When Vic told Doug that Matt knew about their little “strategy,” he didn’t share the fact that he’d been the one to tell his lover. But Doug simply shrugged it off. “No matter,” he said. “We’ll play it by ear. I don’t mind bringing you out when there’s only two guys on base. I just don’t want you hitting homers for one.”
As the stands filled and the clock ticked down, Vic waited with his team in the hallway that led from their locker room to the field. He leaned back against the wall, eyes closed; the others thought he was getting in the zone, or some such nonsense, and thankfully left him alone. While he was concentrating, it wasn’t on the upcoming game—his mind unfurled over the stadium, touching the thoughts of the crowd, before delving into the locker room on the other side of the bal
