Outfielder Tommy Knox is said to "own" pitcher Wayne Kerley because he always hits well when Wayne is on the mound. What the public doesn't know is that the two men have long been involved in a committed, loving relationship. They met and fell in love while playing in the minor leagues, but were called up to the majors and now play for opposing teams.<br><br>Tommy and Wayne have managed to stay together through twelve closeted years. Being on different teams means they have to spend most of the baseball season apart.<br><br>In the final year of his contract, Wayne considers retirement as his career begins to wind down. The thought of life without baseball seems nearly impossible, but he keeps his fears and dread to himself. Tommy still has two years left of his contract, and all the successes, defeats, and injuries that entails. Can the two reconcile their love of each other and the game?

Ownage

Maybe thekid will burn out, I text him now, getting back to the phenom.


The two weeks take me to Cincinnati and Pittsburgh before the relief of San Francisco. I find myself tired in new ways, having to work at pitching, forcing what’s always been natural. And worst of all, Tommy goes into a slump. New York drops to third place in their division, as we do in ours. I know he’s beating himself up over it. Christ, what a pair we are.


Texts thin and calls don’t happen. As Tommy battles to regain whatever it is that’s wrecked his hitting, he goes quieter than ever before.


Talk to me, I text, but I get nothing, so I call, but that goes to voicemail. What makes it worse is I can’t ask anybody about him because that would give us away.


I scour the web for clues, trolling baseball sites for mention of him, but there’s nothing beyond talk about him being benched more than ever.


Chapter 21