Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Foster
I glance over Maren’s shoulder as she squeezes me, catching Callie shuffling her feet and staring anywhere but in our direction.
No one would think I’m a hugger, and they’d be right. I’m not a hugger, but I’ve grown used to people like Maren who are, so I didn’t think much of it when she walked toward me. From the day Eli introduced me to Maren, I’ve witnessed her hug almost everyone she encounters.
I step back and shove my hands in my pockets. “How’d it go?”
She looks over her shoulder at Callie, who is finally joining us, then back at me, putting her hand on my arm. “She’s great. Don’t fuck this up.”
“She’s Hayes Carlisle’s little sister.”
Maren rolls her eyes, but her smirk says she’s not buying my act.
I’m sure Callie didn’t tell her that she’s carrying my baby, and I know it’s bad to hope that maybe Callie told her something about me that made Maren think there’s something between us.
It’s stupid, since we have no future. At least not the romantic kind.
I’m not telling anyone until I tell Hayes.
Eli’s great, I’ve known him since the farm league, and he’ll be one of the first people I call after the news is out.
“You’re back.” Callie gives me an unsteady smile.
It feels too good to see her again after our last away stint. My gaze soaks her in as if she’s a mirage in the desert.
“About fifteen minutes ago.”
Maren’s head volleys between us, and I can admit, we look really awkward. Like we slept together last night and haven’t seen each other since. But Callie and I aren’t used to interacting with each other in front of other people like we do behind the condo door.
“I’m Lex.” The brunette with the camera slides out from next to Callie, hand extended. “Her right-hand gal.”
“Oh sorry. Foster, this is Lex. She films for me and helps me with all the tech stuff.” Callie motions between us.
“Where were you the other night?” I ask with humor.
Callie narrows her eyes at me because she called me while I was on the road because the internet went down.
I tried to walk her through unplugging, replugging, what light should turn on, etc.
In all truth, I was surprised, with Callie’s age, how hard it was for her to figure it out.
But at least our first time having to work on something together went smoothly, and no one lost their temper. It gave me hope for our future.
“Oh, she tried me first.” Lex laughs.
Disappointment sinks in fast. I should be happy I wasn’t her first option. I usually hate it when people rely on me.
“Oh, look at you. It’s okay, big guy.” Lex leans in closer. “You know how Miss Hyper-Independent is about relying on people.”
“Lex!” Callie glares at her, but Lex shrugs.
I want to pull Lex aside and ask her how to get Callie to rely on me.
“It’s not a big deal.” I purposely look at Callie when I say it.
She just turns to Maren and starts her own side conversation.
“She gets a little ornery when she can’t watch her reality television,” Lex says.
I nod, unsure how to respond since reality television is becoming my own vice thanks to her. “Hopefully it was a one-time thing.”
She laughs and looks at Callie, who is now deep in conversation with Maren. Lex seems nice, and I could get along with her, but I really want in on the other conversation.
“It won’t be.” Lex gives a look as if to say that Callie’s tech issues are a constant thing.
“She’d be lost without me.” A buzzing sound comes from her pocket, and she pulls out her phone, sees who is calling, and shoves it back in.
I like her more now. “But I’d probably be in a ditch somewhere without her, so we’re even, you know. ”
I nod.
“Are you not going to ask why?” Her dark eyes take me in.
“Um…”
“Oh, someone did a number on you, didn’t they?
But asking me about my trauma doesn’t mean I’m going to ask you about yours.
Just so you know, not asking follow-up questions makes you come off like you don’t give a shit.
” She leans in closer. “And if you act like that with her, you don’t stand a chance. Just some helpful advice.”
I draw back from her for a moment and try to find the right words but can’t. I settle on, “Thanks for the advice.”
Really what I want to say is tell me more, Lex, like how to win Callie over.
She nods as though she understands my unspoken words. Good. Now let’s move on.
“I’m a recovering addict. Coke. After I got clean, I couldn’t find a job. One day I see our girl over here at a coffee shop, trying to figure out her microphone. She’s swearing and drawing a lot of attention, so I swooped in to help her. We’ve been together ever since.”
The words our and girl together sound too good.
“She just let you take over?”
She laughs again. “Yup. Can you believe it? Did you see that pig fly by?”
I kind of like the way she talks about Callie as if we know her equally well, even though it appears Lex knows her a lot better than I do.
“Well, that was good of you to step in and help a stranger out of the goodness of your heart like that.”
“I might be a lesbian, and Callie’s hot, but I didn’t do it because I wanted to get in her pants.”
“What hope do I have then?”
“That depends, Foster Davis. Do you want to get into her pants?”
Yes. I do, Lex. I really want in Callie’s pants.
I balk, though I have no idea why. She’s bold, but I’m used to locker rooms and dugouts and the shit guys say to one another in those environments.
Maybe it’s Lex being so blatant when Callie is right next to us, or more likely, I just don’t know how to handle my feelings for Callie.
I’m attracted to her yes, but I also like her as a person, which makes sense. She’s pretty much Hayes without a dick.
Jesus. Where the fuck did that thought come from?
Lex squeezes my shoulder. “My advice: keep showing up.”
“Showing up where?” Callie interrupts, and I turn my head toward her.
She’s clearly interested in our conversation. Maren is no longer beside her. I find her talking to a woman with a stroller farther down on the sidewalk. I assume it must be her nanny.
“On the mound, silly. I was giving Foster some unsolicited advice.”
Callie shoots me an apologetic look.
I’m a little scared at how well Lex saw through me. Does one fuck-up see through another?
“Here she is,” Maren says, holding Breelyn.
Callie turns and coos with excitement. “Oh, she’s adorable.”
“Want to hold her?” Maren holds her daughter out to Callie.
“Sure.” She takes Breelyn and cradles her on her hip, smiling at her.
Fuck, I love the thought of Callie holding our own child. That visual is a life I never thought I’d want. Hell, one I never thought I’d get.
“Hi, sweet thing.” Callie bounces Breelyn a little on her hip, walking around and looking like a complete natural.
“What about you, Foster?” Maren sets her gaze on me. She turns to Callie. “He always declines.”
“Last time I saw her, she couldn’t even hold her head up. I’m not going to be responsible for it falling off.”
The women all laugh. Breelyn whines a little, and Maren runs her hand down her daughter’s fuzzy blonde hair. “You’re okay. Callie’s good people.”
“I think she wants her mom.” Callie leans toward Maren.
Maren takes the baby back, but before she settles her in her arms, she holds Breelyn out to me. “You sure, Foster?”
I raise both hands. “I’m good.”
They all laugh again, and Maren tucks her daughter in her arms.
My gaze falls to Callie. She’s staring at Breelyn, but the hint of sadness in her eyes cuts me open for some reason.
“Well, I gotta go. Nice to meet you, Maren.” Lex raises her hand in a friendly wave.
“You too, Lex. I hope I’ll like all the angles.” Maren smiles, and I’m clearly missing an earlier conversation.
“Only your best sides.” Lex puts her hand on Callie’s arm. “I’ll see you tomorrow? For editing?”
“Oh, actually…” Callie glances at me. “I forgot I have something, so I’ll call you. And then the next day they have their game. Um… the day after that, okay?”
“I’ll forgive you if you get me a ticket to the game?” Lex looks at me.
“I can get you a set. I’ll leave them at will-call.”
Lex’s mouth falls open, and she glances at Callie. “Look how easy that was. She’s been holding out on me.”
“Well, in her defense—Hayes has an army to get tickets for while I have…” I trail off. How pathetic is it that I have to say no one.
“Thanks.” Lex seems to recognize that I need an out.
I swear, she’s my new best friend. “Now I have to figure out who I want to impress with really good Colts tickets.” She eyes me, and I nod to confirm that they’ll be good tickets.
“I don’t believe a word they say about you anymore.
” She laughs and walks down the sidewalk.
“I have to go too.” Maren glances over her shoulder at her nanny standing down the sidewalk.
Callie thanks her again for doing the show. “I’ll be in touch.”
Maren and Callie say their goodbyes, then Maren comes over to me, giving me a one-armed hug.
“I promise she’s not contagious.” Maren laughs, and Callie is late to join in. “But no blaming me when you get some woman pregnant.”
She laughs again, and Callie looks as if she wants to choke but manages a polite laugh.
“Tell your husband to fix the hole in his glove.”
Maren scowls at me. “He told me to tell you to lift some weights, your velocity sucks.”
I shake my head, and we smile at one another.
“Let’s do dinner when we play each other.” She walks backward, and Callie waves, turning to face me so her back is to Maren. Maren points at Callie and mouths, “Bring her.”
I shake my head, and once she, the baby, and the nanny have crossed the street, I join Callie at the security gate. “So it went well?”
She throws herself into my arms, leaving me no choice but to catch her. “Thank you so much, Foster. That was an amazing interview and exactly what I needed.” Her voice is slightly muffled since she’s speaking into my neck, but my arms instantly wrap around her.
I’ve become addicted to the scent of her perfume. When a woman wearing it walked by the other day, I whipped around, hoping like hell it was Callie. Sadly, it wasn’t.
No one has ever shown so much gratitude for anything I’ve done for them. It’s usually their hand out and a quick “thanks, man, I owe you.” But Callie… it’s in her tone, in her tight hug. And it makes me want to open my fucking checkbook and give her whatever she wants.
None of this is a good sign.