I said, “Let’s see if we can find Billy and Becca again and grab a beer on the way.”
Jordan said, “Great idea!”
Billy and Becca hadn’t moved much. They were plastered against one wall, and Billy grinned when he saw me again. We drew close to them, and I asked, “When will the two of you make your announcement?”
Becca laughed. She said, “Maybe when you and Jordan make yours.”
I held Jordan tight and said, “I’m planning on us getting there, but it won’t be tomorrow.”
The music slowed, and it didn’t take long to know what was coming next. The crowd joined in with Freddie Mercury to sing a loud, shouted version of “We Are the Champions.”
Jordan shouted near my ear saying, “I’m so happy to be part of this Marshall! This is amazing!”
I shouted back, “It doesn’t come close to how amazing we are going to be together, Jordan! It might have taken me more than forty years, but I’ve found the perfect fit!”
He opened his mouth to say something in response, but I smothered the words in a passionate kiss. In that moment, the entire crowd disappeared for me, the music was silenced, and there was only Jordan. He was mine, and I was his, and we had a lifetime ahead in each other’s arms.
Epilogue - Jordan
We were still talking about the tornadoes on our taxi ride back to the house from the airport. I said, “Yeah, I was scared, but I was absolutely fascinated, too. It was sort of like watching The Wizard Of Oz. I wanted to be safe, but I also just wanted to feel the awe of watching nature at its most powerful.”
Marshall said, “Yeah, I agree. For everything that I know about the weather, I have a healthy respect for all that we don’t know. Those storms can still be unpredictable, and there was always a slim chance that a disturbance could cause it to move toward us.”
I said, “I was glad that the two we saw didn’t cause any serious damage. Afterwards, I thought it would have been really hard to say we went on a trip specifically to see a storm that leveled houses and killed people.”
Marshall grabbed my chest and said, “Aw, you’re just a warm and fuzzy guy inside. I love that about you, Jordan.”
The taxi driver stopped outside the house and we hauled our luggage out of the trunk. I opened the kitchen door and said, “Home sweet home!”
Marshall pulled two roller bags through the door. He said, “It is really good to be home.” Then he sniffed the air. “Something smells really good.”
I said, “It’s the cookies here on the counter.”
“Cookies?” asked Marshall.
“Yep, there’s a note, too.”
Marshall peered over my shoulder. He laughed and said, “They’re from Billy. I recognize the handwriting.”
The note welcomed us back and said that they wanted us to feel comfortable in our home when we arrived. He said we might find a few more surprises. The note was signed by both Billy and Becca.
I asked, “What else do you think we’re going to find?”
Marshall shrugged. “With Billy, it’s hard to tell.”
We walked into the living room arm in arm and I said, “They moved the furniture around!”
Marshall laughed out loud. He said, “That’s so funny. I started to move the furniture over a year ago, and told Billy how heavy the couch was. I never tried to move it again.”
I said, “That’s true. We just threw out my ratty old couch when I moved in.” Then I pointed at the coffee table. “There’s a new framed photo there, too.”
Marshall reached for it and then showed it to me. “It’s a great photo! I guess Becca moved in while we were gone. Those chairs aren’t Billy’s.”
It was a posed photo of Billy and Becca with Ernie and the Great Dane. The sofa was familiar from Billy’s house, but Marshall was right, there were chairs that I didn’t recognize.
Before we could discover any other surprises from Billy and Becca, Marshall’s cell phone rang. He tugged it out of his pocket, and I asked, “Who is it?”
Marshall grinned. “It’s Joey.”
I said, “Put him on speaker. He should be moving in this week.”
Joey said, “Dr. Easterling, I remember that you said you were getting back home this weekend. I can’t wait to see your photos of the tornadoes, but I also wanted to thank you again.”
“Thank me?” asked Marshall.
“Yes, for talking to me about the meteorology department. Mr. Vaughan was so helpful in talking to me about math, but I needed something a little more, um…and I hope he’s not listening, practical.”
I laughed and said, “I heard that, Joey. I love you, too.”
Joey said, “Oops. Well, anyway, I move into the dorm tomorrow, and I can’t wait to see you in class Dr. Easterling.”
Marshall said, “Thank you for calling, Joey. I’m really looking forward to the semester, but for the next few days just relax and enjoy getting to know your new friends. The classes will start soon enough.”
“Will do, Dr. Easterling, and give Mr. Vaughan a big hug for me. Tell him to keep an eye on Shane. He needs it like always.”
After Joey hung up, I said, “He really has what it takes to be a great math major, but I guess I can settle for him being into meteorology.”
“Settle?” asked Marshall. “And what is wrong with meteorology?”
I grinned at Marshall and said, “Not a thing. Not one thing.” I hugged him tight and kissed his sweet lips. Then Marshall stared at me with a look of confusion while I slowly counted out loud, “One, two, three…”
My voice was drowned out when ten of our best friends leaped from out of closets and behind furniture shouting, “Surprise!” and “Welcome home!”
Marshall slowly spun around in a circle and I saw tears slowly come to his eyes. Billy stepped up and put an arm around his shoulders saying, “Don’t cry, buddy. This is a happy day.”
Marshall protested, “I am happy, but I can cry, too, if I want to.” He turned toward me and asked, “And you knew about this, too?”
I grinned and said, “I had it arranged before we left for Kansas.”
Marshall said, “I’ve never had a group of friends like this.”
Billy pointed at me and said, “And you’ve never had a man like that. It just goes to show, Marshall, when those two uneasy pieces fit exactly right, then the whole puzzle comes together to make one glorious, beautiful picture.”
* * *
Thank you for reading Uneasy Pieces. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it for you.
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Also by Declan Rhodes
The League
Complete Game
A Second Glance
Always Waiting
Baseball
Catching the Pitch (Eric and Theo)
The Imperfect Game (Linc and Hudson)
Home Run Holiday (Nathan and Drew)
The Last Out (Kyle and Duncan)
The Wedding Season (Eric and Theo)
Making the Cut
All-Stars
More Books
Fit To Be Married
Late Night Means Love
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Two As One Box Set (Books 1-3)
Complete Game - The League, Book 1
Reviews
“Declan Rhodes has done it again. A great feel good romance that will warm your heart.”
“The supporting charac
ters were richly drawn, and I look forward to reading more about them in future books. If you love baseball and solid romance, I can't recommend Complete Game enough.”
“I like all the books Declan Rhodes writes. They're always fun to read. There's a bunch of smoking hot men who know how to heat things up in bed and out. I want to read about the rest of the characters who are the background of Complete Game. It will be a great series.”
* * *
It was just a kiss, his first from a man, but it led to a moment of distraction, a wrong step, and a bone-shattering injury that put an early end to his baseball career. For Blake Powell, it was also the beginning of a new life.
While nursing his injury, he met his new next-door neighbor Ian Chapman, a player-manager of a local gay softball team. Their first meeting is brief, but six months later, neither has forgotten that first encounter.
His baseball career is over, but Blake is soon a new star on Ian's softball team, and Ian is teaching him new lessons about loving men. The future looks exceedingly bright until the game of baseball comes calling once again and Blake considers leaving his new life behind.
Complete Game is a 55,000-word gay romance novel with a happily-ever-after ending. It is the first book in the series The League, but it can be read as either a standalone story or an introduction to the series.
* * *
Read Complete Game
A Second Glance - The League, Book 2
Reviews
“This story tugs at your heartstrings. Amid the drama, the friendships between all of the characters makes it seem like one big family. Connor and Reggie are both sweet, vulnerable and engaging.”
“Declan Rhodes has done it again. Another sweet love story with hot men and smoking hot sex.”
“This book has a hotness to it, that'll singe you, if you get too close. Connor feels he's finally found his Prince Charming. His immediate attraction and take down of Reggie's guard, is so strong and confident, it's a real turn-on. Poor Reggie's so stunned, he's definitely NOT used to that kind of attention from someone so hot and confident, that he barely knows how to react.”
* * *
As he stood on third base, leaning toward home, ready to score, Reggie Wolf couldn’t believe what he heard from the third baseman. “After the game…you and me alone…drinks.” Reggie wasn’t a stranger to first dates. He had a long dating history from humorous to nearly catastrophic. But none were ever as ruggedly handsome as Connor.
For Connor Ryan, it was all about Reggie’s face. He got lost in it every time their eyes met. Reggie wasn’t traditionally handsome, but his gaze drew Connor like a moth to a flame. He had to find out more.
After a fiery round of dating, the relationship crumbled when Connor’s fist met someone’s jaw at the Toolbox Bar. Both believed that was the end, until they crossed paths again on the softball field two years later. Neither was sure if a second glance could really lead to a second chance…but they knew that they had to give it a try.
A Second Glance is a 50,000-word second chance gay romance with steamy scenes and a happily-ever-after ending.
* * *
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Always Waiting - The League, Book 3
Reviews
“This was my first book by this author and was it a doozie and it will not be my last. I adored both Lowell and Sven and their friendship to lovers journey.”
“Declan Rhodes writes very good believable characters. Sven and Lowell, the main characters in this book are no exception. There are some very amusing scenes that will have you chuckling for sure. There are moments of insecurity that just make this story believable.”
“This is an excellent addition to the series. Declan always describes his characters so well so you can see events unfolding in your mind's eye.”
* * *
Lowell Baker is convinced that life is random at best, and good things rarely triumph in the end, but that doesn’t mean that life excludes exhilarating moments, like the one when Sven literally knocked him off his feet and landed sprawled across his body face-to-face and almost mouth-to-mouth. Those moments just required taking a few extra risks to bring them about.
For Sven Paulsen, there is safety in the predictable and expected. He’s the handsome, strong, sturdy guy on everybody’s side. He has endured a string of bad luck, but he’s certain that sticking close to well-worn paths will right the ship and send him sailing off toward a comfortable horizon.
In fact, that was the plan until Sven literally collided with Lowell at second base on the softball field. Face-to-face once more, their shared history is recalled, but it leaves the path forward uncertain. Sven is comfortable as friends, but Lowell wants a little more…even if it ultimately requires convincing Sven to take a leap from more than 10,000 feet off the ground.
Always Waiting is a 50,000 word gay romance with friends becoming lovers and a touch of second chance. It contains steamy scenes and a happily-ever-after ending.
* * *
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About the Author
Declan Rhodes is an author of gay romance. He is fascinated by exploring male/male relationships in a world changed by worldwide progress in lgbtq civil rights.
He is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and loves men, cooking for friends and family, travel, and long walks along the shore of Lake Michigan not necessarily in that order.
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Uneasy Pieces: The League, Book 4 Page 14