Shane

Before the Story – Stealing Forever by Lizzie C Koz

A little introduction to Shane and his crew. This scene takes place late-summer (the year after Finding Home / two seasons prior to Stealing Forever) during Shane and Easton’s first full season of minor league baseball while playing on the Double-A team with Paulie.

Shelby Joins The Crew

“Woah, bro, woahhhh. I’m gonna need you to repeat that.”

I stare at East as he pulls on his gym shorts. We’re fresh out of the shower after our Double-A game. Paulie turns the corner from the showers and stops when he catches sight of me.

“What has Shane bugging out?”

“What has me bugging out? Winters just said something completely ludicrous.” I eye Easton. “Did you get hit in the head with a bat? Really hard. Multiple times?”

He smiles as he ties his sneakers and just shakes his head.

Paulie stops by us and grabs his fresh clothes from his cubby. Then he drops his towel and bends over, smacking me right in the face with his ass.

“Dude. The fuck! Get that hairy thing away from me.”

He cackles, and Winters doubles over laughing. Pauls pulls up his shorts and rubs his asscheek affectionately. “Don’t disrespect the cheeks, man. I happen to know I’ve got a damn fine ass. You think I pop those catcher squats for nothing?”

Truth. “You do rock them thick thighs.” Paulie Nebiolo is our Double-A catcher. He’s a stocky, boisterous Italian who has hella swagger. But don’t be fooled by his easy smile and jokes. You don’t mess with Nebs. He’s got a protective streak, and when it comes out, he goes for the jugular.

He pulls his shirt over his head and stares between me and Winters, thick dark eyebrows lifting. “So? Why did Winters take a bat to the head? What’s going on?”

Easton rolls his eyes as he runs a hand through his toffee curls, then slides on his baseball cap. “We’ll talk when we get in the car.”

Yeah. Def not here. We finish getting dressed, grab our drawstrings, and head to my Jeep. We have to be careful what we say in public company because Easton’s partner is…well, he’s a man. Unfortunately, that kind of information getting out in our gig comes with a lot of backlash. The things thrown around the locker room? It’s straight up fucked. And that’s not even taking into account how it could affect a guy’s career. 

I won’t pretend to be an expert on the subject, but I do know there are no out active major leaguers and very few in the minors. I’m no statistician—Nebs’s older brother is the number guru—and he basically said with 780 major leaguers the odds are so small none are queer, it’s practically impossible. Which just shows how deep the discrimination and prejudice run. 

I slide into the driver’s seat of my Jeep, and glance at East across from me. And East is such a sweetheart—and struggles with really bad anxiety—all that hate is the last thing my bro needs. It’s the last thing this world needs. I won’t ever understand the hate and cruelty of others. It’s why I lean so heavily into the positive. I know all too well how it feels when the world tries to cut you down. But they underestimate me. I’m a walking breathing bubble of brightness. I’ll create my own good vibes, fuck you very much.

Peace and love, bros. All day.

Paulie grunts as he falls into the backseat. “My kneeees. Definitely icing them tonight. All right. Someone spill. What’s the tea?”

“Oolong.”

“Hibiscus.”

East and I turn toward each other and grin. “Hibiscus,” I say. “Good one, bro.”

Easton turns around to the backseat. “Maddy and Shelbs are coming to visit. Might already be at our place actually.”

I watch Pauls in the rearview—and, yup, there it is. The eyebrows hitting the hairline.

“Isn’t Shelby your ex-girlfriend?” he asks slowly.

“Bat. To. The. Head,” I say.

Easton flops back against his seat and chuckles. “Maddy and Shelby got really close senior year.” His smile falls. “They kind of bonded…when they were trying to get over me.”

Ouch. Yeah, those were some dark times.

“And even with you and Madz together now…she’s still in the picture?” Paulie asks skeptically.

I glance at Pauls in the rearview quickly and then look back at the road. “Right, bro? Like, what kind of drama are we about to walk into?”

“You guys don’t understand. Shelby isn’t like that. And she’s over me. We kind of reverted back to how we were before we started dating. You’ll understand when you meet her. Shelby’s an awesome chick.”

I guess we’ll see soon enough. Just gotta hope this isn’t some big revenge plot where we’re all about to be murdered. I might need to stop watching so many murder documentaries.

I pull into the driveway of our apartment. It’s a small duplex split down the middle, with our apartment on the right and this adorable little old lady on the left. Peggy—or Pegs as I call her—is the best. Me and her kick back some nights and she shares the most redonk stories. She didn’t blink twice at Maddy and Easton—even though they tried to hide it. Let’s just say, this woman was at Woodstock and she’s all about the free love. I believe her exact words were “Dicks are pretty awesome. Why would I fault you for thinking so, too?”

I snort as I shut the car door. Pegs totally kills me. Totally fist-bumped her for that one. And, honestly, she might to be onto something there…with the whole dicks are pretty awesome. But that’d still TBD on my end.

The front door swings open, and there’s Madz, a wide grin softening his usually serious mien. The man rocks the brood. And standing next to his lean, tall frame is…well, goodness, definitely not a murderer, that’s for sure. A woman with large sparkling brown eyes, apple cheeks, and brown hair thrown up in a high pony stands by Maddox’s side. She barely comes up to his shoulder. She’s cute as a fucking button. I can already tell we’re going to vibe. I’m cute as a button, too.

East hurries over and wraps Shelby in a bear hug. “Good to see you, Shelbs. You’re looking pretty as ever.”

She rolls her eyes. And then hip checks him so hard he stumbles into Maddy’s arms. “Greet your damn boyfriend, East.”

Oh, damn. A feisty button. I walk up to her, and she matches my smile. “Hiya. I’m Shane.” I open my arms. “Do you do hugs?”

She takes my invitation and gives me a deceptively strong squeeze. “I do, depending on the person.” She steps back. “It’s great to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.” Her brown eyes soften. “Thanks for being such an amazing friend to East.”

Oh wow. This woman is a gem. I’m inducting her to the crew. “What are your thoughts on friendship bracelets?”

It may seem silly, but friendship bracelets are no joke. I spin the faded blue-beaded one on my wrist. They can hold a hell of a lot of meaning. And it’s not easy to find someone worthy of a bracelet—or someone who wants one. When you do, you’ve gotta hold on to that.

She cocks her head, ponytail flying. Her gaze catches on my wrist stack. “Can I make a color request?”

“Of course. You name it, lady, and you get it.”

She grins. “Green, please. Green is my favorite color.”

A shoulder bumps into mine and my attention shoots to Paulie.

“Green is my favorite color,” he says breathlessly.

Um…

“It’s the prettiest color of all the colors.”

I wince. Smooth, bro.

Shelby blinks at him. “Ah… Yes, I guess I think so too. Since it’s my favorite.”

“I’m Paolo.” He adds an Italian accent to it; one I’ve only ever heard him use when he speaks Italian with his mom. Then he extends a hand—and when Shelby takes it, he fucking lifts it to his lips and kisses her knuckles. “A pleasure,” he murmurs.

Damn. My boy’s got it bad. He just straight Bridgertoned her.

Shelby’s round gaze pings between me and Paulie.

“Why don’t we head inside?” I suggest in an attempt to save us from this awkwardness. “Get some grub going.”

“Sounds good. I’m happy to help cook.” Shelby shoots me a smile and an uncertain look Paulie’s way, then hurries to catch back up with Maddy and East who have already disappeared inside the open front door.

I glance at Paulie and murmur, “Dude. What the fuck was that? I’ve seen you pick up before. I know you have game. That? Was embarrassing. And Paolo?” I copy his suggestive drawl.

His warm olive skin darkens with a mauve blush. “I don’t know what came over me. I-I think I blacked out. Was it really that bad?”

“It’s the prettiest color of all the colors. You tell me, bro.”

He hangs his head. “Fuck. I’ve blown any chance I could have had.”

“I mean, yeah you were weird. Maybe she likes weird. Easton is awkward. Maybe that’s her kink.”

He juts out his chin. “Let’s hope.” Then storms toward the door.

My lips twitch. I think this visit is going to be pretty interesting.