XXX CHAPTER 15 XXX

ɸ69fanatic: #whatiloveaboutbaseball "Boys of summer" play outdoors in the best weather of the year.

Emmett chuckled at Edward's latest romantic notion of the game. He'd save his commentary on this one and deliver it in person in . . . shit, ten minutes!

He downed the rest of his smoothie and raced around the condo, picking up stray socks, discarded shoes, and the odd beer bottle forgotten on the coffee table. And what the hell are you doing, Emmett McCarty? Are we entertaining? Even while denying the possibility, Emmett sponged down the counter and scrubbed the sink until it reached the imagined standards of his "not OCD or anything" new friend. The only reason Emmett wasn't more frantic about the trickier porcelain surfaces was an angel named Rosalina who divided her time between his parents', the Whitlocks', and Emmett's place. Thank god for Rosalina.

Lacing his sneakers, Emmett willed his heart not to burst from his chest—an episode that would drastically increase the difficulty level of running. He anchored his Oakleys on his head and looped his watch strap through his keys. His playlist could take the day off; his running partner would provide all the motivation Emmett needed today.

He wasn't even a little surprised to find Edward waiting at the agreed-upon spot, stretching out his calves against the wooden bench. While Edward's jeans hadn't concealed the length of his legs, they'd definitely obscured the muscle tone. It made Emmett curious what the professor might be hiding under his light blue, short-sleeved running shirt, and he was going to have a rough time setting that wondering aside.

"Hey," Emmett said, catching the hand Edward reached across his extended leg. "You ready to roll?"

"Sure." Edward gave Emmett one of his pinch-me-I-must-be-dreaming grins as his gaze coasted down Emmett's white tank and brief running shorts. "How far are we going?"

"I usually run until I've used up half my energy, then turn around and come back."

"Very scientific," Edward answered.

Emmett smirked. "I thought you offered to pace me."

"Yes, though it would help if you could give me a clue about distance and speed."

This guy was too much. "Come on, old school. Let's run. You'll figure it all out as we go."

Emmett led off, watching with great amusement as Edward scrambled to his side and matched his long strides to Emmett's pace.

"Could you run at this pace all the way to that bend at the end of the beach?" Edward asked.

Emmett looked off into the distance. "No way."

"Neither could I. Why don't we take it down a notch?" Edward slowed ever so slightly, but Emmett's rhythm completely disappeared when he tried to decrease his speed. "Here," Edward said, pulling out in front of Emmett, "let's try it this way. Better?"

"Sure." The mild sting of humiliation at chasing Edward's ass like the electric rabbit at the greyhound track was easily tempered by the opportunity to ogle said ass with complete impunity. Holding back really wasn't his strong suit, but Emmett concentrated all his effort on calibrating his steps to Edward's.

"How's it going back there?" Edward called over his shoulder.

"All good, boss." He would not disappoint this man. "Hey, how about running with me?"

"Sure." Edward turned and jogged in place for the two steps it took Emmett to catch up. "Is this too tedious for you?"

Running alongside the man he'd been fantasizing about for two weeks, a man who'd impressed him further with each interaction . . . no, that wasn't too tedious for Emmett. "Absolutely," he answered, "you need to entertain me if you're going to make me run this slowly."

Edward chuckled. "Oh yeah? How'm I supposed to do that? Did you happen to bring some balls I could juggle for you?"

"There you go again with the clowns."

He shook his head. "I would be a lousy clown. That trick they do where they all pile out of the tiny car? My claustrophobia would kick in, and I'd cause some kind of mass hysteria."

"Um, Edward, I don't think they are all actually inside the tiny car."

He looked at Emmett as if he'd just caught one of his parents leaving the Tooth Fairy's ransom under his pillow. "Oh. Huh," he said before his mouth stretched into a wide grin. "You're out of step again, McCarty."

"Shit. You're supposed to entertain me, not distract me!"

Edward's eyebrows lifted, but he didn't say anything.

"Hey, Mac! Great season, man!"

Emmett waved to the random fan and kept running. "So . . . juggling is out. How did you amuse yourself on those long cross-country runs?"

"I don't think it will be very compelling for you."

Oh, now he was really curious. "Try me."

After giving him a long stare, Edward decided to answer. "I'd replay something complicated in my head, like a chess game. Took my mind off the burning in my legs."

"That's funny, I like the burning."

"That doesn't surprise me."

"No, I'm sure it doesn't."

They ran for a bit in companionable silence until the need to be inside Edward's head prompted Emmett to ask, "You playing chess with yourself right now?"

Edward smirked. "No."

"Well, what are you thinking about?"

"I'm not really thinking at all."

"Aw, c'mon, Professor. Don't hold out on me now."

Edward looked over, shook his head, blushed, and shook his head some more. "You're brutal."

Oh, damn, this was gonna be good.

"Resistance is futile."

"Hey, Jean-Luc got away with it."

"We love you, Mac!" A group of guys on the beach waved their caps, and Emmett flipped his hat off his head and waved it back.

"Admirers everywhere," Edward said.

"Stop trying to change the subject, Slick. C'mon, a nickel for your thoughts. I'm good for it."

"Okay. Because you asked so . . . pushily, my thoughts basically consist of an infinite loop of 'You're running with Emmett McCarty. Holy shit!'"

Emmett's lower lip disappeared between his teeth while he scrambled for a response that wouldn't embarrass them both further. That's why God invented sarcasm. "Hmm, I think I'll have to downgrade you to a penny for that one," he said.

"I tried to warn you." Edward grimaced and stuck his tongue out, making Emmett laugh. "So, what deep thoughts are you thinking?"

Sorry, pal. I can't handle the truth. "Oh, I was just imagining frolicking out on the baseball diamond with my teammates on a perfect summer's day, water bottles filled with ice cold, freshly-squeezed lemonade, building sand castles in the dugout while we wait our turn at bat." Emmett's voice grew increasingly wistful as he drew the most starry-eyed version possible of the "boys of summer" nickname.

Edward was no fool. He raised his eyebrows at Emmett's cocky grin and quickly chose amusement as his response. "Whatever, dude. You have to admit, it's a hell of a lot nicer to play in the summer than the sleet and blizzard conditions the Hawks have to put up with!"

"Overall, yes. But when the sun is beating down on your back, and the humidity is pulling Gatorade out of every pore, it doesn't feel like such a joy. Come on, that can't be fun in the stands either—roasting like a ballpark frank on a spit. Admit it!"

"Nope. I refuse to let your cynical exceptions run roughshod on my happy place."

Chuckling, Emmett held up his hands. "Hey, far be it from me to spoil romance with reality."

Edward caught Emmett off guard with a serious response. "Don't worry. You don't."

"Mac! Big Mac!" A group of giggly girls in bikinis were jiggling along the side of the running path and snapping photos on their phones. "Who's your hot friend?"

Edward's head snapped to the girls and back to Emmett, an anxious look on his face.

I've got your back, my friend. "Hey, ladies! Don't forget to apply sunscreen to those tender spots!"

They tittered and giggled and ran along for about fifty yards before giving up.

"You're about to hit Instagram. I hope you're not wanted for murder or anything."

"Not that I know of. I don't think anyone is really going to care who I am."

"Are you kidding? You'll be trending by noon."

"Wonderful."

"I'm sorry. There's a cost to hanging out with me."

"I suppose you're worth it." Edward's cheeky grin was back, and Emmett was damn happy to see it. "I'm sure your girlfriend feels the same way."

His girlfriend. Right.

"Tammy's a trooper." Emmett's lie settled around his shoulders like a cement cape. "Hey, I'm about halfway through my energy here. Can we head back?"

"Sure." Edward pivot-turned and led them back.

Emmett was pleased to see the bikinis had settled onto their towels for some sun-worshipping and didn't notice them running by.

"How's the pace for you?" Edward asked, a bit of concern reaching his voice.

Not nearly punishing enough. "I could pick it up a little, to be honest."

"Why don't you take the lead for a bit?" Edward suggested.

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I'll just yank on your shirt if you get going too fast."

Emmett laughed. "Aversion therapy?"

"Something like that."

"Okay, just try not to pull me down. Coach will be pissed if you break my leg. I have to pitch on Wednesday."

Edward grinned. "I know."

"Of course you do."

Left to his own devices and demons, Emmett picked up speed like a skier headed down an icy mountainside. His cover story had always seemed a necessary evil, a lie he could justify with the argument that he owed nobody the details of his private life. But now, it felt personal. He'd just lied to Edward's face.

The math teacher would've spun through the probabilities more efficiently than they reeled through Emmett's mind, but as he ran, he worked the problem in his head. What were the chances Edward was gay? (High.) What were the chances Edward wanted Emmett? (Pretty high.) What were the chances Edward knew Emmett was gay? (Who the hell knew? He'd made that girlfriend crack, but maybe that was a fishing expedition.) What were the chances Edward would out him? (Low, unless something terrible happened between them.) What were the chances something terrible would happen between them?

Emmett had no guess for that. How could he? When had he ever tried to have a real relationship with anyone? He had no idea if he had what it took to make one work. Was this the right moment—with so much riding on the outcome—to try for the first time? Or was that all a load of hooey, as his father would say, using baseball as the excuse to avoid intimacy? And if he really played out the excuse, was he willing to concede the next ten years of his life and settle for back-alley blowjobs and high class escorts paid for their silence?

A hot, sweaty hand gripped Emmett's wrist. "Hey! Ease up a little?"

Emmett's heart was racing, and his feet were doing their damnedest to slow the whole machine down. Looking up, Emmett realized he'd run nearly all the way back at what amounted to a dead sprint.

Edward ran up beside him, huffing and puffing a bit but grinning now that Emmett had slowed. "That's what I get for leaving the wild stallion in charge of leading me back to the barn."

Wild stallion. Big, beefy stud. Heh, Emmett liked that imagery a lot. "You distracted me again."

"I was behind you!"

Suddenly weary, Emmett slowed to a walk. "Sorry, I think I'm done. You can run on ahead of you want."

"No can do. I'm a leave-no-man-behind kinda guy."

Emmett bent forward, dragging in a thick dose of oxygen. Turning his head toward Edward, he said, "Somehow, I had a feeling you would be."

Edward stepped closer and placed his hand on Emmett's shoulder. "Need water or something?"

"No, just give me a minute."

"Sure, take your time."

The irony would've made Emmett laugh if he weren't so goddamn sick of himself for doing just that. Unfolding slowly in Edward's grasp, Emmett stood to his full height and looked his new friend right in the eye. "I think we can both agree I'm not to be trusted."

Confusion creased Edward's forehead. As he stepped back, Edward's hand dropped off Emmett's shoulder. "Huh?"

"I'm shit at pacing myself. Don't let go of the reins next time, okay?"

Edward registered the 'next time' with a huge grin. "Yeah, sure. You can count on me."

Yep, I know.

Author's Note: I'm gonna leave you alone this time to share your own thoughts. I really love the reviews on this story. You guys are doing a great job getting in both heads (STEADY!) and I love hearing what you come up with. MWAH!
XXX ~BOH