Page 1 of Hiding in the Outfield

PROLOGUE

FRANKIE

Five years prior to Stealing Forever.

His coffee order sits nestled next to mine in the cardboard tray, and a smile threatens. At what it represents. Him and me. He’s an iced nonfat milk latte, two pumps of vanilla syrup, and extra foam. I’m an Americano over ice with a dash of oat milk.

Nick and Frankie.

My phone rings, and I pull it out of my pocket. Paulie. I put it up to my ear. “Hey, little bro.”

“You on your way?”

I somehow keep the excitement vibrating inside me controlled enough that I don’t throw the tray of coffees onto the sidewalk. “Yeah. I’m heading up to his office now.”

This is the first time I’ve needed to travel to the San Francisco office for work—the office Nick splits half his time in. He spends the other half in Providence with me.

“I wish I could be there to see his face.”

My smile finally breaks free. I can’t wait to surprise him. Our two-year anniversary is next month, and I booked a winery tour for this weekend to celebrate while we’re both out here.

“I could maybe video call you after, and we could say hello.”

“Please do. Mom will be so jealous knowing I got to see Nick and she didn’t.”

My family loves Nick. Mom was a little nervous at first. Nick’s five years older than me and a few levels above me at the consulting company we work at.

It’s not a good idea to date someone you work with, Francesco. I don’t want you risking your career. Isn’t that against company policy?

It’s not. Frowned upon by society? Yes. But as a gay man, I’m used to their frowns. And I don’t give a fuck about them. Plus, we only work together on one client, and he’s not my direct boss.

We’ve kept it quiet while we figure out where we’re headed, though. No reason in telling the entire office about us if it’s not something that’s going to last. But I think that’s going to change soon. Three months ago, Nick asked me to move in with him. We got a little apartment together in Providence.

Now that we’re approaching two years together, I’m hoping to…gauge where he thinks we stand future wise. We’ve never discussed marriage, and I’m not sure if it’s something he wants.

“Breathe, Frankie,” Paulie says.

I let out a breath. My brother knows me better than anyone. He’s my staunchest supporter and fiercest protector.

Normally, you’d think a little brother is the one being protected, but unfortunately, I’ve had a knack for picking real winners in the past. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve cussed out a bitch when she’s done Paulie wrong too. My little brother is a sweetheart with a heart of gold, and incredibly talented when it comes to baseball. Cleat chasers were on him like a hound scenting fresh meat when he got to college. Used him. You don’t use my little brother.

Don’t fucking mess with a Nebiolo.

“I don’t know why I’m nervous. It’s not like I’m asking him to marry me.”

“But you want to. And you want him to be in that place too. It’s scary. I don’t know where he stands on the marriage front, but I don’t know, Frank… He fits in so seamlessly with our family. And he knows how Mom feels about marriage.”

Which is exactly how I feel about marriage too. While it’s not something I have any desire to jump into at twenty-three, it’s something I really, really want one day.

“She’s already been talking to our tailor about designs for your tuxes,” Paulie continues on. “I mean, we’re a raucous Italian family, and he hasn’t been scared away. That means something.”

I chuckle and push through the lobby entrance of our office building. Mercari, our company, takes up two floors and has open-floor seating except for Principals in offices—which includes Nick. I ended up finding a seat on the floor below Nick’s, which worked out well because I was in meetings all morning. Now I can just sidle on up to his office with his favorite coffee and a surprise, baby.

“I guess I should go. Thanks for the little courage boost.”

“I know you. Plus, it’s your first time traveling on your own. To a new city—a huge city. That’s scary all on its own.”

I shrug even though he can’t see me. “I’m a big boy now.”