Page 8 of Saved By the Pitcher

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Mike hung back in the doorway of the dressing room, watching Maria, Nadia and Billy rush to James to hug him and shower him with praise. James was still wearing the business suit costume he had donned for the last scene as the president, though he had removed the jacket, loosened the tie and unfastened the first few shirt buttons. Mike tried not to be obvious he was staring, but his gaze was drawn to the soft hollow of flesh right above James’ rib cage. It looked a little wet from the earlier exertion, and Mike had a desire to lick the smooth skin. When James moved his arms while speaking, it opened his shirt a bit, revealing a light dusting of chest hair that Mike yearned to touch.

“Look who came to visit,” Billy interrupted his brother, pointing over to Mike. Mike realized they had turned to see him and he had been gawking at James’ exposed skin. Although he reasoned they were unaware of what he’d been eyeing, Mike blushed from his internalized guilt.

“Oh my God,” James exclaimed while grinning. “Mike Cooper? Come on, is this a joke?”

Mike regained his composure, smiling in return. “I hope you don’t mind. Your brother and friends said it would be okay. I just wanted to tell you that I thought you were amazing in the show. I was blown away.”

James nodded, but bowed his head with some humility. “That’s nice of you to say. Thank you.”

“Well, get over here,” Maria ordered.

Mike’s face reddened again as he was certain his awkwardness was belying his attraction. He walked to James, extending his hand to shake. James grabbed it and pulled Mike into a brotherly side-hug. Mike could smell the faintest amount of sweat as well as fragrances from whatever James used for shampoo and soap. James pulled away too quickly for Mike’s taste, leaving Mike looking into the prettiest, most expressive green eyes he had ever seen.

“Sorry,” James uttered. “The show is a workout. I’m wet and I’m sure I stink.”

“No, not at all,” Mike assured him. “You smell great.” Realizing he sounded flirtatious, Mike tried to backpedal by adding, “I’ve been around guys after a ballgame. Trust me, you smell nothing like that.”

James laughed. “Okay. Well, I think I’ll still shower before we go to dinner anyway. If you don’t mind waiting around, you’re welcome to join us.”

At first, Mike was delighted by the invite, but his obligation to Jessica soured his mood. “Oh, I would have loved to. I’m afraid that my date and I have already dined, and now she is ill. I need to take her home.”

James’ eyes clouded for a second. “Oh, sure. I guess that was weird for me to ask anyway. Sorry. It’s just such an honor to meet you.”

Nadia piped in. “Mike has a mission to complete. He’s going to break up with his girlfriend tonight.”

Mike and James looked at her with shock. “Um, I don’t know if that’s the right thing to do, under the circumstances,” Mike mumbled.

“Don’t string her along,” Nadia pressed. “If it were me, I’d just want to know whether I was sick or not.”

Mike looked to Maria, and she nodded, agreeing with Nadia. He was still surprised by the forwardness of the trio he had met earlier. “Yes, well, we’ll see.”

James looked back to Mike with bewilderment. “Uh, okay. I have no idea how they know any of this, but I won’t keep you from…whatever you need to do. Thanks for stopping by. It was a dream-come-true.”

“Wait!” Billy protested. “He promised selfies.”

Mike huffed a nervous laugh. “Yes, I guess I did. Who has a phone?”

Billy retrieved one from his pocket and handed it to Nadia, then rushed to Mike’s side. “Nadia, take a couple of us.”

Mike put his arm behind Billy so he could place his hand on the young man’s shoulder. He gave the camera his poster-ready smile as Nadia snapped multiple shots. Billy then instructed Nadia to hand the phone to Maria so Nadia could join them in the pictures. Mike was surprised to see Nadia smile—he hadn’t seen her do so yet. She was stunning.

“Okay, puppies, I must get a photo with this handsome man,” Maria complained.

Billy laughed and took the camera from her, instructing her to stand next to Mike. Maria put her right arm around Mike, then leaned into him and placed her left hand on his chest. Mike thought her infatuation was sweet, and he almost laughed more than smiled for the series of photos.

“Maria, let James get some with Mike,” Billy suggested.

Mike looked over to James, noticing there was a shyness and something else that was unreadable in his expression. He thought James’ eyes were asking if Mike would mind. To answer the unasked question, Mike walked to James and pulled him to his side. James rested his hand on Mike’s back, and Mike loved that it was a strong, confident grip.

After several more shots were taken, Mike pulled away from James’ grasp with some reluctance. “I should go. My date is waiting.” Upon his announcement, James affected the same cloudy-eyed expression Mike had noticed earlier.

“Well, thanks again for stopping by,” James said. “I’ve always been a huge fan. You made my night.”

Mike didn’t want to walk away without a reason to communicate with James in the future. “It was my pleasure. Hey, would you mind sending me those pics of us?” James’ face transformed from polite pleasantness to incredulity.

“You’d want the pictures?” James asked.