Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Foster
I’m taking my own advice.
I have to do something because all these thoughts of Callie aren’t going to get me anywhere. Hayes made his feelings clear—I’m not good enough for his baby sister.
And I’m not even upset about it. He’s right. All it would do is fuck up our friendship and our team when I’m inevitably done with her or she wants more than I’m willing to give.
Just like Pen back in college. I swear women come out of their moms’ wombs wanting to fix a man. Well, there’s no fixing me.
So I did what every red-blooded male would—I called Stephie. I’m going to fuck Callie out of my system.
After Becca shared her news, I spent most of my time in San Diego with Hayes, exploring the city and doing tourist shit.
It was cool to hang with him again like we used to when we played together in Seattle, which only convinced me even more that Callie is completely off-limits if I want my friendship with Hayes to remain intact.
While in San Diego, I texted Stephie and asked her to meet me for a drink after I landed.
We’re off tomorrow, so it’s the perfect time to go balls deep in a woman as many times as I can in one night.
She was more than eager, which I assumed she would be, and was already waiting at the bar when I arrived.
We had one drink, but she seems to be just as into the sex thing as me. Her exact words were, “I’m not looking for anything other than a few tickets and telling people I’m fucking you.”
Works for me, so I paid for the drinks, and now as I’m putting in my code to the security gate, there’s a sourness in my stomach that says this is a very bad idea. But I’ve ignored that feeling many times before in my life. What’s the harm now?
The minute the security gate shuts behind us and only the concrete stairs are between us and my bed, I regret my decision even more.
“Oh, I’m behind the gate. Millie is going to be so jealous. She got mad at me for making her leave the club that night.” She’s on me like we’re in a three-legged race, and my throat closes up.
“I’m sure Easton wouldn’t mind her phone number.”
“Really?” Her excitement is palpable.
I inhale deeply, wishing this didn’t feel like pulling out my teeth. I step onto the first step, and somehow it feels like I’m heading down death row. “All the way up.”
“Tell me who lives where.” Stephie’s arm is linked through mine because apparently, she can’t move more than two inches away from me.
“Decker.” I point at the first door we pass. “Easton,” I say when we get to his floor. “And I’m on top.”
“Just the way you probably like it.” She giggles at her sexual innuendo that’s more like middle school humor.
Fuck, I need to stop judging her. I asked her to be here. I just wish my plan was working.
I press the code on the keypad outside my condo door and the lock slides open. Turning the knob, I push open the door, and I’m about to tell Stephie to go first when a streak of dark hair breezes by, then falls toward my breakfast stool.
“Callie?”
There goes my whole idea of getting her out of my system. She’s wearing tight yoga pants that show off her amazing ass, and her tits are straining against the T-shirt under her unzipped hoodie.
“Hey, girl.” Stephie sneaks by me.
Shit, I forgot about her for a second. In about two minutes, I’m gonna be the biggest asshole because I don’t lead girls on, and my ridiculous plan just went into the shitter. If I fuck Stephie, I’ll be imagining Callie the entire time.
“Oh, hey.” Callie stands and brushes her hair out of her face. “I completely forgot that Hayes doesn’t live here anymore.”
I narrow my eyes at her. Bullshit.
Then it dawns on me. She’s here because she can’t get me out of her system either. I can have a second round with her.
“Did you clean out the closet? I left this sweatshirt…” She’s tiptoeing toward my bedroom door. “Mind if I just check really quick?” She thumbs in that direction, and when she’s close to the door she turns around.
“I’ll help you look!” Stephie follows. “What color was it?”
Callie grabs the handle of my bedroom door and slams it shut. “Oh wait, it was in the second bedroom, I think.” She points toward the door on the other side of the kitchen.
Stephie swivels around and heads that way.
No way, did Callie do something kinky like leave sex toys and lube on the nightstand? I really hope it’s nothing romantic like candles or some shit. Does she know me at all?
Stephie disappears into the spare bedroom. “There’s nothing in here. It’s all empty,” she shouts from the other room.
“What’s going on?” I murmur to Callie with the hope Stephie can’t hear.
“I’ll check the bathroom!” Stephie calls.
Callie cringes. “So… I had this whole plan…”
My curiosity gets the better of me, and I go to open the door, but she gets in front of me, her hand covering mine.
“Please don’t,” she whispers.
We’re chest to chest, our eyes locked, and I’m trying to figure out what’s going on with her.
“I hoped you’d be back,” I say in my seductive voice that usually gets women to undress. “Let me get rid of her.” I press my body to hers, weaving our legs together. “We just can’t tell Hayes, okay?” I thrust my thigh up against her core, and she swallows audibly, her face flushing.
Yeah, this is what I needed.
I feel like an asshole for going behind Hayes’s back again, but it’s already happened once. One more time, and I’ll get her out of my system and can move on with my life.
“Yeah, that’s not—”
“Nothing there.” Stephie’s voice is close enough that she’s definitely out of the bedroom. “What are you guys doing?”
Callie peers around me. “Foster is being protective of his bedroom. Must be sloppy and doesn’t make his bed or something.”
“Well, I planned on unmaking the bed anyway.” Stephie’s voice is so certain she’s still going to have me tonight. I am the asshole everyone thinks I am.
“You know what? You should take Stephie up to the rooftop.” Callie pats my chest then looks around at Stephie again. “You’ll love it.”
We’re still not moving, and I’m not sure how Stephie hasn’t called us out on the fact that Callie’s tits are pressed to my chest, and my thigh is wedged between her legs.
“Oh, I would love that. Let’s go! Callie can find her sweatshirt and leave. And then the real fun will start.” Stephie’s tone is full of excitement. I’m going to hurt her, and I fucking hate it when I hurt people.
“Great idea. Now let go of the doorknob,” Callie whispers to me, but she’s crazy if she thinks I’m going to give her a chance to get rid of whatever is in that bedroom.
“Do me a favor, Stephie, go ask Easton for the code. I forget what it is.” I don’t move my gaze from Callie.
“One floor down, right?” She heads toward the door.
I’m thankful I’ll have a few minutes alone with Callie. And even better, the door will shut behind Stephie and lock automatically in ten seconds.
“Yup.” I pop the ‘p’ on the word.
“Wait… Stephie…” Callie calls, but I press my thigh against her core again, and she squeezes my shoulder. Yeah, there’s definitely something in that bedroom.
“brB!” The door opens and shuts.
“Foster,” Callie says my name with a bite in her tone.
“Callie, it’s my bedroom.” I wiggle my arm, and she digs her nails into my palm. “Fuck. You know how I make my money, right?”
“Step away from the door. Give me one minute, and I’ll be out of your hair. You can screw Stephie all night.”
“I’d rather screw you.” There. The truth is out there.
She pales. “That was a one-and-done, pal, sorry.” She puts her free hand on my chest. “Now step back.”
“I’m going into that room.” I twist the knob again. She doesn’t have the strength to keep me out.
The door opens, and she jumps into my arms, giving me no choice but to hold on to her ass. “Please. I’m begging.”
“I appreciate the begging, but it’s unnecessary.”
She grunts and scoffs, then unwinds her legs from my waist. “Fine. Have it your way.”
When I move to the side, my eyes zero in on the edge of the bed. There’s no lube on the nightstand. No vibrator for me to get her off.
I squint to make sure I’m seeing things right.
A baby outfit is laid on the bed with little booties and sparkly pink and blue confetti. I read the wording on the baby outfit: Guess what… you knocked up Mommy.
My breath stalls, and my gaze shoots to her. “Is this your idea of a joke? Fuck, what day is it?”
I mentally try to figure it out, but I know that April 1st has come and gone.
Shit. No way.
“This was you, right?” I point at the outfit. “Leighton didn’t get confused and leave it for Hayes?”
Her eyes narrow, and her expression clearly says you’re an idiot, jackass. “Yes, it’s me. I get that you sleep with a lot of women, but I’ve only slept with you, so congratulations, you’re gonna be a daddy.”
A dad?
Me?
Fuck, no one wants that. My dad proved you’re not born knowing how to be a father when your kid pops out of the womb.
“Reaper!” Stephie singsongs, knocking on the door and trying to turn the knob. “I can’t get in.”
Callie’s shoulders slump, and she shrugs. “I thought it was cute.”
I step farther into the room.
“Should I let her in?” Callie asks.
“Fuck no.” I stare at the variety of pregnancy tests. Some pink lines, some plus signs. She’s definitely pregnant. I read the baby shirt again to make sure I’m not losing it. “You’re pregnant with my baby?”
She laughs. “That’s why it’s all on your bed.”
I circle back around.
Stephie pounds on the door again, harder this time.
“You go handle that. Want me to take all that with me?”
I point at her. “You’re staying right here. Give me one minute.” I walk out of the bedroom, through the condo, and outside, shutting the door behind me.
“Oh, goodie, all ready?” Stephie asks, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“Sorry, I have to help Callie with something. She’s having a… dilemma, and she’s… my best friend’s sister, so I feel like I have to help her.”
Her shoulders fall as well as the corners of her lips. “But I thought we were gonna…” She steps up to me and places her hand on my crotch.
Yeah, that thing is not going to perk up right now. He’s grounded for the foreseeable future. I step back. “Maybe next time. I’ll call you.”
“Will you really?”
“You know what, Stephie, this probably isn’t a good time. I’m midseason, and I need to focus on a few personal things as well as baseball. I’m sorry.”
She stares at me for a moment. “It’s her, right? You like her?”
Fuck yeah, but I’m not gonna tell Stephie that.
“She’s Hayes’s sister.”
Stephie steps back. “Yeah, but I see you always looking at her, and at Saffire…”
Telling her I’m into someone else really is the easiest way to cut her loose. “Sorry, things were going on before you and I and—” It’s not a lie exactly.
She smiles and shrugs. “Mind if I go talk to Easton?”
Well, she got over that fast.
I shake my head. “Not at all. Have at him.”
Her smile grows wider. “Great.” Rising on her tiptoes, she kisses my cheek. “Good luck with Callie.”
I watch her bounce down the stairs, but I don’t wait to see what happens with Easton. I don’t care.
I walk into my condo, shut the door, and stare at Callie. “Start talking.”