Page 81 of Relief Pitcher

Ty had told me several hilarious stories about Gavin and the shit they’d gotten up to when they were young. He’d mentioned how hard it was with Gavin living so far away, and I’d made myself scarce when we were hanging out and Gavin called so they could have time to chat.

Gavin looked toward the house and back. “It’s a surprise.”

“Ty’s going to lose it.”

Gavin’s eyes twinkled. He looked around and whistled. “Damn. I haven’t been here in a long time. We got into a lot of trouble in those woods. Different without the tree here.”

“Legend says the banana and condom still haunt these woods to this day.” I chuckled, thinking about the story Ty had told me about him and Gavin trying to learn how to put condoms on when they were in middle school.

Gavin’s eyes went wide. “He told you about that? Interesting. I’ve got to say I’m surprised he talks about me, but everything about you has been surprising.”

I looked down at my shoes and tried to bite back the smile fighting to break out over my face, but I gave up and let it happen.

Gavin smiled and cleared his throat. “Is this where I’m supposed to give the shovel talk?”

I laughed and opened my mouth to crack a joke, but movement caught my eye from across the field. I spotted Ty talking to someone over at the barn that was prepped for the anniversary party. It was like an antenna in my head was tuned to Ty’s movements. “Consider me warned. I think it’s showtime.”

Gavin’s grin widened.

“Ty!” I called.

He looked over at me, smiled, gave me a cute little wave, and turned back to the person, but then did a double take. “Gavs!” Ty took off, sprinting toward us. His khakis pulled tight against his muscular thighs with each step. What was he wearing underneath them? That question had become my obsession.

Ty leaped onto Gavin when he reached us, and somehow Gavin kept them both upright.

“How the fuck are you here right now?”

Gavin laughed as Ty peppered his cheeks and forehead with kisses. “A ship would take too long, so I flew. The government hasn’t released the teleportation tech to us peons yet.”

I was feeling some kind of way about witnessing Ty being so openly affectionate. It wasn’t jealousy. A lightness filled me to watch Tyler so unabashedly happy and express love for someone he cared for. I was grateful to witness such a special moment because it had been so long since the two of them had been together in person.

Ty turned to me. “Gavin’s here!”

I laughed. “He is. That’s one hell of a surprise.”

His attention lingered on me as his smile grew. Like he was happy to share the moment with me too.

I was so head over heels for that man. Tyler was a fascinating mix of a jock with the sense of humor of a teen going through puberty, a mouth that could suck my nuts dry after vehemently denying he teared up at a Hallmark movie, and the skill to come up with a complex marketing strategy at the drop of a hat.

He let his legs drop from Gavin’s waist and stood on the ground. “You two already met?”

“We did.” Gavin watched me carefully. I got the sense he expected me to bristle at Ty’s affection for him. Why? Ty had enough affection to go around. Their friendship didn’t threaten me, but I understood his concern. A part of me worried Danita would meet someone who would be intimidated by our friendship, and it would cause issues. I supposed the best we could do was trust our friends would kick assholes like that to the curb.

I wanted to be the guy who helped Gavin plan a surprise to send Ty to visit Gavin wherever he was living so they could take a trip together. Not get jealous that Ty was going to see him instead of spending time with me.

I smiled, and Gavin’s shoulders relaxed.

Ty turned his attention back to his best friend. “How the hell are you here?”

“Did you not hear me mention this awesome technology called an airplane?”

“Smart-ass.Whyare you here? Is this why you haven’t texted me back for two days?”

Gavin patted Ty’s cheek. “Calm down, Mom. I thought I’d take a break from everything and let the dust settle.”

Ty squeezed his shoulder. “If you need a place to stay, you can crash at Dom’s.”

Gavin shook his head. “I’m staying at a friend’s place in Seattle while he’s out of town. I wanted to drive down to the party and wish my second parents the best for their fortieth anniversary.”

---