The Ninth Inning (The Boys of Baseball #1) - J. Sterling Page 0,18
was literally the name of the bar across the street from campus where everyone who was old enough to drink hung out. If you were underage, you could definitely get away with using a good fake ID in there, but if you didn’t have one, you weren’t allowed on the premises.
“It’s Wednesday,” I argued as her car chirped to life as we neared it. “Who goes out on a Wednesday?”
“We’re in college. We can go out any day.” She smiled. “And I might know one of the guys in the band.” Her cheeks crimsoned as she dropped into the driver’s seat and out of view.
“Wait.” I opened the door and sat quickly, fastening my seat belt. “You might know one of the guys in the band? Either you do or you don’t.”
She waved me off as she started the engine, her lips pressed together tight.
“Oh my gosh. You have a crush on some dude in a band!” I practically shouted because it was so unlike her.
“Why are you yelling? I’m right here. And I don’t have a crush on him. I barely know him,” she tried to argue, and I laughed.
“You don’t have to know someone to think they’re hot,” I teased as she navigated the short drive to campus. “Wait,” I said before remembering a conversation we’d had. “Doesn’t a guy in a band go against all your safety rules?” I started to ask as it all came rushing back to me. “Yeah,” I said, holding up one finger. “They never stay in one place for long, so if they commit a crime, they have the potential for getting away with it.” Holding up a second finger, I added, “Two, they have access to drugs that other people might not and are willing to use them to their benefit.” I said, adding a third finger in the air, “And three, no one stops a girl from going off with a guy in a band because they all assume she’s a willing participant. So, basically, anything bad could happen, and no one would believe her.”
“I’m impressed. Not only do you pay attention to what I say, but you retain it as well,” she said, sounding like the future psychology teacher she wanted to be.
“Guess I’m more than just a pretty face,” I said with a smile as we drove toward one of the farther student parking structures.
Lauren knew better than to park in the one where Cole and I had shared multiple nights on the top level, looking up at the stars, talking about life, and watching the sun rise. I avoided it too. Even if it was the closest one to my classes and not parking there added ten minutes to my walk, I never cared. I refused to park in there on principle alone.
“Barely.” She pulled the car into a spot and cut the engine before turning to face me. “Fine. I sort of, maybe think the drummer is good-looking, okay? And I know, boys in bands break all my rules, but this is more for you than it is for me anyway.”
I pulled back slightly before asking, “More for me how?”
I grew nervous and worried, hoping she hadn’t set me up on another blind date before talking to me about it first. She had done that once before during freshman year, and it hadn’t ended well.
Thinking back, I remembered us sitting in the library, studying, when two guys walked in, dressed in full Harry Potter cosplay, wands and all.
I laughed and whispered how it wasn’t even October, so what were they doing, all dressed up? Lauren only smiled as the guys headed straight for us.
“Wh-wh-whyy are they coming over here?” I stuttered as their pace quickened. “Lauren?” More steps. “Lauren!” I whisper-shouted as they stopped in front of our work table and sat down, the entire library focused in our direction.
“Hi, I’m Ron.” The redhead stuck out his hand.
I stared at it, wondering three things:
1. Is his name Ron, or is he just in character?
2. Is his hair really red, or again, is he in character?
3. And the most important, WHY THE HELL IS HE INTRODUCING HIMSELF TO ME?!
I stared at his hand like I’d never seen one before, and he finally pulled it back, tucking it inside his cape sleeve, where it disappeared. Yeah, I’d said, cape sleeve.
“Sorry. This is Christina. She’s just really shy.” Lauren broke the awkwardness, and I punched her leg under the table. “Ow!” she said before trying to play it off.