Bat Boy (Easton U Pirates 1)

In my side view, I noticed Hollister rise from his seat and stand in the center of the aisle. “Coach,” he called to the front of the bus. “We’d like to hold a team meeting.” Then he glanced back at me and winced, as if to say, Sorry I didn’t consult you, team captain.

What in the hell?

I tensed, and both Kellan and I removed our earbuds.

Coach stood up at the front of the bus and turned to face him. “Right now?”

Hollister motioned to the passing landscape outside. “It’s as good a time as any.”

“All right.” Lines grooved Coach’s forehead as he inched closer, holding on to a seatback to steady himself. “What’s this about?”

Hollister cleared his throat, then glanced at the players around him, who nodded. “We think Kellan leaving the team should be put to a vote.” He lifted a hand just as Coach parted his lips to say something. “Please, let me finish.”

“Go on,” Coach said, his gaze shifting behind Hollister to Kellan, who looked completely thunderstruck.

I slid my hand over to entangle our fingers and ground him. Or maybe ground myself because when had this happened? They’d obviously discussed this without us.

“Kellan deserves to be on this team,” Hollister said. “We have the rest of the tourneys, and next year will be the last for several of us. We’re a solid team, we’ve got good chemistry, and Kellan is part of that.”

“He keeps us super organized,” Lopez threw out.

“Buys the best snacks too,” our second baseman piped in. “Plus, he knows his numbers and can really help the team.”

“Already did,” Maclain added, to my amazement.

“And Kellan has always been ultra-professional,” Hollister said. “You taught him well.”

Good way to butter Coach up. I would’ve laughed if I wasn’t so tense.

Fucking hell. They were going to bat for Kellan, and I could’ve cried, it was so awesome.

“Yeah, he didn’t even complain about any of our pranks,” Girard pointed out. “Like the mouse.”

“What mouse?” Coach asked, folding his arms across his chest.

“Never mind,” Kellan said with a grin, his cheeks fiery-red. “Guys, you don’t have to do this.”

“It’s our choice,” Hollister said, throwing Kellan’s earlier words back at him.

Coach looked back at his assistant, who was a couple of rows away. They had a war of words with only their eyes, and then Coach Adams shrugged.

“We’d need everyone to be on board,” Coach said, “or the vote doesn’t count.”

“Well, that’s easy,” Hollister replied with a confident grin, raising his hand. “Who else wants Kellan to stay on with the team?”

And then one by one, everyone raised their hands, even Maclain, who took his fucking time and waited until the end. I was going to kick his ass later. Unless it meant he wasn’t sure or didn’t like the idea of Kellan and me dating. Maybe a lot of these guys didn’t either but were only being cool about it now because they were high off a win.

Too much for my brain to unpack.

I looked up when the bus grew quiet, everyone staring at me.

“What?” I asked in a hoarse voice, trying not to get emotional.

“You’re the only one not raising your hand, you big dummy,” Hollister said, and everyone around us chuckled.

So I lifted my hand high, and everyone clapped, even our coaches. Coach and Kellan stared at each other, and I felt Kellan finally breathe out when Coach threw him a quick wink. They would probably have a lot to work out once everyone got home, but for now there seemed to be a truce between them. And unless it was my imagination, Coach seemed relieved.

Kellan stood up on shaky legs, a smile playing across his lips.

“Damn, you like me, you really, really like me,” he teased. “Thank you for wanting me to stay. I’m thrilled because I love picking up your dirty socks!” A few of us snickered. Then his features grew serious. “I promise to be as professional as my dad taught me to be.” He glanced at me. “Well, within reason.”

Then he leaned over and kissed me, which was just as it should be when two people are in love. Real and perfect and true.

“Get a room!” Lopez said, and we broke apart, grinning at each other.

And that was the moment I knew everything would be okay as long as we had each other.

“Guess we’ve become those people.” I smirked as Kellan sat back down and leaned his head against my shoulder.

“They’ll be the ones to hate on us now,” Kellan replied with a dreamy sigh.

“We already do,” Maclain called out, and everyone laughed.

Epilogue

Kellan

End of summer

* * *

“Oh, fuck yeah, just like that.” Donovan was balls-deep inside me, and it felt so good, my eyes nearly crossed. He’d slept over, which nowadays happened more nights than not, and we hadn’t even made it to the shower before we were kissing and touching and his fingers were filling my ass. But we had special plans today, and if we didn’t get going, we’d be late.