Page 18 of Saved By the Pitcher

Billy appeared offended. “No. We never fight. I was worried about you. You went on your date yesterday and you never even called me. I sent you text messages and you didn’t respond.”

James sighed and sat on the couch. “Sorry. I just felt like it was too much to put in a text, and I was too depressed to talk.”

Billy went to sit next to him. He pulled James’ face toward his shoulder. Because of their height difference, James had to scooch down to rest his head.

“What happened? We were joking around on text while you were at the game. I thought things were going well,” Billy asked.

“They were,” James confirmed. “I don’t know. It was odd. We were heading back to my place, then he said he couldn’t come up because something happened at work and he had to tend to it.”

“Something happened at work? He’s retired.”

James nodded. “He owns a restaurant in addition to the ad work.”

“Oh. So, then what’s odd about what he said?”

James shrugged. “Maybe nothing. It’s just that the whole day he was acting like he wanted to—get together—if you know what I mean. He was finding ways to touch me and make suggestive comments. Then, for no reason, it seemed like he was hitting the brakes.”

James felt Billy flinch and assumed it was Billy’s reaction to the news, suggesting he thought it was a bad sign too. “Did he say anything that made you think he wasn’t interested in you anymore?”

James pondered. “No, but there was a mood change. He did suggest we play golf at some point, but he left it open-ended. It was the sort of thing you’d say to a casual friend when you’re parting. The thing that makes me think something is off is that he told me he’d try to call me last night, then he didn’t.”

“Well, maybe the work thing went late.”

“He hasn’t texted or called me today either,” James muttered. “I wonder if Father had something to do with it.”

“Father?”

James nodded, assuming Billy could sense the movement of James’ head against his shoulder. “He called me after the picture of me and Mike hit the wire.”

Billy groaned. “Let me guess. You got a lecture to stay away from the newly outed bisexual man.”

“Yup, along with a few thinly veiled threats against Mike’s business ventures,” James confirmed.

“What an asshole,” Billy snarled. “James, you can’t keep letting Father control you.”

James pulled his head away from Billy so he could look at him. “You don’t get it. Father doesn’t go after me anymore. He threatens my co-workers. He threatens the people I date. I think we both know he’s good for delivering on those threats. I don’t want to be the reason more people get hurt.”

Billy squeezed James’ shoulder. “You should tell Mike, and let him decide for himself if he’s willing to fight Father.”

James barked a sarcastic laugh. “You mean the guy who doesn’t even call me? If he was already threatened by Father in some way, I think I have the answer as to whether he’d go to battle. Anyway, I’m relieved because I wouldn’t want him hurt.”

Billy nodded. “Of course, but maybe he wasn’t threatened and he didn’t reach out to you for some other reason. You could call him, you know.”

James shook his head. “No. If he was threatened, it would put him on the spot, and it could make him feel guilty that he’s not willing to stand up to Father. And even if he wasn’t threatened, I don’t want to be that needy, starstruck loser who’s begging to be liked by a celebrity. Pathetic.”

Billy was silent for a couple of minutes, then he made an expression where he folded his upper and lower lips into each other. His eyes signaled he was nervous. James knew from experience the look preceded Billy saying something he knew would anger James. “Um, there may be a reason he cooled off with you at the end of your date, and it had nothing to do with Father.”

James was confused. “What are you talking about?”

“I texted him,” Billy blurted.

“You texted Mike?” James asked. He was shocked. “Why? Wait, you didn’t actually send him a dick pic, did you?”

Billy looked mortified. “Dude, no! I would never do that. I was joking with you. Christ, he didn’t think I was serious about hitting on him, did he?”

James shrugged. “I didn’t think so. So, what did you text him?”

Billy started fidgeting with a button on his shirt, as if it was a point of physical irritation. “I might have suggested he not sleep with you,” Billy muttered at his chest.