Chapter 6
The lane is long, some one has said, that never turns again, And Fate, though fickle, often gives another chance to men
– “Casey’s Revenge” by Grantland Rice, American sportswriter his health-conscious friend was normally a water guy.
Javi had seen him with a sports drink maybe once.
But he could understand Cal’s heat sentiment, even if the temperature didn’t bother Javi.
Having been raised in South Florida, he’d drunk hot drinks in hot weather all his life.
Unfortunately, he didn’t see a Café Cubano or a cortadito on the menu, so he ended up ordering two frozen mochas.
A few minutes later he had their icy drinks, and as he joined Cal at the table, his friend said, “My sister’s running late, but she just texted me and said she’ll be on her way down soon.”
“Ask her what she’d like to drink. I can go ahead and order it,” said Javi.
Cal took a picture of his drink and sent it to his sister with a message asking what she wanted. A reply quickly came back. “She says she’ll take what we’re drinking.”
So Javi returned to the line for another. While waiting near the counter for the drink, he watched the door and the table for Cal’s sister’s arrival. Something to focus on rather than being preoccupied with thoughts about his mother and Lola.
The chime above the door sounded, and Javi about hit the floor…because in walked Cami, the woman from his one-night stand in San Diego. The woman he’d been thinking about nonstop until his mother’s call. But how had she found him here? Was she stalking him?
Only she didn’t notice Javi. No, she zeroed in on Cal. She must be stalking him, because that’s who she’d been waiting outside the stadium for, not Javi. He’d been a consolation prize.
Envy flooded his veins. Why’d she have to be so beautiful? Her long, dark hair cascaded in waves over her shoulders, and she wore heels with a pencil-skirted suit that hugged her figure, drawing Javi’s eyes to her legs.
He watched as Cami headed towards where Cal sat sipping on his drink.
As she drew near, his friend stood, and once they were side by side, Javi had the sudden horrifying realization that he’d been mistaken.
They shared features. Eyes the same shade of blue.
Dark, silky hair. Cal was tall and masculine, whereas Cami was petite and feminine.
But side by side, there was no question.
Cami wasn’t some stalker. She wasn’t even a Baseball Annie.
She was his batterymate’s sister, and he’d unknowingly broken bro code.
The barista called his name, and Javi grabbed the icy drink, dreading the walk to the table.
How was he supposed to act? He couldn’t let Cal know that he knew Cami.
He absolutely could not let him know they’d had a one-night stand in San Diego.
But how was he supposed to keep it from getting awkward? He swore under his breath.
As he walked up to the table, Cal and Cami looked up, and he saw a glint of mischievous satisfaction in her eyes. The troublesome minx knew what he’d thought, and she’d gone along with it.
Cal threw his hand out towards Javi to introduce him. “This is my new teammate, Javier La Costa. Javi, this is my sister, Camdyn Gallegos.”
Javi set the icy drink in front of Cami and then offered his hand politely while acting like it was the first time they’d met and that he didn’t have intimate knowledge of this woman. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Cami took his hand to shake, and he swore his palm tingled from the touch of her soft, manicured hand.
He may have held it a beat too long, and he couldn’t help noticing her previously red nails were now beige.
She was still beautiful, though put together completely differently than when they’d first met.
Today, she was all polished professionalism, but he knew she was live wire.
“It’s nice to meet you, too, Mr. La Costa. You look to have been a good addition to my brother’s team.”
He smiled and released her hand before taking his seat at the table. “Thanks. But just call me Javi.”
“Cal tells me that you need help with a family problem. I specialize in immigration and family law, so I may be able to help or give you some direction,” she offered.
He explained the situation with Aunt Isla passing away and his cousin Lola being in the Catholic orphanage in Cuba. Cami listened as he explained, and she occasionally asked questions to clarify, but her face gave nothing away.
“I can’t take on the case,” she finally stated, and he was floored.
He thought for sure she would, especially with all the questions, but maybe their past weekend was an issue.
He opened his mouth to object, but then she continued.
“At least not directly. I have less than a month of employment remaining with the Anderson Law Firm. I’m transitioning to our family firm, Callahan Law, in Oasis.
So I can’t take on anything new here, but you need someone working on guardianship for Lola now, so if you’re agreeable, I can ask my grandpa or uncle to take this on, and I’ll assist as I’m able. ”
Working with the Callahan family meant he’d get to see Cami, so of course he was agreeable. He didn’t even bother to ask about the cost. He’d figure it out. “That sounds great. What do I need to do next? Meet with them?”
“Yes, but we’ll need documentation and information about Lola.
” She pulled out a business card and slid it across the table to him.
“Take this. Email me whatever information your mother may have, and then I’ll set up a time for a virtual meeting for all of us once I’ve spoken with my grandpa and uncle. ”
He took the card. It was simplistic, but elegant, and most importantly, it had her number on it. “Sounds good. Thank you.”
As he was tucking the card into his wallet, he heard Cal utter a curse and looked up.
“Here comes Little Dicky,” his friend said, and Camdyn groaned.
A tall blond guy in a black suit walked over to their table and helped himself to the fourth chair while completely ignoring Cal and Javier. “Camdyn, I’ve been looking for you since lunch. I’m sorry I couldn’t give you the flowers directly this morning, but I had to be in court. Did you like them?”
She rolled her eyes. “I got them, but I relocated them to the conference room. You really shouldn’t have bothered. And I’m kind of busy right now, Ricky. Could we talk later?”
Like the idiot had just realized other people were with Camdyn, he looked at Cal and then Javi. “Hello, Callahan. I hear you’re having a good season.”
Cal inclined his head but didn’t respond. He looked pissed.
The guy turned to Javi, offering his hand. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Ricky Anderson.”
“Javier La Costa,” he replied, but he didn’t offer his hand. Instead, he crossed his arms and leaned back against his chair. Something was off with this dude. He could feel the tension emanating from Cal and Cami.
Realizing that he wasn’t going to get more, Ricky put his hand down and muttered, “Well, nice to meet you,” then turned back to Cami. “We need to discuss the banquet on Thursday night.”
“There is nothing to discuss. I’m not going with you,” she replied.
“You can’t show up alone, and it’s too late to find someone else. Let me take you. It will give us a chance to discuss things. It’s the only way we’ll be able to work this out.”
Her date for a banquet? She dated this guy? Javi was picking up quickly, and he was getting pissed.
“God, you have some real audacity,” interrupted Cal, leaning forward. “My sister already has a date. Do you really not realize how easily replaceable you are?”
Cami was dating someone? Definitely pissed and jealous again.
Ricky’s head whipped to Cami. “You have a new date? That’s not fair, Camdyn. You know how much this event means to me.”
Hands clenched, she replied, “I quit caring when you decided to cheat on me with Cecily, but I’m sure she’d love to go with you.”
Javi’s mind was blown. He looked at Cal, wondering why he wasn’t already beating Little Dicky to death, especially if this douche had dated Cami and cheated on her. What the hell was wrong with him?
“No. I want to go with you,” insisted Ricky.
Camdyn opened her mouth to reply, but Cal beat her to it. “She’s going with Javier, and I suggest you stop harassing my sister.”
Javi was struck speechless. Cal knew? He couldn’t. But Cal had just volunteered him as a date for his sister, right? Javi shot Cal a glance and caught Camdyn doing the same, but hers was a glare that Javi could easily read. Cal had overstepped, but Javi would have done the same if he had a sister.
“I’m not harassing Camdyn, and you know nothing about our relationship. This is between me and her,” sneered Ricky.
Camdyn might have been aggravated with Cal, but she clearly would not tolerate Little Dicky firing shots at him.
“My brother does know about our relationship ending. He was the first person I called on Friday. He knows about you and Cecily. He knows we’re through, and he knows I have no plans for reconciliation.
I don’t know why you can’t understand that there is nothing between us now.
What happened is on you, Ricky. Learn to live with the consequences of your actions. ”
She was glorious and not giving an inch. Javi would love to see her in action in a courtroom.
“I see you’re still too upset to talk about this, so I’ll give you some space, but we will work this out,” Ricky announced as he stood up.
Camdyn pinched the bridge of her nose and took a deep breath as Ricky walked away.
“That jerk has some nerve,” commented Cal.
Camdyn whipped her head in his direction. “Yes, he does, but I can handle him. I don’t need my little brother to fight for me.”
“You may not need or want me to, but you know I will. No one messes with my sister,” retorted Cal.
Camdyn sighed and then turned to Javi with a weak smile. “I’m sorry you had to witness that. I need to get back to work, but please email me and I’ll set up a meeting for you with Callahan Law.”
“No worries,” Javi replied.
When Camdyn started to stand, Cal and Javier followed.
Cal pulled her into a hug. “Thanks for meeting with us, Sis.”
“Anything for my brother,” Cami told Cal. As he released her, she turned to Javi with a smile. “Nice to meet you, Javier. I hope you guys have a good game tonight.”
“Same,” he replied, and his eyes remained glued to her as she headed to the door.
Cal slapped him on the back. “You okay, man?”
Javi exhaled hard. “Don’t kill me, but I think I’m gonna marry your sister.”
Laughter exploded from Callahan as he headed for the door. “Dude, she’s a self-proclaimed ice queen. Good luck with that.”
Cami…an ice queen? Surely Cal was joking. Cami was all fire, and Javier was fascinated by her flames.