20. Callie
Callie
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH
I t’s been four days since I gave myself emotional whiplash from nearly crying in the town clinic to eating pizza in Finn’s bed and gossiping with his daughter…from reminding myself to not get too attached to this town and everyone in it to throwing myself at the man who occupies all my waking thoughts.
And several of my sleeping ones.
I know he’s worried that I’ll get too emotionally attached to him. I could see it in his eyes when he sat on my living room floor. He’s had “the talk” with other women before. And maybe some of those talks weren’t all that successful. Friends with benefits is a minefield, that’s for sure. But I’ve navigated it enough times that I’m not concerned.
Well…not too concerned, anyway.
Still, even if I do find myself having a harder time letting go, I can keep that as a “me” problem and not a “Finn” problem. And definitely not a “Lexie” problem.
She’s come such a long way in just a few weeks, it’s one of the biggest transformations I’ve ever seen. And I’ve seen a lot of pretty awesome middle schooler metamorphoses. She found her people in Piper and the school newsletter crew. In fact, she doesn’t even seem to notice that Carissa gives her the stink eye at every opportunity.
But I do.
I’m looking at it right now, actually. It’s my lunch break, which today means coming up with an excuse to hobble my crutch-ity ass over to the gym and pretend like I need something other than a peek at Coach Finnegan. AKA He Who Kisses Hotter Than Fire And Is Starting to Wear Clothes That Fit Him.
Except instead of covertly ogling at Finn, I’m focused on one of the dodgeball matches that’s happening. Namely, the one on the far side of the gym with Carissa and Lexie.
“They still play dodgeball?” I mutter to myself. Finn’s focus is on a different match, so he misses it completely when Carissa takes the ball and hurls it straight into the back of Lexie’s head.
Lexie’s hand goes to the point of impact and her face contorts in irritation. She glances back at Carissa, who only says, “Whoops.”
Are you fucking kidding me with this?
Lexie offers a half-hearted smile, doing her best to be diplomatic.
“Hey!” I yell. It flies out of my mouth before I can even stop it, and it was sharp enough to grab the attention of half the gym. Everyone near me whips around to see what’s going on. “Not ‘whoops.’ There is no ‘whoops.’” I forcefully plant the crutches onto the gym floor as I swing my way over. “You did that deliberately.”
Lex’s face goes white. “It-it’s okay. I’m not hurt.”
“I don’t care, that was uncalled for.”
“Everything all right over here, Miss Callie?” Finn asks.
“Carissa hit Lex with the dodgeball,” a student says.
“Oh my god, snitch!” Carissa rolls her eyes.
“Yo, I thought Miss Callie was going to smack her down with those crutches!” another student laughs with his friends.
“All right, everyone, that’s enough,” Finn commands. “Back to the game. Less gossip, more hustle, let’s go!”
He knows better than to call Lex over and check on her in front of the other kids, but I can see her give him an almost imperceptible nod.
Finn’s brown brows raise slightly. “What’s this about a smack down now?” he asks quietly.
“It’s not my fault! She hit Lexie on purpose.” I’m whisper-screaming and sounding very much like the other twelve-year-olds. “I had to defend her.”
Another subtle change in his expression as the corner of his mouth twitches. “With a smack down?”
“No! Of course not!”
“I’m going to have to write you up for this,” he announces.
Wait, what?
“What do you mean?”
He dismisses my surprise. “You can’t come into my gym and make students think you’re going to smack them with your crutches. Rules are rules, and I’m not one to break them.”
My mouth hangs open. “You have got to be kidding me.”
There’s now a chorus of “oooh’s” and “somebody’s in trouuuubllllle’s” bouncing off the walls.
“Tell her, Coach!”
“No way! He’s just trying to freak her out before the final battle!”
Finn makes a big show of motioning his arms towards the locker rooms. “Let’s go.”
Is he seriously going to write me up for this? “I thought you broke every rule this school ever set,” I mumble through clenched teeth. “In fact, I thought the school had to make rules specifically based on your behavior.”
“That was then, this is now,” he deadpans. “I’m sorry, but you did this to yourself.”
Oh no, he did not .
Remember when I said it was hot when he was bossy?
I was so wrong.
No, you still like it.
Shut up, vagina! Now is not the time!
Kids are still commenting as I make my way towards the back of the gym, Finn not too far behind. The shrill pitch from that damn whistle around his neck rings out. “I thought I told you all to get back to the game! Next person caught chatting does five laps!”
That seems to scare them enough to at least be better about hiding the fact that they’re more interested in my punishment than sports.
“I hope you know,” I argue as I walk into the coaches’ office, “that I’m totally fighting this. You can’t just?—”
Before my brain can even register the fact that he’s shut the door, his hands are gently cupping my face while his mouth claims mine. I respond immediately by clutching his forearms and kissing him back. My stupid crutches crash to the floor, and he grips under my ass to lift me onto his desk, never breaking contact.
He smells like sweat in the forest, and he tastes like spearmint. My head falls back as he nibbles my neck and runs his hand under my skirt.
“Fuck, you’re perfect,” he murmurs.
All I can do is touch my forehead to his while we try to catch our breath. I want to keep going, but neither one of us is stupid enough to risk it in a shared office.
“Wow,” I exhale. “That was…I mean, are you still gonna write me up?” I have to joke, or I’m going to rip his well-fitting shorts off.
The low chuckle from his chest turns my heart to mush. “Thank you,” he laces his fingers with mine. “For looking out for Lex.”
“I was not going to hit anyone with my crutches, just so we’re clear.”
He leans back. “I’m serious. I…I just need you to know that I really appreciate it. It means a lot to me.”
I rest my palms on his shoulders. “Of course. And if there’s ever anything else I can do to get more of this type of appreciation, please just say the word.”
He smiles and leans in for a much sweeter kiss, although it feels just as lovely.
“Will you have dinner with me on Friday?” he asks.
I don’t even hesitate. “Yeah, okay.” Except I should hesitate. “Wait, like a date?”
“Hell yes, like a date. Lex will be with my parents.”
An unstoppable grin spreads across my face. “Does this mean you’re reconsidering my offer?”
I don’t miss the subtle shift in his expression as he leans over and grabs my crutches off the floor. “Something like that. Here,” he helps me off the desk and I smooth out my skirt.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” he insists. But something’s different.
“So…Friday at 8:00?”
He smooths my hair down and behind my shoulders. “7:30. I’ll pick you up.” Then he places a soft kiss on my cheek and holds the office door open for me.
What was that about? He’s probably just worried about Lex, that makes sense. I’m guessing the last thing he wants is the whole town gossiping about it. I’ll make sure he understands I won’t say anything and this will stay between us.