I pulled the door open. A short driveway with a single-car garage stood before me, beyond that a short walk down the drive toward the big house, Hiroshi’s home. Three years ago, he bought the manor for his family since they lived full time in Massachusetts. After struggling to find a suitable place to live, he offered up the guesthouse, a nice two-bedroom with everything I needed. I owned a home down in Florida that I stayed at during spring training, and a house in Rhode Island near my parents that I lived in during offseason. I had yet to find something during the regular season but was in no rush to do so.
A beautifully manicured lawn surrounded the three story, all-white structure of a modern luxury build. Abutting over eighty acres of conservation land, Hiroshi’s house was as private as you could get, with a long, gated driveway. (Yes, I had texted Alex the guest code to get in.) A pool sat in the back surrounded by a low, white fence. Currently, I heard splashes, likely from Hiroshi’s kids playing before everyone showed up. Catering and service vans lined the driveway as penguin-dressed folks marched an endless array of food and drink to the back patio. A DJ was pulling cords and plugging in speakers along the pool. A couple of the catering people stared me down as I walked to the side entrance they were using. One woman’s eyes never left my body and she bit her lower lip.
Inside was controlled chaos. I meandered my way through it all until I reached the living room where Hiroshi stood in front ofa seventy-inch flatscreen. Last night’s highlights were on and he had his hands on his hips, shaking his head.
“Can’t win ’em all,” I told him. He didn’t turn to look at me.
“I’m more concerned about the ones weshouldhave won. They scored twice in the fifth inning.Twice. And we couldn’t catch up the rest of the game?”
He prattled on and I listened. There was a reason he became our captain, shouldering a burden I never wanted to carry. “When do we play them next?” Hiroshi asked.
“Couple of weeks, I think. We’re playing there for those two.”
Hiroshi clicked off the television and turned to me. He let out a breath and his bodyshifted. The tautness he carried in his shoulders evaporated as his eyes looked me up and down. He leaned forward a fraction and made a show at sniffing the air.
“Dude, you wearing cologne?” He slapped his chest and rocked back. “For me, on my birthday? You’re just so sweet.”
I rolled my eyes. “No, I’m not wearing cologne for you.”
“Then for who? Because no one wears cologne for themselves.”
My cheeks went red. I couldn’t lie, didn’t want to lie. Had to change subjects. Had to…
“You invited someone, didn’t you?” Hiroshi said. He laser focused on me and it was as if he could read me like an easy play. “Does this one have potential?” He grew more serious as the questions came rolling out. “Dude, you should have told me. What does he like to drink? I can talk to the caterers. I’ll give him a good spot to park in, if you want? When do you think he’ll get here?”
I held out both my hands. “Roshi, brother, please. This isn’t anything like that.”
Again, he dramatically sniffed the air. “Sure, Romeo,” he said, putting emphasis on the perfect portmanteau of my name and the other. He smiled and crossed his arms. “Look at you.You’re nervous, aren’t you?”
“What? I’m notnervous.”
“Yes, you are. Damn, who is this guy?”
“Hon?” a woman’s voice said as she came around a corner. Hiroshi’s wife, Rei, was a knockout, with long black hair, a stunning body, and clothing that always fit just right. She was a former model and who could blame Hiroshi for falling head over heels for her.
She smiled at me. “Hey, Rome. Nice haircut. Hon, I need help with the…” Her nose crinkled. “Rome, are you wearing cologne?” She gasped. “Is it for a boy? Is he coming? He’s coming here, I knew it. Who is it? Do we know him? Is that why your hair looks so good?”
I threw up my hands. “Oh, I can’t with you two.” I stomped to the French doors that led out to the pool patio. “I refuse to be interrogated.”
“You better tell me his name now,” Rei called out after me, “because once I find him and sink my claws into him, I’ll know way more about his life than you!”
I closed the door and heard them giggle. One of their kids called my name but I held up a finger when I heard my phone ding.
Alex:Oh, also, should I bring anything? What does Hiroshi like?
Me:He was adamant on no gifts. Just you is good :)
Alex:Well all right. I’ll see you in an hour.
I bided the next half hour tossing Hiroshi’s daughters into the pool while their Shiba Inu barked at the danger of children in the water. Teammates had started to arrive by the time the girls got out and Rei brought them upstairs. Brett had a light beer in one hand while he handed me a can of seltzer with his other. We stood by the pool slide while the DJ turned on some chill beats.
“Dude,” Brett said as he sniffed.
“Don’t,” I said. He opened his mouth to speak but I talked over it. “Not another word.”
“Was just gonna comment on how sick your hair looks. Fresh fade?”
I glowered and sipped the seltzer. “Yes.”
