Page 24 of Tagging Bases

We burst through the door and into the cool evening air. The sun is setting, painting the sky in shades of orange, yellow, and purple. The street is empty save for a few stragglers smoking cigarettes.

“I take it you didn’t come here willingly?” Harrison asks, guiding me around the building to the front.

I nod. “Danny Boy dragged me here to support his girlfriend. She’s really into…all of this.” I gesture at the duck. “Whateverthisis.”

Harrison follows my gaze and smiles. “I made that, you know.”

My eyes widen. “You did? Shit, well, it’s really…profound…and a commentary on the human condition.”

One perfectly shaped eyebrow disappears beneath his blond locks. Followed by a snort that cuts through the prolonged silence. “I was kidding, McManus. Some weird-ass middle-aged man made it. And it’s freaky as fuck.”

I blow out a breath and bend forward, hands braced on my knees. “Thank God. I really believed you there, H. I thought I might have hurt your feelings or something.”

He pats my back, and the sensation of his warm palm on my spine makes me stiffen. “Don’t worry. I have incredibly thick skin.”

“Duly noted.” I stand up and run a hand through my hair. I want to ask him something, but I’m not sure if I should. It’s none of my business, but like a persistent itch on my balls, it’s bugging me.

Sensing my turmoil, Harrison asks, “Something on your mind, McManus?”

“Do you have a girlfriend?”God, I’m thirteen again.

He snickers, then shakes his head. “No boyfriends for me.”

Oh.He’s…wow, okay. That’s cool. Super cool. I may come from a small farm town, but that doesn’t mean I’m a bigot or closed-minded. Love is love.

“Right on, man,” I whisper, trying to sound casual and not at all like my brain is melting.

Harrison snickers again, and I get the distinct impression he’s laughing at me. But not in a mean way. More in a “you’re an adorable idiot” way.I’ll take it.

Suddenly, I’m hyperaware of Harrison’s presence beside me. I sneak glances at him out of the corner of my eye, admiring the slope of his nose. The fullness of his lips. The sharp cut of his jawline. He’s a work of art, all angles and edges and raw beauty.

Knowing I need to nip my fixation in the bud before it becomes an obsession, I rub my jaw and decide I’ve gotten enough fresh air for the time being. “As much as I don’t want to, Ishould probably go back inside. Don’t want to leave Danny Boy high and dry.”

“You’re a good friend,” Harrison says.

I smile at Harrison’s comment. He’s right—Iama good friend. Daniel’s lucky to have a best bud who’ll suffer through bad poetry for him.

“I should get back too before my boss realizes I’m missing,” Harrison adds. “She’ll have my head if she finds out I took an unauthorized break.”

I hold the door open for him, and we slip back inside the stuffy gallery. The cacophony of snapping fingers assaults my ears once more. When I notice Daniel and Olivia aren’t in their seats, I scan the room for them, finding them at the back. Olivia has her arms crossed over her chest, scowling. Daniel appears furious.

Uh-oh. Trouble in paradise.

As Harrison and I make our way over, their argument grows louder, carrying across the room. Olivia’s artsy posse watches the drama unfold with wide eyes and scandalized whispers.

I can’t hear what they’re saying exactly, but I do see my name get mouthed a few times.

I quicken my pace, wanting to reach them before things escalate further. “Hey, guys, everything okay over here?” I ask in a light tone to defuse the tension.

They both whirl on me, anger blazing in their eyes. For a second, I’m afraid they might turn on me next. But then Olivia huffs and stalks off, her friends trailing after her like obedient puppies. Daniel watches her go, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

I clap a hand on his shoulder. “What do you say we blow this popcorn stand?”

He nods, smiling gratefully. “That sounds perfect. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

I glance back at Harrison over my shoulder and shrug apologetically. “Duty calls. See you around, H.”

“Wait,” he says, snaking his long fingersaround my forearm. The warmth that seeps from him nearly burns my skin. “I know a place we can go.”

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