34. Will
Chapter 34
Will
Scrimmages are usually fun for me. There’s friendly competition, no major stakes, and we just get to play. But this whole game I’ve been a nervous wreck.
Why the fuck Olsson told Callie she could be out here taking pictures is beyond me, but having her out here is about to give me a freaking aneurysm. I’ve never really been an anxious person and in reality, if this was anyone else, I wouldn’t bat an eye. But it’s my girl and if any of these fuckers do something stupid and get her hurt I’ll lose my shit.
Adam is on the opposite team and he’s up to bat. Callie comes to stand behind me.
“Blaze, you’re going to give me a heart attack. What are you doing?”
“I want to get some good pictures of your butt in these pants,” she whispers.
I flash her a quick not funny look. I can manage when she stays off to the sides, but directly behind me?—
Callie sighs. “I have an idea and it will look really cool. So if you’d please let my brother hit one of your pitches, I’d greatly appreciate it.”
“Callie—”
“Pitch the damn ball, Anderson,” Adam yells.
Well, I was going to do what Callie asked but one strike will be okay. Glancing back at my girl, I nod then throw my knuckleball.
I hear the clicks on her camera then the beautiful sound of the ball hitting my catcher's glove.
“Will!” Callie whisper-shouts behind me. “I said I need him to hit it.”
“Callie, I’m going to need those pictures to hold over his head forever,” I say as I get the ball back then turn to her. “I’ll ask nicely if I have to.”
Callie raises her camera to her face to cover her oncoming blush. “Get me my photo, Will, and we’ll see.”
So, I do. Callie beams the whole scrimmage. Every time she looks at the photo she successfully gets, she smiles. And if there’s time, she’ll show the player the picture she got. There’s not an ounce of jealousy that runs through me either when the guys then make a fuss over what she showed them. Back in Seattle she never even spoke to the team, but here, she is the team. It makes me happy to know she feels safe here.
There was only one close call toward the end of the scrimmage at first base when a rookie let a ball get past him. Beck was trying hard to annoy me by standing so close to Callie, so luckily he was there and caught it before it hit her.
Back in the locker room I change out of my uniform and back into my riding leathers. Adam mentioned wanting to go on another run, but I told him to count me out. When I pull out my phone to text Callie, messages from my sisters await.
When Will met Callie.
Lucie
How’s Florida? More importantly, how are things with Callie in Florida?
Reagan
At this point if you haven’t told her how you feel I don’t know if you deserve her.
You’re right, I probably don’t.
Lucie
Well yeah, but what does that mean? Like you don’t deserve her because you’ve done nothing, or you don’t deserve her because you have done something?
Reagan
Luce, I think you’re too invested in this.
Lucie
I’m a first grade teacher. I’ve seen my students be more upfront about their emotions than our twenty-eight-year-old brother.
Will has left the group chat.
“Hey, Will!” Miles yells at me from down the hall.
“Hey, bud. What’s up?” I ask as he races to me.
“I’m looking for Callie. Have you seen her?”
Me and you both.
I kneel in front of him. “Well, you’ve found the perfect person to help you look. Let me help, I’m sure we’ll find her.”
Walking back to the front, I shoot Callie a quick text asking where she is, but I don’t want to spoil the fun for Miles. I’m pretty sure he’s now turned this into a scavenger hunt, and Callie’s the treasure.
“Maybe she’s in here,” Miles says as he tries to open a locked janitor's closet. I chuckle as he shrugs when the door won’t open and we’re off to the next door. “Did you know that I’m going to marry Callie one day?”
“Oh, really?” Damn, little man’s coming after my girl. “Isn’t she a little old for you, bud?”
Miles rolls his eyes. “That’s what my dad said, but that’s silly because I’ll grow up one day and then I’ll marry Callie.”
“What if she married someone else by then?” The question kind of tumbles out of me before realizing it might crush this kid's dream.
At the beginning of all of this between us, I told Callie I wasn’t sure where things would go, and I guess part of that is still true. I don’t know what will happen, neither of us do, but it’s getting harder and harder to picture my life without her in it.
Miles hums while he thinks about my question. “I don’t think she will because she always says that I’m the best helper. That means she likes me too.”
“That makes sense.” I laugh. Even though Miles is staking his claim on my girl, I’m not about to ruin his first crush by telling him I might marry her first.
“Hey, you two. Were you looking for me?” Callie says, walking up to us.
Miles practically jumps toward her. “Yes! I wanted to talk to you before you left.”
Callie flashes me a smile before going back to Miles. “Well, you found me. What do you want to talk about?”
Miles starts with the first thought that pops in his head. I’d cut in with what he told me earlier but that might mess up his game. Don’t want the guy to seem too eager and fuck up his chances.
For now.
I stand by watching them intently. I love how into the conversation she is. It doesn’t matter that he’s five, Callie’s giving him just as much attention as everyone else. And she looks so happy to be talking to him. I hadn’t ever really thought about kids before. But here I am, picturing all sorts of ways my life could turn out.
Kids with Callie. No kids with Callie. Making a home in Boston. Moving to another state. The traveling. The experiences. All of the options.
After a few minutes Dex yells to Miles that it’s time to go back to the hotel. He protests for a second, but Callie kneels and gives him a goodbye hug and the kid’s back on cloud nine again.
As he races down the hall, I hold out my hand to help Callie stand up. Looking around I see we’re alone in the hallway.
“Hey, I have a question for ya.”
Callie narrows her eyebrows with a quirked smile. “Okay?”
Now that I’m actually asking the question, I realize how fucking heavy it is. Swallowing down my doubt I push through. “Kids”—I clear my throat—“do you want them?”
Callie’s face falls a bit as she tugs at the sleeves of her sweatshirt. “Oh, I, um…I do love kids, but I don’t know. Lately I’ve liked the idea of not having them.” Callie shakes her head, clearly rattled by my question. “I guess that sounds a little contradicting. I mean?—”
“Hey, Callie.” I cut her off and take her hand. “Whatever you want, is what you want. There’s no pressure, it was just a thought that came to my head. But if it helps, I think I’d be a killer uncle.”
Callie smiles, and I pull her in with a quick kiss on her forehead. I don’t care about my stakes anymore. Whatever I have to do to keep her and have her stay at this job she loves, I’m going to do it.