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“Okay, the odds you’ll make it aren’t super high. But fifteen percent isn’t that bad.”
“No, it’s not. Some really great players were picked after the twentieth round. But you know what odds are even worse than my making the majors? The odds I’ll find anyone as amazing as you to spend my life with.”
Liam blushed. “I’m not that special.”
“As horribly corny as that line was, it’s one hundred percent true. I can do so many other things and be happy if I’m with you. Happier, because I won’t have to hide you or how I feel about you.”
“Coury . . .” When Liam swallowed and looked away, Coury’s heart dropped.
He’d known the odds weren’t good. It hurt more than he thought, but this wasn’t on Liam. He had to do what was best for him.
“It’s okay.” He kissed Liam’s hand. “Don’t worry. I understand.”
He stood, but Liam pulled him down. Before he could say anything, a warm mouth pressed to his. Liam’s tongue pushed against Coury’s lips and he opened them. Wrapping his arms around Liam, he pulled them closer.
“Wow,” Coury said. “That’s one way to say you don’t want me to go.”
“I don’t.” He framed Coury’s cheeks in his hands and kissed him quickly. “I didn’t expect this. I’ve been trying to convince myself it was better if I let you go without a fuss. This caught me off guard. In a totally great, wonderful, amazing way.”
Coury wanted to hoot and yell. “Yeah?”
“Oh my god, yes!” His smile washed away the sadness in his face. He glowed again like the Liam Coury remembered. “I don’t mean to sound uncertain, but are you sure?”
“Totally. After Pop left baseball, he married your grandmother. Even as a kid I could tell how much he loved her. He may not have made the pros, but he found ways to stay part of the game.”
Liam stared at him, and Coury worried he’d said the wrong thing.
“That was amazing.”
“But you’re practically frowning.”
“I’m not sure I deserve you. What if I’m not worth it?”
Coury tugged him into a hug. “You are. I’m totally certain. The night you asked me to stay over, you said it was going to hurt when I left.”
“It will, but that’s not a reason to walk away from baseball.”
“You never tried to talk me out of going.”
“Of course not. It’s been your dream forever.”
“That’s how I know you’re worth it. Despite how much you wanted me to stay, you supported me. You’re the person I want to build a life with, Liam. Baseball will never make me as happy as you do.”
“Can I kiss you? Please?”
Coury leaned in and captured Liam’s lower lip with his. Liam’s hand cupped the back of his head and he kissed him fiercely. The joyous energy it unlocked made Coury lightheaded.
When they broke, he saw his emotions mirrored in Liam’s face.
“You never have to ask to do that again.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Liam
“Whose car is that in front of your house?” Coury asked. “I thought you said Pop was out.”
“Stop worrying. He has a date with Helen. It’s probably her car.”
Even if they didn’t go out, Liam didn’t care. It had been hard to focus at work after Coury’s visit. The only thing that kept him going was the knowledge he’d meet Coury after baseball practice.
Now work and practice were over.
“She’s drives to your house and they leave from here?”
“Umm . . .” That wasn’t right. “No.”
They pulled up just as Pop and Helen were leaving. They stopped on the steps and both looked guilty.
“Oh my God!” Coury sounded far too amused. “Do you think we—”
“No!” He’d need an industrial-size barrel of bleach if he saw or even thought . . . “Helen must be picking Pop up.” He was sticking with that no matter what.
Coury opened the door.
“What are you doing?” Liam hissed, reaching across Coury to pull the door shut.
“They’ve clearly seen us.” He pushed the door wide open. “We’re going to make them feel less awkward by pretending we think they’re just going out to eat.”
“Which they are. Totally. No pretending.”
Coury belted out a laugh. “Don’t get so funny about this. They’re adults. Just like us.”
That might be true, but Liam didn’t need to know the details. Coury got out, taking away Liam’s ability to hide until Pop and Helen left.
“Coury?” Pop shifted his surprised gaze from Coury to Liam and back.
“Hi, Pop,” Coury said, as if the last ten days hadn’t happened. “Ms. Helen. You look lovely. Make sure he takes you somewhere nice.”
The compliment got a smile from Helen. “Thank you, Coury. I’m treating Albert tonight.”
“Not that I don’t enjoy seeing you . . .” Pop raised an eyebrow.
“Liam and I talked. I expect you’ll be seeing more of me until he graduates.”
Not much flustered his grandfather the way Coury’s answer had. “I will?”
Nodding, Coury reached for Liam’s hand. Twining their fingers together already felt so natural.
