18. Will
Chapter 18
Will
The start of the new year is typically my cue to get back in the groove for the season. After one of my many tea runs, I somehow roped myself into coaching Alex with some pitches. The kid is good, and I did get some added perks out of it. Much to my dismay, Alex has been my only distraction lately.
Over these past few weeks it seems like time’s been against me, and seeing Callie was nearly impossible. Despite our small run-ins that always result in her making delivery boy jokes, I’ve barely seen her.
I told myself if she wanted to be friends, I would be the best damn friend she ever had. But then she asked if I was going to be there for her today, and, respectfully, fuck being friends.
Not being able to spend time with Callie over these past few weeks did absolutely nothing for me other than making my life feel a little colder without her blaze. She’s afraid to lose me? Not possible, and I’ll prove that.
No matter what it was in her past—I don’t care if it’s from her parent’s or whatever it was with her ex—I’ll prove I’m better. If her rule comes from the fear of this schedule, then that’s no longer an issue because our schedules are the exact same. If anything we’ll have too much time together. And if it’s the fear of being traded then those fears can be put to rest because I’m doing everything in my power to get this no-trade clause.
“Alright, gentlemen, unless your name is Daines, Reyer, Kenner, Pierce, or Anderson, you’re free to go.” Olsson claps his hands together. “Great job today, I’ll see you guys next week.”
As the other players filter out my eyes catch on Callie while she talks to Shannon and Olsson. She’s been floating all over today taking pictures. It was very noticeable that every player's effort went higher when she was around, mine very much included. When she was around, my pitches were touching a hundred miles an hour. And this wasn’t even a strict practice, more conditioning, but who cares. I’ll show off for her—we all will.
Most of the team looked at her like a shiny new toy in the toy chest, but oddly I wasn’t jealous. Callie’s gorgeous, it’s just a fact. I don’t blame the guys for looking because I’m just as guilty. The difference is that I know who she really is. And ogling from a distance isn’t going to get them anywhere with winning over my Callie.
Olsson makes his way over to us while Shannon talks to Callie. I’m hoping it’s not about her calling it a day. I selfishly want to be in her space a little while longer.
“Okay, so as you know, we completely gutted the workout room in this facility over break and worked out a deal with Life Fitness to get all new equipment. They elected you five for brand photos. Life Fitness was supposed to send one of their photographers for the pictures, but something came up. So, in order to keep our agreement and not have it interfere with the season, they have agreed to let Callie take the pictures. I’m going to hand all of this over to Shannon and Callie. They’re in charge, but I’ll be in my office if they need me.”
“I’m sure we won’t,” Shannon says, walking up with Callie a step behind her.
Callie’s hair never came down from her bun, but a few strands have come loose. She tucks the ones around her face behind her ears then fidgets with the rings on her fingers.
“Okay, boys!” Shannon’s voice hits a weird high as she claps like this is a team huddle. “Life Fitness sent some clothes for you to wear. The bags are labeled with your names by the door. After you change you can meet us in the weight room.”
“Maybe I will get a private session with Callie after all!” Tripp shoots up and wraps an arm around Callie’s shoulder.
Now, looking I don’t mind. Touching? Touching, I mind. Next thing I know I’m up on my feet. I don’t know what I’ll say, but I want his arm off her.
“Listen, hotshot.” Callie takes his hand and pulls it up so she can step away from him. “The only private session you’ll be getting is with one of the batting coaches. If I’m remembering correctly, you missed a few in the cages earlier.”
A collective “ooo” comes from the guys and I fail to hold back a laugh.
Adam grips Tripp’s shoulder and gives him a little shake and if I was a betting man, I’d say his grip is harder than necessary. “Come on, leave my sister alone. I can say on good authority that she knows how to pack a punch.”
Adam pulls everyone back to the small locker room. I try to hang back and check in on Callie because she’s fidgeting with her rings again. She’s nervous, I know she is. It doesn’t help that Shannon has hovered over her all day. Hell, I don’t even know if she got to enjoy her tea because it seemed as if Shannon was constantly there.
I’m not really sure what the dynamic is there, but Shannon pulls her away again saying they need to go into the weight room to scope out the lighting.
When she passes by me her eyes find mine and she mouths a very dramatic “ Save me .”
I let out a small laugh and shake my head. It’s rather tempting to blow this whole thing off, but I know I’ve got a lot of ground to cover with her and this shoot is the perfect opportunity.
Walking in the locker room Adam tosses me my bag. “This one's yours.”
“Thanks.” Pulling open the drawstring I pull out a pair of shorts and see there’s nothing else in the bag. “Did someone get in my bag? I don’t have a shirt.”
“I didn’t get one either,” Mateo adds, but as the rest of the guys all pull out shirts he laughs. “Ha! Guess Anderson and I have just officially been deemed the best built by our new brand reps.”
“Here, Will. You can take mine.” Tripp holds out his shirt, but there isn’t a chance in hell it fits me.
“Knock it off, Tripp. You know that’s a dead end,” Beck scolds and damn right it is. “Callie isn’t going to give you the time of day anyway.” Couldn't have said it better myself.
“You were flirting with her too, Daines,” Tripp retorts.
“Yeah, to fuck with Adam. Callie knows I’m not being serious nor am I stupid enough to act on it.”
“Listen, the comments could end now, if you don’t mind,” Adam says. “My sister isn’t interested in any of you guys, so just let her do her job.”
Well, that hurts my confidence a bit. I knew this was a possibility, that a genuine interest in me just isn’t there, and if anyone knows Callie best, it’s Adam. Can’t say that didn’t suck to hear.
She’s not interested.
After changing we start heading to the weight room. I tell the guys I’m going to run back up front for some water—some air, mainly—so I can shake off the doubt Adam’s comment has placed.
“Will?” Callie’s voice comes behind me as I make my way down the hallway.
Turning around to face her, the best thing happens—Callie checks me out.
Her steps slow as she walks up, and her eyes drag slowly from my face down my torso. “D-did you lose your shirt?”
“Nope, didn’t get one.” Do I slightly flex my muscles a little bit? Maybe.
Her eyes dart up and down again. “No shirt?”
I love this shoot . “No, is that a problem?”
“N-no.” Callie clears her throat and blinks a couple times. “No, I was just looking for the kitchen. I’m thirsty and Adam said you were headed that way.”
At the mention of Adam’s name, I remember his comment but now it’s seemed to lose a lot of its validity.
“I am, need an escort?”
“Um, yeah,” she mumbles.
As we walk back up to the front Callie starts to fidget with her rings again.
“What’s up? You seemed pretty comfortable taking pictures earlier. Did something happen?”
She sighs. “No, I just didn’t anticipate taking branding pictures today. I was told I was supposed to get behind-the-scenes and fun content of the shoot. But now…” She groans as she trails off.
“Now you’re running the shoot.”
“Ha! If you think Shannon is going to let me run anything, you’re very much mistaken.”
“Yeah, she does seem like a hoverer. But Olsson wouldn’t have you take these pictures if he didn’t think you were capable.”
“I guess.” She shrugs.
Opening the door to the small kitchen I let her go in first. “What do you mean ‘you guess’? Come on, Blaze, don’t tell me you’ve let your flames die out over these past few weeks?”
Pulling out two waters from the fridge, she snaps up. “I have not. I just get nervous sometimes. Something I tell you often for some reason.”
Walking back to me she shoves my water at my stomach. Seems I touched a nerve.
“Callie, I told you I’d be here all day with you. I know you get nervous. I got the lavender tea because of it. But if you’re nervous then let me provide some comfort. I know without a shadow of doubt that you’ll nail these pictures.” I brush some loose hair behind her ear and my hand lingers for a second as I repeat the phrase I’ve heard in her rambles a couple times. “You can do hard things, Callie.”
Callie sucks in a breath and her lips immediately move into a thin line. Her green eyes dart down to my bare chest briefly before coming back to my eyes. And for a second, I swear they look at my mouth.
My hand still lingers on her neck. It would be so easy to pull her in and make my feelings perfectly clear. I can still touch her…I think.
“Cal—”
“Will,” she whispers. “We should probably head back.”
Dropping my hand, I fight my disappointment with a smirk. “Yeah, you’ve got some pictures to take.”
The “take it easy” memo was lost on all of us during this workout. Whether it was showing off for the camera or the girl behind it, we were all dripping sweat by the end of it.
Shannon’s been talking to us for a minute about some follow-up things Life Fitness might want but I’m only half listening. Callie’s sitting off to the side looking through her camera with a small smile on her face.
I should probably be more concerned with whose picture she’s smiling at, but honestly, I think she’s just smiling because she can see how good of a job she’s doing. Shannon might have tried to take control, but Callie ran this show. She spoke up when something wasn’t working and gave us stern but clear directions because, let's face it, we’re ball players not models.
So yeah, I don’t care if she’s not smiling at my pictures, I’m so fucking proud of her.
“Okay, that’s all for today boys.” Shannon claps, pulling my eyes from Callie. I hope someone else was listening to what she said because I sure as shit wasn’t.
“Hey,” Adam says next to me. “I have something I need to float by Coach Olsson. I think you’d be good for it too. You got time to hang back with me?”
“Is it going to take a long time? I’m supposed to be heading up to Reagan and Lucie’s place tonight for dinner.”
“Nah, it shouldn’t. I’m going to give Callie money for an Uber so she doesn’t have to wait for me then a quick shower. So give me ten minutes.”
Adam doesn’t wait for my answer before heading over to Callie. Well, I thought I might get another minute with her before she leaves but standing around waiting for her to finish with Adam and Shannon who is still hovering might come off a little desperate.
So I head to our small locker room for a quick shower and put on some clean gray sweats and a hoodie. Knowing Adam won’t be too far behind I decide to make my way to Olsson’s office, but it seems I won’t be waiting alone.
“Hey, what are you still doing here?” I ask Callie as she leans against the wall fiddling on her phone.
“Told Adam I didn’t mind waiting.” She smiles at me while sliding her phone in her jacket pocket. “Thanks for earlier, I needed to hear that.”
“No need to thank me, Callie.” I lean next to her on the wall. “It’s what I do.” For a select few.
Her smile falters for a second and I’m not entirely sure why, but she recovers quick. “Well, I appreciate it.”
“Okay, are you ready?” Adam asks, hitting my back.
I hadn’t even heard him come up, so no, I’m not ready. I’m working with small windows of time with Callie, and I need more. I don’t even know what this meeting is about, but I know I can’t say, “I’d rather stay out here and talk to your sister.”
“Yeah,” I reply, pushing off the wall.
Adam turns to Callie. “And you’re good to wait? I’ll keep it quick so Will can make it for dinner.”
“Dinner?” Callie parrots as she looks at me with a raised eyebrow. Is my girl jealous?
“Dinner at Reagan and Lucie’s place. Reagan’s girlfriend is in culinary school so we get to reap the benefits.”
Callie pushes off the wall with her soft smile. “Tell everyone I said hi.”
She was totally jealous.
I give her a nod before following Adam in Olsson’s office. Olsson hardly looks up from the papers in front of him when we enter and gestures for us to sit. “So, what’s up?”
“An old teammate of ours called me asking if the Blues might be able to spare a few players for this spring training fundraiser he’s running. I thought it could be a good PR opportunity for us as the proceeds go to the animal shelters in South Carolina.”
Is he talking about Jett? I knew he was moving back to South Carolina after he retired. Jett was like me in that he wasn’t an outwardly social guy, but he was close with Adam.
Finally looking up from his desk, Olsson raises an eyebrow. “You know Spring Training starts in two weeks, right?”
Adam gives him a quick nod. “I’m aware. It would be the week before, but only for three days. They have other players from the league coming in so they don’t need many of us and since Will and I played with Jett for years it would make the most sense.”
So it is Jett. He was also the only other player in Seattle who Callie would talk to, but I think that was only for his girlfriend and daughter. She’d probably love to go down with us if we get this approved—and I would get more time with her.
Sitting up a little straighter in my chair, I run with that idea. “Callie could get some great pictures. It would be really great publicity for us and the team. And we would still be getting some good warmups in.”
Olsson drops the paper in his hand and leans back in his chair, sizing us up. “Who’s covering travel?”
“We are,” Adam responds.
“You know, as pitcher and catcher you guys are due in Florida for Spring Training before everyone else.”
“We know.” I nod. Shit, is he actually going to agree to this?
Olsson sighs. “Alright. I’ll excuse you both from practices that week and if you guys are so much as even five minutes late to report, I will?—”
“We won’t be, sir. You can count on me,” Adam says. His need to be punctual probably just screamed at the thought of ever being late.
Olsson taps on his desk. “Alright, I’ll hold you to that. You guys are good to go. Callie too.”
Fuck. Yes.