The All Star Break

They used to destroy each other on the field. Now they share a locker room, a dugout, and a secret that could end both their careers.

For the first time in their lives, Ethan Cole and Nate Reyes are teammates. Same city. Same roster. Same cramped clubhouse where every look lasts a beat too long and every accidental touch sends a jolt down Ethan's spine. The rivalry that made them famous is over. The secret relationship that replaced it is harder to hide than ever.

When both are selected for the All-Star Game, the spotlight intensifies to a blinding glare. National interviews. Shared hotel floors. Team dinners where they sit across from each other and pretend the air between them isn't combustible. Teammates are starting to notice the way they orbit each other. A veteran catcher makes a joke that lands too close to the truth.

Five years of hiding. Five years of stolen moments and careful distance. Nate is starting to wonder how much longer he can perform for the cameras when the only person he wants to be real with is sitting three feet away, pretending they're just colleagues.

The All-Star break was supposed to be a celebration. Instead, it might be the week their carefully constructed world falls apart.