager walk by and yell at the outfield for missing the toilet again. (If you’re asking about my personal life, you could have just asked me that in person, Luke. No need to fish around. I’m an open and honest guy. And no, I’m not seeing anyone right now, why? Are you interested?) I was asking for the female readers who may hold out hope you are in fact straight, also the fact that you just fucked me more times than I can count on one hand in the last two days, I didn't think the question was necessary. Besides, you were too high-strung and douchebaggery to have had a boyfriend when I met you. You only now seem to be calming down when you get regular sex.
7. Favorite song?
Let’s get it on. - Of course that would be your favorite song, you slut.
8. If you could play any other position besides pitcher, what would it be?
Catcher. I like both positions. (How about you, Mr. Snyder?) I think we established we both can play multiple positions.
9. Do you believe they should instate instant replay in baseball?
Hell no, unless of course I get a no-hitter taken away from me or something, but come on we’re not football. We don’t need pity looks and we don’t cry when things don’t go our way, unlike college football punks.- I'll give you this one.
10. What do you think your biggest strengths and weaknesses are?
My amazing athletic ability and my looks are my strengths. My weaknesses, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches and hot guys. (In reality, I don’t really have any weaknesses so this question is pointless.) So you're saying your cock in my mouth isn't a weakness, because I'm sure I have bruises on my shoulder that say otherwise.
There, I answered your interview, are you happy now?
Incredibly, you have no idea how much. See this sarcasm thing can work both ways, Reid. And by both ways, I did not mean anything sexual, so get your mind out of the gutter.
Reid opened his email when his IPhone dinged him. He laughed out loud at the email. He had to give it to Luke, he knew how to spar. Reid sat down in front of his locker and prepared for another game. He thought to tomorrow and how it was the last day of the road trip, then he was heading home to Boston. He like being in Boston, it was home, but he was going to miss the regular sex he was currently having with Luke Snyder. He knew it wouldn’t continue once he left Chicago, but he sort of wished it would. For the first time since college and his first real love, he felt himself on the brink of a dangerous precipice. He recognized the signs, he was falling head over heels for Luke Snyder, who just wanted to be fuck buddies. He made it perfectly clear to him the day they first had sex. Luke was only doing the sex thing so Reid wouldn’t get an STD and probably because it meant as long as Reid was around he had a good story for his career.
Reid slammed the locker shut and went outside.
He was greeted by the sounds of the fans in the stadium and the smell of stale beer and popcorn wafting through the air.
He glanced to the third base side and saw Luke sitting in the friends and family section again, head bowed with Vanessa as they probably talked something stupid like True Blood.
Cristian his best friend of three years and the best damn catcher he’d ever worked with walked up behind him.
“So, you finally have someone to fill the friends and family section?”
“I guess so.”
“What do you mean you guess so? This is the second game in a row you’ve had the same guy. I’m sensing a pattern.”
“Well after tomorrow’s game he won’t be sitting in that section anymore.”
“Really? Why not?”
“Because we’re going back to Boston. HE’s not my husband, hell he’s not even my boyfriend, so I doubt he’d just pick up and go on road trips with me, for the sake of it. It’s not like and Vanessa or any of the other married guys with small families.”
“Are you saying you want a family? And perhaps a family with your mystery blonde over there?”
“No, I’m not saying that. I’m just saying, don’t get used to seeing him around after we go back to Boston, because his life is here and mine is there.”
“There are things called airplanes, Oliver. It’s not like you’ll never see each other again. This isn’t Grease, and it’s not the 1950s.”
“It might make it easier if it were, cause at least in that movie Sandy shows up at the school and surprises Danny Zuko.”
“Maybe you should just give it a chance, maybe he’ll surprise you.”
“Or maybe I give it a chance and he stabs me in the heart like Grant did.”
“Grant was three years ago, and he was a grade A asshole.”
“Yeah, well when I gave him a chance, it didn’t turn out so well for me, now did it?”
“Is that what this is about? You’re not over Grant?”
“Of course not! I haven’t spoken to or seen Grant since the last time we broke up over six months ago.”
“I don’t know why you don’t just make a clean break, man. He’s no good for you.”
“Well the last time I did. I told him to get lost and take his stupid guitar and hippie clothes and to get the fuck out of my life.”
“And yet here we are, once again talking about Grant the Douchebag Dawson.”
“My relationship with Luke has nothing to do with Grant.”
“So, we finally get a name, huh? I never said Luke had anything to do with Grant. Funny, how you associate the two, don’t you think.”
“Quit trying to fucking psychoanalyze me with stupid magazines you read in the Dentist’s office.”
“I’m not doing anything but listening to you and repeating back what you say. If you have an issue with that, that’s all you, buddy.”
“Just leave me alone, okay? You should just be happy that I’m finally getting regular sex. Luke’s the reason I’ve been winning again, and I’d like to keep it that for as long as I possibly can, which means I need to stock up while I’m still here in Chicago.”
“Spare me the details, Oliver, please.”
Cristian slapped Reid on the back and ran on to the field.
Reid sat down on the bench in the dugout and thought about Grant. Grant Dawson, his boyfriend in college and his on and off again boyfriend since then.
He had loved Grant more than he had ever loved anyone ever. Grant was an enigma. Reid never knew how to read him and he was intrigued by him.. He was a PhD student in philosophy and a bioengineering minor. He taught now at Stanford in California, and was only thirty three years of age.
Grant and Reid had met when Reid was playing chess outside by himself. Both attended Harvard for undergrad. Reid got a full ride scholarship to play baseball and Grant’s family had money and enough clout to get him in. They started playing chess every day. Reid would always beat Grant, and Grant would beg for lessons.
They became close and two months after their first date, came their first kiss, followed by their first awkward hand job. It only escalated from there.
Grant was still in the closet and wasn’t ready to come out, so their relationship was always kept on the down low. Reid would sneak in and out of Grant’s room and Grant would always make excuses about how he was helping Reid with his physics homework, when really it was Reid doing the homework for him while he gave Reid a blowjob.
Things went on this way until they graduated with their bachelor degrees. Reid decided to enter the draft, and Grant decided it was time to go for that Master’s degree. Grant decided to go to Yale and Reid was drafted to the Cleveland Indians. Six months after graduating, Grant sent Reid an email saying how much he missed him and loved him, but he needed to move on with someone who was closer to him.
Three days later Reid was sent a picture of Grant and some random guy from Yale making out publicly.
Reid was devastated in four years of dating Grant, he never had the courage to come out and six months at Yale and some yuppie later, Grant was as out and proud as could be.
Grant came crawling back not even a month later stating he didn’t know what he was thinking, he fucking hated yuppies.
Reid took him back expecting things to be different now that Grant was out and proud, but instead Grant spent all his days and nights holed up playing his guitar and smoking his hookah.
And Grant never wanted to go visit Reid in Cleveland. Instead, Reid would have to fly out to him and he got tired of it. So Reid broke up with him.
This lasted on and off for years as Reid would be traded to different teams and Grant would randomly show up in his town and beg for another chance. Reid always gave it to him, because Grant was hot and good in bed and Reid always found himself drawn to him. Finally, he was traded to Boston when he was 29,and things seemed like they were right.
Grant was an adjunct professor of philosophy at Boston College, Reid was a pitcher for the Red Sox. They were both more mature, wiser, older and Reid accepted Grant’s invitation to dinner. Reid and Grant shared many dinners over the next few months, until Grant asked Reid for another chance. Reid was wary of it, but eventually Grant’s smooth words and deep philosophical reasons for them being together swayed Reid. They dated for two years, they even moved in together and Reid was ecstatic.
Then Reid came home one night and Grant was having sex with the random guy Grant had broken up with Reid for in college. Reid was devastated and Grant just shrugged his shoulders. He told Reid he should be used to him boy now and that placing labels on relationships is what ruins them. Reid was pretty sure Grant fucking another guy is what ruined the relationship. It did not end well, with the random guy having a black eye, and Reid being arrested.
Reid was released on bail later that night, arrived back at his apartment to find all of his stuff packed up and waiting.
Grant left a note saying he love Reid, but he had too much love to only share it with one person and if Reid really loved him, he wouldn’t be trying to clip his wings.
Reid left without another word. When Grant showed up three weeks later begging for another chance, Reid told Grant to get the fuck out of his life and go share his love with other manwhores.
He didn’t date after that, he didn’t trust guys and he especially didn’t trust himself. He felt like a loser for buying into Grant’s shit for so long and every guy who could possibly be more than a one night stand made him terrified. What if that guy was another Grant? What if he ended up in another dead end relationship?
Reid would rather be single.
But, Luke was trying to change all that and as much as it terrified Reid, he did like Luke. Luke didn’t play games, he gave it back as good as he got, and he was interesting and intelligent.
Reid wanted to give Luke a chance and he never wanted to do that with anyone. He looked up in the stands then and saw Luke watching him.
He smiled at him and waved his glove.
Luke smiled back and Reid went back to his practice.
Yeah, he could get used to seeing Luke at his games.
After the game, Luke and Reid went out for dinner again.
“I saw you checking me out again.”
“What can I say? I was enjoying the view?”
“Really?”
“ Yeah, the other pitcher you were warming up with is hot.”
Reid choked on his beer,
“Right. He’s overweight, ugly as sin, and married.”
“Maybe I like them that way.”
“Then what the hell are you doing with me?”
“I’m just using you as a way to get to him. Foolproof plan, really.”
“I’m not sure how having sex is helping you get closer to Fred, but okay.”
“I just want someone to compare to, so I can tell him how good he is.”
“Low blow, Luke.”
Luke just grinned at him.
“Anyway, I’m leaving tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
Reid was a little bit disappointed. He had hoped Luke would have something other to say than simply, “okay.”
“I don’t have a series in Chicago until July again.”
“Well, we’ll see each other at the All-Star game.”
“That’s if I get in.”
“The only way you don’t is if you start losing every game you start in until then.”
“Oh, well, I firmly believe I’ll get in, so I’m not too worried.”
“So glad to see you have a healthy sense of self-esteem.”
Luke and Reid made their way back to Luke’s apartment. As soon as they were in and Luke put his leftovers in the fridge, Reid pushed Luke against the refrigerator and kissed him.
This kiss was somehow different and he could not figure out why. Nothing had changed as far as he knew, but the way Reid was kissing him was different, like he was something to be cherished and definitely not like someone who just wanted to get laid.
Luke convinced himself he was imagining things, but when Reid worked him open with his fingers and tongue later and when Reid sank his mouth over his cock and sucked and licked, it felt different too. Luke was convinced he was hallucinating when Reid finally sank into him, and then cradled Luke as he moved inside him.
He was definitely reading more into this than was there. Reid was just dragging it out, because it the last time for at least two months before they saw each other again.
Luke secretly wanted to believe that Reid was doing it because he was developing feelings for Luke, but Luke wasn’t stupid enough to believe that Reid wanted anything more than sex.
Luke lay on the bed as he heard Reid in the shower.
So this was it. They would go their separate ways until July, who knew if by that time Reid would even need Luke.
Reid came out of the bedroom with his street clothes on.
“I’ve got to get back to the hotel. We leave early tomorrow morning.”
“Okay. See you later.”
Luke felt bereft for some reason and like he wanted to cry.
Instead he got up and walked Reid to the door.
Reid turned back to him before he left and kissed him.
“I’ll see you in July.”
“Yeah. July.”
Reid left the next morning, but not before he texted Luke,
Luke grinned and threw his iPhone on the pile of papers on his desk. Just then his boss, Barry walked in.
“So, Luke. How was your weekend?”
“It was fine, why?”
“Want to explain why you were sitting in the friends and family section the entire series instead of the press box?”
“Oh, well Reid, gave me the tickets, because he liked the story I wrote for the paper.”
“You’re calling him Reid now? You’re absolutely sure that’s all it is?”
“Yeah, I’m fairly positive that’s all it is. Mr. Oliver isn’t exactly the most friendly guy, Barry.”
“Just make sure to keep it professional. The last thing I need is to have to explain a scandal with our sports reporter and the star pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.”
“Right, well, I need to get over to Soldier Field to check out spring practice.”
Luke grabbed his notebook and phone and headed out.
He had to be a lot more careful with his relationship, or whatever the hell it was, he was doing with Reid.
Next
Got a feeling inside (Can't explain)
It's a certain kind (Can't explain)
I feel hot and cold (Can't explain)
Yeah, down in my soul, yeah (Can't explain)
I said ... (Can't explain)
I'm feeling good now, yeah, but (Can't explain)
Dizzy in the head and I'm feeling blue
The things you've said, well, maybe they're true
I'm gettin' funny dreams again and again
I know what it means, but …
Can't explain
Click to view~
Every time I see your smile it makes my heart beat fast.
And though it's much too soon to tell, I’m hoping this will last.
I just can't get you off my mind, and why would I even try?
Even when I close my eyes, I dream about you all the time.
He had a few hours before the start of the game, so he sat grabbed his laptop to return some emails; which was when he remembered the email Reid had sent him with his interview answers. Luke laughed and decided that two can play the game Reid had started.
He finished the email and sent it back to Reid.
from luke.snyder88@gmail.com to dateSun, May 22, 2011 at 12:25 AMsubjectRe: An Interview Actually Worth Asking1. You are said to be the best pitcher to come out of the American League since Greg Maddux, what are your thoughts?
Greg Maddux is a putz. I’m better. (Also, they say I’m the best to come out of MLB since Greg Maddux. Maybe work on the wording of that question.)- The wording is just fine, Reid. Also, no one but you says MLB, just so you know. Just because you have delusions of grandeur, doesn't mean everyone else buys into them.
2. You have a reputation of being a hothead on and off the field, do you think that’s accurate and/or a fair assessment?
I’m passionate and it’s not my fault if other players are big babies and haven’t dropped their testicles yet. Baseball is a man’s sport and if you can’t handle it, get off the field. (Are you trying to start a fight with this question? Surely, there’s a better way to phrase that.)-First, you started the first fight with me, and I'll give you the passionate part. Secondly, the hothead comment came after you screamed at a little league player for not having the right hand movement at a camp. He probably didn't have descended testicles yet. I'm not sure how that's his fault.
3. Who were your personal baseball heroes or legends growing up?
If you’re as good as me, why would you need to have other players as a hero? That makes no sense. (Really, what am I five, Luke? A grown man would not answer this question.) Yet you answered it anyway. So what, you're not a grown man or you're a liar? Which one is it?
4. If you were traded, where would you like it to be?
What a stupid question. Nowhere. I don’t want to be traded. Therefore, it’s a moot point. (Seriously, another trade question? Get off it.) Looks like it wasn't so stupid after all, huh? Just be glad I'm not a hothead like you and can talk to people.
5. Favorite thing about Boston?
The local sights, and by sights I mean hot guys who walk around in clothes that are too tight. (You should really be more specific in your questions.) Like I said, slut and only you would take something innocent and deprave it.
6. Are you seeing anyone?
Sure, I see lots of people. I just saw my general manager walk by and yell at the outfield for missing the toilet again. (If you’re asking about my personal life, you could have just asked me that in person, Luke. No need to fish around. I’m an open and honest guy. And no, I’m not seeing anyone right now, why? Are you interested?) I was asking for the female readers who may hold out hope you are in fact straight, also the fact that you just fucked me more times than I can count on one hand in the last two days, I didn't think the question was necessary. Besides, you were too high-strung and douchebaggery to have had a boyfriend when I met you. You only now seem to be calming down when you get regular sex.
7. Favorite song?
Let’s get it on. - Of course that would be your favorite song, you slut.
8. If you could play any other position besides pitcher, what would it be?
Catcher. I like both positions. (How about you, Mr. Snyder?) I think we established we both can play multiple positions.
9. Do you believe they should instate instant replay in baseball?
Hell no, unless of course I get a no-hitter taken away from me or something, but come on we’re not football. We don’t need pity looks and we don’t cry when things don’t go our way, unlike college football punks.- I'll give you this one.
10. What do you think your biggest strengths and weaknesses are?
My amazing athletic ability and my looks are my strengths. My weaknesses, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches and hot guys. (In reality, I don’t really have any weaknesses so this question is pointless.) So you're saying your cock in my mouth isn't a weakness, because I'm sure I have bruises on my shoulder that say otherwise.
There, I answered your interview, are you happy now?
Incredibly, you have no idea how much. See this sarcasm thing can work both ways, Reid. And by both ways, I did not mean anything sexual, so get your mind out of the gutter.
- Luciano
Reid opened his email when his IPhone dinged him. He laughed out loud at the email. He had to give it to Luke, he knew how to spar. Reid sat down in front of his locker and prepared for another game. He thought to tomorrow and how it was the last day of the road trip, then he was heading home to Boston. He like being in Boston, it was home, but he was going to miss the regular sex he was currently having with Luke Snyder. He knew it wouldn’t continue once he left Chicago, but he sort of wished it would. For the first time since college and his first real love, he felt himself on the brink of a dangerous precipice. He recognized the signs, he was falling head over heels for Luke Snyder, who just wanted to be fuck buddies. He made it perfectly clear to him the day they first had sex. Luke was only doing the sex thing so Reid wouldn’t get an STD and probably because it meant as long as Reid was around he had a good story for his career.
Reid slammed the locker shut and went outside.
He was greeted by the sounds of the fans in the stadium and the smell of stale beer and popcorn wafting through the air.
He glanced to the third base side and saw Luke sitting in the friends and family section again, head bowed with Vanessa as they probably talked something stupid like True Blood.
Cristian his best friend of three years and the best damn catcher he’d ever worked with walked up behind him.
“So, you finally have someone to fill the friends and family section?”
“I guess so.”
“What do you mean you guess so? This is the second game in a row you’ve had the same guy. I’m sensing a pattern.”
“Well after tomorrow’s game he won’t be sitting in that section anymore.”
“Really? Why not?”
“Because we’re going back to Boston. HE’s not my husband, hell he’s not even my boyfriend, so I doubt he’d just pick up and go on road trips with me, for the sake of it. It’s not like and Vanessa or any of the other married guys with small families.”
“Are you saying you want a family? And perhaps a family with your mystery blonde over there?”
“No, I’m not saying that. I’m just saying, don’t get used to seeing him around after we go back to Boston, because his life is here and mine is there.”
“There are things called airplanes, Oliver. It’s not like you’ll never see each other again. This isn’t Grease, and it’s not the 1950s.”
“It might make it easier if it were, cause at least in that movie Sandy shows up at the school and surprises Danny Zuko.”
“Maybe you should just give it a chance, maybe he’ll surprise you.”
“Or maybe I give it a chance and he stabs me in the heart like Grant did.”
“Grant was three years ago, and he was a grade A asshole.”
“Yeah, well when I gave him a chance, it didn’t turn out so well for me, now did it?”
“Is that what this is about? You’re not over Grant?”
“Of course not! I haven’t spoken to or seen Grant since the last time we broke up over six months ago.”
“I don’t know why you don’t just make a clean break, man. He’s no good for you.”
“Well the last time I did. I told him to get lost and take his stupid guitar and hippie clothes and to get the fuck out of my life.”
“And yet here we are, once again talking about Grant the Douchebag Dawson.”
“My relationship with Luke has nothing to do with Grant.”
“So, we finally get a name, huh? I never said Luke had anything to do with Grant. Funny, how you associate the two, don’t you think.”
“Quit trying to fucking psychoanalyze me with stupid magazines you read in the Dentist’s office.”
“I’m not doing anything but listening to you and repeating back what you say. If you have an issue with that, that’s all you, buddy.”
“Just leave me alone, okay? You should just be happy that I’m finally getting regular sex. Luke’s the reason I’ve been winning again, and I’d like to keep it that for as long as I possibly can, which means I need to stock up while I’m still here in Chicago.”
“Spare me the details, Oliver, please.”
Cristian slapped Reid on the back and ran on to the field.
Reid sat down on the bench in the dugout and thought about Grant. Grant Dawson, his boyfriend in college and his on and off again boyfriend since then.
He had loved Grant more than he had ever loved anyone ever. Grant was an enigma. Reid never knew how to read him and he was intrigued by him.. He was a PhD student in philosophy and a bioengineering minor. He taught now at Stanford in California, and was only thirty three years of age.
Grant and Reid had met when Reid was playing chess outside by himself. Both attended Harvard for undergrad. Reid got a full ride scholarship to play baseball and Grant’s family had money and enough clout to get him in. They started playing chess every day. Reid would always beat Grant, and Grant would beg for lessons.
They became close and two months after their first date, came their first kiss, followed by their first awkward hand job. It only escalated from there.
Grant was still in the closet and wasn’t ready to come out, so their relationship was always kept on the down low. Reid would sneak in and out of Grant’s room and Grant would always make excuses about how he was helping Reid with his physics homework, when really it was Reid doing the homework for him while he gave Reid a blowjob.
Things went on this way until they graduated with their bachelor degrees. Reid decided to enter the draft, and Grant decided it was time to go for that Master’s degree. Grant decided to go to Yale and Reid was drafted to the Cleveland Indians. Six months after graduating, Grant sent Reid an email saying how much he missed him and loved him, but he needed to move on with someone who was closer to him.
Three days later Reid was sent a picture of Grant and some random guy from Yale making out publicly.
Reid was devastated in four years of dating Grant, he never had the courage to come out and six months at Yale and some yuppie later, Grant was as out and proud as could be.
Grant came crawling back not even a month later stating he didn’t know what he was thinking, he fucking hated yuppies.
Reid took him back expecting things to be different now that Grant was out and proud, but instead Grant spent all his days and nights holed up playing his guitar and smoking his hookah.
And Grant never wanted to go visit Reid in Cleveland. Instead, Reid would have to fly out to him and he got tired of it. So Reid broke up with him.
This lasted on and off for years as Reid would be traded to different teams and Grant would randomly show up in his town and beg for another chance. Reid always gave it to him, because Grant was hot and good in bed and Reid always found himself drawn to him. Finally, he was traded to Boston when he was 29,and things seemed like they were right.
Grant was an adjunct professor of philosophy at Boston College, Reid was a pitcher for the Red Sox. They were both more mature, wiser, older and Reid accepted Grant’s invitation to dinner. Reid and Grant shared many dinners over the next few months, until Grant asked Reid for another chance. Reid was wary of it, but eventually Grant’s smooth words and deep philosophical reasons for them being together swayed Reid. They dated for two years, they even moved in together and Reid was ecstatic.
Then Reid came home one night and Grant was having sex with the random guy Grant had broken up with Reid for in college. Reid was devastated and Grant just shrugged his shoulders. He told Reid he should be used to him boy now and that placing labels on relationships is what ruins them. Reid was pretty sure Grant fucking another guy is what ruined the relationship. It did not end well, with the random guy having a black eye, and Reid being arrested.
Reid was released on bail later that night, arrived back at his apartment to find all of his stuff packed up and waiting.
Grant left a note saying he love Reid, but he had too much love to only share it with one person and if Reid really loved him, he wouldn’t be trying to clip his wings.
Reid left without another word. When Grant showed up three weeks later begging for another chance, Reid told Grant to get the fuck out of his life and go share his love with other manwhores.
He didn’t date after that, he didn’t trust guys and he especially didn’t trust himself. He felt like a loser for buying into Grant’s shit for so long and every guy who could possibly be more than a one night stand made him terrified. What if that guy was another Grant? What if he ended up in another dead end relationship?
Reid would rather be single.
But, Luke was trying to change all that and as much as it terrified Reid, he did like Luke. Luke didn’t play games, he gave it back as good as he got, and he was interesting and intelligent.
Reid wanted to give Luke a chance and he never wanted to do that with anyone. He looked up in the stands then and saw Luke watching him.
He smiled at him and waved his glove.
Luke smiled back and Reid went back to his practice.
Yeah, he could get used to seeing Luke at his games.
After the game, Luke and Reid went out for dinner again.
“I saw you checking me out again.”
“What can I say? I was enjoying the view?”
“Really?”
“ Yeah, the other pitcher you were warming up with is hot.”
Reid choked on his beer,
“Right. He’s overweight, ugly as sin, and married.”
“Maybe I like them that way.”
“Then what the hell are you doing with me?”
“I’m just using you as a way to get to him. Foolproof plan, really.”
“I’m not sure how having sex is helping you get closer to Fred, but okay.”
“I just want someone to compare to, so I can tell him how good he is.”
“Low blow, Luke.”
Luke just grinned at him.
“Anyway, I’m leaving tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
Reid was a little bit disappointed. He had hoped Luke would have something other to say than simply, “okay.”
“I don’t have a series in Chicago until July again.”
“Well, we’ll see each other at the All-Star game.”
“That’s if I get in.”
“The only way you don’t is if you start losing every game you start in until then.”
“Oh, well, I firmly believe I’ll get in, so I’m not too worried.”
“So glad to see you have a healthy sense of self-esteem.”
Luke and Reid made their way back to Luke’s apartment. As soon as they were in and Luke put his leftovers in the fridge, Reid pushed Luke against the refrigerator and kissed him.
This kiss was somehow different and he could not figure out why. Nothing had changed as far as he knew, but the way Reid was kissing him was different, like he was something to be cherished and definitely not like someone who just wanted to get laid.
Luke convinced himself he was imagining things, but when Reid worked him open with his fingers and tongue later and when Reid sank his mouth over his cock and sucked and licked, it felt different too. Luke was convinced he was hallucinating when Reid finally sank into him, and then cradled Luke as he moved inside him.
He was definitely reading more into this than was there. Reid was just dragging it out, because it the last time for at least two months before they saw each other again.
Luke secretly wanted to believe that Reid was doing it because he was developing feelings for Luke, but Luke wasn’t stupid enough to believe that Reid wanted anything more than sex.
Luke lay on the bed as he heard Reid in the shower.
So this was it. They would go their separate ways until July, who knew if by that time Reid would even need Luke.
Reid came out of the bedroom with his street clothes on.
“I’ve got to get back to the hotel. We leave early tomorrow morning.”
“Okay. See you later.”
Luke felt bereft for some reason and like he wanted to cry.
Instead he got up and walked Reid to the door.
Reid turned back to him before he left and kissed him.
“I’ll see you in July.”
“Yeah. July.”
Reid left the next morning, but not before he texted Luke,
Luke grinned and threw his iPhone on the pile of papers on his desk. Just then his boss, Barry walked in.
“So, Luke. How was your weekend?”
“It was fine, why?”
“Want to explain why you were sitting in the friends and family section the entire series instead of the press box?”
“Oh, well Reid, gave me the tickets, because he liked the story I wrote for the paper.”
“You’re calling him Reid now? You’re absolutely sure that’s all it is?”
“Yeah, I’m fairly positive that’s all it is. Mr. Oliver isn’t exactly the most friendly guy, Barry.”
“Just make sure to keep it professional. The last thing I need is to have to explain a scandal with our sports reporter and the star pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.”
“Right, well, I need to get over to Soldier Field to check out spring practice.”
Luke grabbed his notebook and phone and headed out.
He had to be a lot more careful with his relationship, or whatever the hell it was, he was doing with Reid.
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