Page 56 of Hiding in the Outfield

“Just need to do something really quick.”

I turn down the hall and press the call button on my phone. It rings and rings…and rings. Fuck, he’s not going to answer.

“The fuck you want,” comes Michaels’s slurred voice.

“Can you meet me in Winters’s room?”

“Am I dreaming? None of this is making sense.”

“I need help. Advice.” I lower my voice. “With Frankie.”

“You got it, bro.” His voice is clear and chipper now. “Just gotta piss, and I’ll be up.”

I hang up and stop in front of Winters’s door. I’m a little afraid of Maddox’s reaction. I learned quickly he’s not a morning person. Hopefully, this doesn’t end in murder. I knock a few times.

And wait.

I lean in. Shuffling and faint thumps drift through the door. I straighten just as a bright-eyed, pink-cheeked Maddox throws it open. He’s only in boxers and clearly came from bed, but I was expecting him to have just woken up, so it’s throwing me.

He sweeps his gaze over me. “Something wrong?”

“I… You’re very awake.” I shake myself from my stupor. “Um. Do you and Winters have a minute? Michaels is on his way too.”

He cocks his head. “Sure.” He waves me in.

I step inside and stumble. Winters is lying boneless in bed, toffee hair dark and slicked with sweat, cheeks bright red, his chest heaving.

“Uh. Sh-should I come back another time?” My face is on fire. Literal flames are burning up my cheeks.

“Party’s here!” Michaels bursts into the room. “Damn, looks like the party already started. Or finished.” He hops onto the bed next to Winters. “Maddy really did a number on you, Cowboy.” He turns to Maddox. “You’d think by now he’d be able to handle a ride on Bucking Bronco Barnes.”

Maddox snorts. He just walks up and ruffles Michaels’s blond waves. “I know how to wring out my man. That won’t ever change.”

I clear my throat. “Uh. That is actually kind of a good segue.”

Maddox sits next to Michaels, and Winters shuffles up to lean against the headboard. Anddd just like that, all eyes are on me.

My stomach tightens, and I have that feeling I get just before a game starts. Jittery. A little like I’m at the peak of a rollercoaster, just waiting for the drop.

“I was hoping for sex advice,” I blurt.

Michaels bounces up and down. “Fun! What are we talking here? Handies? Blowies? Tips on fingering? Ooooh. On getting dicked down?” He peers at me. “You’re a big guy. Jed’s a big guy, if you know what I mean. I can definitely give you tips there. Though I would think Frankie knows those tricks.”

He keeps going, but Maddox covers Micheals’s mouth with his hand so just muffled sounds filter out from behind it. “Easy boy. Your Golden Retriever is showing.”

Michaels grins. Well, I can’t see his actual grin behind Maddox’s hand, but I can tell by the way his eyes light up.

“Why don’t you pull up a chair,” Maddox says. “And then we can dive into this.” He turns to Michaels. “Calm down, or I’ll make you sit in the corner.”

I drag over the armchair by the closet that’s covered in clothes.

“Don’t worry, they’re clean,” Winters says. “I’m just horrible at putting my clothes away. Even with this guy”—he throws a thumb Maddox’s way—“bitching and moaning.”

An evil look crosses Maddox’s face. “You’ll pay for that later, babe.”

“Counting on it.”

They grin at each other.