Bonus Epilogue
Austin
M y eyes are glued to Cooper’s hands wrapped around the shaft of a baseball bat. I can’t help the naughty thought of how they’d look around a different shaft. It’s been a week since we kissed, and, other than a few words here and there, he’s barely spoken to me. He tightens his grip as the pitching machine shoots a ball his direction. Then he swings. The thwack of the ball hitting the bat snaps me out of my daydreams.
“See, there’s nothing to it,” he says to the group of kids he’s working with.
I need to do something to get his attention. Or something to get my mind over him. I’m not usually the kind of guy to focus on someone like this. I’ve had plenty of hookups, but somehow this feels different.
I pull the whistle around my neck to my lips and blow a short note, getting the attention of the kids I’m responsible for and turning away from Cooper. “Get into position, I’m going to hit a few balls, and it’s your job to catch them. Thow the ball in field as soon as possible. You want to get the runners out as soon as possible.” I take my spot at home plate, picking up a bat and tossing the ball in the air. The first hit is solid, sending the ball into left field. A few kids run after it.
Maybe I need to drop the idea of going after Cooper. It’s not usually my style to sleep with guys on the team, and it’s not like I can’t find someone else, but just the idea of hooking up with a random stranger has acid burning up my throat. Maybe I’d be better off staying celibate for a little while. Take a break from guys all together. God knows I have enough on my plate between everything at home and my volunteer gig at the baseball camp.
That’s it. I don’t have to do anything about my attraction to Cooper if we’re just friends. One kiss doesn’t have to change things.