44. Will
Chapter 44
Will
Opening Day at Blues Stadium – One Year Later
After six years in the major leagues and two World Series wins in my career, I feel I can confidently say this is the most nervous I have ever been for a game.
I wipe my hands off on my uniform for what feels like the hundredth time. I can’t ask Callie to marry me with sweaty hands.
“What are you going to do if she says no?” Adam asks, coming up next to me in the locker room.
This fucker. “I know you’re fucking with me, but today’s not the day.”
Adam laughs at my misery—he has been all month. I knew I was going to ask Callie to marry me on the next Opening Day for a while now. So, before we left for Spring Training, I found a ring designer and knocked on Adam’s door to tell him I was going to ask Callie to marry me.
I know my Callie, and she would cringe eternally at the idea of me asking for a blessing, but it’s the gentleman in me who couldn’t say nothing. So I might not have asked, but I damn sure let her brother know how much I love her.
There’s just one other person I have to prepare for this proposal and even though he’s had a year to get use to the idea of me and Callie, Miles might not take this so well. And right on time, my phone vibrates with the new group chat Lucie started without Callie in it.
When Will asks Callie to marry him.
Reagan
On a scale of 1 to 10 how nervous are you?
Don’t start.
Reagan
So ten?
Lucie
Rea, leave him alone. Of course he’s a ten.
Not helping.
Reagan
Mom’s already crying and it hasn’t even happened yet.
Lucie
You better have hid her from Callie or she’ll ruin the surprise! She tried handing Callie a wedding catalog at the nail salon this week. I nearly killed her.
Reagan
It’s hard! We’re about to throw the most epic wedding ever! Don’t blame us for being excited.
Callie and I are going to plan our wedding. Not you guys… Luce, are you on your way yet?
Lucie
We’re walking down the hall now. You better deliver this news gently!
“I got to go meet Lucie with Miles,” I say to Adam and toss my phone back in my bag.
“Oh yeah, how's that going by the way?” Adam asks with a knowing smile. Man, he’s really pushing it today.
“I don’t ask questions,” I quip, turning to walk toward the door.
Adam humphs. “Yeah, I didn’t either.”
Damn shit stirrer.
“Will,” Lucie calls as I step out into the hallway. Her and Miles are decked out in all Blues gear for Opening Day and I’m going not to dwell on the fact that I already know it’s not our last name on her jersey.
“Hey, Miles, looking good, bud.” I kneel in front of him so I can look him in the eye. “I’ve got something to run by you.”
Callie
I can’t even begin to express how happy I am that it’s Opening Day. Away games just don’t feel as lively. Not to mention home games mean actually being home .
I love mine and Will’s place so much. To other people it’s probably pretty obnoxious the amount of pictures we have on our walls, but I smile every time I walk in our unlocked door. Will does too and that’s all that matters to me.
I walk down the stairs to my little photo outpost as Adam runs up behind me. “Hey, Cals.”
“One sec,” I reply as I set my stuff down to the side and turn on the little portable heater I begged Olsson for. Turning back to my brother, I rub my hands together to warm them. “What’s up?”
“So, the guest who was going to do the ceremonial first pitch can’t come at the last minute. I volunteered you for the honor.” Adam gives me a goofy smile as he sees the look of horror on my face.
“You did not.” I blink at him. I’ve thrown balls with the guys enough to know I can do a decent job—enough to not embarrass myself, at least. But he’s not serious, he can’t be. “Adam, it’s Opening Day. This place is not only packed, it’s sold out! It’s a fucking televised game!”
Adam laughs. “I know.”
“Callie!” Olsson shouts from the field. “You’re up.”
Looking out at my boss, I freeze. They can’t be serious right now.
Adam takes my hand as he slowly starts to pull me back out of my safe zone and, to solidify my anxieties, the announcer comes over the microphone. “Tonight’s ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by the Blue’s incredibly talented photographer, Callie Reyer!”
“Adam,” I mumble. “I’m going to kill you.”
Adam squeezes my hand as we reach the pitcher’s mound. “Oh, come on, it will be good. I promise.”
Adam takes a step back to grab a ball, while I take an unfortunate look at the completely packed stadium. I'm overwhelmed at the amount of people. How Will does this every game is beyond me.
Where is he anyway?
“Here you are, lil’ sis,” Adam says, pulling me away from the crowd and handing me a ball to throw. “You ready?”
“Am I not throwing it to you?”
Adam simply smiles and takes a step back.
“Hey, Blaze,” Will calls as he walks up to home plate. “Show me how it’s done.”
Shaking my head, I bite my lip for a moment to hold back my comment. I must have been too distracted by the crowd to notice but every player on the Blues is out of the dugout now. Half of the guys are usually getting into game-time mode during this part. And now I have to throw a pitch to my starting pitcher boyfriend. Fuck, guys, the pressure.
I glance back to Adam and he gives me a small nod for me to go ahead and throw it. Taking one more deep breath, I push all the outside stuff away and focus on Will. No one else is here right now. I’m just throwing a ball to the love of my life.
Rearing back, I send the ball straight into Will’s glove. Is it as fast or as beautiful as his? No. Not even close. But it’s decent, he taught me well.
Will stands up with a smile on his handsome face and starts to walk toward me. Unable to help myself, I meet him halfway. I know we’re working, but I feel I deserve at least a quick “good job” kiss. I can keep it PG.
“Nice job, baby. You trying to put me out of a job?” Will half yells as the crowd continues to cheer.
I think the announcer is saying something but as I reach Will, I’ve completely tuned them all out.
“We both know you have skills to fall back on.” I hint at our never-ending tea shop joke.
Will smirks and tosses me the ball back. “You get to keep the ball. And don’t worry, I signed it for you.”
“You did not.” I let out a small chuckle as I look down at the ball, turning it to look for Will's scribbled signature. Every word, syllable, and breath is knocked out of me when I read the words Will you marry me, Blaze?
The crowd’s noise becomes unignorable, and I look up to find Will down on one knee with a ring box open in his hand.
“We might have to get a bigger place, but what do you say, Callie? Want to put our wedding pictures up on the wall?”
Tears well in my eyes and I don’t hesitate. “Yes!” I drop to my knees and wrap my arms around his shoulders.
Tears stream down my face as I hold on to him tighter. “Yes,” I repeat barely above a whisper. It’s the only word I can manage—a ramble has been knocked out of me.
Will wraps his arms around my waist as he stands us both back up. “Then let’s make it official.”
Pulling my left arm down Will places a gorgeous engagement ring on my finger. It’s got a solid gold band with two pear-shaped stones mirroring each other, and are at least three carats each. One a diamond and one a beautiful orange sapphire.
The moment the ring is completely on, I cup Will’s face and pull him in for that “good job” kiss. The man deserves it.
The crowd roars again and the moment I pull back to tell Will how much I love him we’re swarmed by the team.
There’s endless rounds of congratulations and hugs. Even Miles comes out with Will’s sisters and mom to tell me how he’s happy that I’m happy. Adam might deny it till the day he dies, but I saw the hint of water pooling in his eyes as he wrapped me up in a hug.
Beck slings his arm around my shoulder. “We’ve got a kick ass after party too. I sweet talked Jenni-cakes into doing some small tattoos. I told her I wanted ‘Will + Callie’ in a heart on my arm.”
Will lightly shoves Beck back so he can pull me to him. “Maybe when you see it in permanent ink you’ll remember to keep your hands off my fiancée.”
I place a small kiss on Will’s cheek. “Oh, trust me, we’re not the names he really wants tattooed on his skin.”
Olsson congratulates us next. “I like this scene much more than last Opening Day,” he jokes. “I’m happy for you two, but I believe there’s a different form for spouses to sign. Think you can manage that?”
I snort out a laugh. “You’ll never let us live that down, will ya?”
“Nope.” Olsson claps his hands and yells to the team, “Now, let’s win this fucking game!”
As we make our way back over to the dugouts, Will takes me over to my spot first. “So, how’s that happy life working out?”
I smile. “It’s still developing, but I can picture it perfectly.”