Homerun Proposal (Orleans University, #1)

by Maren Moore

“How is it possible that a…” She leans in and whispers like we’re in a crowd of people and not alone in my room. “Penis… is looking at me like I owe it something.”

Honestly, I’m probably more like kombucha if I had to categorize myself. Bitter at first taste but then slowly starts to grow on you after you hold your nose and force it down.

Holy shit, I’m going to die literally choking on cheesy pizza with black olives. I’m going to die a virgin.

Reminder to self: next time Vivienne suggests we go big or go home… I go home.

She may have meant to ask Eli to fulfill her proposal, but too fucking bad because she asked me, and I haven’t been able to sleep since.

Not how I expected to spend my Friday night, but if it means looking after Hallie, then there’s nowhere else I want to be.

Because the truth is, sure, she thought her damn proposal went to the wrong Collins brother, but little did she know it went to the right brother. There’s no one else in this damn house putting their hands on Hallie Edwards unless it’s me. I’ll make sure of it.

“Your first kiss isn’t going to be this, Hallie. It’s going to be when you come to me, when you know without a shadow of a doubt that this is what you want. When you give yourself to me. When I can give you a first kiss that you’ll never forget, the one that ruins you for everyone else after me. You know where to find me if you decide that’s what you want.”

“I’m just saying, if you don’t do this, you are so going to regret it. Now, unfortunately, I am going to study, and you are going to tell the eldest Collins that you want him to put it in your guts.”

“Thank you for trusting me with something as special as this, Hallie. I promise I’ll take care of you.”

“Fine. But I’m not drinking. Ever. Again. I mean it. I will not succumb to peer pressure. I graduated from DARE. Sorry.” For Christ’s sake.

I hit the ball! Take that, you hot, annoyingly perfect man! “Ha! Yesssss!” Then, I hear an oof, and Lane doubles over, clutching his balls. My homerun sailed directly toward his jewels, and it did not miss.

She scoffs with another eye roll. “See? Literally a pig.” “It turns me on when you reject me. Please continue.”

I want to touch his… cock. Penis? Dick? Throbbing member? Tallywacker? Trouser trout?

There should be a bright neon blinking light on my forehead that says, “Yes, please, whatever you want,” when it comes to him. He could ask me to strip naked and practice yoga, and I’d probably agree.

“Worried someone will see me eating your pretty pussy, Hal?” Oh god. Oh GOD. JESUS CHRIST.

You’ve never been to heaven until you’ve heard Lane Collins praising you as a good girl, and I will take no opinions on this.

Now, the secret’s out. The entire university will know by morning that I just claimed Hallie Jo Edwards. And I don’t have a single ounce of regret because the truth is? She’s mine. Even if neither of us is ready to admit that yet.

“Hal?” “Hm,” I hum. “Gonna need you to stop making that sound. Hanging by a thread here.”

“I’m glad that it was you, Lane,” I respond. “It’s always been you.” My words are barely a whisper. I sigh happily, my eyes dropping shut as I settle into his arms, my fingers toying with the bracelet I made for him on his wrist. A bracelet I’ve noticed he’s never taken off since I placed it there. I’m almost asleep when I think I hear, “And it’ll always be you, Hallie Girl.”

I spot a bright red bead by itself, so I drop to my knees and pick it up, my gaze zeroed in on the turf, searching for the rest. Reese calls Ridge and Hank over, then joins me on the ground next to Grant. “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Reese mutters. “Got one. Grant… are you even looking right now?” Grant scoffs. “Yes, I am looking. Worry about yourself, bro.” I’m already on edge because I lost my lucky bracelet, and even more so because Hallie made it for me. It means something to me. “Can you imagine if anyone saw us right now? A bunch of grown-ass men on the ground looking for beads. That’s some dedication. I’m a good friend,” Reese tells Grant and knocks his hat off his head. “Both of you are lucky.” Ignoring him, I continue plucking the beads off the turf when I come across them. After a few minutes, I’ve got at least ten beads in my hand, and I realize at some point, the elastic must have popped and the beads scattered everywhere. “Oh! I got a G!” Ridge calls from a few feet away. “Yeah, and I got an R,” Grant adds. Fuck yeah.

“Also, this might be the most romantic shit I’ve ever done, and it’s not even for me. You had all of us on our knees for your girl, Collins. This is like a Taylor Swift song…” “You listen to Taylor Swift?” “Bro.” He blanches. “Do not disrespect me that way. I am a Swiftie for life.”