Unwritten Rules

What does it mean to get a second chance in a game that offers few?

Zach Glasser has put up with a lot for the sport he loves. Endless days on the road, playing half-decent baseball in front of half-full stadiums and endless nights alone, pretending this is the life he's always wanted.

The thing is, it could have been everything he ever wanted—if only he'd had the guts to tell his family, tell the club, that he was in love with his teammate Eugenio Morales. Well, ex-teammate now. When Zach wouldn't—couldn't—come out, Eugenio made the devastating choice to move on, demanding a trade away from Oakland. Away from Zach.

Three years and countless regrets later, Zach still can't get Eugenio out of his head. Or his heart. And when they both get selected to play in the league’s All-Star Classic, those feelings and that chemistry come roaring back.

Zach wants a second chance. Eugenio wants a relationship he doesn't have to hide. Maybe it's finally time they both get what they want.

Note from the Author

This is a coming-out story—there is no forced outing, but it does wrangle with coming out as a choice. Also included are:

• Complicated family dynamics, including themes of heteronormativity.

• References to and brief depictions of homophobia, ableism, sexism, racism, classism, antisemitism, and xenophobia. These do not involve the use of slurs.

• Brief references to generational trauma.