Page 13 of Saved By the Pitcher

James was astounded. “Billy, why didn’t you tell me?”

Billy shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe I was afraid you’d try to talk me out of it.”

James went to pull his brother into an awkward hug. “I wouldn’t try to talk you out of it. You’re a grown man, and you can make decisions for yourself.” Billy smiled and embraced James once more. “But…”

“Uh-oh, here it comes,” Billy muttered.

James put up his hand to stop his brother. “No, I’m not trying to sew doubts. I just wondered if you thought about what Father would say…or do.”

Billy nodded. “That’s why you can’t say anything. If I do this, we’ll keep it small. We’d invite her parents, my mom, you and Maria. Then I’ll tell Father once it’s too late for him to stop me.”

James went back to the sofa and sighed. “Yes, I think that would be the only way. Dude, I’d try to pay for a bigger wedding for you if we could hide it from Father, but those things are very expensive. I don’t think I have enough saved to even send you guys on a nice honeymoon.” James felt bad because he knew Billy’s mother had no means to help.

Billy shook his head. “I wouldn’t want you to. I would be happy to have a nice dinner after the nuptials with my girl and you.”

James chuckled. “You mean like we always do anyway?”

Billy shrugged. “Why not? Just because we always do it doesn’t mean it isn’t nice. I think there would be something charming about starting off my life with Nadia by following the routine that gives us enjoyment.”

James looked to his brother with affection. “I love you, Billy.”

“Love you too, man,” Billy answered. “Which is why I’m going to keep hounding you to text or call Mike Cooper. You owe it yourself.”

James ran a hand through his hair. “Billy, stop. It’s been too long. He might be pissed that I didn’t follow up with him. He could be dating someone. Like I said before, maybe he doesn’t even recall who I am.”

Billy rolled his eyes. “Bull. You’re making excuses. You hit on people all the time that don’t matter one hoot to you. Why wouldn’t you give it a whirl with someone you admire?”

James began to fidget with his hands. “Because I admire him. I mean, sure, I’d like to sleep with him. I hear he even makes predominantly straight guys interested in voyeuristic hand jobs.” He looked to Billy, who was smiling at the joke. “But I think just sleeping with him would make me sad.”

“Then don’t just sleep with him. See if he’s interested in dating,” Billy suggested.

James groaned. “Are you forgetting what Father did to the last guy I dated?”

Billy sat up straighter. “This is different. Mike Cooper is rich and famous. What’s our father going to be able to do to him?”

“What about me, Billy? Do you remember when I was a teenager and I spouted off about Father’s politics in an interview? Remember how he had our family doctor convince a facility that I needed mental health treatment, and Dad put me in there for a month?”

Billy frowned at the memory. “I know, James. But he can’t commit you now. You’re an adult—an adult with your own doctor and people who can vouch for your sanity. It’s the memory of what he did to you that’s paralyzing you.”

“Of course, it is!” James shouted. “He fucking had me locked up, Billy. And years later, he destroyed my boyfriend’s livelihood. What would he do this time? Have the show shut down? He could do it. He already hinted at that when he first saw the storyline for it. I’m amazed he hasn’t done it already.”

“Maybe he hasn’t because he realizes his power is diminished now that you’re independent. As for Mike, just meet with him and don’t tell Father about it. How would he find out? Like you said, Mike may reject you and that will be that. Or maybe he’ll just want to sleep with you. Hey, it might make you sad to do it once and move on, but maybe it will be worth it to have slept with your idol, huh?” Billy sighed. “Take it one step at a time, okay? We’ll figure it out as we go along.”

“We?”

Billy nodded. “Yes, we. I’ll need you as I try to marry Nadia without Father’s interference. I’ll help you navigate what happens with Mike Cooper.”

“I don’t know,” James said, worried.

“I do,” Billy responded. “I’m emailing you the selfies right now. Then you’re going to send them to Mike Cooper and you’re going to apologize that you took so long.”

“He’ll see the coincidence of me sending them the day his story came out,” James protested.

“Dude, it will be the reason you’re sending them. You need to be honest with him. You’ll message that you didn’t send the photos before because you were mortified to find out that I had told him about you getting intimate with your hand while gazing at his poster. But now that you’ve read his story, you figure he might be cool with the revelation, so you’re following through on your promise. End your text with a congratulations on his announcement, tell him you’re proud of him and suggest he calls you if he’s interested in getting together.”

James put his head in his hands and growled. “Oh God. This could be so embarrassing!”

Billy smiled victoriously. “Good, sounds like you’re willing to do it. I’m sending you the pictures right now.”