Bat Boy (Easton U Pirates 1)

“That sounds pretty awesome.”

“Yeah? How about this,” I blurted out before I could think it through. “I’ll show at your party if you meet me at the park tonight.”

My chest felt all weird as I waited on his reply, and I tried to school my reaction in case he turned me down or already had plans.

He leaned closer. “Are you asking me on a date, Crawford?”

“You wish,” I said with a playful elbow to his gut. “I just thought you’d enjoy it since you like the same—”

“I’d love to,” he said in a rush, as if I’d take back my invite. “But aren’t you afraid… I mean, what if someone sees us? You have enough trouble with me sitting beside you on these bus rides.”

He had a point. But I figured the park was far enough away from campus, and I doubted any of these guys were interested in old-school movies—they seemed more excited about blockbuster action shows.

“Then I guess we’d have to admit it,” I said in a hushed whisper. “That we’re actually friends.”

“That would be a tragedy.” His face contorted into a horrified look before it split into a grin. “I’ll only go on one condition.”

I swallowed. Supposed I wasn’t the only one with stipulations. “What’s that?”

“You have to tell me about this rating system you and Jasmine have.”

“Fine,” I scoffed. “Now go back to your seat so I can pretend you’re annoying me again.”

“Oh, I see, it’s all an act.” He stood up, and I turned away so he wouldn’t see my smile. Freaking Brady Donovan.

My palms were damp as I pulled into a spot on the street near the park that night. But as soon as I spotted him by the giant oak tree where we’d agreed to meet, my shoulders unwound. This was Donovan, and we always had fun together, even if this were the first time we’d be hanging out completely alone. Well, outside of my hotel room.

We settled in once I spread out our blanket, and he set down a small cooler he’d brought.

“What do you have in there—beer?” Alcohol wasn’t allowed in the park, but maybe he’d thought of a clever way to sneak it in.

“I brought us snacks.” He pulled the cooler toward him and opened the lid, producing two pints of custard from Melt, along with plastic spoons.

“Birthday-cake flavor for you.” He handed me the container. “And chocolate for me.”

“No gummy-bear custard on special?” I teased, and he scrunched his face. “This is really cool, thank you.”

Damn, why did he have to be so thoughtful?

“Thanks for inviting me.”

The movie was starting, and we watched the opening scene while eating our ice cream, which felt like the best thing I could’ve been doing with my night. Baseball movie, ice cream, and Brady Donovan. When I sighed around my next spoonful, he pressed his shoulder against mine and smiled, almost like he was having the same thoughts.

It didn’t take him long after Kevin Costner entered the next scene to lean in and ask, “Okay, what’s this rating system about?”

No chance he’d forgotten about it then. Darn.

“We rate based on acting ability, charisma, and…” I winced, feeling the sting of embarrassment. “Arms, lips, and butts.”

I hid my face as he barked out a laugh, then looked at the screen as if considering the categories. If Jaz were here, she’d say that Costner was best in his more serious roles, but Bull Durham was an exception. He was quite sexy as the playboy veteran on the baseball team.

“Well,” Donovan said as if he’d given it very serious consideration, “he obviously can act, and he’s charming the heck out of Susan Sarandon’s character. He’s got some nice guns on him, his lips are kissable, but if I’m being honest, his butt could use some more padding.”

I nearly choked on a spoonful of custard.

“What?” he said, pushing playfully at my knee.

“Sorry, it’s just funny to hear you talk like that.”

“It actually feels good,” he replied, and I could see how settled he seemed tonight as opposed to the evening at the club where he was way cagier. Not that watching a movie in the park was the same thing as dancing in a crowd of gay men, but he certainly didn’t hold back in his critique of a male actor.

I replaced the lid on my custard before I ate too much and got a stomachache, and he did the same, setting both back in the cooler. I handed him a water I’d brought, and he twisted the cap and chugged some down.

I motioned to the screen, where the main characters were flirting. “The sex scenes are scorching.” I saw his frown in my side view. “What? I can appreciate hetero-sex.”

“It’s not that. I just…never really understood it, you know? How my friends are so wild about it. Sex never did much for me.”