Page 62 of Relief Pitcher

“Get tired of sex? You okay, man?”

“Tyler, be serious for once.” Gavin was one of the few people who would call me out like that.

I sighed. “I’m not sure.”

Gavin waited me out.

“Is it weird that I’ve gotten into my mid-thirties without having had a real relationship?”

“No. We have different goals at different times in our lives.”

“But I’ve never even been interested in it. It’s not like I’ve wanted something more and forced myself to ignore the urge or whatever. It’s like that part of me doesn’t exist.” Which wasn’t completely true anymore. The more time I spent with Coop, the more I wondered whether I had the capacity for more.

“What about that guy you dated in college?”

I scoffed. “You mean the prick I caught cheating on me at a party? That was a lapse in judgment.” I’d made myself feel better by getting my dick sucked by hismuch hotterroommate and had never looked back. I hadn’t had an urge to date anyone again. I enjoyed keeping things easy and fun and meeting new people. Getting to do that and have sex? Perfect combination.

“You never know. Something might change for you someday. Weirder things have happened.”

“Weird things like you moving back home?”

Gavin laughed. “You never know.”

CHAPTER29

COOPER

Ty: ATV lesson tomorrow? [GIF of excited puppy]

Cooper: Sounds good to me. Come over whenever you want.

Ty: Yay! [GIF of ATV doing wheelies]

Cooper: We will not be doing wheelies.

Ty: Oh, definitely not. No wheelies.

Cooper: Ty.

Ty: Coop.

Cooper: Bring some beer. I might need it.

Ty: You got it, Teacher Martin.

* * *

“Now shift it into gear, but be careful of the throt—” The ATV lurched forward. I gripped Ty’s waist and slammed into his back when he braked.

“Oops.”

“You did that on purpose,” I said against his neck before kissing the soft skin behind his ear.

Ty looked over his shoulder and grinned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m learning.”

I snorted as he deftly pulled out of my driveway and onto the road leading deeper into the forest. Dappled sunlight lit our path as we followed the packed gravel roads. I knew the roads and paths well enough to let Ty go where he wanted, and I could get us back. As we explored, I talked about tree species in the area. I wasn’t sure Ty could hear me over the engine’s rumble, but I never tired of talking about trees.

A light drizzle fell around us as the sky shifted toward gray. Ty was a good driver despite taking the corners a bit too sharp. I suspected he was trying to get me to hang on tighter.

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