Page 30 of The Road to Home Base
He made a pouty face. “Leaving so soon?” I didn’t have to answer, thankfully, as he walked back to the middle of the bar to retrieve my requests. I spun and put my elbows on the bar as I waited. A few men winked at me as they passed, one blatantly looking me up and down and then biting his lower lip.
Guess I still got it?I wondered. Didn’t feel like that, after everything with Ricky. Although if someone as seizing as Rome found interest inme, I suppose I had at least something to offer in the looks department.
Ugh. Rome. My gut tensed at the thought. I had put him out of my mind, or at least tried to. We went from texting nonstop to a few “hey there” lines every other day. Something happened. I could feel it in my bones as much as I felt the awful baseline of that song. Five days had gone by. I watched every single one of his games as if I could divine secrets from his facial expression. But no, it looked like regular Rome out there, hyperfocused on the game. So why hadn’t he reached out? Did he lose interest already?
Something happened. I just know it.
The bartender came back and handed me an aluminum bottle of some crappy lite beer. I signed my check, gave him a good tip, and slipped my card back into my pocket.
What am I doing here?I thought. Those in their early twenties filled the room, some of them still looking like teenagers. There I stood, a thirty-year-old who was content spending his weekends holed in an apartment editing photos until the sun sank and rose again. Honestly, what did I expect toget out of this night? Finding someone new?
No. Rome’s texts and calling slowed down, but my affection for him did anything but abate.
Rome. Thoughts upon thoughts. That kiss when he left my apartment. How I guided him, pulled him against me, opened my mouth for him. Damn, and the hardness that pressed against me. I wanted to drop to my knees and examine what I was dealing with. How big was his bat and how surprised would I be?
I chugged my beer as my dick stiffened.
My phone buzzed. Dread settled over me. Ricky had been texting every other day with his pleas for my return. I ignored every single one of them but I had yet to block his name and number.
I pulled my phone out as I took a sip.
Incoming call from Rome.
I choked on the beer that tumbled down my throat. Coughed. Wiped the back of my mouth with my hand. It was a video call—his favorite. I quickly examined the room and discovered an unoccupied table in the corner. Beelined over to it. Answered.
“Hey!” I said, having to shout over the roar of the music.
There was Rome. Backward ball cap. Nondescript hotel background. Hand tucked behind his head and an easy smile on his face that faded and turned to a grimace. His mouth moved but I couldn’t hear the sound. I held up my finger to ask him to hold on, then hung up. I dialed him through a regular phone call and he answered before the first ring even kicked in.
“Where are you?” came his voice, playful but tinged with concern.
“At a bar in Boston,” I said, raising my voice so he could hear me and plugging my other ear with my finger. “Sorry. It’s loud.”
We spoke simultaneously next. Him with, “Sorry I haven’t called,” and me with, “Where have you been?”
We both laughed. I bit my tongue and let him go first. Aftera pause, he figured out it was his turn. “Hey. Listen, Alex. I’m sorry I’ve been distant the past couple of days.”
He paused and I jumped in. “Your games have been great. Only one loss. I’ve watched each one. You seemed okay.”
“You’re still watching?”
A sank onto a stool and put my back to the wall. Rested my elbows on the table. “Of course I am, Rome. Why? Is everything okay? Something seems off. I don’t want to come across as clingy already but…” Oof. The gin had gotten to me. The beer didn’t help. “Did I say something? Did I come on too strong?” I remembered the last time we physically saw each other. “Oh, shit, that kiss. That was too much, wasn’t it? I overstepped.Shit. I’m sorry, Rome.”
Another pause. I reran what I said through the Are You Buzzed filter and, yep, I spoke my mind. Finally, he said, “That kiss is the one thing that’s been keeping me going these past few days. It wasn’t that, Alex.”
I pressed my lips together as I felt heat seize my body. “Then what was it? We were talking constantly and then suddenly… nothing. I just… I don’t know, Rome. You’re traveling for games. Is this how it usually goes? Because if it is, I’m okay with that. Really. I just need to know. Communication—”
“Is the foundation of a relationship. I know. Sorry, it’s kind of hard to hear you right now. Can you call me when you get home? Or do you want me to text?”
I want to hear your voice. I love the sound of your voice, especially when you speak Italian.“Give me a half hour? I gotta get an Uber. I can be home in twenty or so.”
“Oh, jeez. Alex, no. I don’t want to interrupt your night.”
I smiled. Beamed, really. Made my head all swimmy. “Slugger, you can interrupt my time any night of the week. I’ll call you back in a half hour. Okay?”
“Well okay. Be safe.”
I kissed the microphone of my phone and hung up. Put my half drank beer bottle on the table and left the club without telling my friends.
