Rounding Third Read Free

sure I’ve ever seen him solemn.”
    “Yeah.”
    We drive over to his dorm, and Brax was right. Parking is insane. There are cars on the lawn with parents hauling suitcases and bins into the small dormitory. I’m positive that Spencer wishes our mom and dad were here instead of me.
    “Let’s get this over with.” He opens the door and slams it shut.
    Guess I’m right.

Chapter Two
Ella
    “ W hat a fucktard ,” Jen, my roommate, says after we walk out of Pi Kappa, my boyfriend’s fraternity.
    “He’s busy.” I stick up for Liam, like usual.
    She only rolls her eyes, trying to be discreet.
    “He wants to make the grades, ace the test, and get into medical school.”
    “May I remind you that you’re a pre-med major, too?”
    I nod. It’s the same discussion we have each time Liam ditches me and goes upstairs during one of Pi’s big parties. Keeping my mouth shut, so as not to give Jen more ammunition against Liam, I don’t divulge that tonight bugged me more than usual. We haven’t been in school a day yet, and he’s holed himself upstairs, claiming to be ahead of the game on the MCATs. One night wouldn’t have killed him.
    “Come on.” Jen hip-bumps me, and her pissed off look has transformed to a fun-loving, ready-for-anything one. “Didn’t you say that Brax called?”
    Now, I roll my eyes.
    Brax, my one high school friend who attends Ridgemont, has called me no less than ten times in the past two days, requesting my presence at a party. Not that the reigning division champs’ baseball team doesn’t usually host a great party, but Pi had theirs. I guess Liam made my choice by leaving me stranded with his handsy frat brothers.
    “I’m not in the mood for the baseball players,” I tell her, hoping she’ll turn us right toward our apartment. “I’ll let you pick the movie, and ice cream is on me.”
    I smile wide, but she shakes her head.
    “Nope.” She links her arm through mine and swings us left, toward The Ballpark, as the boys refer to their house.
    “Come on,” I whine, dragging my feet.
    “Ella Keaton, that lame-ass boyfriend of yours needs to be jealous. The baseball boys and their Instagram accounts will accomplish just that.”
    I groan at her childish tactics while thinking the idea sounds plausible. Jealousy might make Liam show some sort of affection, other than an occasional quick screw between organic chemistry and genetics.
    I swear, The Ballpark resembles the movie Animal House . Frat houses can’t come close to comparing to their parties. The city police turn their heads because God forbid a player is suspended. Might as well let them poison themselves with alcohol or fuck until their dicks fall off. The latter could possibly happen to Brax. The man has no respect for the female population. I can’t hold it against him though. Each one of us has dealt with our past in different ways. His way was to forget, mine was therapy, and Crosby…well, Crosby’s solution was to disappear.
    Loud music pumps out of the open windows, and groups hang around the deck, sipping from their Solo cups.
    Jen practically drags me up the stairs as I stop on every step as we inch closer. Jen doesn’t willingly leave parties, and I can’t leave her, so I suspect I’m in for a long night on the raggedy couch until she finishes with her guy of the night.
    Jen’s hand is on the doorknob when one of Brax’s friends screams through the window, “Brax, Ella’s here!”
    He turns to me, shoving the long strands of hair away from his eyes, and winks.
    Confused, I look over to Jen because I had no idea the kid knew me. I’m barely here, and God knows I haven’t attended a baseball game since my senior year in high school. Unfortunately, that will change this year due to my new internship with the sports physicians.
    The door swings open, and a panting shirtless Brax blocks our way.
    “Ew, spare us,” Jen remarks on his clearly just-fucked appearance. “Zip it up, dude.” She points to his