The Boyfriend League by Rachel Hawthorne Page A

listening to the rain. Or maybe I’d work on my column, but change the focus to the dangers of being hit by a foul ball. Speaking of the foul ball…it was on my nightstand. I picked it up and began studying the autographs.
    â€œDo you want me to fix you some lunch or something? I could call Jason and have himbring you some takeout when he gets off from work.”
    I looked at my alarm clock. It was almost one. I couldn’t believe I’d slept so late, but between staying up to watch the movies and the rain…
    Then I realized what Tiffany had said. “Calling for takeout is not fixing someone something to eat.”
    â€œAccording to Mom it is.”
    Too true.
    â€œSo Jason’s at work already?”
    â€œYep.”
    I started tossing the ball back and forth, between one hand and the other. Jason had to be exhausted, although he’d fallen asleep on the love seat during Fever Pitch . I don’t think that actually counted as his sleeping with me, though.
    I’d ended up watching him more than I’d watched the movie. I wasn’t exactly sure why I’d found him so intriguing, or why I took such pleasure in just looking at him. It was much easier to do when he wasn’t awake and looking at me, too. Giving him a hottie score of six continued to haunt me. Maybe I’d give him aspecial score: ten point five. Just for being so considerate last night.
    I looked up. Tiffany was hovering.
    I waved my hand at her. “Go on. I’m fine. I can order my own takeout.”
    â€œYou know, the real problem is going to come in a few days when it begins yellowing. Then it’ll seriously clash with your reddish hair.”
    Only Tiffany would worry about properly accessorizing a black eye.
    â€œBut it’ll go great with my eyes,” I said. “Because yellow and green go together.”
    â€œMmm. Might work. Still, come see me if you want it to go away.”
    And what was she going to do? Wave a magic wand?
    Â 
    â€œThat thing could seriously affect your boyfriend plans,” Bird said later when she stopped by to check out my shiner.
    â€œCheer me up, why don’t you?”
    â€œSorry. I’m just saying…it’s not what I’d call attractive.”
    â€œWhatever. It’s not permanent. So tell me about the kiss .”
    She was sitting on my bed, totally loose, legs folded beneath her, shoulders kinda rounded, her smile one of complete happiness.
    â€œWell…it happened at the party. I think the whole team was there. Dad was grilling hot dogs.” She stuck out her tongue. “I’ll never eat another hot dog. Anyway, Brandon and I were in the pool, talking, moving around just a little, and it was getting dark, dark, darker…and I didn’t realize we’d gotten to the deep end, and suddenly there was no floor beneath me and I went under.
    â€œBrandon’s taller, so he was fine. He grabbed me, and I just glided back to him, and when I came up for air, he kissed me. It was so good…then all the lights came on. The ones around the pool, the ones in the pool. Dad had flipped the switch.”
    â€œDid he see y’all?”
    â€œI don’t think so. We broke apart so fast I almost drowned again.”
    I laughed, imagining Bird spluttering when she really wanted to be kissing.
    â€œGlad you find it humorous,” she said.
    â€œHe’s not living with you, so it’s okay to date him, right?”
    â€œDo you want your dad to see you kissing a guy? It’s just too…weird.”
    â€œI can’t believe you got a boyfriend so quickly.”
    â€œWell, I don’t know that he’s technically my boyfriend”—she made quote marks in the air—“we’ve talked, we’ve kissed…” She leaned forward and grinned broadly. “I like him a lot. A whole lot.”
    â€œThat’s great, Bird.”
    Her cell phone rang. She plucked it out of her tote