2
" I’m sorry. I know how much players have to focus, and I know not to be a distraction. I just got caught up in the moment, in the great game, in your terrific pitching.”
But I felt a need to explain more.
“Look, Jason, I love baseball. I love the crack of the bat hitting the ball. I love the seventh-inning stretch and singing ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game.’ I love eating hot dogs and standing for the singing of the national anthem. I love doing the wave. I love Kiss Cam. I love that the game isn’t over until it’s over.
“I love the thrill of a home run and the disappointment of an out at first. I love the way a batter stands at the plate and the catcher readies himself to receive the pitch. I love watching the pitcher windup. I love sitting in the stands and feeling like I’m part of the game.
“And tonight, watching you pitch, I forgot that I’m only a small part—the spectator. Watching you, I felt like I was in the game, out on that field with you. You’re out there on the mound, living a dream that so few people ever experience.
“I’m sorry, sorry that tonight I ruined the moment for you.”
He was staring at me intently. I’d just bared my soul. Why didn’t he speak? What could he possibly be thinking?
My nerves stretched taut.
“Say something,” I demanded.
“There’s nothing else to say,” he said in that quiet way he had.
Then he lowered his head and kissed me. "
― Rachel Hawthorne , The Boyfriend League
4
" Have you found it different having girls in the house?”
He cleared his throat. “Oh, yeah.”
“Would you care to elaborate?”
“Nope.”
I looked up from my writing. “If you don’t elaborate, it’s going to be a very short article.”
“Look, I’ve already gotten into it once tonight--”
“Are you implying I’m hard to live with? Is that why you won’t comment further? Because you think I’ll be offended? I won’t be.”
“No further comment.”
I sighed, tempted to toss the recorder at him.
“Okay, then, we’ll move on. What’s been the most difficult aspect of living with us?”
There was silence, but it was the kind where you can sense someone wants to speak but doesn’t. Jason was so incredibly still, as though he was weighing consequences.
“Not kissing you,” he finally said, quietly. "
― Rachel Hawthorne , The Boyfriend League
5
" Have you found it different having girls in the house?”
He cleared his throat. “Oh, yeah.”
“Would you care to elaborate?”
“Nope.”
I looked up from my writing. “If you don’t elaborate, it’s going to be a very short article.”
“Look, I’ve already gotten into it once tonight--”
“Are you implying I’m hard to live with? Is that why you won’t comment further? Because you think I’ll be offended? I won’t be.”
“No further comment.”
I sighed, tempted to toss the recorder at him.
“Okay, then, we’ll move on. What’s been the most difficult aspect of living with us?”
There was silence, but it was the kind where you can sense someone wants to speak but doesn’t. Jason was so incredibly still, as though he was weighing consequences.
“Not kissing you,” he finally said, quietly.
My heart did this little stutter. I just stared at him as the recorder continued to run, searching for sound. My hand was shaking when I reached over and turned it off.
“But you did kiss me, and you said it was a mistake.”
“Because getting involved with you is a bad idea, on so many levels.”
“Care to share one of those levels?”
“I’m living in your house. Your parents are giving me a roof over my head. Your mom brings home extra takeout. I’m here only for the summer. Then I’m back at school.” He reached up, removed the ice pack from around his shoulder, and set it on the table. “And Mac? After we went to Dave and Bubba’s, he comes out to the mound and tells me he thinks you’re hot. And I know you like him, so I was willing to bunt.”
“Bunt?”
“Willing to sacrifice my happiness.”
“You thought you’d be happy being with me?”
“Are you kidding? You’re cute, easy to talk to. You love baseball. You make me smile, make me laugh. And we won’t even mention how much I liked kissing you.”
Only he had mentioned it. And now I was thinking about it when I really shouldn’t be. "
― Rachel Hawthorne , The Boyfriend League
7
" I found him in the kitchen, at the table in the bay window, already eating his cereal.
“I was going to fix you breakfast,” I said.
He grinned. “I wouldn’t want you to put yourself out.”
“No one can pour cereal like I can. That’s true.”
I crossed the kitchen. He scooted his chair back, and I sat on his lap and put my arms on his shoulders.
“Good morning,” I said, right before I kissed him.
Oh, yes, this was definitely the way to start the day.
“We’re in the house,” he said when we stopped kissing. “Thought we had a rule about not kissing in the house.”
“Yeah, we also had a house rule--no falling for the player living with us. You see how good I am at following rules.”
He grinned. “Lucky for me. Why don’t you come to Ruby Tuesday for lunch?”
“Okay.”
“Then practice.”
“Definitely.”
“Maybe we could do something afterward.”
“Absolutely.”
He kissed me again. He tasted like bran flakes and raisins and bananas.
Me, I tasted like chocolate chip cookie dough.
It was an odd combination but it somehow worked. "
― Rachel Hawthorne , The Boyfriend League
17
" Once he stared the car, I said, “I just want you to know I’m paying for my meal, because I know it’ll be full price, and I didn’t want you to think I was expecting you to pay for it, because this isn’t a date. It’s just the team and the host sisters, brothers, whatever, getting together to have some fun tonight since it’s raining…or was raining…it’s obviously not raining now. And you’re just giving me a ride, not a meal.”
Shut me up! Shut me up! Shut me up!
He shifted into reverse, then backed out of the driveway. “I’m buying your dinner.”
“No, really--”
“Dani.”
It was the first time I could recall him actually saying my name. I loved the way it just rumbled, his voice so deep, so perfect. I wanted him to say it again, over and over.
But he’d stopped in the middle of the street. I figured any minute Dad was going to come barreling out of the house to find out what was wrong. I looked over at Jason.
“I’m buying your dinner, as my thanks to you for convincing your family to host me. Just accept it, okay?”
I nodded. “Okay.”
He drove, and I settled into my seat, wondering what other surprises the night might hold. "
― Rachel Hawthorne , The Boyfriend League
20
" Hey,” I said, wondering why I was either short on words or babbling when I spoke to him. I touched his hat. “Didn’t help. I still lost.”
The game, anyway. I’d won a date.
“Mac’s pretty good at pool,” he said.
“You’re no slouch, either.”
“It didn’t look like you were paying attention.”
In the beginning, until Mac had shown up, I’d been riveted.
“When I was looking at the program last night, I noticed you and Mac play for the same university,” I said, doing our usual change-the-subject thing. “You must know each other pretty well.”
“Pretty well.”
“He seems really nice.”
“He’s a pretty good guy.”
Not exactly a resounding endorsement. But then guys probably didn’t spend a lot of time complimenting other guys.
He’s the best. He’s the greatest. If I were a girl, I’d definitely go out with him. "
― Rachel Hawthorne , The Boyfriend League
