Page 15 of Beautifully Devoted

Stretching my arms over my head, I realize it may have been premature to say no pun intended since I am indeed up. Right when I’d been thinking about dicks and prostates. Or maybe I just have to pee.

After a pit stop in the bathroom, I grab a pair of joggers and head downstairs to where my roommates are all sitting on the couch, faces red and cheeks puffed like squirrels as they try to blow up at least a half dozen inflatable toys.

Actual toys, not dolls, for the record.

Picking up a rainbow-colored beach ball, I spin it on my finger like a giant basketball. “What’s all this?”

“Baseball.” Bennet stands up and swings an oversized, inflatable bat, knocking Cruz on the side of the head in the process.

“Ow.” Cruz rubs at his ear. “Dude, really? That hurt.”

“I hit you with air. How could that hurt?”

“Hell if I know, but it did.”

“So, baseball?” I ask.

“They were selling all these goofy little toys at Ikea, and I figure we have a big enough yard, we should play baseball,” Bennet says.

“Don’t we need a few more people for that? Between the five of us we’d have the bases and pitcher covered but no batter.” I toss the ball up in the air and punch it toward the couch, hitting Liam in the chest.

“There’s a half-dozen guys living in the frat house over the summer,” Bennet answers. “They’ll come.”

“Football vs frat house.” Cameron grins. “I like it.”

“Hey now.” Liam elbows him. “Not all of us in this house are football players.”

“But you live here so you’re part of the football crew. Even if you incorrectly believe lacrosse is better,” Cam nudges him back.

“Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve seen it.” Cruz rests a hand on Liam’s leg, rubbing his thumb over the curve of his knee. “The hits are hard, the passes are fast, and the action is non-stop.”

“Spoken like a whipped man,” Bennet snorts.

“You know it.” Cruz beams.

Despite our awkward run-in yesterday, I think it’s cool my teammate is so enamored with his boyfriend. Cruz sort of reminds me of Cameron’s dad, who’s hopelessly devoted to his wife. Those two have been married forever and they still have this sappy love for each other. Cam and I would grumble about it as kids, but now I understand that it’s the way marriage should be. Without them, I’d have no idea what a good relationship is supposed to look like, so even though my own genes don’t bode well for that kind of happiness in my life, at least I have some idea of how things should work if I ever find someone to try forever with.

Way, way, waaay in the future.

While my roommates finish blowing up the toys—Bennet bought several inflatable bats and balls, figuring we’d bust holes in them pretty quickly—I grab the shake Cam left me and do some stretches to wake up my muscles. Yes, I’m competitive, but I’m also studying to be an athletic trainer, so I know how important it is to be limber before you do anything physical. That includes a goofy game of baseball between a bunch of bored college kids.

By the time Bennet’s frat brothers arrive, we’ve got a makeshift infield set up in the backyard. Bases are just towels laid out on the grass, and the pitcher’s mound is a white stripe made with leftover paint we found in the garage, probably from when the rental company touched up the house between renters.

Since each team has five people, the infielders have to play the outfield too. Thankfully, inflatable balls don’t fly that far, so it would be a Christmas miracle for any of us to actually hit the ball outside the baseline anyway.

As the hosts, the football crew takes the field first, with Bennet pitching, Cruz catching, and Cam, me, and Liam playing first, second, and third, respectively.

First up for their team is a guy named Alex–I think. He strikes twice before connecting with the ball and sending it straight toward my face. I catch it easily, and he moseys back into the rotation as Aiden takes position, making a show of lining up his bat with the base.

He connects on the first try, barely, fouling to the outside of third base. His second attempt is virtually the same, but on the third he connects enough that the ball flies between second and third, which sends both Liam and I sprinting for it.

However, our efforts prove to be futile since we both stop, unsure of who’s going to make the catch. The ball drops between us, giving Aiden enough time to make it to first base. He fist bumps Cam since he’s the first guy to make it to a plate, and says something that has my best friend laughing so hard he clutches his side.

What the hell could be so funny about making it to base?

The next guy hits the ball on the first try, sending it soaring over my head so I have to chase it down. It hits the ground before I can catch it, but it’s in my hand by the time Aiden’s rounding second, so there’s plenty of time to get him out at third. Or there would’ve been if inflatable balls weren’t the total opposite of aerodynamic. The damn thing barely makes it back to second even though I put some muscle behind my throw, but I’m able to sprint behind it and tap out the guy who batted.

It's not long before we get three outs and the frat house has scored two runs. And at this point, it’s evident this will not be a game of skill so much as chance, since a timely gust of wind can make all the difference.

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