There was almost an hour left before game time when I appeared in the press box. I turned to admire one of the best views of the field in the entire stadium. Glancing to my side, I saw Chase seated at a desk scribbling on a pad of paper. He was due on the air in about thirty minutes, but he had some time to kill. I stepped closer and peered over his shoulder. I pulled my hand up to my mouth to stop myself from laughing. He was drawing stick men standing around a baseball diamond. He held his pen at the pitcher’s mound and exclaimed, “Whoosh!” as he swept the pen toward home plate.

I mumbled, “Stick people? I thought we stopped drawing those back in fourth grade.”

Chase’s right hand moved with lightning speed flipping the sheet of paper over so that I could no longer see his drawings. He spun around in his chair and said, “Hey, Eric! I always do a little drawing before games. It helps relax me. Unfortunately, I can’t actually draw, so stick people is what you get. By the way, it’s good to see you with your clothes on.”

I sighed. “Have they decided to change that policy yet? I’m this close to refusing to do any more radio interviews in my underwear. I like it much better when we come to you instead of you wandering up behind us staring at our naked asses.”

Chase laughed. “You won this one. You weren’t the only one who hated my invasions of their semi-naked space. I might still come down if it’s a big celebration with champagne, but for the most part, we’re back to the old rules. What brings you all the way up here to the press box? Do you have news for me? Is it something special enough that it required an in-person delivery?”

“I’m here for personal reasons. I could have called you, but I thought I’d ask in person since there was a game tonight. I like the view up here, too. After spending time on the field every day, it’s nice to see a different perspective.”

Chase leaned forward. “Is everything okay? You don’t usually ask my advice about personal stuff. I’m the one with the life that feels like one near-miss crash after another.”

“I don’t want to talk about it here, but I wondered if we could get together. It is personal, and it’s kind of sensitive. Can we talk one-on-one? Just you and me? As much as I love him, too, could you leave Aaron at home?”

“Wow, that does sound serious.” Chase reached up and placed the back of his hand against my forehead. “It doesn’t feel like you have a fever. I guess you’re not sick. Yeah, sure, we can talk whenever works best for you. I have a suggestion, though. What about tomorrow morning over breakfast? I have a hankering for one of my favorite cinnamon rolls. I promised Aaron I won’t get fat now that I don’t play anymore, so I try to go about a month between rolls. You’ve got a game tomorrow night, then a day off, and the team jets off to Chicago the next morning, right?”

I felt the tension in my shoulders start to relax. “Oh, man, yeah. That would be good. We need to talk before the Chicago trip, and before the day off is even better. Breakfast is great. I’ll tell Javier I need to head home a little early after the game tonight. Chase, you’re the best! Most of the time at least.” I chuckled.

“Hey! It’s not good to mess with the emotions of a guy who has thousands of listeners on the radio.” Chase laughed out loud. “I’m joking, too. Now get down there and win the game while I finish up my stick person masterpiece.”

I thought Chase was going to spit coffee across the table when he found out why I wanted to talk. I wanted advice and details about sex with guys because it felt like there was a better than 50/50 chance it would happen to me sometime soon.

I waited until after our meal, but Chase wouldn’t let me delay any longer. He asked, “So what’s this big conversation you need to have? I was good and didn’t needle you at all while you were eating. Time’s up. You have to tell me now.”

I led into it asking for details about the act of having sex. Finally, Chase asked why I needed to know. I had trouble saying it out loud, and he figured it out on his own.

Chase said, “Oh my God, no. Seriously, Eric? You? Damn, you’re my best friend. Be careful, please. Safety first!”

I assured him that my intended partner was as concerned about safety as me. I wasn’t planning on fucking or getting fucked by anyone without condoms involved.

The next big question from Chase was about who it was. He wanted to know who was going to steal his best friend’s male-male virginity. “Are you going to make me guess? I hate when someone makes me do that because I usually get it wrong.”

I whispered, “It’s Harley.”

Chase nearly fell out of his chair, and then he pounded both hands on the table. A few drops of his espresso splashed out over the rim of the cup. “Oh, fuck! You aren’t serious, are you? He’s got…” Chase rubbed his own bicep, “And I’ve seen him in the uniform up close. The way those pants…I interviewed him for the radio. Are you sure he’s not straight? Oh my God, Eric, you have to film this. You’ve fucking got to film this!”

I groaned. “Damn, you’re a fucking perv. I’m not filming it, and I’m not inviting you to peek through the keyhole either. And it’s possible that it won’t happen, but I think the chances are better than not that we could end up in bed together. Harley is a total sweetheart. At least that’s my opinion.”

“That big lug. Yeah, Harley looks sexy as hell, and he looks like he would nail you to the floor, but I bet he’s more like a big roly-poly kitten.”

“Um, Chase, I’m not sure how sexy that sounds.”

He laughed. “Sometimes sex isn’t very sexy, buddy. Sometimes it’s awkward or ridiculously funny. One time I accidentally knocked Aaron clear off the bed onto the floor right when he was…well…in there.”

I pulled my hands up to my face and covered my eyes. “You don’t hold back, do you?”

“Why do you think they came up with, ‘honesty is the best policy?’ That’s because it is. Seriously, Eric, make sure you roll with it. You’ve had sex with, um, women. Did that always go like it does in movies?”

“Oh, damn, no. Do you realize how long it takes for her to get there?”

Chase held up a hand, “No, hold up. Forget I asked that question. Let’s get back to you and the Indiana boy. What happens next?”

“Next?”

“Well, I assume it’s not just rolling around the bed, and then everything is over. Are you guys only experimenting, or is there a boyfriend thing going on there? Have you started shopping for furniture together yet?”

“I don’t know. We’re friends. I know that.”

Chase’s eyes narrowed. “You’re completely unprepared for this, aren’t you?”

“Well, I don’t want to be like you and Aaron. There was one big bang, and you expected that you wouldn’t see each other again. Harley’s too nice of a guy for that.”

“Ouch! It hurts when you bring up old shit like that. Man, I understand that wasn’t our shining moment, but it all worked out in the end.”

I grinned. “It did, and I’m sorry. You and Aaron are the best couple I know. Well, except maybe for Mo and Jack. It’s a close race there.”

Chase leaned forward and said, “I bet we could fuck circles around them. Moose is too tall for Jack. The fit is important, even in bed.”

I held my hands up to my face again. “Oh God, now I’ve got another thing to worry about.”

Chase shrugged. “I don’t think so. Harley isn’t that much taller than you, and you’ve got that skinny body. You can bend and twist well.”

I sighed. “I prefer for you to use the word wiry instead of skinny. Or you can call me slim.”

“Call it what you will. You two will do fine. I’m sure of it, and I’m here for you every step of the way. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. The other thing I know well besides baseball is how to have fun in bed.”

I never doubted that for an instant. I also envied Aaron. I wasn’t sexually attracted to Chase, but I knew they had fun together. Although I understood the attraction of others, Chase was a friend, and I didn’t let any other desires interfere with that. Still, his humor and talent with his body probably made time in bed a whole hell of a lot of fun.

I said, “Yep, I’ll make sure I get in touch if I’m trying to figure something out. I’ll pull out the phone while Harley’s lying there naked.” I mimed holding the phone to my ear. “Uh, Chase, where do I stick it now?”

Chase laughed out loud. “I’m sure you’ll figure that part out, and I have a suggestion for after.”

“Yeah? Something specific?”

“Stay the night. You want to know what he’s like in bed when he’s sleeping, too. If he kicks you in the floor while you’re trying to sleep or if he smothers you laying his big ole body over your face, you might want to rethink things. On the other hand, if he’s a spooner, don’t let him go. Big-time spooners are keepers.”

“Damn, it makes me hard thinking about that. I haven’t slept with anybody in a long time. I love waking up with somebody else there. Is that a good thing with Aaron, too?”

“There’s nothing like hearing the good coach moan when I slide up behind him first thing in the morning and nestle in between those ass cheeks.” Chase closed his eyes and let out a soft, low, sexy moan.

I held up a hand. “Shh, fuck, you’re going to get us thrown out of here.”

“But you wanted to know.”