Michael’s boyfriend Tyler moved away for a job opportunity, leaving Michael not really sure if he’s single or not. Distracted and confused, he manages to break his leg and wind up in the emergency room, where he meets Julian. Sexy and flirtatious, Michael is torn between his feelings for his ex/not-ex and his new interest.
Julian jumps in with both feet to help Michael navigate the challenges of life in a leg cast and their friendship blossoms. But Julian isn’t without his own baggage. He recently ended an engagement with a college girlfriend, but she doesn’t think their relationship is over.
Forced to decide whether his ex/not-ex will be in his future, Michael picks up the phone to tackle the issue head on. Likewise, Julian works to clear things up with his former fiancée. All appears to be settling down when Tyler comes to town and makes a startling revelation. It’s a curveball no one saw coming. Can he steal Michael back from Julian?
I’d dozed off but woke up to hear Elise say, “Well, hey there, sugar!” I opened my eyes and saw her give a hug to a guy coming in with a set of crutches. “Michael,” she said, looking at me and putting her arm around the newcomer. “This is Julian. He plays in our softball league. He’s on one of the gay teams!” Turning to Julian, she continued, “Michael’s planning to join, too!”
“What?” I asked. “You know me and sports don’t mix. Been through enough of that with Ty.”
“It’s all for fun,” Julian said. “Most of us never played before and half still haven’t ever hit the dang ball!” I smiled and pointed to the cast on my leg. “Season doesn’t start for three months. You’ll be all healed up by then. Come join us! We’ve got room on our team. In fact, we’re changing the name. Used to be the Bat Boys but that gets a little confusing when we have actual bat boys. Top choices are Rainbow Sluggers, Diamond Daddies, and the Ball Busters. Got a favorite?”
I just laughed. “I’ll have to give it some thought,” I answered. He was cute, this Julian. Close to my age, almost a little Hispanic looking, I guessed. Fairly dark complected with beautiful black hair, and dark eyes. His scrubs were just tight enough to show a sexy figure. He was trim but he had plenty of definition on him. I chastised myself for checking him out when I may, or may not, have a boyfriend.
“Okay, you do that,” he replied playfully. “Meanwhile, let’s get you up and on these crutches.” He pulled the plastic off the crutches, helped me to my one good foot, and adjusted the crutches to fit.
Realizing I was still in the hospital gown, I asked, “How am I gonna get my pants over this thing?”
“You’re not,” he answered, chuckling. “You’ll be in athletic shorts for the next six weeks. You have any wire coat hangers at home?”
“Yeah. My dress shirts for work come back from the cleaners on wire hangers. Why?”
“You’re gonna wanna take one,” he explained, “and stretch it out straight. When your leg starts itching -- and it most definitely will start itching -- stick that coat hanger down the side of the cast to scratch it.”
“Sounds fun,” I smirked.
“What do you do for work, Michael?”
“Lawyer.”
“Suit and tie, work in an office kind of lawyer?”
“Yep, exactly,” I confirmed.
“Ah,” Julian said, grinning. “A professional homosexual!”
Elise and I laughed. “So, are you an amateur homosexual?” I teased.
“Perhaps,” Julian said, grinning more, “but I’m always willing to practice and get better!” He winked at me. Cute Julian was flirting with me. I won’t lie, that made me feel good. “Pro tip,” he said, getting back to business. “Seriously try hard not to get this cast wet. Your leg’s gonna itch no matter what, but it’ll be a hundred times worse if this cast gets wet. I’m gonna give you a couple rolls of good quality, waterproof medical tape. Wrap a garbage bag over this cast and tape it shut good so no water gets in. You’ll thank me later.”
Elise said she’d bring the car around while Julian made sure I could use the crutches without falling over and helped me get a shoe on my good foot. “Guess I’m walking outta here with my ass hanging out, huh?”
“I’m okay with that,” he said, winking again. “Nah, I’ll fix you up.” He stepped out and returned with a second hospital gown that he put on backwards so it covered my rear end. He put my clothes in a plastic Patient’s Belongings bag, and when Elise got back, I was ready to go.
As we headed out, I looked at Julian and said, “If by some chance, I come out of this with some great athletic talent, does Elise know how to reach you about joining the team?”
“Good question,” Julian said. “Elise, you got my number?”
“I’m not sure,” she answered, coyly. She rooted through my patient’s belongings to find my phone, handed it to Julian, and said, “Let’s have you put your 411 right into Michael’s phone so we’re sure.”
He handed me the phone and I saw where he’d put in Julian Hernandez. I knew it! Hispanic! I always wanted a sexy Latin man! They were featured prominently in videos of a certain type that I might sometimes watch. “We’ll see how I do,” I said, smiling and shaking his hand.
“Hope to hear from you,” he said as we made our escape.
