Top of the 13^th, Baltimore Orioles scored two more runs against the Boston Red Sox. At 6-4 in the bottom of the 13^th I was comfortable counting my chickens.

"Have fun sleeping on the futon, O'Flaherty,” I cheered as I finished the last of my beer, only barely paying attention to the end of the game.

"Fuck off Grady, I planned on sleeping there anyway,” My best friend said with a hint of a growl. At least this game didn't end in bloodshed. “I even brought my iPod so I don't have to hear the animal noises coming from your room"

That brought a laugh to my lips. "You aren't gonna need it. Zane's out. And when I get up there, I'm crashing too."

"Old married couple already, eh?" The idea was almost laughable.

"Nah, we already got our rounds in for the day. I needed the stress relief after the whole bit with my phone and wallet"

"Only once? And please tell me you didn't have office sex again. You're gonna get caught dude," Nick said.

"Rounds, Nick, plural. And no, not at the office this time." Though that was a tempting idea. Zane and I had engaged ourselves in some stress relief before work, and during lunch, and- wait why the hell am I detailing my sex life for you vultures? I digress.

"Oh ok, Just making sure you still got it and Zane doesn't need Viagra,” He had that smirk, the one that was trying for serious but only ended up being teasing. “And good. Always practice safe sex, man. And I ain't talking about wrapping it up obviously.”

"I'm insulted you would even think that of either of us.” Not really. “Also, we're running out of hiding places at work" The Gods honest truth. After we almost got busted in the supply closet that one day, we're damn near out of suitable places to rendezvous.

"Well we are getting old, and Zane is even older than us. I mean I'VE still got three rounds in me, but we can't all be Superman. OrCaptain America."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Your ego really didn't need inflating, 'Cap'. Also, only three?"

"On a bad day." He rubbed at his arm nervously, which only irritated the bruises I gave him earlier. "And you didn't have to punch me so hard fucker. I was only playing around."

"You're hitting on my very straight, very taken, baby brother. I had to knock some sense into you." And any excuse to hit Nick is a good excuse. I mean that in the most friendly way possible.

"It's harmless," he trails off, as he takes a final drag from his beer bottle and cards his empty hand through his hair. A nervous gesture if I ever saw one. "I mean...so what if I'm crushing on him a little bit. I know he's off limits man. I'd never pounce on him or anything. That's cool yeah?"

I raised an eyebrow at him. Well, damn, I didn't exactly see that one coming. Not that my brother isn't- you know what, never mind. "A crush? What is it with you and Grady boys?"

"I know right? You must give off some kind of pheromone that attracts me." He laughs, but it's a little hollow.
"Like bugs bunny floating on the aroma. And fuck, both unattainable. Guess I'm a glutton."

"You always were a masochist,” I said as I eyed him speculatively. Looking for tells in his behavior. “But really man, don't do anything stupid. Lay off the flirting before Livi catches you. She'll be pissed. Which will hurt Deuce. And if Deuce is hurt because of your flirting I'll have to hurt you."

"I've been trying to be good. Really. He's just...he teases me man, I swear he teases me” He laughs again, this time it's real, and bright. Well fuck. "Nah, I know, I'm just kidding. I wouldn't ever want to do anything to hurt him, so yeah I hear ya. I'll lay off.." And then he had to go and wiggle those damn red caterpillars he passes off for eyebrows "Well, I'll try really hard anyway, ok?"

I shake my head at him."You do that, O'Flaherty. Just remember, you hurt him and they'll never find all the pieces of your body."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. And I promise you," He catches my gaze and holds it. "I promise you brother. When he comes to Boston I'll be a perfect gentleman, yeah,” Nick said as he stood up to get another beer. The game now long over. "Unless he doesn't want me to of course." He laughs again and I can just barely manage to not shake my head at him. Crazy bastard.

"I believe you." I considered going and grabbing another beer myself. But it had been a long day and my warm bed, complete with my sleeping lover, was calling to me. "But really, man, fat chance of him wanting you like that. Even if he didn't have a girlfriend. I haven't seen him display any gay tendencies." And I'm not counting drunken college make outs. We all do things drunk that we wouldn't otherwise consider doing sober.

"Yeah I know. I'm keeping a level head about it all. Just having fun. I don't plan to let myself fall for another Grady I'll never have. One's enough for a life time believe me."

Christ that hurt. And I placed a firm hand on Nick's shoulder, almost as if to hold him in place to listen to something I'm sure he would rather not hear. "You just have shit timing, Nick." And it's true. I know it, deep in me, that if either of us had gotten our heads out of our asses before I met Zane I would have given it a shot with him. And it would have been fun. But that train has long since left the station.

Nick's shoulders shrug under my hand. "Yeah well...spilled milk. I think things turned out as they should. At least I'm...whatever. Are you going up?"

I can tell that he wants to be alone. But there is something in his voice, something raw and emotional and fucking painful that makes me question the logic of leaving him alone. But I'm not, and never have been, one to dig through someone's dirty laundry. Nick is my best friend. And he'll talk to me when he's ready.

“Unless you need a hug or someone to vent to, yeah, I think I am.”

He smiles, but it's not as bright as it should be. "Nah, I'm good man. Go play the fucking big spoon. I'll see ya in the morning. Gotta get a good night sleep for when the Sox get even."

I pat his shoulder once before turning to the stairs. “Okay, man. Don't stay up too late counting your chickens.”

“Nah I'll just count the cocks." And even with my back to him I know he's winking. "Night. Sleep good, man."

"You mean the one's you aren't getting,” I asked with a smirk. "Night, Nick,” I called as I ascended the stairs to the second floor. To my bed, and my lover.

Congrats. Y'all pressured me into getting one of these things.

No idea what I'm going to actually put on here, though