He’s my teammate, he’s straight, and we live together. Three strikes should be enough to shut my feelings down, but the rules of baseball don’t matter when you’re off the field.

Ethan

Making it to the big leagues is everything I’ve been working for. I’m ready to show that I belong with Boston, but I didn’t count on James Hernandez. He’s the team’s star rookie pitcher, and the guy is as charming as he is talented. My goal is to keep my head down and work hard, but James is everywhere—in the dugout, in our shared apartment, and in my head.

I’m not sure if he’s a distraction I can afford. I’ve always been able to keep my guard up, but around James, I feel it slipping. That’s dangerous, because the closer we get, the harder it is to stick to my number one rule: don’t fall for your straight friends.

James

Baseball has always been my life, and getting signed by Boston is a dream come true. Everything is falling into place, but it’s a little more complicated when your new teammate is Ethan Sullivan. He keeps to himself, but there’s just something different about him that I can’t put my finger on.

He’s talented, sure, but he’s also way too easy to be around. I thought this season was just about proving myself, but the more time I spend with Ethan, the more I wonder if I’m playing a completely different game.

Right person, wrong time zone. 

Luke

Call me jaded, but dating in Toronto is a nightmare. Erik Norberg doesn’t just wake me up—he manages to make me forget. We didn’t mean to share more than a quick moment after locking eyes in a bar, but nothing about that quiet, attractive hockey player is easy to shake.

I’m crushing hard, in too deep, and I couldn’t be happier. Unfortunately, every good thing I have eventually flies off a cliff, or in Erik's case, off to Sweden.

He was a breath of fresh air. Now that he’s gone, I’m left gasping for more.

Erik

The first time I wore skates, I found my footing within seconds. I wish talking to new people came as easily. Guys tend to take what they want and let go, but Luke Tremblay sticks around.

He’s cool, confident, and I’m hooked from day one—for the first time, I’m not waiting for the other shoe to drop. But when my place in the AHL falls out from under me, staying in Canada isn’t an option.

It turns out Luke isn’t someone I can leave behind. Step one of moving on is wanting to, and that's where I'm stuck.