42. Will
Chapter 42
Will
Beck has named the group chat Operation: Contain the Blaze .
Beck
She’s up and she’s pissed.
Tripp
I now understand why three of us were needed to keep her here. I think she’s about to claw Adam’s face off.
Adam
They’re lying. My sister is a delight…but also, on an unrelated note, no take backs.
I can see them now, all of them trying to tell Callie to sit her cute ass down and just let me take care of this. Tripp’s right—there was no way just one of them was going to work. Beck would cave the moment Callie flashed him a pout. Tripp would be lost with any sort of argument that Callie threw his way. And Adam? She would have just steam rolled right through him.
As much as I hated leaving her this morning, I want this behind us. The stress of this conversation would be eating Callie alive and while I know she’s not happy that I’ve left her out of it, she knows my intentions.
I knock on Olsson’s office door and take a deep breath before he calls me in.
“Anderson.” He nods to the seat across from his desk. “I got the word from the league just a moment ago. You and Adam are each getting hit with a hefty fine and one game suspension.”
“Just one?” I was sure it was going to be more.
Olsson leans back in his chair. “I didn’t ask questions, but I assume it’s because you weren’t technically the one to throw the first punch. But I’d say the ones you did throw came from a personal place.”
Olsson raises his eyebrows, and I know what he’s getting at.
“They might have, but not for the reason you might be thinking.” Sitting up straighter in my chair, here goes a Callie ramble. “It wasn’t over some petty bullshit. Nic deserved every one of those punches, but if you ask me for the details on it I won’t give them to you. What I will tell you is that Callie and I are in a serious relationship and have been since February. Although, I really feel like I could argue earlier because when I fell for her I had no idea about this rule.
“Our intentions were to prove that we could work together and not let it impact the job, and you have to admit that—yesterday aside—we’ve done that. Callie loves this job and if we’re being honest, I think this is the first time I’ve actually loved playing in years. But if you tell us that we can’t be together while being a part of this team, then trade me, send me back to assignment—hell, I’ll retire if I have to. But please, let Callie keep this job.”
Olsson keeps a blank expression for a moment as he takes in what I said. I couldn’t tell you how much time passes because it felt like an eternity to me, but eventually Olsson sighs. “Callie’s not going to get fired.”
Immediately I feel bricks falling off my shoulders.
“I didn’t love that she left her post to go check on some idiot who got ejected. Her suspension for today's game stands because of it, but I suppose her concern makes a little more sense now.” Olsson leans forward on his desk. “Listen, I’ve dealt with a lot of bullshit over the years, but this has got to be one of the first times that a player has requested a meeting to discuss said bullshit. But if it’s serious, Anderson, just fill out the fucking form with Shannon.”
“Form? What form?” I swear if all of this could have been avoided by a fucking form…
Olsson sighs. “Yes, it’s not directly encouraged for you guys to date, and I get this isn’t exactly your typical corporate job, but there’s still an HR department. Just request the form with Shannon, and fill it out.”
“And that’s it? We’re fine to date? That’s not what Shannon told Callie.”
Olsson raises his eyebrow. “Well, I suppose in all fairness the last GM would have fired Callie on the spot after that fight, and you would already be on a plane to a different team by now, so maybe that wasn’t ill-advised on Shannon’s part. I hold a lot of weight on the image of this team—and in truth, I won’t tolerate another fight on the field again over a personal matter. The purpose of this dating policy is to limit the liability. People in the past couldn’t separate the two. But if you both can keep it professional, then we won’t have a problem.” Olsson stands from his desk. “And while we’re at it, if you keep pitching like you did yesterday—we’ll rewrite your contract now.”
“I can make that work.” Standing up, I hold out my hand for a shake and Olsson returns it.
“I have full faith you can. But unfortunately, you won’t be doing it today.” Olsson checks his watch as he walks to his office door. “Swing by Shannon’s desk. I had her request the form as soon as I got your call for a meeting. Otherwise, I’ll see you tomorrow, Anderson.”
I nod and follow him out just as Shannon walks in taking a seat at her desk.
Fucking Shannon. I’m going to enjoy this.
I take the seat in front of her desk with a smile. “Hey, I need to fill out the form stating I’m in a relationship with Callie. You know, the gorgeous redhead you constantly run around?”
I make it out the elevator door and I can already hear the chaos coming from Callie’s apartment. God, people on this floor probably hate us.
I walk in the door, but they are all too wrapped up in their conversation at the dining room table to notice me yet, so I just watch.
Callie throws her hands in the air. “I’m just saying if a mythical creature did exist it would be a mermaid. The ocean is huge—they could easily hide from us.”
Tripp shakes his head. “No, no way. It’s got to be Bigfoot. National Parks? I mean, have you even watched the TV show?”
“You’re all insane,” Beck yells. “It’s one hundred percent witches. You want to tell me that there aren’t legit witches in this world? I’ve had some pretty questionable ex’s I think I could reference.”
Adam just pinches the bridge of his nose as he tries to hold in a laugh.
“Who the fuck started this conversation?” I ask, but I already know the answer.
The argument stops immediately as they all turn to look at me.
“I’ll give you one guess,” Adam jokes as I walk up to where Callie’s sitting.
Callie pulls her lips into a thin line as she holds back asking me the million and one questions running through her head. Scooping her up off her chair I take her seat and hold her in my lap with a sigh.
“So?” Callie whispers.
“Oh, well, it’s obviously mermaids,” I say with a shrug, and I can see that fire ignite in her eyes.
“Will!” Callie smacks my chest. “That’s not what I meant.”
I can't help but laugh. “We’re good, Blaze. You get to keep your job, I don’t lose my no-trade clause, and we’re in the clear to be together.”
“What? Really?” Callie’s face lights up. “But I thought?—”
“Shannon and someone else”—I turn to Beck—“might not have given us the full information. We just have to fill out a form saying we’re in a relationship.”
Callie whips her head to Beck, and he’s already got his hands up in surrender. “How was I supposed to know that? I was working off past experiences, Callie Bear, I swear.”
Callie narrows her eyes at him for a moment but finally lets him off the hook with a smile. “I believe you, but only because you were quite the wingman at times.”
I chuckle. “Adam and I each got a fine and a one game suspension for the fight, and your suspension for today still stands for leaving during the game. But otherwise, Olsson was fine. I did get the pleasure of talking to Shannon while getting everything sorted.”
Callie’s eyes roll back into her head. “What’d she have to say about it?”
“Nothing.” I shrug. “I didn’t really give her much room to with all the talking I did about how incredible you are and how I love protecting you from petty micromanagers. Then rolled my shoulder a few times and warned her my pitches might be a little off after yesterday.”
Callie snorts a laugh. “You did not.”
“Okay, I didn’t go that far, but I did remind her that you are damn good at your job.” I tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Callie, I invited these assholes over here to keep you company while I argued for your job, you think I have?—”
“Our jobs,” Callie cuts in. “You went in and argued for our jobs.”
I smile as I look into her beautiful green eyes. “No, baby, just your job.”
Adam scoots his chair back. “You know…I think we’ll let you guys have your morning. As cool as I am with this, I’ve got my limits.”
Tripp reaches for another piece of bacon in the middle of the table. “Can we stay?”
“No,” everyone replies.
With the guys all saying bye to Callie, I wait for the click of the door before picking her back up and carrying her over to her couch. When I sit this time, I have her straddle me.
“Will, why were you just going for my job? I told you?—”
“And I told you that you’re the one I’m picking. I know if that was our actual situation, and you went with me, you’d try to quit. I couldn't let you do that, Callie.”
Callie looks down, trying to avoid my gaze. “I just don’t?—”
I lift her face back up by her chin. “Hey, the best revenge is a happy life, right? So let’s have one. There are still blank spots in my gallery Callie. I need to take a million more pictures with you to fill it.”
That soft smile comes to her face. “It’s a good thing I'm still a photographer then.”