Page 132 of Hot Streak

“You wouldn’t.” Jackson was the last person Connor would ever expect to do that. But then, he wouldn’t have said it if he didn’t mean it. That was the number one Jackson Evans rule: he never said things he didn’t mean.

“I might,” Jackson said wryly.

Connor picked up his phone, made a face, and snapped a pic, making sure to include the come splattered down his stomach.

“Now that’s a free preview,” Connor said after he texted him the picture.

“Unfair,” Jackson said.

“Just thought you deserved to see your handiwork,” Connor teased.

Jackson groaned. And then, just as Connor predicted, changed the subject. “So, your next start is in three days?”

“Yeah,” Connor said.

“When’s your next bullpen session?”

“Tomorrow,” Connor said. “You’d like Alejandro. He’s thorough.”

“Alejandro Guitierrez is gonna be a Hall of Fame catcher,” Jackson said. “I’m not worried about me liking him. I’m worried about him deciding I didn’t do a very good job preparing you.”

“Well, you can rest easy there. When he heard you’d been the catcher working with me back in triple A ball, he said he knew I’d be okay.”

“Wait, what? Why the fuck didn’t you lead with that?” Jackson sounded shocked.

“Lead with what?”

“That Alejandro Guitierrez knows who the hell I am,” Jackson retorted.

“Oh. Oh. Well, I thought you catchers all knew each other. By reputation, at least.”

“No. Not even close.”

“Well, he thought you did a good job with me. Probably just relieved I didn’t show up and try to shake off all his signals.”

“If you did that to him, he’d have your ass in a sling.”

Connor laughed. “And you didn’t?”

“Exactly.” Jackson sounded not only amused now, but relaxed. Like Connor had surprised the sulk right out of him. Which, he could take credit for part of that, but he’d had no idea it was such a big deal that Alejandro knew who Jackson was.

“How about you guys?”

“Funny thing,” Jackson said. “You left, and we actually started winning. Four game win streak now. And I hit two more homers.”

“So Mikey didn’t take you out of the lineup, when I left?”

“Actually, I’ve been catching more than ever,” Jackson said.

“Aw. Poor Charlie.”

“He’s got to learn to assert himself better. He’ll be fine. I’ve just got a good hit streak going—I’m allowed to hit the ball, I’m not allowed to knock heads together—which I think is why Mikey’s got me in more.”

“And you’re good for the pitchers.”

Jackson didn’t reply to that, but they both knew it was true.

“They actually brought up a new guy from double A to take your slot in the order, and he’s . . .well, I thought you were erratic.”

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