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Dean really wanted to be Han again this year, but Charlie had her own ideas.
“Dude, you’ve been Han every year for the past three years. It’s time for you to do something different.” Charlie said as she tossed a shirt over the room divider.
“Okay, I’ll give you that, but couldn’t you find something sexier?” He asked, stepping around the screen while buttoning up his shirt. She shoved a cap on his head and motioned for him to spin around. He obliged, and she whistled.
“Man, if those pants were any tighter, I’d fear for your blood flow.” She laughed and slapped his ass. “Besides, I understand that guys really love sports, and baseball is the All-American sport, right?”
“Yeah, I guess. I can tell you for certain that my uniform was never this tight when I played. Besides, I was the pitcher on my team, not the catcher. Why did you give me a catcher’s mitt?”
“What does it matter? That’s what Ash gave me.”
“I guess it doesn’t. But I’m not wearing cleats.”
***
Ash was texting Charlie progress reports as he and his new roommate got dressed for the Halloween party.
Ash> Can you believe he did gymnastics? That was his only sport!
Charlie> What? Really?
Ash> yup doesn’t even know the difference in gloves
Charlie> Dean’s throwing a hissy about the mitt
Ash> LOL perfect!
***
Dean greeted a few people on the front lawn as he and Charlie walked up to the Rho Iota Sigma house. Dean always got a kick out of the fraternity’s letters because they spelled ΡΙΣ. If Ash wasn’t a member, Dean and Charlie wouldn’t be at this party. No way would they get an invitation to the elite mathematics fraternity parties without an inside man. Dean may be here on a full ride because of the Goldwater Scholarship for Engineering, but he really wasn’t a frat boy kind of guy.
“Mis amigos! Bienvenido a mi casa!”
“Hey, Ash,” Dean replied, accepting the bone-crushing hug from his friend.
“Ash!” Charlie greeted him loudly, “Dude, you make an amazing Archimedes. Am I right?”
“You guessed it!”
“The skull cap kinda gave it away,” Charlie said.
“Dammit,” Dean groaned, pointing across the room.
“What?” Ash and Charlie replied in unison.
“I thought you said this costume would be ‘new and unique,’” Dean complained.
“Oh, um, yeah… about that,” Ash started.
Charlie jumped in to help, “Yeah, so… Let’s go over and see what’s going on with that.”
Ash gave her a look that clearly stated ‘not helping’ and led them toward the other baseball player.
“Hey, Cas!” Ash called. The other man turned slowly to see who called him, raising the baseball-gloved hand in an awkward wave.
“Of course, he’s got a pitcher's mitt,” Dean murmured. He noticed how their uniforms were almost identical but for the color of the pinstripes. Dean’s was white with green stripes, and this guy’s had blue pinstripes. But damn, if Dean’s ass looked half as good in his as this Cas guy did, he ain’t complaining.
“Hi, Ash,” Cas answered. Dean just stood there staring.
“Dude, this is Dean. Charlie’s BFF, the guy she’s been telling you about.”
“Hello, Dean.” Cas greeted, eyes taking Dean in from head to toe and back. Dean couldn’t help the sharp little intake of breath when Cas’s eyes met his, and wow, that smile.
Dean returned the look and his best smile, “Hey, Cas. Nice to meet you. So pitcher, huh?”
Cas squinted and tilted his head slightly, “Um, yes? Mostly, but…”
Dean held up his mitt, “Yeah, I’m catcher tonight. Charlie’s idea.”
“Oh, um, really?” Cas asked, still looking quite confused.
“Yeah, usually I’m Solo. But she insisted I do something different for a change. It’s funny because I always played pitcher when I was younger.” Dean chuckled and bumped his glove against Cas’.
Cas looked down at their hands, then up at Dean again. Understanding slowly appeared on his face. “OH. Baseball. Okay.”
“Yeah, man. What did you think?” Dean asked.
“Well, Charlie and Ash said… I mean, they thought that… I was hoping…”
“English much?” Dean teased. “How ‘bout we grab a beer and step outside, and maybe you can complete one of those thoughts?”
Charlie and Ash watched as Dean and Cas headed out the back door.
“I told you they’d hit it off.” Charlie practically squealed.
“Yeah, yeah, I never doubted it.” Ash laughed. “I think he might be more into frat boys than he thought.”
***
“Gymnastics, huh?” Dean asked, grinning.
“Yes, I also meditate with yoga as often as I can. My schedule is a bit tight at the moment with classes, but I try to stretch daily.”
“Maybe we can go back to my dorm, and you can show me just how bendy you are?”
“Depends. Are you still upset about this?” Cas held up his mitt.
“Not at all. I’ll catch for you any day.”