Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
Callie
“So… you and Reaper.” Easton leans back in his chair and sips his beer, stretching out his legs. “I mean, we all knew something was going on when he went all caveman with the security gate thing, but a baby?”
Decker hasn’t said much, and I like him even more for it.
“It’s going to be great.” Leighton shoots me a reassuring smile.
Usually I’d have some smart-ass comment to shoot back at Easton, but all I can think about is what’s happening outside.
Why did I let Foster take the first hit? Hayes would be nicer to me than him.
Leighton’s shoulder hits mine. “It’s fine. They’re going to be okay.”
I sip the water Ruby brought me. It’s so much easier now that I don’t have to pretend to be drinking. My foot taps the floor, and I let out a breath.
“Hayes isn’t the type to go all apeshit on someone.” Easton does his best to reassure me.
My gaze falls to Decker, and he forces a smile that doesn’t come close to meeting his eyes. If Foster and Decker can be estranged all these years—twin brothers who don’t talk to one another—the same thing could happen between Foster and Hayes, and I can’t be the reason why.
“Sorry, I can’t.” I push up and head for the door.
“She just can’t help herself. I’m proud of you for lasting this long.” Leighton laughs.
I’m glad she finds this whole thing funny, and I wish I had her faith that this won’t ruin Hayes and Foster’s relationship.
I weave through the tables in the bar. Some Colts fans are filtering in now, probably because all the other bars are filled. Then again, there are a few tables of women who look me up and down. It’s obvious from their judgmental expressions—they know who I am.
I push open the door and glance around, but Foster and Hayes are nowhere in sight. Then I hear Hayes’s laugh, and my head snaps toward the security gate. The two of them walk through it. Foster sees me first and halts, smiles, and nods.
My shoulders drop as all the tension that’s been there since we first found out about the pregnancy dissipates.
Hayes sees me next and opens his arms. “We’re good.”
I had no idea how much I needed to hear that, but the two of us still have some things to sort out between us as brother and sister. I force myself to walk to Hayes, grab his hand, and tug him back through the security gate.
“We’ll meet you in there,” I tell Foster over my shoulder.
“Callie, he’s cool. It’s all okay.” Foster is frowning.
I crack the security gate and peek my head out, pointing toward Peeper’s. “He’s my brother, and I want to clear some things up too.”
Foster holds up his hands, turning and going into Peeper’s.
Don’t get upset that he’s about to weave through those tables with all those single women who would love to be his next conquest.
Hayes is leaning against the brick wall when I turn around, and the gate clicks shut behind me. “Callie, we’re good.”
“Sit.”
His eyebrows lift.
“Please.”
He sits on the concrete step, and I sit next to him, both of us silent for a second.
I want to say my piece, have everything out in the open so that we can move on. “I was just as big a part of this as Foster.”
He nods. “I know.”
“And it’s my life, you know.”
“I get it.”
“I’m sorry we didn’t tell you, but we were coming to terms with it ourselves. And then I wanted to wait until I was out of the first trimester.”
“I know. I’m sure it’s scary.”
“Yeah… but now.” I shrug. “I think I’m coming to terms with it.”
“I knew something was off when he had you move in with him. It’s a very un-Foster-like thing to do.” He turns his head and looks at me.
“I was just as surprised. He’s been a little alpha male since I told him.”
He laughs and bites his lip, as if he’s unsure how much to tell me about his best friend. I want to drill him with questions, but I’d rather have Foster trust me enough to tell me himself. “That tracks.”
“You think? I’m kind of blown away by it all.”
He nods. “He didn’t have the best childhood. He’s never told me much, but his dad is… I’ve met him a few times, and let’s just say he’s about as far from our dad as you can get.”
I figured.
“And then you have the whole Decker thing. He’s told me bits and pieces, but they’re brothers… twins… how could it be that bad? Anyway, I think overall, he’s lived a pretty lonely life.”
My heart aches at the words. “He’s surrounded by people… women.”
“It’s not the same. He didn’t grow up with what we did, Cal.”
The pain in Hayes’s voice cracks my heart open.
“I gotta ask you something,” he says. “And it’s none of my business, but I have to know… do you want more than he’s offering?”
I stare at my hands. Because what I want is dangerous. What I want is a man choosing me on purpose—not because I’m pregnant, not because I’m convenient, but because he wants… me.
“Because from where I stand, from what I see, there’s more than co-parenting going on.” I snap my head up, and he nods. “I didn’t say anything to Foster. I’d never put pressure on him since you’re my sister. It really is between you and him, but I just have to tell you…”
“What?” I swear my heart is lodged in my throat.
“I’m Team Callie every day of the week. But I’m also Team Foster.
I want the best for both of you. And the fact that you’re making me an uncle together makes me pretty fucking happy, but raising a baby is going to bring you guys closer.
Hell, you’re living with him. You’re holding his hand, and the ease between you when you’re together…
” He shakes his head. “I’m not warning you against him.
He’s worth the work it’s going to take, but it is going to be work, Callie. It’s going to take time.”
“Sure sounds like a warning.”
He shakes his head. “It’s not. I love the guy, and I think the two of you would be awesome together. I guess I’m just saying that I don’t want to see either of you get hurt.”
“We really are just co-parenting together. I’m living there because he wants us to be friends.”
He quirks an eyebrow, and I’m pretty sure we both know there’s more to it, even if I desperately wish what I said was true. It’d make it easier on my fragile heart.
“I’m serious. He wants to be part of his child’s life and thinks we need to become friends in order to give our baby a good family life.”
“He’s not wrong.”
“But?” Now I quirk an eyebrow.
“There’s clearly tension between you.” He’s quick to raise his hand. “I do not want details, but you slept together once and conceived a baby. Who’s to say that tension won’t boil over again? I just want to say, don’t go into it lightly. You both have to hold one another accountable.”
“When did you get your psych degree?”
“Maybe because when I went after Leighton, I knew the score. She came with three kids who were in it with us. Their hearts, their feelings would be affected by the outcome of our relationship. And it worked for us. It’s the best thing to ever happen in my life.
I want the same for you. If that’s with Foster, awesome, but I’m only asking you to give him time.
I know you’ve been screwed over in the past and—”
“We’re not anything,” I remind him.
He huffs. “Right now, maybe. I don’t see it staying that way. Just be patient.”
“Are you warning me because you know I suck at patience?”
He chuckles. “Well, you do. And he does too.”
“Okay.” I pat his knee. “I hear you.”
“What did you hear?”
“I heard that if it goes south—which it won’t because we’re only going to be co-parents—that you’re not necessarily going to take my side.”
He shakes his head. “Of course that’s what you got from it.”
I jump up and stand in front of him. “Well, congratulations, Uncle Hayes.”
He stands and holds out his arms. “Congratulations, Mommy. I hope your kid’s first word isn’t fuck.”
I laugh as he wraps me in his arms. “It most likely will be. You’re really good with it?”
“Yeah, I’m good, but you two need to stop keeping secrets. I do not want to be surprised at a press conference ever again.”
“Noted.”
We part and step out of the security gate, almost running right into a guy standing there. He quickly turns away, lowering his Colts hat, and walks down the sidewalk. I give Hayes a confused look.
“No one said all the fans were female.” Hayes chuckles.
“I guess not.” Still, something sour knots in my stomach as I watch the man blend into the crowd.
If he was a fan, wouldn’t he have wanted to stick around and ask for a picture or something? At least see which Colts player was coming out of the building?
“Let’s go back so Leighton can tell me she told me so.” He holds the door open to Peeper’s, motioning for me to go in.
We walk into the backroom, and it’s as if nothing happened.
Decker and Easton are arguing about darts.
Leighton and Foster are chatting. But when Foster glances up and our eyes catch, I see his relief—and I know Hayes is right.
We’re on the cusp of something, and we need to be certain before things go any further.
Which is a lot harder when he’s looking at me like that.