Page 32 of The Road to Home Base
I gained careful insight into the inner workings of Rome’s mind. His reclusion came about due to precious reflection and constant prayer. He told me how he let loose a fantasy of fully coming out and worked through how that would impact the other players. He genuinely seemed not to care about how it might impact his own career, but rather the team as awhole. Over his professional career, Rome told me how he had strengthened his mind, how he forced out thoughts to focus on ones that mattered. A certain kind of concentration I knew existed for many pro athletes. The training that went into their bodies also went into their minds. I did not feel offended when he revealed that over the past five days, prolonged conversations with me would distract him from that concentration. In fact, it was a compliment. Someone with his mental fortitude shattered at the thought of simply me.
“I want to take a step in the right direction,” he revealed to me after a long, protracted explanation through which I stayed silent.
“Oh yeah? Which direction is that?”
“Coming out to my team,” he said, and I choked on my spit. Sat up on the couch and brought him with me.
“Rome, what?” I asked. “You’re only out to a few of them.”
I saw determination in his eyes. The hardened look of a targeted gaze, the same one I saw when he was up to bat. He saw this as a fastball. The perfect pitch for a home run. “My biggest concern is the team. The Riders. The franchise itself. I don’t want one of them hearing and passing along a rumor. It undermines our camaraderie and deteriorates our team building. Publicly is a different story. And…” he shrugged. “Someone might leak it to the press. I’ll talk to Emma about that. But I think—no, Iknow—this is the right direction.”
I sank lower into the couch and held up the phone so I didn’t show a double chin. “That’s incredible. You seem so sure of it, too.”
He nodded. “I needed time to go through it. To walk through everything in my mind.” He lowered his head and grinned at the camera. “Distraction free.”
“Well, now that you’ve thought it all the way through, you’ll need to figure outwhen. And preferably I can distract you atleast somebeforethat.” I bit my lip. All I wanted was to distract him now.
Oof. The alcohol opened the floodgates to a sudden fantasy. Summer heat. Night sky. Sweat-slick bodies. Climbing my way up the mountain of Rome.
“We’re flying back from Allentown as soon as the game is over on the fifteenth. I have the sixteenth off, and then a home game against the Barracudas on the seventeenth.”
“You won’t be too tired on the sixteenth? I can imagine your flight would get home pretty late.”
“Yeah. But. I’m making it a lazy day.”
I grinned. “Lazy video game day. With unhealthy takeout food.”
“So, you’re free?”
Nope. I had a shoot. But I’d reschedule it. “Absolutely.”
“Good. Bring your suit. Hiroshi is taking his family into Boston for the day so we can have the pool to ourselves.”
“Pool day in the middle of August? Twist my arm, why don’t you.”
Oh that playful smile on his face.
Which evaporated when he gave a face-splitting yawn. He covered his mouth and excused himself.
“Get to sleep,” I said before he could say anything. “I’m glad you called. And I want you to know I’m not mad. I understand why you were quiet. I’ve already seen how your body can do amazing things and now I know your mind…” I let my voice trail. That wasnothow I wanted to say that.
“Please. Don’t distract me by saying that. Yikes.”
I laughed. “I’m gonna let you go before I say anything more.”
“That’s probably for the best. I’ll text you tomorrow?”
“Perfect. Talk to you then. Sweet dreams,” I said and kissed the camera.
“Sogni d’oro,” Rome said in beautiful Italian. He kissed theair, too, waved, and ended the call.
Now sufficiently hard with naked Number Sixteen in my mind, I took care of business and then slept like the dead.
Chapter Ten
Alex
ROMECRASHEDINTOthe swimming pool as a geyser of water erupted from his cannonball. I snapped the picture just as his rump split the surface, his face pinched together, arms hugging his exceptionally long legs. He came up for air and sent an arc of water from his mouth as he pushed back wet bangs from his face. I snapped a second pic.
