Pine Tar & Sweet Tea

Dedication & Acknowledgments

For M.B.H., a beautiful person, talented artist, and dedicated educator, and J.L.B., who I hope has found a way to be happy in her own skin.

Many thanks to:

Jules Robin, my editor, who was patient and a dream to work with

Trinity Stanley, my beta reader, who has also inspired me with her writing

Bella Leone, Tessa Conte, Michelle Smith, and Kimberley Dane, who have waited for this book longer than you can imagine

My husband, who is snoring in the recliner next to me as I type this because he doesn’t like to go to bed without me.

Chapter One – May

As the sun rose, Matt sat cross-legged in center field. He’d already eaten the sausage and biscuit he’d picked up at Minnie’s Diner, and now he was lost in a book. He ran his hands over the dew-damp grass as he read, not caring that his fingers left marks on the edge of the pages when he turned them.

The boys would be there soon, and Matt would need to help herd them all on the buses. But for a few moments, he enjoyed the peace of the early May morning. Nothing to think about but the book in his lap, the field under his hands, and the sun in the sky.

He didn’t raise his head at the approaching footsteps. He knew everyone in the little town, and everyone knew where to find him at seven a.m. He smiled when the person sitting next to him huffed in frustration.

You’re going to have to help me get back up. I’m too old for this shit.

Matt tore the corner off the paper bag from breakfast and closed it in his book. Damn it, Emily, I was just getting to the good part, too.

Emily looked at the cover and rolled her eyes. You’ve already read that one, you dork.

Which is how I know I was getting to the good part.

Whatever. She fell back on the ground, and Matt followed.

He wrapped one of her long blonde curls around his finger, just like he used to do when they were teenagers. You know, I’ll never understand why the guys in town aren’t beatin’ your door down.

Emily patted her stomach then her thighs. You know exactly why. I’m no Daisy Duke.

I figured some of these good ol’ boys woulda grown up by now. Matt sighed. I never did understand Daisy’s appeal anyway.

Emily gave him an elbow to the ribs. "Well of course you didn’t."

Shush!

Don’t worry. Nobody here but us chickens.

Matt knew that he was the only real chicken. Still, he planned to keep himself to himself. There was no need for the town—especially his father’s church—to find out things that were nobody’s business. His family didn’t need the shame. He was perfectly fine shouldering that on his own.

Matt’s phone buzzed, and he reached into his pocket to silence it. You ready to spend three days being mother hen?

Emily dismissed him with a wave. Oh, please, who do you think kept those hellions I call brothers in line? These boys are little angels in comparison.

"And they would so love to be called little angels." Matt silenced his phone again.

That your dad?

Matt nodded. He’s pestering me because I skipped church on Sunday. I just couldn’t take a Mother’s Day service, he whispered.

Emily sat up and shook the grass out of her hair. I’m sure he understands. He probably didn’t want to be there any more than you did. She gave Matt a shove. Want me to come with you Sunday, like we used to?

We’ve discussed this. I don’t want to scare off that guy who finally realizes how awesome you are.

Sweetheart, I’m gettin’ a little old to be believing in fairy tales. And you know Reverend Nate isn’t going to stay off your case forever. She gave him that look, the one she gave her students who needed a little extra hand-holding. How long are you going to keep this up? You can’t spend your whole life as a ‘terminal bachelor.’

Matt scowled. Did you really just use air quotes with me? When Emily arched her eyebrow, he continued. I will not hurt Dad and Jeanne. I made it this long—

Yeah, and you were gone for eleven years. Did you even come out in all that time? To anyone?

"Come on, how many out baseball players do you know? None, that’s how many. And yes, there were people. Other players. Guys in different places. I got by."

Emily leaned over him. Don’t you ever want more than getting by?

Matt pushed her aside and sat up. There’s no point wanting what I can’t have.

They sat in tense silence, Emily pulling up blades of grass and Matt chewing on the inside of his cheek. He didn’t understand why she had to start this, today of all days. Emily knew her family would love her no matter what. She hadn’t heard her father preach about the evils of homosexuality all her life. The only person who might have accepted him, might have loved him despite everything, was killed by a drunk driver a year ago. Now he just couldn’t compound his father and sister’s grief by scandalizing them. This town was their whole lives, and people here never forgot a damn thing.

Coach Hawley! Miss Maxwell! The tall, rail-thin boy ran across the field toward Matt and Emily, and Matt couldn’t help being reminded of himself at seventeen.

Matt stood and held out a hand to help Emily to her feet. Hey Robby. What’s up?

Buses are here. Robby was practically bouncing. Everyone’s here but Ben.

Emily chuckled. Ben’s always late.

Like everyone else on Matt’s team, Ben took one of Emily’s home economics classes. The parents didn’t understand why Matt had encouraged their macho baseball-playing sons to learn to cook, but Matt still remembered trying to figure out how to cook a frozen pizza his first night at minor league training camp. If a home economics class could prevent someone else from suffering the embarrassment of calling the fire department to put out a pizza, it was well worth it.

Matt patted Robby’s shoulder. Thanks. Run on back and get my bus lists off my desk.

Yes, Coach! And Robby was off again, running toward the school.

God, that boy has the biggest crush on you, Emily whispered.

Petrified, Matt stared after Robby. If Emily could see it, others would too. Robby was a good kid, a star shortstop, and an excellent student. None of that would matter to the other kids—hell, if Matt was being honest, to the parents either—if they sensed Robby was different. His life would be hell until he fell in line or left.

Emily grabbed Matt’s hand and squeezed. It’s okay. No one’s talking. No one else has figured out. I doubt if he even has.

Matt picked up the remnants of his breakfast and his book. Let’s go. It’s a long drive to Montgomery.

* * * *

René, what is taking you so long? David’s here!

Having his father living with him made René feel like a kid again. And having his father announce David’s arrival just like high school made it worse. René laughed at himself as he threw his duffel over his shoulder.

David stood in the kitchen, and he and René’s father clucked over the latest gossip, something about the principal’s new arm candy. When René walked in, his father handed him a cup of strong coffee before returning to David’s report. Some things never changed.

René blew on his coffee before taking a sip. Considering we’re headed to the championship today, you’d think you two would talk about baseball for once.

David laughed loudly, because he never did anything halfway. I am. He’s bringing her to the tournament.

Figures. René threw his duffel on the floor. That man is such a whore.

That’s what I was sayin’. Right, Mr. D?

René’s father nodded. Yes, he was. Too bad this man isn’t gay. Then you could be his date.

René cringed. Ew, Dad. Just...no...ew. That’s almost as bad as you telling me to ask David out. Which his father did. Often.

Wait, David cried. What’s wrong with me? I tried to be gay for you.

One kiss when we were fourteen is not trying to be gay. And it was like kissing my sister.

David winked. Hey, your sister is hot.

Suddenly René didn’t want his coffee, and he wasn’t sure if he could stomach food now either. Fuck you very much.

I hope you two aren’t like this around your students. René’s father shook his head and motioned them toward the door. Now go on. It wouldn’t do for the coaches to miss the bus.

René gave his father a quick kiss on the cheek, and David kissed the other. His father followed them as far as the porch and waved as they drove away.

The high school was on the other side of Mobile, only a thirty-minute ride away. It was just enough time for René to lean back, close his eyes, and try to center himself. He mentally ran through the batting order and visualized how he would coach his players in the afternoon game. These few minutes were important to him; it would be the only peace and quiet he’d get for the next three days.

But David had other ideas. So, you pack the condoms and lube?

The imaginary game in René’s head ground to a halt. I think I’ll be a little too busy to hook up this weekend. You know, state championship and all.

There is no such thing as too busy to hook up, David chided. You have been using that excuse since the beginning of the school year.

So much for centering peace and quiet. The last thing René wanted to talk about was the beginning of the school year and his lack of male companionship. When the season is over—

"When the season is over. When your dad’s house is ready. Last time we had this conversation, it was when you finished picking the team. And before that it was when you