Bat Boy (Easton U Pirates 1)

“Wow, that was perfectly timed,” Kellan teased as we got to my car. “Have you two been hanging out behind my back?”

“Shut it,” Jasmine replied, helping him slide in the front seat, then got in the back as I fired up the engine.

Just as I was pulling out, I saw Maclain walking to his car, looking frustrated, his fingers burrowed tightly in his hair. Part of me felt sorry for him, and I almost asked Jasmine for some insight, but it wasn’t like we were close, and besides, it was none of my business. Hopefully, he’d confide in her or Hollister about what the hell he was thinking back there.

Once we got Kellan inside, we walked him to his room, and he grumbled the whole time about not treating him like a baby. I’d never been in their place before, so I gave the kitchen and living room a cursory glance. It was decorated with secondhand furniture like our place was, but theirs was definitely neater.

“Okay, stop fussing. I’m lying down, and I’m fine,” Kellan said, just as Jasmine’s phone buzzed with a text.

“Be right back,” she said, leaving us alone.

Finally feeling like my blood pressure was back to a normal level, I got my wits about me and thought about some of the other stuff I’d learned this semester. Sheesh, I’d better get it together if I wanted to have a career outside of baseball. To be fair, Kellan meant something to me, so it didn’t surprise me that my brain had short-circuited. At least I’d recognized that something was wrong before he crumpled to the floor. Jesus, he’d scared the hell out of me.

“You should probably make a doctor’s appointment as a follow-up,” I said, tucking his sheets around him.

“Yes, Dad,” he replied, with an adorable but tired smile. He might’ve thought he was fine, but the incident had taken a lot out of him. “Don’t worry, my parents will insist on the same thing.”

I brushed his hair back from his forehead. “Good, you pain in the ass. Now get some sleep.”

“I’m the pain in the ass?” he scoffed.

But then he grew drowsy, his eyelids closing, and I knew we were right to take him home.

“Thank you for taking care of me.” He patted the space beside him. “Stay another minute?”

My heart ached as I sank down on the bed but stayed on the outside of the covers. I scooted close so his head rested against my shoulder. I nearly wrapped my arm around him, but I wasn’t sure what Jasmine knew about us and if she’d be returning soon. Instead, I pecked him on the head and told him I’d stay until he fell asleep.

It only took a couple of minutes for his breaths to even out, and when his body became slack, I knew he’d fallen asleep.

“What am I going to do with you, Kel?” I whispered, thinking over the night’s events and getting choked up about his fainting spell. Leaning against the headboard, I rested my eyes. “I wish I wasn’t so affected by you, but unfortunately, I’ve fallen hopelessly in love, and I don’t know what to do about it.”

Sighing, I murmured fuck my life under my breath.

I wasn’t sure how long I’d been asleep before I felt soft tapping on my shoulder. I slowly came to, remembering I was in Kellan’s room and had taken him home after he’d fainted. I expected it to be Jasmine rousing me, but when my eyes slid open, I saw Mrs. Crawford instead.

“Oh shoot, sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” I sat straight up, hoping I hadn’t been doing anything too obvious in my sleep. “I should go.”

I slid off the bed, glancing at Kellan to make sure he was still resting peacefully.

“Thank you for taking care of him so well,” she said, which completely threw me.

“Oh, um, of course.” I dipped my head as my cheeks heated. “Goodnight.”

20

Kellan

I woke up a bit groggy but feeling way better than I had after I’d fainted last night.

From what I remembered, we were at the bowling alley, and Maclain and Girard—ah fuck, my stomach was revolting, thinking of all that blood. I rolled out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom, where I dry-heaved into the toilet. I hadn’t eaten much last night because I was too busy planning, entertaining, and making sure everything was set in play.

I stood up to look in the mirror, shocked at my appearance, but what did I expect after fainting on the floor of the bowling alley? Ugh, how embarrassing. Thankfully, I didn’t remember much afterward. Except the way Donovan had cared for me, so tender and worried. And freaking hot.

It was as good a time as any to take a shower, so I stripped out of my rumpled clothes and stepped inside. Turning the knob to hot water, I sighed in relief as the water pelted my sore muscles, again remembering how Donovan and Jasmine drove me home. How he’d practically insisted to my parents, who probably would have questions for me when I saw them later for dinner. Shit, I so wasn’t prepared for an inquisition, not when I was feeling pretty raw and shaky over that other thing that happened just as I was falling asleep—Donovan’s confession.